By the Red Moonlight

by Amanda Meuwissen

  “I’ll join you,” Bari said, and it was only after Bash looked up that he realized his brother was talking to Ethan.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Bash said.

  “Nonsense. I’m going. How else am I going to get to know the newest member of our pack?”

  Not for the first time, Bash wondered how much easier life might have been if he was an only child.

  BARI WAS the opposite of Bash in many ways, particularly how much he enjoyed sharing and talking and bonding when Bash seemed uncomfortable with every part of that. Though Bari did say what Bash and Ethan had shared so far was more than he usually allowed with anyone.

  It comforted Ethan somewhat, despite having been sent away.

  “Back before, it wasn’t really a love confession,” Ethan said. “I mean, I’ve only known Bash for a few days.”

  “Darling,” Bari gushed, making Ethan startle at hearing so much drama in what was also Bash’s voice, “fate doesn’t care about details. It cares about chemistry. About being in the right place at the right time.”

  “But none of that matters.” Ethan frowned. “Bash’s set on the marriage.”

  “Hmm. And what is this Mr. Russell like?”

  They were outside, walking the streets of Centrus City at night. As Warden, Siobhan walked a different path each evening, gathering intel from agents on the street, traveling to places most people would be too afraid to tread. Talk of a vampire other than Ethan had been nil so far, but they’d gotten word of someone new in town and had been trying to track the person’s movements ever since.

  Siobhan led the way, stopping at the occasional street corner to get another lead pointing them in the right direction, while Ethan and Bari talked.

  “Jay is… hot,” Ethan said, because the man had an incredible body and a very handsome face. “Noble, like the kind of good you can just feel about a person. Plus, they’re both Alphas. Both wolves.”

  “Do they have anything important in common?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Do you?”

  “With… Jay?”

  “With Bash, dear.”

  “Oh, um…. Silly, artsy, geeky things, I guess.”

  “Ah, but Bash adores the silly, artsy, geeky. I like art as well, but more sculptures and textiles than paintings. I’m a bit of a fashion nut, to be honest, and I was always more interested in a romance novel than a fantasy epic or sci-fi.

  “But I digress. There are three things needed for a relationship to work. Attraction, compatibility, and a spark. Tell me, Ethan, do you find Bash attractive?”

  “I….” Ethan nearly tripped, struggling not to tumble to the pavement. “I-isn’t that like… asking if I find you attractive?”

  “Ethan…,” Bari reprimanded.

  “Yes,” Ethan admitted, ducking his head to the side.

  “Do you have shared interests and enjoy spending time with him?”

  “I guess.”

  “Does he turn your insides to jelly?”

  Ethan sighed. “Every time I see him.”

  “Then don’t lose hope,” Bari said with a supportive nudge of his elbow into Ethan’s side. “I have to pass judgment on Mr. Russell yet anyway.”

  Siobhan interrupted their chat as they came to a street corner to say she had one more lead to try, otherwise they might have to call it a night. Ethan didn’t care, honestly, since he had other things on his mind.

  “Why don’t you live in Centrus?” he asked Bari once they were on their way again. “The circle seems so much like family, and you’re actual family. Do you and Bash not get along?”

  “Of course we do,” Bari assured him. “We don’t agree all the time, but nothing means more to me than my baby brother. Don’t tell Bash I called him that, though. He hates it, even though I am technically ten minutes older.”

  Ethan chuckled. It was clear how different they were after spending any amount of time with Bari, even in the more open way he carried himself and how easily he joked and smiled without guile. “Why do you live in another city, then? I don’t understand.”

  “It’s a long story,” Bari said more seriously, “but the short version is… after Bash killed our father—one of his more violent acts that I never disagreed with—I’d already been away for so long, I’d started a new life.”

  “Why were you away?”

  “He hasn’t shared that with you?”

  “I knew about your dad from Luke, but not the details.”

  “Well, Bash prophesized that one of us would kill him. Father figured it would be me, so he sent me away. He was wrong.” Bari offered a wry smile. “I suppose part of the reason it was hard to come home was because I felt responsible. I thought Bash’s prophecy could have meant either of us, and if I’d stayed, gone back, disobeyed Father, it might have been me instead.

  “Father was a monster, but that doesn’t make it any easier to kill family. I never wanted Bash to shoulder that burden alone….” He trailed off before snapping back with a bright smile. “Don’t get me wrong, dear, I do have a great life. I’m a museum curator, and I love my job.”

  “But even though you and Bash are twins, you’re not a Seer?”

  “Not so far. Just the occasional good hunch.”

  “Shh,” Siobhan hushed them, stopping short near another crosswalk with an outstretched arm. For a moment, Ethan saw the skin of her hand ripple with scales.

  Gesturing across the street, she indicated a man on the opposite corner, nonchalant enough that he could have been anyone, but he clearly nodded to their side of the street—at the alley just in front of them.

  Another agent. Had they found the newcomer? Ethan wanted to ask, but he didn’t dare ruin the element of surprise, especially when Siobhan held a finger to her lips and began to move forward.

  A burst of movement from the alley made Ethan leap back. They’d been made. And whoever was making a break for it was incredibly fast.

  Siobhan took off first in pursuit, with Ethan and Bari kicking into gear behind her. It was impossible to get a good look at the person while in motion, but Ethan’s vision narrowed through the dark streets to focus on their back and keep pace—then keep pace faster, much faster than Siobhan or Bari, as he rediscovered his speed and became a blur of motion to overtake his quarry.

  Ethan was so startled by the sudden rush of power, he nearly blew past another alley when the runner turned down it, but he was able to course correct and zip back after them, seizing the person by the shoulders and whirling them around.

  “Who—” Ethan cut off abruptly, completely dumbfounded by the face looking back at him. “Leo?”

  “Ethan,” Leo said in equal surprise. “You were with those people? Why? You….” His eyes widened as he looked at Ethan, and the wildness in them when he reached for Ethan’s face made Ethan flinch away before he could touch him. “No…. No, no, no, my dear boy, I’m too late.”

  “Too late?” Ethan wanted to let Leo touch him, having missed his companionship, the only family he’d known for most of his life, but he was confused. They were similar in stature, though Leo’s hair was blond and his eyes blue, but while he always carried such intense emotion and intelligence in his expression, Ethan wasn’t used to seeing him panicked.

  Maybe it was because he’d been chased, Ethan thought, frantically searching for an explanation as he gave an unconscious sniff of his surroundings, only to realize…. Leo didn’t smell human.

  He didn’t smell like anything. If Ethan wasn’t looking right at him, he would have sworn no one was there.

  “It’s all right.” Leo tried to comfort him, tried to touch him again, like a lion tamer not wanting to spook the beast. “It’ll be all right. But you need to trust me. Come here, Ethan. Let me—”

  “No.” Ethan backed away, out of Leo’s reach. “You’re lying. You’re keeping something from me. What are you hiding? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “I’ll explain, I promise, but I need to—” Leo’s head snapped to th
e mouth of the alley.

  Ethan turned, picking up the voices of Siobhan and Bari, who soon appeared, rushing to reach him.

  “Ethan! Did you catch him?”

  “Where did he go?”

  “He….” Ethan turned back, but there was no one there, and no scent left behind to follow. “He was… I….” Clenching his eyes shut, Ethan fought to still the flood of emotions overwhelming him, because he honestly had no idea if he’d imagined it all or if Leo had escaped down the other end of the alley.

  He didn’t want to lie, but not knowing how to explain, he said, “He got away.”

  Chapter 17

  “KATE SAID the vampire came from Centrus? But he’d been living in Glenwood these past several years?”

  “Yes,” Maximus said, stiff but dutiful as he reported what he’d already shared with Jay.

  They were in Jay’s private room at the hotel, the three of them along with Deanna, Alpha to Alpha and Second to Second, while Theresa and William were downstairs having dinner at the hotel restaurant.

  “The vampire sought asylum,” Maximus continued, “offered fealty, and the former Alpha of Glenwood granted it. Kate means to uphold the contract even now, unless there is proof that the vampire has gone against his terms.”

  “Which are?”

  “He can feed but not kill. If called upon, he must fight for the pack. His whereabouts must always be known. No one outside the inner circle of Glenwood’s pack is to know of his existence. Given those stipulations were for his side of the bargain, Kate was willing to share the information, but she won’t give his name.”

  “Tell them the rest.” Jay nodded for Maximus to finish.

  He seemed resistant to offer Bash anything, but he obeyed his Alpha regardless. “The vampire wasn’t alone. He sought asylum for a child as well. A boy.”

  Ethan.

  “He had Glenwood’s Shaman teach him how to place a rune on himself and the boy. Not usually possible unless the person was a natural witch themselves, but the Shaman provided a powering rune. Basically, a battery, allowing him to create fresh runes himself whenever he needed, but only of that kind. The rune masked their scent and presence, making them practically invisible and generally keeping others at a distance, but it needed to be reinforced regularly. The boy had no idea, likely done while he slept, but too long without reapplication and both would be detectable by anyone seeking them.”

  “So Ethan had a vampire sugar daddy and didn’t even know it,” Deanna snorted.

  “What…?” a new voice said, drawing their attention to the door. With Theresa and William out, they hadn’t seen a need to close it, but there Ethan stood, looking distraught. “That’s why I was invisible growing up? Why everyone stayed away from me?”

  Maximus looked annoyed that Ethan was once again in his presence, Jay tensing as well since he hardly had reason to like Ethan, but that wounded expression was not one Bash could ignore even in the presence of unsteady peers.

  “I’m sorry,” Bash said, crossing to Ethan’s side in the entryway. “Your sire aimed to keep you to himself until the time was right. Your imprisonment in Glenwood Penitentiary must have upset his plans, which could be good for us. It might mean he’s desperate because things are not going as he’d hoped. But what happened?” Bash looked Ethan over, searching for injuries or other signs to explain his presence. “Why are you here?”

  “Apologies for the intrusion, gentlemen.” Bari came in, serious but congenial. “I was just seeing Siobhan out. She got called away as we arrived. I’m Bari Bain.” He went to Jay and Maximus immediately with unabashed fervor and shook both their hands, leaving them dumbstruck. “How lovely to finally meet our neighbors from Brookdale. Let me guess, you didn’t know we were twins either?”

  “I… did,” Jay said, recovering quickly, “I just didn’t realize you were identical.”

  “Oh, we’re not identical. I got the better sense of humor. That is a lovely shirt, by the way.”

  “Bari.” Bash resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but Jay and Maximus being caught off guard wasn’t the worst thing.

  Ethan about to lose his lunch was.

  “We had a run-in,” Bari explained, wiggling his fingers in a wave at Deanna, who cracked a smile at him. “We think with Ethan’s sire.”

  “You what?”

  “No, it couldn’t have been.” Ethan shook his head. “It was someone else.”

  “Why do you say that?” Jay asked.

  “He didn’t smell right.”

  “That’s the point,” Maximus snarled. “He can be invisible to our senses.”

  “It’s not him.”

  “You knew him?” Bash asked.

  Ethan’s eyes were wild and guilty looking. “It’s not him. It was my Uncle Leo, but it’s not him!”

  The rest of them exchanged startled glances, even Bari, who must not have gotten that much out of Ethan before.

  “It can’t be him,” Ethan continued, shaking his head. “He wouldn’t do this to me. He’s always wanted what’s best for me, to protect me.”

  Part of Bash wanted to grip Ethan’s shoulder in support, but he wasn’t like his brother, and that sort of comfort, especially given in public, didn’t come easy. He spoke softly to offer what he could. “Maybe he thinks he is.”

  Tears filled Ethan’s eyes as he came to realize what he’d no doubt been denying since the encounter. “In my dreams, he… my sire… he keeps saying something, I… I can almost remember. About me having everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything I deserve.” Blinking the wetness away, he looked sorrowfully at Bash.

  The uncomfortable static in the room charged higher, and Bash could feel Jay’s eyes burning into the side of his face. He’d made deals with devils over the years, but never for so tempting an offer as Ethan at the price of his kingdom.

  “It’s been a long night,” Bari said, moving to stand in the middle of everyone. “Ethan needs rest, even if not much, as we all do, so why don’t we look at this with fresh eyes tomorrow?”

  “If it is your uncle,” Bash spoke to Ethan calmly, “we’ll need to set a trap, corner him, and make sure he’s the one. Only then will we move against him, I promise, and even if he’s proven to be your sire”—he spoke louder to make sure Jay and Maximus heard him—“I want to know what he wants from this and why more than I want him dead.”

  Maximus glowered, but Jay did not speak against Bash.

  Eventually, Ethan nodded. “Okay, but I want to be sure there are no other leads before we even consider a trap. Please?”

  Bash paused but soon nodded back at him. “Bari, will you…?”

  “Of course.” Bari moved to Ethan’s side to lead him from the room but paused to look back at the others—Jay in particular. “A true pleasure meeting you.”

  “Bashir,” Jay said the moment they were gone.

  “I know. But acting rash is not the way, not with something this dangerous. We can lure the sire out by using Ethan, handle this peacefully. If we launch an aggressive attack, lives will be at risk. I won’t be sloppy with my pack on the line.”

  “I understand. I will support you and your decision. I only meant to say that it was… nice finally meeting your brother.” Jay didn’t realize how much of a better man he was that he could smile at Bash even now.

  “Nice. Yes, well, he tends to get that reaction more than me. Maximus—” Bash turned to him before Jay could protest, since the Second’s expression was wary. “—I know you doubt me, maybe now more than ever, but if you truly think so little of me, let your wife and son bring you to the Shelter. William has my permission to enact his little science experiment, and the opportunity might show you that you are not as right about me as you think.” He bowed his head, then moved to leave with Deanna at his side before waiting to hear Maximus’s answer.

  Jay stopped him at the door, a gentle hand at his wrist. Only after Bash motioned for Deanna to go on without him did Jay speak. “Have you thought about what I said?”

 
; “There isn’t a moment that’s gone by when I haven’t,” Bash said earnestly, wishing he could give Jay what he wanted but still unsure how. “Once I have an answer, you’ll be the first to know.”

  ETHAN FELT numb, far more so than he had when he first saw Leo in the alley and had to wonder if everything he’d ever known was a lie.

  Now there was proof. Now there was some pact between vampire and Alpha in Glenwood for Ethan’s soul, keeping him hidden and unlikeable to everyone like it didn’t matter if he was ignored—and kept prisoner.

  If Leo wasn’t his sire, then what and who was he, and what wasn’t he telling Ethan? Why? There had to be answers.

  “You were right about one thing,” Bari said in the cab ride home. Ethan had insisted they not ride with Bash and Deanna. “Mr. Russell is quite enchanting, though you probably don’t want to hear that right now.”

  Ethan snorted, amazed at how easily Bari could lighten a mood. “I don’t mind hearing it from you. If you were the Alpha here instead of Bash, everything would be easier.”

  “For everyone but me, you mean. There are a lot of responsibilities being Alpha. I prefer the sidelines, thank you, but Bash doesn’t respect much authority other than his own.” He paused, and after a moment, Ethan felt gentle fingers take his hand, such a simple gesture, and so obviously one given out of friendship when they’d only met hours ago. “I am sorry for all you had to learn tonight, Ethan. Regardless of the truth yet to reveal itself, it is a lot to take in.”

  “Yeah,” Ethan said, squeezing Bari’s hand and sniffling back tears. “Thank you.”

  “It’ll be all right. You have Centrus City’s best on your side to figure this out. And me, of course.” He smiled so sweetly, so unlike Bash, and though Ethan could imagine some other man might fall in love with Bari Bain quite easily, it was only friendship between them, no extra pull, which told Ethan that as lovely as that face was, he wanted more from Bash than what he could touch.

  Ethan was not forced to sleep in the basement that night. There were three guest rooms, all at the end of the upstairs hallway. So Ethan chose the one farthest down, and Bari chose the one beside him. He really was sweet, but his nearby presence didn’t help Ethan drift off any easier when the past few nights he’d slept beside Bash.