Beneath the Broken Moon: Part Two: Shifter/Vampire Romance Read Free Page A

Brendan pulled me closer to his hard torso and kept my panic at bay.
    Thankfully, the hunter ran by without even a glance in our direction. Once the commotion died down, I strode toward the door, with Brendan close behind in the small crowd anxious to leave their ruined dinners behind. Once we were outside, he grabbed my arm, pulling me aside.
    “What happened in there?” He tilted my chin up, forcing my gaze to meet his. “You hid from the last guy.”
    “He was...” My voice broke a little and I cleared my throat. “He was at the Teatro ...” I scanned the street around us, making sure no one was nearby, then glanced back. “He shot me.” I pointed at the shoulder splint, grimacing at the constant throb of pain.
    Brendan’s spine stiffened. “He hurt you.” The muscles in his jaw tightened, and he clenched his hands into fists. “He could’ve killed you. I can’t stand by and let him get away with that.”
    I grabbed him by the arm as he turned away. “Stop. Please.” I tried to pull him in the direction of my home; we needed to get out of there before the hunters came back. But he stayed rooted in place like a large tree. I tugged harder, using my supernatural strength, but he still didn’t move. “Brendan, we should go home.”
    Footsteps and more gunshots sounded nearby. Probably the Cazador continuing their vampire hunt. With how rowdy they were, it was curious that they actually found nocturnes in the first place. People ran on the sidewalk behind us, and before I could turn, the vampire from the restaurant barreled past, shoving me into Brendan, who stumbled against the wall.
    The three Cazador rushed past as I tried to regain my composure. One of them rammed his elbow into my shoulder as he went. I bit my lower lip, holding in a scream. Tears slid over my cheeks, and I buried my face in the hard planes of Brendan’s chest.
    He carefully wrapped his arms around me and rubbed my back in soothing circles. His touch comforted me, but we couldn’t do this here. It was too dangerous. I pulled away as the hurried footfalls faded into the distance.
    “We need to get out of here. We’re lucky the hunters didn’t spot me.” I glanced up at him. “Besides, I do need your protection, and I don’t want you to die trying to get revenge.”
    Warmth glowed in his eyes, and he nodded. “You’re right. Let’s get you safe.”
    I brushed my fingers along his jaw line and smiled. Maybe not all men were like my father.

CHAPTER THREE
     
    Derek
    “A vampire killed Tom. It’s disgusting to see our kind turn on each other. We aren’t humans. We should be above trivial civil wars.” Prescott glanced between us. “Reports from a surviving member of his entourage, a wizard, said there were three unfamiliar vampires. Tom’s people killed one. By the time the wizard escaped, his master was dead, and he had no clue who’d murdered Tom.
    “I suspected the wizard had a part in it. After all, how best to escape one’s master than by one’s own hand? However, you had a similar experience. Now I fear something more menacing is going on. I’d appreciate you telling me if you notice anything else out of the ordinary. We can’t afford to lose another member of the High Council.” The concern wasn’t lost on me, even though he pretended it was for my role in the council. Prescott leveled his gaze at Elliot. “You need to be careful as well. You’d be no good to us dead. I don’t want your promotion to be in vain. Now go.”
    I lowered my head, glad the meeting was over, even if it hadn’t given me any clarity. Perhaps Tom’s entourage had killed him; there were rumors that he hadn’t been the nicest master. But I didn’t keep pets—life was simpler on my own—so that wouldn’t explain why the necromancer and his friend came after me.
    Elliot swept into an elaborate bow. “I will do my best, my lord.”
    Prescott waved his hand at my friend. “I told you to do away with formalities.”
    Once Elliot