Page 94 of Marked By Moonlight

Gideon’s head swiveled in the direction of the voice. Jesslyn stood in the hallway, two lycans framed on either side of her.

“Do you know how long it takes to properly train them?” Jesslyn gestured to her pets, her look aggravated. “It’s all in the breeding, really.” Her silver gaze flowed over Darius, warming to dark pewter. “But since it’s you, Darius, I’ll find the forgiveness.” She held out both arms. “Welcome home, darling. It’s been a long time.”

“Jess,” Darius acknowledged, staying put.

After a moment she dropped her hands, her plump lips pouting, marring her lovely features. With a light shrug, she shifted her attention to Gideon and smiled again. “Lovely. I see you brought a snack.” Her gaze swept over Gideon in appraisal. “A bit more than a snack,” she amended, a hungry gleam entering her silver eyes. “He looks like a movie star. Delicious.”

“You know who I’ve come for,” Gideon announced.

“Indeed?” She tossed her thick blonde hair over her shoulder. The fading sunlight cast her face in a fiery glow. “Our Claire is the popular one. Cyril is quite taken with her, too.”

Her gaze swung to Darius, and Gideon heard the jealousy in her voice when she asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve come for her as well? Perhaps I should take lessons from our little Claire. She attracts mates like bees to the honey pot.”

Impatience reared its head. Gideon pulled the gun from his holster. He was finished chatting. “How many of you have to die before I get what I’ve come for?” Lifting the gun, he fired.

The lycan to Jesslyn’s left hit the floor with a howl. The other one charged, and Gideon fired a second time, watching numbly as he collapsed at his feet. He swung the gun back at Jess, cocking an eyebrow. She stood cool and composed.

“Where is she?” he asked, his words dropping like heavy stones into the charged air.

She stood calmly, as if members of her pack were wiped out in front of her every day. Her glittering gaze turned on Darius, ignoring Gideon entirely. “You’ve come to kill us? Your brethren? Your old pack?” she accused, her voice low.

Darius lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Should have done it a long time ago. Would have if I’d known where to find you.”

She made a clucking sound with her tongue and thrust her bottom lip out. “You’re still angry. Overher.”

“No,” Darius corrected. “I don’t feel anger anymore. I don’t feel anything at all. I am quite content on my own.”

“All this time? You haven’t fed?” She shook her head in wonder and laughed, the sound brittle. “Fool.” Smiling, she tilted her head, gaze narrowing thoughtfully. “And have you found salvation yet, Brother Darius?”

Darius didn’t answer.

“Of course not.” Her smile melted away and she gestured to the fallen two, her gaze drilling into Darius. “You’ll stand by and watch this human annihilate us?”

“No,” Darius responded quickly.

She smiled in satisfaction, but Gideon glimpsed the hint of relief behind that smile. She extended a hand to Darius, elegant fingers curling in a beckoning wave. “Welcome home, my love. I’ve missed you.”

Darius plucked the gun from his hand. Before Gideon had time to react, Darius pulled the trigger.

“Sorry I can’t say the same,” he replied, his voice flat.

Jesslyn fell to her knees, a hand pressing over the hole in her chest—as if she could staunch the blood blooming on her cotton print dress. “Darius?” she whispered, her look bewildered.

“I haven’t come towatchhim kill my old pack.” Stepping closer, he pressed the gun to her forehead. “I’ve come to help.” Then he pulled the trigger. Her body jerked and hit the ground ina soft thud. Turning, he tossed the gun to Gideon. “Better reload. They know we’re here.”

Gideon reloaded and tossed it back to him. “Looks like you’re going to need one, too.”

Pulling out a second gun, he stepped around the bodies. They resumed walking down the hall, opening every door they came to, systematically searching the rooms, closets, and adjoining bathrooms.

“Is it possible he’s not here?” Gideon asked as he opened yet another door, this one leading to a linen closet. They had to find Cyril. Cyril was the key.

“Oh, he’s here. Lying in wait.” Darius nodded grimly. “I can feel him.”

They descended the stairs, stopping before a large sunken living room. Empty. A large rock fireplace dominated the corner of the room. Gideon motioned with his gun to the large sectional couch. Darius nodded in understanding. They moved to opposite ends of the couch and peered over it. Nothing but carpet.

Gideon heard a strange scrabbling sound and looked over his shoulder. Nothing. But the sound grew louder. He swung around the precise moment a lycan dropped down into the hearth from inside the chimney, stirring up a huge cloud of soot. With an inhuman shriek, he launched himself on Darius.

Coughing through the foul air, Gideon squinted and aimed, praying he didn’t miss.

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