Moonlight Kin 4: Tristan

by Jordan Summers

  “I need to use the bathroom.” He practically leapt off her.

  Isabel cracked an eye open. “You must have to go bad.”

  He caught a glimpse of the hickey on her neck and stopped short. Had he broken the skin? Please goddess no. Tristan ran his tongue over his teeth, but didn’t taste anyone’s blood but his own.

  “How’s your shoulder?” he asked, hoping he hadn’t hurt her.

  “It’s a little tender, but I’ll live,” she said.

  “Don’t worry, I didn’t break the skin,” he said.

  “I wasn’t worried. It kind of felt good.” Isabel’s lashes fluttered open all the way. Her smile slowly faded as she caught sight of him. “Are you okay? Your arm is bleeding.”

  Tristan put on his social mask. He wore it anytime he needed to avoid emotional entanglement. “It’s nothing,” he snapped and shoved his arm behind his back.

  “Doesn’t look like nothing to me, Frosty.” She rolled onto her side to get a better look.

  Tristan gritted his teeth. “I said it’s nothing. Leave it alone.”

  Isabel’s brow rose, but she didn’t say anything else.

  Tristan rushed into the bathroom.

  He felt like an ass. He never rushed out of a woman’s bed, but tonight he’d had no choice. Tristan stared at his reflection in the mirror. His wolf stared back.

  “What were you thinking?” he muttered.

  The wolf snarled and bared its teeth.

  Tristan turned the water on and splashed it over his face. The cool liquid wasn’t enough to diffuse the panic. He reached for the shower nozzle instead. Once he had the shower set to cold, Tristan took off the lodestone necklace and set it on the side of the sink, then stepped beneath the spray.

  The water took his breath away but did little to ease the tension inside of him. He’d read the reports about Damon Laroche and Aidan Fortier. He’d even gone to check on them in person.

  He’d been so certain that choosing humans for mates was due to their bloodline that he’d dismissed the cases as anomalies. But there’d been no mistaking what had happened with Isabel.

  From all the reports Tristan had read and the wolves he’d interviewed, he knew that the only time a wolf locked inside a woman was when it found its mate. He liked Isabel. How could he not? But she was human. And humans weren’t meant to mate with the Moonlight Kin. It was a fact his wolf would have to accept.

  * * * * *

  Izzy hadn’t expected flowers or for Tristan to fix her dinner, but she’d thought he’d at least be polite enough to stick around for a few minutes after they’d had sex.

  She pulled the blanket around her, feeling chilled despite the heat. Izzy didn’t feel used. She’d entered into this with her eyes wide open. But she did feel cheap. Tristan must’ve thought the same. He’d barely been able to look at her. When he had met her gaze, he’d appeared positively panic-stricken.

  It was obvious he had more than a few regrets about what they’d done.

  The worst part was Izzy didn’t. The sex was beyond a doubt the best she’d ever had. She’d tried to hold part of herself back, while keeping lust at the forefront, but it hadn’t worked.

  Despite her best efforts, feelings had worked their way into the equation. Unwelcome feelings. Feelings that would only end up hurting her, when it was time to walk away.

  When did she start caring about him? She couldn’t care about him. They weren’t even the same species. For some reason that didn’t seem to matter to her stupid, stupid heart.

  Izzy had to get out of here. She couldn’t face Tristan, not after what just happened.

  His opinion of humans wasn’t going to be changed by great sex, and she wasn’t dumb enough to believe that what had occurred was anything other than a roll in the sack.

  She listened to the shower. The sound sent pain slashing through her. It was as if he was washing the whole event away, washing her away. Maybe he was. If she were smart, she’d do the same.

  Izzy glanced out the window. It was still daylight, but it wouldn’t be for much longer. She slipped off the bed and quickly got dressed in a pair of sweats and a T-shirt.

  Her gaze shot to the bathroom door. It was still closed, and the shower was still going. Izzy grabbed her purse. She quickly found her phone and hit the pre-programmed number.

  The phone rang...outside the front door of the cabin.

  Izzy looked up and found Stone standing in the doorway, glaring at her.

  “Looks like I got here just in time,” he said.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Twelve

  Izzy grabbed her tote bag and threw what little clothes she had inside it. “We need to hurry,” she said. “Tristan will be out any minute.”

  “The car’s unlocked,” Stone said. “You go ahead. I’ll be right out.”

  “Are you insane?” she asked. “Come on.”

  “Just go!” Stone snarled.

  Izzy cursed under her breath and rushed outside. She threw her tote into the backseat of Stone’s car and waited. When he didn’t come out right away, she went back in.

  “What are you doing?” she hissed.

  “Taking care of the problem once and for all,” he said.

  The blood drained from Izzy’s face. “You can’t hurt him.” Just the thought of Tristan being hurt left her feeling adrift.

  “Yes, I can,” Stone said.

  Izzy grabbed his arm and swung him around to face her. “I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was I don’t want you to hurt him.” She didn’t want to stay with Tristan any longer. It would just cause too much pain. But she darn sure didn’t want to be part of any plan to hurt him. “Let’s go.”

  His amber gaze hardened. “You wouldn’t be saying that if you hadn’t slept with him.”

  “How did you—”

  Stone yanked her hair to the side.

  Izzy slapped his hand away. “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for bite marks,” he said.

  “Tristan didn’t bite me,” she said. At least not hard enough to break the skin. “He’s not a vampire.”

  “That hickey on your neck says otherwise,” Stone said. “You’re a lucky lady. If he had bit you, there’d be no getting away from him.”

  What did he mean by that? And why didn’t the idea frighten her more? “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Izzy said, glancing at the bathroom door. “Time to go.” If Tristan found Stone in the cabin, there would be bloodshed.

  “Go to the car, Izzy,” Stone said.

  She wasn’t going anywhere.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said.

  Izzy put her hands on her hips. “I won’t, if we leave now.”

  Stone’s gaze locked on hers. “I have to slow him down so we can get away. If I don’t, he’ll be on us immediately.”

  “And just how do you intend to do that?” Izzy asked.

  “I’ll think of something.” Stone glanced at the small knife rack in the kitchen.

  Izzy followed his gaze. “Don’t even think about it,” she said.

  “Wait in the car.”

  “If you’re not out in one minute,” Izzy said. “I’m leaving without you. I mean it.”

  * * * * *

  Tristan stayed in the shower until his skin pruned. He couldn’t hide in here all night. He’d have to face Isabel eventually. Better to do it sooner rather than later. He would simply go out and tell her that they’d made a mistake—that he’d made a mistake.

  He shut the water off and grabbed a towel. He was drying himself when his head swam. Tristan clutched the sink and rubbed his temple. What was wrong with him? He didn’t get sick. Ever.

  Tristan glanced at the lodestone next to his hand. It glowed bright as a star. He cursed and picked it up. The Darkling had to be close. Really close. Tristan pulled the necklace on over his head. He instantly felt better, but the magic in the stone would only protect him for so long. He secured the towel around his waist then reached for the
doorknob.

  “Isabel,” he called out.

  There was no answer.

  Maybe she’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t late, but he had kept her busy for well over an hour.

  “Isabel,” Tristan said, then inhaled. The scent of dark magic filled his lungs. Fear enveloped him as he felt his muscles weaken.

  He had to get out there and protect Isabel before the Darkling drained him completely. Tristan called to his wolf, but he couldn’t shift. Not with the Darkling controlling his power. He tried again and managed to grow some claws.

  Those deadly weapons and the lodestone around his neck would have to be enough until he got to his sword. Tristan shoved the bathroom door open and rushed out.

  He saw the Darkling stumble as he drew nearer. Tristan didn’t see Isabel. Where was she? Had it harmed her? He managed to rake the Darkling with his claws. Tristan heard a loud yip then saw a cast-iron pan coming at his head. He didn’t have time to duck.

  Colors exploded behind his eyes as the pan smashed into him. Tristan dropped to the floor. He tried to rise, but the Darkling hit him again. This time the colors dancing in his vision faded to black, along with the world around him. His only regret was that he hadn’t been able to save Isabel.

  * * * * *

  Izzy heard a loud bang and rushed back into the house. She came through the door in time to see Stone approach Tristan. He had a butcher knife in his hand. Tristan was on the floor. Blood pooled around his head, and he wasn’t moving.

  How had Stone overpowered him so easily? She didn’t think it was possible.

  Stone raised the knife over his head and prepared to plunge it into Tristan’s bare back.

  Izzy rushed forward and shoved him aside. “What are you doing? Can’t you see that he’s down? He’s not going anywhere.” Perhaps ever. Tears filled her eyes. All Izzy wanted to do was get away, so she wouldn’t have to face the emotions Tristan stirred inside of her.

  Rage filled Stone’s amber eyes. “If I don’t kill him, he’ll just keep coming after us.”

  “You said you just wanted to slow him down,” she said. “Was that a lie?”

  His jaw clenched.

  Izzy knelt down beside Tristan. “You told me that we were better than the monsters,” she said, trying to swallow past the lump in her throat. He was still breathing, but his breaths were shallow. She hadn’t meant for any of this to happen.

  “We are,” Stone said, yanking her to her feet.

  “Then prove it!” Izzy shouted. “Come with me right now. If you don’t, I’ll know you’re no better than them.”

  She glanced down. There was so much blood. It soaked his blond hair, turning it crimson. Izzy’s stomach lurched.

  “I’m going to be sick.” She stumbled to the door, half faking and half telling the truth.

  Stone swore loudly and dropped the knife. He grabbed her by the elbow and shouldered the screen door open. He led her down the stairs and over to the car.

  “You’re an idiot,” he said. “You know that?”

  “We need to call an ambulance,” she said. “This whole thing has gone too far.”

  “You’re not calling anybody. That’s not a human in there. It’s a monster.” He shoved her in the passenger seat and slammed the door behind her. Stone ran around the front of the car and climbed behind the wheel. “Buckle up.”

  He threw the car into drive and mashed his foot down on the gas pedal. The car lurched and the tires spun, sending mud flying into the air.

  Izzy scrambled to get her seatbelt on. “Do you think Tristan will be okay?” she asked.

  Stone glared at her. “I sure as hell hope not,” he said.

  Her heart sank. “We need to call for help,” she said.

  “I told you no. Do you want to get the paramedics killed?”

  “No,” Izzy said. Would Tristan harm an innocent person? Normally, she’d say no, but there was nothing normal about this situation. Wounded animals often lashed out at the people trying to help them.

  “Sit back and be quiet,” Stone said. “I need to think.”

  Izzy just couldn’t shake the image of Tristan lying on the cabin floor. “Pull over,” she said. “I need to go back. I have to make sure he’s okay.”

  “No,” Stone said. “You need to calm down and think. What do you think would happen if you went back there right now?”

  “I’d be able to check on him,” she said. “Make sure he didn’t have a concussion.”

  “Then what?” he asked. “You’d wait around until he figured out that you called me?”

  She had called him. Izzy had only wanted help with getting away, but would Tristan see it that way once he recovered—if he recovered?

  Izzy thought about what Tristan had told her about his job. He was paid to eliminate any and all threats to the Moonlight Kin. This move certainly put her in the threat category. Tristan didn’t strike her as being very forgiving.

  Perhaps the Death card had been referring to her death after all. Izzy pictured Tristan’s cold slate eyes and felt fresh tears burn her eyes.

  Stone looked at her. “Now you finally understand why I wanted to kill him.”

  Izzy glanced at him. “Just because I understand your reasoning doesn’t mean that I agree with you,” she said, angrily wiping the tears away before they could fall. “My name is Izzy, not Buffy. This isn’t the movies. We’re not Slayers.”

  His amber eyes narrowed. “Speak for yourself,” Stone said, then clutched his head and groaned.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “I’ll be fine once we put more distance between us and the monster,” he said.

  She pointed to his bloody shirt. “Tristan wouldn’t have done that to you if you hadn’t attacked him.”

  “Stop giving the monster a name,” he said.

  “I didn’t,” Izzy said. “That is his name.”

  “You just couldn’t keep your legs closed. Could you?” he asked in disgust.

  Izzy’s face flamed.

  Stone hit the steering wheel with his fists. “I should’ve killed him when I had the chance.”

  He might already be dead. A wave of pain followed the insidious thought.

  “Listen, I don’t know what happened to you before we met, but I can tell that you’re carrying a lot on your shoulders,” she said.

  Izzy had thought she and Stone were alike, two lost souls trapped in a world full of monsters. Now she knew that wasn’t the case. Something had pushed him over the edge long before tonight.

  She’d have to live with what she’d done to Tristan. If it turned out that he was dead, then she’d accept the consequences of her actions, even if that meant her death. If Tristan was still alive, then she’d cross that bridge when she got to it.

  “I appreciate you getting me out of there, but I think when we get to town we should split up.”

  Stone yanked the car over to the side of the road. “We aren’t going into town,” he said.

  Izzy’s stomach pitched. “Where are we going?”

  “To my house to lay low for the night,” he said.

  “I thought you said that you lived in an apartment in town,” she said.

  He glanced out the window. “That’s what I told you at the time because I didn’t know you.” Didn’t trust you, was left unsaid.

  They drove to one of the wards that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. There’d been so many that Izzy wasn’t sure which one they were in. Most of the people who’d lived in this one hadn’t returned. The houses were still boarded up, and spray-painted signs covered many of the outer walls. It reminded Izzy of a warzone.

  Stone drove down the deserted street to the last house at the end of the lane. He pulled into the driveway. Unlike the other homes they’d passed, this one’s lawn was neatly trimmed, and plywood didn’t cover the windows.

  Flowerbeds lined the home’s foundation, and the shutters around the windows were painted bright lavender. Stone didn’t strike Izzy as a lavender kind of guy
, but she didn’t know him well.

  “We should be safe here until tomorrow night,” he said, killing the engine.

  “What happens tomorrow night?” Izzy asked.

  Stone looked at her. “We leave town for good.” He swayed on his feet when he climbed out and had to catch the side of the door to steady himself.

  “You sure you’re okay?” she asked. “Do you want me to take a look at that wound?”

  “I said I’m fine,” he snapped, then moved toward the door.

  The stench of death punched Izzy in the face the second she stepped out of the car. She nearly dropped her tote in an attempt to cover her nose.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  Stone’s confused expression cleared. “Oh, an alligator wandered into the backyard. I had to kill it.”

  “Is it lying in the backyard now?” she asked. “Because that will only draw more of them. They can smell decomp from quite a distance.”

  “No, I shoved the corpse into the shed until I can dispose of it properly,” he said, then continued toward the front door.

  “Don’t you mean carcass?” Izzy asked.

  Stone hesitated. “Yeah, sure,” he said, then added, “Stay out of the backyard. There might be more of them hanging around.”

  Izzy stayed by the car.

  He noticed she wasn’t beside him. “You coming?” Stone asked.

  She looked at the decrepit neighborhood. It was almost dark. At first glance, it appeared abandoned, but that didn’t mean there weren’t gangs roaming around the area. And apparently alligators.

  Stone waited for her next to the door.

  Tonight, she was all out of options. Izzy hoisted her tote higher onto her shoulder and walked to the house. Stone stepped inside before she reached the porch and dropped his bag next to the door. He walked into the kitchen when Izzy reached the doorway.