Blue Moon Magic 4: Night of the Blue Moon

by Lynn Crain

  Cordelia twitched a little and Connor could tell she hadn’t liked what the old man had said.

  “Yes, you heard me right, experiment, but one we decided to terminate right away.”

  “What kind of experiment?”

  “We were actually trying to develop some kind of vaccine against a Beta bite.”

  “A Beta bite?” Connor looked confused.

  “One of the things that we have looked at over the years has been our biology. We could never understand the fact whenever we fought the Betas that a least one person, sometimes more, would die when bitten.”

  “Why would that happen?” Cordelia asked.

  “Good question, young lady. We discovered a few of the Betas actually have a bacteria that can kill any vulnerable wolf. And it didn’t matter if they were Beta, Alpha, or Elite. So we decided to develop a vaccine. Unfortunately, there were some good things and there were some very bad things about this biological agent we developed.”

  “What were they?”

  “Well, it did protect us if all we got was a bite and it would kill the Beta who bit us almost immediately.”

  “And the bad?” Connor prompted.

  “The bad…the bad was that it made anyone who took it sterile. That’s why you’re an only child, Cordelia. Your parents volunteered to try the first batch. It never went beyond that.”

  “I always wondered why Mom and Dad didn’t have more kids,” she murmured.

  “Now you know.” Charles looked at his hands on the desk. “That was the one and only time we did anything biological at all. We decided that no wolf would be safe if we continued to go in that direction.”

  “Do you think that bacteria has anything to do with why the Betas are so aggressive? Why they always want to kill the Elites or even the Alphas?”

  “I don’t know, Connor, I really don’t know. I suppose we could look into it.”

  “So that explains part of it but there’s one thing I just don’t understand. Why are they after me?” Cordelia looked intently at them both.

  “You have the answer to that one, Cordelia. Just look at your pedigree.”

  “Pedigree?” Connor looked confused.

  Cordelia swallowed hard. “It’s because of the Sinclairs and the Masons and the Langfords, isn’t it?”

  “I believe that is only part of the reason they want you. Remember what I said when we first started this conversation?”

  “About me knowing a lot about everything?”

  “Yes. That fact alone would make you a very valuable asset to the Betas if they could turn you to their way of thinking. If what Connor said is true, that they want to kill everyone close to me, you would be a logical target.” Someone knocked on the door and came in without waiting for an answer.

  “Hi, guys! Where’s everyone?” Clarity barged in. “Oh, you’re all here.” She smiled at both her father and Conner before turning to Cordelia. “I thought you would be out front.” She peered at her a little closer. “What the hell happened to you?”

  Cordelia got out of her chair. “I’d rather not discuss it right now.”

  Connor chuckled. “Let’s just say there was a dispute over territory last night.”

  “Territory?” Clarity looked from one to the other.

  “I really don’t want to get into it right now, Clarity. I’ll explain later. Right now I’ve got to call my parents and tell them Lucas is coming. Plus, I need to tell them what to pack for Iain.”

  “Where’s Iain going?” Charity questioned as she came in through the door. “And does anyone know where my husband is? I tried to find him but couldn’t. I thought we were having lunch with everyone.” She too looked more closely at Cordelia. “Are you sporting a shiner?”

  “Iain’s coming here and your lunch is on the way. I ordered it to be here at noon. Now, if you’ll excuse me.…” She pushed her way through the sisters, her hand covering her face, and went out into the hall with Connor close on her heels. “Connor, please, I really need some time alone with all this.”

  Moving behind her, he enfolded her in his arms and gently rubbed her forearms. “I understand. It came as a shock to me when we started talking about it. I’m really sorry.”

  She looked up at him, apprehension filled her face. “I know I should be grateful, and really I am, but he’s my son, Connor. Rowan sent you to take my son away from me. Or worse.” Tears formed in her eyes and she reached up to brush them away.

  At that moment all the tenderness he had ever felt welled up in his heart and he gathered her into his arms. Still, he had to be completely honest with her. “Worse. I’m sure it was worse. I am so sorry, baby. If I could take it back, I would, I really would.”

  “Connor, you don’t understand. I’ve been an Elite soldier, I understand what they try to do to you when they have one of us in their clutches.”

  “I do, too.”

  “I suppose, in a way, you do when you look at it from your perspective.” She pulled back and looked at him, eyes shining. “But you don’t, at least not from an Elite perspective, and certainly not from a woman’s. I can understand why Mr. Langford wants me to train you. I don’t have a problem with that.”

  “Then just what is your problem?” he asked quietly, looking at her.

  “What have they done to you?”

  “Done?” Connor shook his head. “Just what are you getting at?”

  “The Betas always do something to their victims. Most of the time we can see it. Sometimes we can’t.”

  Connor released her. “You think they may have done something to me that we can’t see?”

  “I don’t know, Connor, I just don’t know.”

  Chapter Six

  Connor tried his best to enjoy the family lunch planned in his honor. But no matter what he tried, he came up short. Cordelia’s last comment weighed heavily on him as he tried to fit his mind around the scheme of things.

  Sitting back after completing his meal, he enjoyed the easy banter the family seemed to have. Many times they tried to include him and when he had something to say, he didn’t hesitate to comment. A lot of things came in the form of questions. Had he had any formal schooling? Had he learned any of the wolfen histories at all? What did he know about their family? What did he know about Rowan and the Betas? Had he ever suspected he was one of them?

  The last he could answer easily.

  “You know, I really always felt that I didn’t quite fit in but the moment Clarity showed up, I knew something was definitely wrong.”

  “How so?” Justin questioned.

  “Well, it’s kinda hard to explain.”

  “Try,” Lucas coaxed.

  Connor had been relieved when Lucas had finally showed up because that meant those dear to Cordelia were safe.

  “I’ll try.” He steepled his hands in front of his face for a moment, contemplating the best way to answer this question. It was so hard to explain for a man who had kept his emotions hidden for so many years. “When they first dragged her in, I felt queasy -- sick to my stomach. The closer she was, the worse it was. I’m guessing it was an empathic reaction to the pain my sister was in.”

  “I would hazard a guess your observation is totally true.” Tom Morrison, Clarity’s mate, nodded his head in agreement. Connor liked this man a lot as he seemed in many cases the voice of reason. “That would make perfect sense because of your close psychic connection to your siblings. Even though you didn’t know you had it. I don’t recall ever seeing something like that in the histories but there are a lot of things I don’t know about wolfen psychic history. Especially when it relates to a firstborn. I would like to test your psychic ability if possible sometime.”

  “Not a problem, Tom.” Connor could see the benefit of knowing what he could and couldn’t do.

  “Tom, I have something else for you to test.” Everyone turned to Cordelia, who had slipped quietly in the room and stood next to the door with her arms crossed. “Well…when we were… fighting last night, Connor did some
thing that I had only heard about but had never seen.”

  “What’s that, Cordelia?” Lucas asked, his interest piqued.

  “I was coming for him and when he splayed his hand out toward me as if to ward me away, I ended up on my butt.”

  “Really?” Lucas pursed his lips. “I’ve heard about some wolfen psychics doing that. And according to the histories, the firstborn psychics are more powerful and can actually move things. There are even a few more powerful than that but I don’t recall what they were called or even what they did, really.”

  “Tom, can you please put that on the testing agenda for Connor? We need to know all his abilities if possible.” Charles turned to his son. “I understand you don’t know how you’re going to fit in around here, son. Neither do we. Each test will hopefully give us some idea of what you are best suited to…what would best fit your abilities.”

  “Not a problem. I totally understand. I’m just glad that I read everything I could when I was younger. At least I’m not coming off like a country bumpkin or something.”

  Everyone chuckled.

  “I think we need to get back to work, everyone. This company won’t run itself. We have consults to do and plans to complete. Cordelia, a moment, please?”

  Connor stood and watched everyone file out. Each of the women came and gave him a hug or a quick peck on the cheek.

  “Connor, please wait outside for Cordelia. I need to talk to her alone, if you don’t mind.”

  * * * * *

  “What did you say to Connor? He seemed a little off during the luncheon.”

  Cordelia swallowed hard. “Told him that he had never seen what the Betas did to people from our perspective.”

  “I’m sure it was more that just that, Cordelia. Just what did you say to my son?”

  “Mr. Langford, you and I both know that sometimes the Betas did things to our people that we couldn’t even see. I told Connor about that. Was that unwise?”

  Charles came to stand by her and patted her hand. “No, dear, I don’t think that was unwise. I just think it has him bothered. Really bothered. He told us he felt they let him get away too easily.”

  “Too easily?”

  “From all accounts, it’s as if he just walked out of the forest and got into the limo.”

  Cordelia arched her eyebrows. “Interesting.”

  “Yeah. Did your family get settled?”

  “Yes, I believe that everyone is settled. We’ve all managed to fit into the company apartment on this floor.” Cordelia sighed. “It’s a little tight.”

  “Is that going to be a problem with Connor there?” Charles eyed his secretary carefully.

  “I’ll make sure it’s not a problem. After all, sir, we would have had to stay in the same place if he’s my twenty-four/seven assignment. He already had the master suite and we’ve taken all the other rooms.” She pursed her lips. Anyone looking at her could tell this was a situation she really didn’t like.

  “That’s true enough. Is there anything that you think you or your family will need?”

  “I know that Iain is going to need to have some outside playtime. I just can’t expect a four-year-old to stay cooped up in an apartment all the time.” She crossed her arms and rubbed the back of her neck.

  “I’ll see if we can make the family compound down the river totally safe and secure. Maybe we can all go there for the weekend or at least for part of a day.” Charles patted her back in encouragement. This wasn’t the best situation to be in but it was the only solution at the present moment.

  “Is that a good thing to do, sir?” Concern spread across her face.

  “I’m not sure it will be, Cordelia, but I do believe it will be a much deserved break for all of us. We’ve all been working really hard. We’ll make it work.”

  “Thank you. You’ve always been generous to me, Mr. Langford.” Cordelia smiled.

  “Please start calling me Charles. Mr. Langford is way too formal and I’ve always felt you were part of the family.”

  She blushed slightly. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Do you think you can bring him up to speed quickly?” The authority was back in his voice.

  “Depends what you really mean by up to speed…Charles.” Cordelia hesitated a moment, never having called her boss by his given name.

  “How’re his fighting skills?”

  She gave a very unladylike snort. “Sorry.”

  “Not a problem if that snort was given honestly.” He smiled back at her.

  She chuckled. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about his fighting skills. I believe that’s what they really trained him for at Rowan’s camp. It makes you wonder what exactly they had in mind for him.”

  “So you really think he’s ready in that area?” A flash of concern crossed the old man’s face.

  “He’s no slouch. And he definitely cleaned my clock. I thought for a moment I was going to go down. This man knows what he’s doing. He’s not like the rest of them. He’s quick on his feet and he anticipates an opponent’s move. And weaknesses. I don’t think it’s just the psychic thing, either. He knew exactly how to get me. It’s been a long time, though, since I’ve done any training.” Cordelia rubbed the side of her head as if remembering the blow.

  “That’s good to know.” Charles did his best not to smile and hid his face behind his hand.

  “That doesn’t mean I didn’t get a few well deserved punches here and there. I did. I just think he was afraid to hit me too hard at first because I am a woman. It wasn’t until I hit him a few times with some force in it that he finally slugged me.”

  “I guess he’s never had to fight any Beta women.”

  She laughed. “I guess not as we both know they can be formidable characters.” They stood there quietly for a moment. “Why do you think Rowan didn’t take a lifemate?”

  Charles let out a sigh. “I think he probably thought Mariah was his lifemate.”

  “That’s Connor’s mother, right?” She didn’t know much about what had really happened, just what little Connor had told her in the moments they were walking to Charles’s office that morning.

  “Yes. He had fallen hard for her at the same time I did…and killed her because of it.”

  “I’m sorry, Charles, but Rowan’s actions can’t be blamed on you. A person’s goodness or badness comes from within themselves. I really don’t believe all that hogwash about it being genetic to the Betas either. They can’t blame anyone else for it. Sure, outside influences can swing a person one way or another. Still, it’s the person who has to ultimately decide what’s right and wrong. Rowan knows what’s right and wrong. This vendetta that has been going on for so long I would bet is based upon something that doesn’t matter anymore.” Her voice took on a deliberate tone because Charles didn’t look convinced.

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  “Of course I am. Look at Connor. He had bad all around him. But I can tell he’s a really good person.” Cordelia placed her hand on the older man’s arm.

  “The thing with your son is just one example, I suppose.” He leaned back on the edge of his desk.

  “Yes. He had a choice and he chose the right thing for my boy. He told me he felt they had planned something much worse than kidnapping and murder. It could have happened a million other ways. But it didn’t. He overcame his supposed upbringing and did what he knew was right.” Her eyes shone and relief was evident on her face.

  “That he did.”

  “Still, I know what the Betas can do to a person mentally. And that’s what I’m really afraid of. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”

  “No, I suppose you wouldn’t after what you have been through with them.”

  In a closely guarded covert operation, Cordelia had been captured and tortured for several days before she was rescued. They had wanted her for the Breeding Barn. Rowan had only tortured her because every time a wolf tried to breed with her she almost killed them. Still, there were some hazy moments that she
didn’t want to look too closely at for a lot of reasons.

  “That’s a memory I can do without.” Glancing at her watch, she continued, “I really better get back to Connor. He’s probably wondering what’s up by now.”

  “I agree. I know that you’ll be discreet where you need to be. One other thing before you go.”

  “Yes?” She turned to face him.

  “Do you think that if Rowan was gone the Betas could better integrate into normal wolfen society?”

  “I think they would have a shot. I mean, there wouldn’t be someone harping on them all the time that they have to fight us. I remember Rowan would tell his people that they couldn’t rest until every one of us were dead. It was like the daily mantra.”

  “What a terrible way to live.” Charles shook his head in disbelief. That any wolfen had to live that way was mind-boggling.

  “I think Connor experienced this when he was younger but he doesn’t seem to have any lasting effects. Or so it appears.” She watched him carefully, trying to gauge his reactions to her statement.

  “Ah…that’s why you think he might have a problem.” A look of concern spread across his face.

  “There are some other things too that I can’t quite put my finger on.”

  “Such as?”

  “Psychic things. Human or wolfen, our minds are a fragile thing. Sure, Connor has had to endure probably more that any other Elite in our history, and it appears he’s okay. It’s just the subliminal messages that I’m worried about. The things that will take me time to read.” Cordelia really didn’t want to go over this with him. Not yet anyway.

  “We had someone like that once. He actually self-destructed because he couldn’t reconcile what his mind was telling him to do and what was the right thing. Tragic, actually.” A profound look of sadness crossed Charles’s face.

  “I don’t want Connor to be the second.” Cordelia set her jaw, believing what she said with all her heart.

  * * * * *

  Connor wondered what they could be talking about in there as he waited in the outer office. Scowling, he again thought about what Cordelia had said earlier and tried to think of things that were said or done to him during his lifetime with the Betas. He got up and began to pace the small confines of the waiting room of his father’s office.