By the Red Moonlight

by Amanda Meuwissen

  “Ethan,” a voice called from behind him, and he spun to see—

  Nothing.

  “H-hello?” Ethan stuttered, turning in a slow circle to determine where the voice had come from.

  “Don’t worry, Ethan. You’re on the right track. Right where you should be.”

  “Sorry?” Ethan turned again, because he couldn’t see anyone, but the voice was familiar, even though he couldn’t place it.

  “Trust in Bashir, Ethan. You know you can, and let him trust in you. He is very alluring, isn’t he? Everything you ever desired?”

  “I….” Ethan felt a rush of embarrassment but couldn’t deny that. “Yes,” he said in a quiet whisper.

  “Then don’t fight it. Keep doing exactly as you are.”

  “Okay,” Ethan said, letting the truth flow through him like a comforting embrace, no longer caring about the voice’s origin or the dark surrounding him.

  “Good boy,” the voice said, and then Ethan saw him, saw… something moving toward him out of the nearest alley, shadowy and indistinct but with a flash of bright yellow eyes.

  “Welcome home.”

  ETHAN GULPED in air he no longer needed to breathe as he shot up in bed, awake—and still in the wine cellar.

  He dropped back onto the mattress and tried to dismiss the terrible dream. He didn’t know why it bothered him so much, it hadn’t been anything all that menacing, yet he still felt invaded, like that tingly feeling at the back of your neck when someone’s watching you. All because….

  Because….

  What had he been dreaming about again? He couldn’t remember. He always remembered his dreams, but this one kept slipping away. He’d wanted to tell Bash about it.

  Bash, Ethan thought with sudden remembrance and rolled toward the empty space beside him. Bash was gone, but there was a note on his pillow.

  Guess I didn’t kill you in the morning. Be back soon. – B

  Ethan smiled. The one good thing about this messed-up situation was Bash, and Ethan had slept through him getting up and leaving. With a sigh, Ethan removed the note from the pillow and rolled onto Bash’s side of the bed to take in his intoxicating scent, much stronger where he’d slept than in the borrowed, washed sleep clothes.

  Ethan should be freaking out about now, but even locked in a cellar like the prisoner he’d been for six long months, he felt comforted being able to wrap himself in Bash’s scent, like he was exactly where he should be.

  “BASH? ARE you with me?”

  Bash startled out of his thoughts. He hadn’t meant to drift off, but as engaging as Jay Russell could be—he truly was a good man, a good Alpha, handsome and capable—Bash’s mind wasn’t on their lunch date at all.

  He’d gotten up early to handle damage control with his circle and to ensure that no one got antsy about the new normal of a vampire living in the basement.

  Getting everyone in the same room on any given day was a challenge, but Bash spread the word that this was mandatory. Having one large shared kitchen was part of the communal environment he tried to nurture in his inner circle, and they really were a family when they were together.

  “Did I miss something important last night?” Nell asked. She had light brown hair down to her waist, pale blue eyes, and always wore colorful dresses with dangling adornments. She was also their lone human, which was unheard of in other cities’ inner circles, but Nell was a natural-born witch, gifted in defensive and supplemental magic, whereas Preston’s was more offensive, earning Nell the role of Shaman, final member of Bash’s circle.

  An Alpha’s rule covered every pack, every shifter within their city, but their inner circle was a six-pointed star, with the Alpha at the head, a Second beneath, and around them for support a Warden to keep the peace, Magister to monitor magic, Councilor to instill loyalty, and Shaman to keep them protected and concealed, covering everything any shifter in the city might need, and everything necessary to keep them safe from humans.

  Even if one of them was human.

  “Would you like me to check on him?” Nell asked after Bash had explained the situation, but he dismissed her offer. He’d likely need her eventually, given they were dealing with a newborn, but not yet.

  “Soon. I don’t want anyone getting close until I give the okay.”

  “What’s he like?” Luke asked, jittery in his seat. Like most cats, he was endlessly curious, yet could still be easily spooked.

  “I liked him,” Siobhan said, “when I met him as a human. Sweet guy, maybe a little excitable and dorky, so you two should get along fine—if he doesn’t eat you.”

  Luke stuck his tongue out at her, but Bash also noticed the werecat shiver. Luke honestly feared that might happen.

  If Bash was being honest, so did he.

  Siobhan filled the others in on the ex-con portion of the story, as well as why Ethan had ended up at Glenwood Penitentiary. “Good artist too. Of course, that was before he became a bloodsucker.”

  “What about negotiations with Russell?” Preston pushed like he had last night, ever the analytical one.

  “Don’t worry,” Bash assured him. “I have everything under control.”

  Or so he hoped.

  “Apologies,” Bash said to Jay now, reaching to take a sip of water. When Jay had mentioned a touristy spot, Bash had politely suggested something more intimate. This particular bistro was one of his favorites, small but cozy with divine food, yet Bash had barely touched his meal. He was making a terrible impression, allowing himself to be distracted. “Long night.”

  “Oh? You said you needed time alone. Halloween rituals to attend to or just a pack party?” Jay smiled. He never stopped trying to win Bash over. Not that he was bad at it, but Bash had never felt that elusive spark between them.

  It shouldn’t be necessary; this was a marriage of convenience and political stability, not love. Bash never expected to find love, but Jay did. He craved it openly and wanted them to be more. It wounded Bash not to be able to give him that, because while he could be civil and provide pretty lies, he couldn’t give his heart completely, not to someone who didn’t make his pulse race.

  Jay was handsome, large, and muscular, with blue eyes that sparkled, tan skin, and an alluring early speckle of gray in the temples of his sandy blond hair.

  He was safe. He was easy.

  Bash craved a challenge.

  They were closer in age, at least. Ethan was younger, midtwenties at most. Not that Bash should be thinking about Ethan right now.

  “Nothing so exciting,” Bash said with a smile of his own. “Just a touch fried. I went to bed early.” That wasn’t technically a lie. “I wanted to be sure I could give you my full attention, yet here I go, getting distracted and ruining our meal.”

  “Oh no, not at all. Is there anything I can help with to ease your mind? Or am I the problem?” Jay grinned wider, gently teasing and maybe only mildly serious.

  “Negotiations are foremost on my mind, but you are never a problem, Jay. Your Second, on the other hand….”

  Jay chuckled. “Max is a bit overprotective, I’ll admit, but it’s his job. Deanna isn’t exactly cuddly around me. They just want to be sure this ends with mutual benefit.”

  “With Deanna, yes. But I think Maximus wants to be sure I don’t take advantage of your good nature.”

  There were some things Jay had in common with Ethan, like the way he sometimes glanced to the side with a faint blush. “Some types of taking advantage are okay.” Jay was sweet, which wasn’t a typical trait in an Alpha, though that in no way meant he was weak or lacking confidence.

  “Why, Mr. Russell.” Bash propped his chin on folded hands atop the table. “And all this time, I thought you were playing hard to get.”

  “I just mean….” Jay’s cheeks flushed darker. “We’re allowed to be a little selfish, even as Alphas.”

  “Does that mean you’ve considered my requests?”

  “We’re not supposed to be negotiating right now.” Jay dodged the questio
n. “I wanted to learn more about you.”

  “Such as?”

  “You know… hobbies, dreams, your favorite ice cream flavor.”

  A date.

  A courtship, more like.

  Bash dropped his hands and sat back. Jay had beautiful blue eyes, but looking into them, Bash kept wishing they were green. “Hobbies include reading, cooking, and strategizing, even if that means a simple game of cards. Dreams are only about making sure my life remains worthwhile, and that those who rely on me are always safe, while my city thrives. And… mint chocolate chip or cinnamon. But never together.”

  Jay laughed, and Bash could tell he was adequately charmed. Normally, if Bash was seducing someone for his own gain, it didn’t bother him, because it was fleeting and never wholly one-sided. The seduction had benefits for both parties. This time, however, knowing the outcome would be long-term, Bash felt… guilty, and guilt wasn’t something he abided.

  A buzz brought Bash’s attention to his cellphone. Normally he’d ignore it while with Jay, but times were changing, and he couldn’t risk being caught off guard.

  The message was from Preston.

  Luke is tearing his hair out. Considering your vampire pet was fed last night, can we at least check on him?

  Bash tried not to growl. Luke was curious at best, neurotic at worst, but Bash didn’t need him losing his cool around outsiders and giving away Ethan’s existence before the time was right. Besides, Ethan had been alone all morning. He deserved company, and Bash had to start pushing boundaries somewhere.

  Fine. But only you two, and be cautious.

  “I’d also love to know what has you so distracted,” Jay said.

  “Sorry.” Bash put his phone away. “Circle business, but nothing pressing. I shouldn’t—”

  “It’s fine. I like that you’re so attentive with them. It’s part of why I agreed to all this. Actions prove the kind of person someone is more than their past or lineage. You’re a good man, Bash. I just want to get to know the parts you tend to hide.”

  That was every part; Jay just didn’t know it yet.

  “You need to understand something if you really want to know me,” Bash said, since empty charisma wasn’t getting him anywhere. “Whatever you may think, I’m still a criminal and a liar at my core.”

  The smile on Jay’s face twitched. “For the greater good, like all Alphas in major cities. Not everything I have my hands in is legal either. You’re more Robin Hood than villain.” He tried to reach for Bash’s hand atop the table, and that was the last straw.

  Bash pulled his hands into his lap. “While the end goals are always for my pack, make no mistake that I’m no hero. I don’t compromise myself for anyone. I won’t.”

  “Not even for a mate?”

  “If it means becoming someone I’m not, then no.”

  “I’m not about to shame you for practices I might disagree with—” Jay squirmed. “—if that’s what—”

  “I’m not going to love you,” Bash bit out, causing Jay to flinch. He’d tried so hard not to snap or be cruel, but even he had limits. “If you want love, you’ll need to find it elsewhere, just like I expect compensation in that direction as well.”

  Guilt churned again from Jay’s look of nausea. “You want me to agree to let you sleep with whoever you want after we’re married.”

  “It’s not as though we’ll be living under the same roof.”

  “We could. I thought we might alternate between cities, and… that’s not what you want.” There, finally, clanged the reality of the situation. “I want to help your pack. I believe you’re a good man. But I’m not as good of a man as you think, either, because I’m selfish, too, and I want something for me. I want someone who will be devoted to me. I thought… maybe…. Couldn’t we try?” He brightened with the last shred of hope in him that Bash was about to crush.

  “You’ll just be setting yourself up for disappointment.”

  They were nearly the same age, Bash thirty-three and Jay thirty-five, but Jay had a youthfulness about him that Bash admired. It was the joy he took in simple things that proved to Bash he wouldn’t betray him or try to take over his city with the merging of their packs.

  Now Bash saw that bright optimism crack with the fissure being carved into Jay’s heart.

  “You know, I’ll never understand how someone so beautiful can be so cold,” Jay said, and this time when he glanced away, it was because he couldn’t stand to look at Bash. “I need to think about this. I’ll let you know when I’m ready to continue negotiations.” He started to push his chair back.

  “Jay—”

  “By the way, for me it’s board games and photography. The only dream I’ve ever had is quickly solidifying into ‘never going to happen.’ Oh, and Neapolitan, but there’s always extra strawberry left over.” He smiled bitterly as his eyes finally flicked up again to meet Bash’s. “I won’t leave you high and dry, but what you want this to be, I don’t know if I can give you that.”

  “You would have the same freedoms, take to bed whoever you want.”

  “I’m not like that. I’m sorry. I’ll contact you soon.” This time he stood and walked away, though not without leaving cash for the meal, about perfect to cover his food and half the tip, not leaving it all to Bash or covering everything, like a neutral line in the sand.

  Fuck. Bash had feared it would only be a matter of time before this dissolved, but now he may have finally screwed things up for good.

  Chapter 6

  THE NOTE from Bash was cute, but it was strange being able to read it so well in the dark. Once Ethan knew he was alone, he wanted the light on again.

  Which was when his experiments began.

  With the singular thought of light in mind, Ethan had pulled back the covers and—

  The room illuminated—because he was already at the door and had flipped the switch! How had he moved so fast?

  Ethan looked to the bed and thought only of being back under the covers. A moment later, he was, with a rush of wind and exhilaration coursing through him.

  “Holy shit.” Being a vampire made him some sort of speedster.

  After that, Ethan spent hours testing what he could do before he even thought about making himself presentable for the day. There was his speed, able to zip around the room like lightning and never feel a twinge of fatigue. There was strength, enough that when he focused his attention, he was able to lift the bed with one hand, and whooped so joyfully at his success, he nearly dropped it with a clatter.

  Smell he’d already recognized last night, but it was powerful how much he could detect and how centered he could be on one thing. Bash had cleaned the blood last night, but there was still the faint scent of it—and of the sex.

  And of Bash from the sheets and the clothes Ethan wore.

  Ethan assumed that no matter how good his hearing might be, he was in the basement, so he wouldn’t be able to pick up much, but he could. He could hear voices upstairs. Not the words so much as murmurs, but he could still hear them. Someone was listening to music, and there was traffic going by outside.

  The scientist in Ethan from years as a CSI was positively giddy. The time alone also allowed him to bask in how good he felt—invigorated and bursting with energy that made him wish he could leave his small room and just run.

  Eventually, once he proved himself to Bash, he’d be able to do that again, even if it wasn’t in the sunlight.

  Finally, he wanted to test his durability, but he didn’t exactly have a weapon to make a cut on his palm, and he didn’t want to push his luck by breaking any bones.

  Then he remembered he was a weapon. He had fangs. He just needed to learn how to release them and fixated on how to make that happen. Once he felt them extend, small but sharp at his canines, he lifted his hand to his mouth and bit along the outside of his thumb and wrist. It stung, but not as much as it should have or would have when he was human.

  When he pulled back to watch, he wasn’t prepared for how qui
ckly the damage healed. It took seconds, until all that was left was a smear of blood.

  A knock at the door startled him. Was Bash back? But why would he knock? Maybe he was being polite, giving Ethan a moment to collect himself in case he wasn’t dressed.

  “I’m decent!”

  The door opened, and Ethan steeled himself to see Bash again, which he’d been looking forward to ever since he woke up in an empty bed.

  Instead, a slight Asian man with glasses entered, wearing a frown and eyeing Ethan as though thoroughly unimpressed.

  “Decent,” he sneered, leaving the door open for another man to enter behind him, this one lankier and lithe with ginger hair, but also hunched like he expected a fight and carrying a—holy shit, was that a machete? And why was it glowing?

  “We’ll be the judge of decent, fanger!” the armed one shouted.

  Ethan would have feared Bash had sent them to kill him if he wasn’t certain by the ginger man’s stance that the machete was only for protection.

  Were they really that frightened of him?

  “Fanger?” Ethan repeated after mulling over the word, keeping his distance. “Is that a vampire slur?”

  “Your kind aren’t known for being cordial, so I conjured Luke a weapon,” the one in glasses said. Neither looked like shifters, but then Bash hadn’t either until he changed.

  “I’m Ethan. Ethan Lambert. It’s nice to meet you, Luke. And…?”

  “Preston,” Glasses said.

  “Hi.” Ethan waved stupidly, noting that the pair wasn’t moving closer, keeping a good ten feet between them. “I’m not scary. I mean, I don’t want to be. See.” He spread his arms to encompass his very normal self, albeit in someone’s else’s clothes. “Do I look scary?”

  Luke stared at Ethan’s mouth.

  Oh shit!

  “Sorry!” Ethan’s hands flew up to cover his fangs. “I was just testing my healing and—”

  “Basil, Dr. Dawson, get back here!” Preston cried, and it was only then that Ethan noticed two rats scurrying toward him from the open door.