Page 66 of Marked By Moonlight

“I was infected by a boy.” She held her breath, searching his face, hopeful. “His name was Lenny.”

“And you want to find him?”

“No. He’s dead.”

“Ah. You want to find his alpha, then.”

She nodded jerkily.

His silver gaze shifted to Gideon, then back to Claire, assessing, measuring. “I don’t know anything about a boy named Lenny. Or the alpha you’re looking for. What you’re trying to do is impossible. You’ll never find and destroy the alpha you seek before the next moon. You’d best adjust to the fact that you’re a lycan now.”

“A monster?” she cried, his words filling her with a keen sense of hopelessness. “Never!”

“A monster,” he echoed, cocking his head to the side. “Yes.” A humorless smile curved his lips. “I am that. And so are you.”

That said, he stepped back through the club’s door, his words ringing in her ears.You’d best adjust to the fact that you’re a lycan now.

Claire stared at the door he had disappeared through. “Why would he let us go?”

“I have no idea,” Gideon muttered, his expression troubled as he stared at the door Darius had disappeared through.

“He called himself Darius.”

“What?” Gideon’s gaze shot to her face with startling intensity. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, why?”

Gideon snatched up both their guns. After reholstering his gun and stuffing hers into his jacket pocket, he grabbed her hand and dragged her into the parking lot.

“Gideon,” she demanded, running to keep up with his long strides and trying not to sound panicked. “What’s going on?”

“Remember that lycan I told you about? The old one?”

Claire thought for a moment before recalling the twelve-hundred-year-old lycan he’d mentioned. “The one rumored to be dead?” she asked, a tight knot forming in the center of her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

“Yeah. His name’s Darius.”

A shudder ran through her and she nearly tripped over her feet. His hand tightened around her fingers and he increased his speed, pulling her along faster.

“But if that’s him, why would he let us—”

“I don’t know, but we’re not going to test his charity tonight. He’s a killer. We couldn’t even fathom the number of lives he’s taken over the centuries.” Gideon looked left and right as if he expected Darius to pop up from behind a parked car. They headed deeper into the parking lot, Gideon’s strides swift and angry.

“I don’t think he’d let us go just to come after—”

“The way he looked at you—” Gideon broke off, shaking his head. “I’m surprised he walked away.”

“Maybe we should go after him.”

“Let him go.”

“Why? Those other lycans mentioned a Benedict. I think he’s their alpha. Maybe Darius knows—”

“No, Claire. He may have shot one of his kind, but he’s notinclined to help us. And I don’t like the way he looked at you. Next time he may not let you go.”

“So what, then? Another night and no leads?” she demanded. “I’m going after him.” Spinning around, Claire stalked back down the alley.

Gideon’s hand clamped down on her arm, whirling her around. His green eyes glittered. “You want to give him a go at you? Is that what you want?”

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