Ties to the Blood Moon 2nd Edition Page 17

  William was still staring at me oddly with a hint of that crooked grin of his as he walked up next to me and put his arm around the small of my back. I figured he was still trying to get used to my new look. My heart rate instantly climbed, and I felt tingly on the inside. I couldn’t explain it, but every time I was around him I got the excited feeling of a first kiss or a first date. Joseph glanced at me with a heartbroken expression, his big eyes seemed so sad, and then he turned his attention to his brothers, and mumbled something as he disappeared behind the rocks.

  Not wanting William to see the guilt I felt over Joseph. I lowered my eyes and slid my hands into my front pockets. I suddenly felt the necklace. With all the commotion, I had temporarily forgotten what Zane had said. I quickly pulled it out and held it by the chain. “We have to get back to Alaska,” I spoke with an urgency in my voice.

  William stood next to me and ran his finger down the chain, stopping the locket from spinning. “Where did you get this?”

  “Um, I got it from Zane, but it belongs to my mom,” I replied all panicky, and briefly turned to face William. “My mom wasn’t killed in a fire. Zane took her.”

  “What are you talking about?” William peered into my eyes and seemed genuinely shocked at what I’d told him.

  “I can’t explain it, but I can see things sometimes. Zane is holding my mom somewhere.” I glanced around at everybody. They were all looking at me like I had lost my mind. “Look, damn it! My. Mom. Is. Alive. When Zane handed me her locket I had a vision … or something. Anyway, I saw her in this, like, dungeon place. And she was calling out to me. I need to get home and tell my aunt.”

  “I believe you,” Luna said, with that happy-faced grin she always seemed to be able to put on in a moment’s notice.

  “No, you don’t, Luna. None of you do.” I trailed off, dropping my shoulders.

  William hugged me tightly, and I curled into his chest, accepting the comfort. “I came to take you home,” he said softly. “I came to take all you guys home.” He glanced at Luna, and the two brothers. “I’ve got an SUV not far from here, and my dad’s company plane is waiting at an air strip just south of town.”

  I know my face must have glowed with happiness because William smiled and gave me a gentle squeeze.

  ***

  The ride to the airstrip was tense at best. The sun hadn’t yet started to rise so my energy level was still up. It was like I’d drank a bunch of energy shots or something.

  Joseph hadn’t spoken a word since he saw William. He sat behind me in the SUV, but I didn’t have to look at him to feel his eyes burning through my back. William tried to hold my hand, but I acted like I wasn’t paying attention.

  When we arrived at the airstrip, the place seemed abandoned with the exception of one guy in a pair of coveralls and, of course, a really sleek looking jet.

  “This is your dad’s ‘little’ plane you mentioned?” I threw up air quotes for little.

  William just nodded and grinned slightly. “I never said little anything. This is how we Novaks roll.” He spread his arms wide, referring to the jet.

  “Can we all just get on the damn thing,” Joshua said eyeing William ominously. “It’s not safe for Gen to be here,” he spat his words at William.

  One by one we entered the jet. When I stepped inside it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. William turned to the left and went inside the cockpit.

  I just stood inside the front of the plane taking it all in. “I think I could get used to this,” I mumbled under my breath. There were sixteen seats, eight on each side, facing each other in sets of two. All the way in the back was a couch, a bar and a couple of tables.

  I waited for Joseph to sit somewhere before I took a seat. I was afraid he might sit by me and cause a fight with William.

  Before William came out of the cockpit, the intercom made that familiar doorbell noise, and I cringed as soon as I heard William’s voice. I was so afraid he was going to spout off to Luna’s brothers.

  “Ladies and gentleman, welcome aboard Novak Air Alaska. I’ve picked some mood music for the trip. Please enjoy your flight and, oh yeah … don’t forget to thank your host for this totally awesome ride home.”

  He must have timed it because the exact same time the cockpit door swung open, T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” started blaring through the speakers. He pimped down the aisle, then dropped into the seat next to mine, sprawling his long legs in the aisle, and leaning his body toward me.

  I didn’t need to look in the mirror to know I was blushing. A felt the burning go from my face down through my body. I sank deeper into my chair and turned my face away from everyone ... including William. I couldn’t understand why he was acting like a complete ass. He had won. I was with him, but it just didn’t seem good enough.

  Luna and Joseph moved from their seats closer to Joshua and James, and talked quietly among themselves. William glowered at Joseph every time he looked toward us.

  As morning started to break, my energy dissipated. I was physically and emotionally drained. Hot tears stung my eyes when I pulled out my mom’s necklace and studied it for a moment. I closed my eyes, twirling the chain between my fingers, thinking about everything that had happened. Something didn’t fit. A journey that was supposed to have been so extremely dangerous, went pretty easily, with the exception of a few dozen coyotes and Lycans.

  When I woke, everybody else was asleep except for William. His seat was empty. I sat forward, looking up and down the aisle. I was thirsty, so I went to the bar in the back and stooped down to get a soda from the little fridge underneath before taking a seat on one of the stationary bar stools on the other side.

  There was a large mirror on the wall behind the bar. I stared at my reflection, realizing it was the first time I’d really gotten to see myself since the cave. I couldn’t believe how long my hair had grown in the last few days. Most people’s hair only grew about one half inch every month. Mine must have grown six or seven inches in just days. I was in awe of the fiery color it had become. The kinkiness had turned almost perfectly straight, except for the occasional wave, and it flowed down to my waist.

  I set my drink on the bar and slowly stepped closer to the mirror, eyeing my full reflection. My arms were cut with large tight muscles. I pulled up my tee-shirt and my stomach was just as muscular, each set of muscles defined perfectly. I look almost like a body builder. I smiled briefly, then let it go when I looked more closely into the mirror. I turned my face a little to the right, then left, my fingers tracing my high cheek bones and defined jaw line. I was staring at this beautiful woman in the mirror, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that it was me.

  I jerked, and quickly spun around when the bathroom door next to me swung open. “William!” I grabbed my chest. “You scared the hell out of me.” I smiled sheepishly, knowing he had seen me staring into the mirror. My chest rose and fell with each deep breath I took, trying to slow my racing heart. His crooked grin didn’t help the situation one bit.

  “I’m glad you’re awake. I was lonely without you,” he said, pulling me in close and gazing into my eyes. “I missed you,” he whispered softly into my ear, squeezing me tightly.

  Something felt different about William. Don’t get me wrong, his touch was tantalizing, and he still made my heart skip a beat every time he said my name, but he wasn’t acting like the same guy I had left behind in Alaska. He seemed to have a smugness about himself … and I didn’t like it.

  “I want to talk to you,” he said earnestly.

  “Yeah? Well, I kinda need to talk to you.” My smile faded when I saw the look of concern on his face.

  Interlacing his fingers with mine, he led me to a small couch a few feet from the bar. I sat down and he dropped onto the seat beside me. He started to say something, but I stopped him. I didn’t know how he was going to react, but I had to tell him.

  Chapter 34

  I glanced nervously toward Luna and her brothers, and then bac
k to William. They had kicked back in their chairs and crashed … hard, although I couldn’t say they looked peaceful at all. Maybe subconsciously they already knew.

  “Hey … remember me? Hel-lo.” He nudged my shoulder, waving his hand in front of my face.

  I turned to look at him, smiling only briefly before lowering my eyes. “Sorry. I don’t want them to overhear,” I uttered.

  “What is it that has you so upset?” He asked, smiling softly.

  “It’s a long story.” I sighed heavily. “I’m not really sure where to start.” I hung my head and took a deep breath. “I’m an Adlet wolf princess,” I blurted, then cringed while waiting for his response.

  “You’re upset because you’re a princess?” His face contorted into bewilderment.

  “You’re not listening.” I shifted uncomfortably. “I’m … I’m a werewolf.” I promptly realized I’d said it too loud, and glanced toward the siblings. Luna stirred, stretching her arms high over her head, but then turned over and pulled her knees into her chest and settled again. I turned my attention back to William.

  He pursed his lips like he was angry, but it fell away quickly, turning into a slight grin. “I know.”

  I scrunched my eyebrows. Confused. “Huh? How?”

  “Are you forgetting I was at Luna’s grandfather’s with you?” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and pulled me close, resting his chin on the top of my head.

  “But, Aunt Bev said she sent you away.”

  “She did, but I didn’t leave right away. She told me to go out the back door, and left the room. I started to go, but I stopped in the hallway when I heard Luna’s grandfather’s voice.”

  “So … you …” I trailed off, unable to form the words I wanted to say.

  “I heard everything.” He pulled his head back and slowly lifted my chin so he could see into my eyes. “It doesn’t change how I feel about you.” He tenderly rubbed my chin. “Genevieve, I’ve never met anybody like you before.”

  The last few days—weeks really—began to catch up and tears gathered in my eyes. I started wiping at them, but William moved my hand away and gently wiped them for me, before cupping my face in his hands, and gazing into my eyes. As he came nearer, my heart raced wildly from the anticipation of what was about to happen. His gaze slowly dropped to my mouth, then back to my eyes, I did the same as his lips inched their way closer.

  Pleasure rippled through me the instant I felt his lips press softly against mine. His kiss was warm and gentle at first, but we both grew hungry and the gentleness quickly gave way to passion. His mouth pressed forcefully against mine, and I kissed him deeply, parting his lips impatiently when I felt his hardness pressing against me. My hands gripped his tee-shirt pulling him over on me, his hand tangled itself in my hair.

  The more he kissed me, the more I wanted him. His body grew extremely hot under my touch, and no matter how close I pulled him to me, it just wasn’t close enough. Desire burned inside me, so strong it was almost painful. He had stirred something deep within my soul, and I knew I wanted to be with him … forever.

  We both panted feverishly, as he moved eagerly between my mouth and my neck. When his tongue touched the soft place behind my ear it filled me with such ecstasy, I bit my lip hard to keep from screaming out with pleasure.

  William’s body suddenly tensed up, and he pushed himself away from me.

  I sat up, following him with my eyes. “Did I do something wrong?” I asked earnestly, shocked and hurt that he’d just suddenly broke away from me in the midst of such passion.

  He didn’t look at me when he stood up and walked to the bathroom. He threw open the door, and leaned inside. When he turned around, he handed me a tissue, but still averted my gaze. “Your lip is bleeding,” he said flatly, and then moved behind the bar and changed the music from Three Doors Down’s, “When I’m Gone” to Nickelback’s “Far Away”.

  I suddenly felt a nervous pit in the bottom of my stomach, and when I looked up Joseph was glowering at me. His eyes were cold and emotionless, and I knew he had seen William and I kissing.

  My heart ached severely. Mine and William’s first kiss had been magical, like seeing a shooting star or a fresh rainbow after a bad storm. And now, because of Joseph, I felt ashamed, like I had betrayed him. We were supposed to only be friends, but my feelings for him had grown while in New Mexico. The moment I saw William again it seemed to vanish. I never meant to hurt Joseph, but I had and nothing I could say would change it. Tears stung my eyes again, so I hurried into the bathroom and locked the door.

  I sat down on the small seat in front of the vanity, and cried quietly. I was upset when I should be elated. William’s kiss had been the most wonderful thing I’d ever felt, yet I seemed more sad than I had ever been before, except for when Aunt Bev told me of my mom’s death.

  I promptly thought about my mom and the fact that she might really be alive. No, I knew she was alive. I couldn’t exactly explain how I knew, I just did. So many aspects of my life had changed. I mean, like how many people do you actually meet in your lifetime that can say, “Oh, by the way, I’m a werewolf princess”. Yeah, right.

  I turned around and faced the mirror, staring at my reflection. I was still in awe of the changes my body had gone through when I had picked up the Crest. I ran my hand through the long tangles and pulled it into a messy bun. It startled me when someone knocked on the door.

  “Go away,” I said flatly.

  “It’s me, Luna. Please let me in,” she said softly.

  I unlocked the door, but turned my back when she came in.

  “Wow. This is way more than I expected for an airplane bathroom.” She halfway grinned, and I couldn’t help but crack a smile in return.

  She was right. The room was spacious and elegantly decorated. She turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face. “We’ll be landing soon,” she said her words muffled through the towel she was using to dry her face.

  I took a deep breath and sighed. “Don’t remind me.”

  “What are your plans, Gen?” Luna folded the towel neatly and placed it back on the counter while looking at me through the mirror. “I mean as soon as we land. You are still planning to help us take back the throne, right?” Luna paused for a moment, staring at me with pleading eyes. “If we don’t take it back, Zane won’t stop until all our people are dead, and the vampires, too. And he won’t stop with us.” Luna’s voice sounded desperate. “When he’s finished, he’ll take every Lycan along with any rebel vampires whose lives he spares and then travel to Europe to continue his reign of terror.”

  Her eyes filled with tears, and she grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at her.“Don’t you get it? He won’t stop until we’re all dead or Lycan slaves.”

  “How do you know what his plans are?” I asked incredulously. She was hesitant. Elusive. “Luna. How—do—you—know?” She still didn’t answer. I crossed my arms tightly over my chest. “If you want my help, I need to know.”

  “My … my grandfather,” Luna uttered, and lowered her eyes.

  I furrowed my brow, puzzled. “How would your grandfather know?” When she didn’t answer right away, my expression changed to one of hurt. “Why won’t you tell me?”

  “Because, I don’t want you to think the wrong thing about my grandfather.” Tears ran down her face, and she steadily wiped at her eyes.

  “I promise I won’t, Luna. You’re my best friend.” I smiled softly, pulled her close, and hugged her for a minute, then she gently pulled away and began.

  “Before the killing stopped, my grandfather called a secret meeting with Zane and another man. My grandfather made him a deal to allow the Adlet and the docile vampires to live in peace. I don’t know for sure what the conditions were because I got there late, but Joshua said my grandfather must have agreed to allow Zane to take the throne. Right after their meeting, Zane did disappear, but the killing didn’t stop—not completely, anyway. I mean, until you came he hadn’t bothered our kind, but human
s and vampires kept disappearing.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Why would your grandfather agree to something like that? Does he think it’s okay to sacrifice some to save others?”

  “Of course not. But he’ll do whatever he has to in order to save his people.”

  “Who was the other man?” I asked, taking it all in.

  “I don’t know. He spoke with a heavy accent, though. He definitely wasn’t from Alaska.”

  “Hey in there,” William called out through the door and we both jumped. “We’re getting ready to land. You girls might want to buckle up. It could get rough. We’re about to hit a storm.”

  I shot Luna a severe look. “We’ll talk about this later.”

  Chapter 35

  Thunderous booms vibrated the plane and lightning strikes hit all around us as we began our descent through the clouds. Luna’s brothers tried to act all cool, but I saw right through them. They were just as frightened as us girls. I had come back up to the front at Luna’s insistence, but I really wanted to be with William.

  He seemed to be the only one completely untouched by the storm. He leaned back in one of the back seats with his eyes closed, and hands clasped together, resting them across his waist. I kept looking at him out of the corner of my eye, but he never moved. We had just shared the most wonderful moment and now he was acting as if the whole thing never happened.

  My mind switched to what Luna had told me. Why would her grandfather make a deal with a monster like Zane? Maybe he never intended for us to find the Crest. But why would he risk the safety of his grandchildren?

  “Hey,” I whispered to Luna, who was frantically chewing on her thumbnail, and squeezing the hell out of my hand. She closed her eyes tightly each time she saw a bolt of lightning. “We’re not going to die.” I patted the top of her hand and she cracked open her eyes just in time for the plane to jump around from the wind pockets.