The Moon Rises (Gigi Monroe)

by Angela Horn

  “Witches harvest those with power. Do you know what harvest means?”

  When Gigi nodded, he could by her expression that she truly understood.

  “Just be careful. Everyone wants a piece of you now. Surviving those injuries and healing so completely is beyond the power of those in the Circle. For those answers, they’ll be willing to destroy you.”

  Gigi said nothing, running her fingers over the sleeping kitten Anton was holding.

  “Do you want to keep him?” she asked.

  Anton sensed lying to Gigi was a mistake. As if she would see right through him.

  “Weres don’t have pets.”

  “But you’re an Alpha. Can’t you make whatever rules you want?”

  Anton watched her pet the cat again. He took her hand and kissed the palm of it. If he could make up his own rules, he would never let Gigi go.

  “It doesn’t work that way. I could have a pet and no one would bitch about it, but having attachments makes me look weak.”

  “Like having a mate?”

  Anton ran his lips over the palm of her hand again then released it.

  “Yes. Years ago, an Alpha had a mate and three sons. He was a strong Alpha and controlled much of the Circle. Maybe it was arrogance, but he messed with the witches, giving one clan too much power over the others. One of the clans left out of power used the Alpha’s son to destroy his family. Where the witches couldn’t use magic to hurt the Alpha because he was too powerful and his pack too dominant, they used his family. It’s why no Alpha has a mate anymore.”

  “But you have an alliance with the witches. Why would they hurt your family?”

  “Maybe not them. Maybe someone else. It’s not worth putting a wife and children in danger. When a Were fights to be Alpha, he knows what he’s giving up.”

  “Did you not want a family?”

  Anton watched the kitten which stretched in its sleep. “I wanted to be an Alpha more.”

  “Because Declan was an Alpha?”

  Anton glanced up at her and frowned. Gigi seemed about five years old most days, but she wasn’t a child. She paid attention and retained information and understood much more than her passive expression let on.

  “Yes, some of it was because of Declan. Some of it was because I forgot why I was fighting so hard back then.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I wanted a family, but being a solider meant I was more likely to die. Declan’s father died when he was ten and Finn was seven. I didn’t want to leave my children fatherless, so I fought to be in charge. Not the Alpha, but high up enough in the pack to have some security for my family. Then suddenly I was the Alpha and I couldn’t have a family. I probably should have planned it out better, but things were crazy back then. You’ll see what I mean when the war starts in a few months.”

  “Why in a few months? Why not now?”

  “Because the Season is coming. Do you know what the Season is?” Anton asked and Gigi nodded, her hand grazing his chest lightly as she pet the cat asleep on him.

  “During the Season of Magic, all magical creatures become more powerful in the Circle. Creatures from other parts of the world visit too, so they can enjoy the increase of power. It’s a festive time, but also dangerous. The point is Declan isn’t dumb enough to start a war when everyone’s amped up or when the Circle is full of outsiders. The war will probably start some time early next year.”

  “Why does Declan get to start the war?”

  “Because it’s his war.”

  “Why don’t you just start it, so you can surprise him?”

  Anton grinned. “Because I don’t want to go to war.”

  “But you’ll go to war anyway. If you attack him first, you might win.”

  “The likelihood of my pack winning is very slight.”

  “But you have the witches.”

  “And that means I’ll be more likely to hold onto my territory, but taking territory from Declan is unlikely.”

  “Because his pack is bigger?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you and Roger joined forces to attack Declan, maybe you could win?”

  “I thought you liked Declan?” Anton asked with a smirk.

  “I do, but he wants to start a war and I don’t want you to die.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  “Do you not want to kill Declan? Is that why you won’t attack him first or join forces with Roger? Do you not want to win because to win you’d have to kill Declan?”

  Studying Gigi, Anton wondered what she was like before being dumped in the Circle? Was she brilliant or psychic or powerful? She was definitely something, but he still couldn’t put his finger on just what was so special about her.

  “No, I don’t want to kill Declan.”

  “But he’ll kill you.”

  “Yes, he probably will.”

  Gigi stepped away from him and leaned against the desk with the box on it. The kittens noticed her and quieted down again.

  “I don’t want you to die,” she said again.

  Anton cocked an eyebrow. “But you’re okay with Declan dying?”

  “No, but he’s making the choice to force everyone to fight. He could just be happy with what he has. He told me he has the best territory in the Circle, so why does he need more?”

  “He told you that, huh?” Anton said with a grin. “When did he say that?”

  “When I was at his gym. I work out there so I can kick ass like Ella.”

  Anton’s grin grew. “Ella’s a bad influence.”

  “I like her freckles.”

  “Me too.”

  Gigi shared his smile. “I will let you have a kitten, if you want. It could be our secret. You could hide it, so no one knows.”

  “They’d know. Also I’m not at home much and the kitten would get lonely.”

  Gigi’s smile faded. “I don’t want anyone to be lonely.”

  “Me either.”

  “I’m glad I’m not a Were, so I can have pets. I wish you could have them too.”

  “It’s fine. Everyone has some problem. As problems go, not having a pet isn’t such a bad one.”

  Sensing his guys returning, Anton stood and moved towards the box.

  “But you can’t have a family either,” Gigi said, watching him with those haunting eyes.

  Setting the kitten into the box, Anton studied Gigi who was only a few inches from him. Her gaze was so direct he felt weak under it, hypnotized almost.

  “I’m glad I saw you today, Gigi. I know I said we should avoid each other, but that was because I was feeling stupid and selfish. You don’t have to hide from me anymore. I promise to behave myself.”

  Gigi smiled and his lips were quickly on hers. Even though he was already breaking his word about behaving, she didn’t protest, instead leaning closer. The kiss ended soon after it began because they had visitors.

  Anton stepped back and cracked his neck to get his brain back in control. Watching him, Gigi licked her lips and sighed wistfully. While he might have convinced himself he couldn’t have Gigi, Anton knew right then she would go with him back to his apartment. Not because she was too dumb or naive to know better. She wanted him and those eyes of hers were watching him with a need he melted under.

  Anton told one of the guys to help take Gigi’s kittens to her apartment. When Gigi thanked him, the hunger in her eyes remained strong enough to give him the chills.

  Those chills clung to him for hours after she left and he decided to stay in for the night. Anton only wanted Gigi and pretending otherwise was pointless.

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Gigi was happy her window was fixed especially now that she had the kittens. Walking into the second bedroom which held a computer she never used and an extra bed she didn’t need, she stared at all the cat paraphernalia.

  Climbing toys and kitty cubbies and litter boxes – everything her eight cats would need. Yet they followed her around like she was the best toy in the world. Even whe
n they settled down to eat from their eight bowls lined up in the kitchen, their eyes watched her.

  Having chosen to name them after the planets, except for Pluto since it was a dog’s name and maybe not even a planet, Gigi felt like she had things in order for her new little family. If she ever found Sara, the kittens would have to move out of the second bedroom, but Gigi wasn’t going to worry about any of that yet.

  “I have to go to work,” she told them.

  The kittens stared at her and meowed. She didn’t know what their meows meant, but they seemed anxious. The kittens understood her, but she didn’t understand them. She did understand how they didn’t want her to leave.

  “I will be back later. You should eat your food then go play with your toys.”

  The kittens looked towards the bedroom filled with their toys then back at Gigi. Just in case they missed her, she left Nina Simone playing on repeat. Listening to Nina as a child relaxed her, so she hoped it relaxed the kittens.

  Admiring the kittens, Gigi thought they were so pretty – orange and white stripped, gray and white stripped, brown and gray stripped. Her favorite Earth was orange, black, brown, and gray wrapped into one little ball of fur. The kittens were a pretty mix of colors with blue and gray eyes. The gray eyed ones made Gigi think of Finn.

  With the kittens staring at her as she closed her front door, she immediately worried they would tear up her apartment. Opening the door, Gigi wagged a finger at them.

  “Don’t mess up the apartment. Just play with your toys like good kitties.”

  The kittens glanced at one another as if in disbelief that Gigi would accuse them of impending destruction. Closing the door, Gigi headed to work.

  Ever since her date with Simon, Gigi found herself growing lonelier. Finn had given up on them ever being together. Anton was very Anton-like, running hot and cold. Simon had talked about making Gigi his bride and spending a hundred years with her. She enjoyed his company and thought he was very handsome and really liked the sex things he did to her on their date. Yet Gigi hadn’t seen him since the date and worried he might have lost interest. The other males always found reasons to tell her no and maybe Simon would too.

  Gigi arrived on the Vamp floor and noticed Simon studying paperwork at his booth. Unsure what to do, Gigi started to head to another Vamp’s table when Simon glanced up and gestured for her to join him. Without a single thought, Gigi immediately went to him.

  “Lovely Gigi, I hope you weren’t planning on ignoring me this evening.”

  “You look sexy in blue,” Gigi said like she had no control over what emerged from her mouth.

  Simon flinched, seeming startled, before smiling a lazy grin. “Someone is flirting.”

  “What you did to me in my apartment felt really good,” Gigi said, slipping into the booth.

  “Of course it did. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”

  Gigi frowned at his response, causing Simon to throw his head back and laugh. He took her hand from the tabletop and pressed it against his lips - at first kissing it before sucking the flesh softly. Gigi squirmed in her seat, instantly overheated like she was in her apartment. Simon’s too green eyes found her and he grinned.

  “I plan to do much more to you when we are alone and away from prying doggie eyes.”

  “Can we go right now?” Gigi asked, shifting closer.

  “There is a place in the building for trysts, but I would rather wait until I can have you all to myself for an extended period of time.”

  Gigi said nothing, just stared at Simon, wanting him even though she knew she shouldn’t. She tried to remember what Sara told her and how being bitten meant losing her humanity, but Gigi wasn’t really human anyway. Being bitten also meant she could be with Simon, instead of being alone.

  Simon’s gaze held hers, entrancing her in a way which felt like a hot shower easing away a long day of aches and pains. Gigi was ready to tell him how she wanted for them to go to his home where he could do anything he wanted to her. Yet suddenly his gaze left hers.

  “You shouldn’t be here, Lawrence,” Simon said quietly, leaning back into the booth and sipping his drink.

  Simon’s gaze never fell on the Vamp, but Gigi’s did. She noticed a tall, dark haired, and vaguely handsome male as he stood very stiffly. The Vamps in the club usually had too much swagger, but Lawrence was without any.

  “I have come to ask you to reconsider.”

  “I’d prefer not to.”

  Lawrence’s eyes fell on Gigi and his gaze tried to hold hers, maybe hoping to enthrall her, but she turned towards Simon.

  “Should I go?”

  “No, Lawrence is leaving.”

  Lawrence shifted backwards a step. “It is not fair for you to betray your own kind for the lives of a few children.”

  Simon showed no reaction to Lawrence, looking rather bored. Gigi wished Lawrence would leave so she could tell Simon she wanted to be changed. The Vamp continued standing awkwardly next to the booth.

  “I could give you a gift in exchange for mercy,” Lawrence suggested.

  Simon sighed. “You have nothing I want.”

  Gigi was no longer looking at Lawrence. Instead her eyes were on Simon who must have known she was watching him because he reached for her hand. Before he touched her, Gigi was yanked from the booth.

  The Vamp floor came to a halt. While the music still played, no one moved. Simon was suddenly on his feet, seeming casual as he stared at Lawrence.

  “Let her go.”

  Gigi’s boots barely skimmed the ground as Lawrence used her body as a shield. His arm was wrapped around her neck and his nails were digging at her throat.

  “You want her,” Lawrence said, lowering his gaze to avoid being enthralled. “Once I change her, you’ll have to allow me to live or else she’ll die too. A young Vamp will perish without her sire. You wouldn’t want that.”

  “If you change her, I will allow you to live only to ensure you soon beg for death. Are you willing to live a very long painful life or shall you embrace the quick death I offer you now?”

  “If you torture me, I’ll make her suffer. I know how to torment my slaves. You taught me how.”

  Gigi looked to Simon, uncertain as she tried to breathe with the pressure on her throat. She was afraid, but then Simon’s eyes found hers and the warm sensation of safety flooded her senses.

  “Give me the girl,” Simon said and Gigi felt someone approaching her from the side.

  “Back off,” Lawrence growled, “or I’ll tear the bitch apart.”

  Simon again showed not an ounce of interest in the whole conversation, overwhelmingly bored by it. Yet someone backed away from Lawrence and his grip on Gigi eased.

  “If you had been loyal to your kind,” Lawrence told Simon, “her blood would be yours.”

  Gigi’s gaze was on Simon when she felt Lawrence bite her neck. Reaching out for Simon who finally stopped looking like he didn’t care, she saw his gaze shift to someone behind Lawrence. The vampire at her throat tore open her thigh in retaliation against whoever was trying to grab him. Gigi cried out, her hands still reaching for Simon.

  “That was an artery,” Lawrence said, licking at her throat. “She’ll bleed out now, so back off or I swear I’ll leave nothing for you to screw.”

  Simon’s strong jaw twitched then he looked at Gigi and she felt him trying to enthrall her, but it didn’t work. Feeling pain and fear, she struggled against Lawrence’s grip.

  Lawrence again bit into her throat. This time she screamed, fighting to break free of him. She heard Simon speaking to her in his calm voice, trying to soothe her, but she felt suffocated by Lawrence’s embrace.

  Around Gigi, the other Vamps grew aroused by the feeding. Yet Simon didn’t look aroused, only tense as he held his minions at bay while Lawrence fed.

  A loud cough in her ear startled Gigi and she felt a splatter of blood against the side of her face. No longer feeding, Lawrence coughed again. Nearby, the Vamps moved closer while Gig
i fought to break loose.

  “You poisoned the bitch,” Lawrence growled then vomited and collapsed, taking Gigi to the ground with him.

  When his grip weakened, Gigi tried to squirm away. Before she broke free, an intense pain ripped through her as Lawrence dug through her vest and tore open her chest. As she screamed again, Gigi thought she heard Simon’s voice. Her mind shut down from the pain though and her vision wavered. Then she felt herself jerk upward. Eyes focusing, Gigi realized she was in Simon’s arms.

  Turning her head, Gigi noticed Lawrence thrashing on the ground. Other Vamps tried to destroy him, but Simon waved them away. The offending Vamp was instead allowed to writhe in pain, gasping as he vomited and vomited until he fell lifeless on the ground.

  Gigi was glad Lawrence was dead, but she felt strange and it hurt to breathe. The front of her uniform and all her bare skin was covered with blood.

  “I don’t understand what just happened,” she told Simon who looked like he was thinking about something.

  Simon opened his mouth to speak when the elevator dinged and Silas along with other Weres entered the floor. The Vamps backed away, some hissing, some making aggressive gestures towards the interlopers. Simon pulled Gigi closer to him and she realized he was now covered in blood too.

  “Give her to us, Simon,” Silas demanded

  “What can you do for her?” the Vamp asked, pulling Gigi possessively against his body.

  Gigi noticed the Alphas were present and she remembered how Weres weren’t allowed on the Vamp floor. Everyone was breaking the rules today.

  “We can give her medical attention.”

  “The witches?” Simon said with a nasty grin. “Witches harvest, Silas.”

  “Then we’ll take her to the hospital.”

  “Most of her blood is on the outside now and I suspect a transfusion of human blood will not be a suitable replacement. Taking her to the hospital will do no good. Let me hold her until the ends comes. Would you like to stay with me, Gigi?”

  This time when Simon tried to enthrall her, Gigi let him, wanting to relax into his too green eyes. She heard the others talking, but she didn’t care what they were saying.