Three Kings for Sarah by Noa Xireau Page B

go with you.”
    “Why?” Duncan growled.
    Gedeon nearly growled with the wolf—he sure as hell didn’t
like the idea of leaving his mate alone with the shadow-walker, not after the
way the man had been confronting Gedeon.
    “Protecting her isn’t enough. We must discover who’s
draining her. As long as he’s awake, Gedeon can check the minds of those who
come in contact with her and you”— Xiu nodded toward Duncan—“you could look and
ask around. I can’t dream-walk in the real world as long as I’m here. I’ll have
to go back tomorrow night to check people’s dreams.”
    “Concerning these energies you’re talking about, do they
have a smell I could identify and trace in the human world?” Duncan asked.
    “Maybe. I experience it as having something like a flavor;
however, my sense of smell isn’t as good as yours. You should have a walk
outside and see if you can trace something strange,” Xiu proposed.
    “That could be a problem.” Duncan grunted. “I’m still kind
of…out of my mind,” he admitted with a starved stare toward their woman.
    “I could teleport you outside, the same way she did to bring
us inside the cabin,” the shadow-walker offered.
    Duncan shook his head. “I’d still keep trying to return. A
closed door wouldn’t hinder me.”
    “I would,” Gedeon stated firmly.
    “You sure? You realize what will happen. There’s no chance
the wolf won’t fight you.”
    “Yeah. I’m aware.” He ran a hand over his chin and sighed,
glancing at Duncan’s wrists, which were raw from his silent struggle with the
rope. Things wouldn’t be easy, but his woman came first.
    * * * * *
    “Triple fucking shit!”
    Duncan’s words echoed in Gedeon’s thoughts as they stared at
the three orange-red moons shining brightly in the sky.
    “I’m absofuckenlutely fucked!” Duncan shouted, gripping the
back of his head with both hands. “There was only one moon when we arrived!
Even a world without a moon would be bad—but with three? How the fuck am I
supposed to not claim her without going feral?”
    Gedeon gave Duncan a worried look. Ged didn’t need to ask
for clarification. Vampires were not as affected by the moon as werewolves
were, but even he could feel the power, his response to the moons’ call, the
compulsion to fuck or fight. The fact that all three moons were in similar
phases didn’t ease his concern in the slightest. They were at different distances
from the planet, taking into account their size and how clearly he could see
their craters. With the satellites traveling at varying paces toward the full
moon, it’d be very bad luck if all three happened to reach their plenitude the
same night. But that seemed quite likely, and Duncan wouldn’t be the only one
affected. Their urge for release—one way or another—would be mining their
control. Fuck or fight!
    “It’s your goddamn fault!” Duncan paced agitatedly from one
side of the clearing to the other.
    Fight it is , Gedeon thought wryly, at least for
now .
    “I should have killed you five years ago.”
    “Well, I’m dead anyway, right?” He couldn’t hide his
sarcasm.
    “You know what I mean. I should have staked you then and
there!”
    “Why didn’t you?” asked Ged, crossing his arms, although he
kept his gaze pinned on Duncan.
    “I should have. You betrayed me, you killed my uncle—”
    “He tried to kill your mother,” Gedeon stated coldly.
    Duncan stopped abruptly. “He tried to kill my mother?” he
repeated. “My mother disappeared that night.” He stared Gedeon straight in the
eyes. “Did you murder her too?”
    “No.”
    “And why should I believe you?”
    “Because… I’ve never lied to you.” Now isn’t the time to
tell him the truth , Gedeon admonished himself.
    “My uncle and six members of the pack appeared dead. There
were signs of the presence of at least five vampires, and my mother vanished,
leaving a trail of blood behind and… You just left.”
    “It was