Page 6 of Moon Bound

Finding myself airborne, I’m lifted into a pair of thick arms and crushed against a hard chest. My stomach rolls with each movement, a growl emanating from the emptiness of hunger so recently quelled.

“This was a terrible fucking idea,” a deep voice snarls. Hands sink into my hair before being dragged away, and I can only lie there, too focused on my pain to argue. “I’m her guardian! I’m taking her far away from here and all of you!”

But that’s not what you want, is it Aspen?The voice asks inside my mind.The raven called you special. It’s about time you found out why.Cracking my eyelids, my head rolls aside. The door has been closed, the pain has begun to ebb, but not quickly enough. Weakness isn’t a trait I’m comfortable being associated with.

A calloused hand cups my cheek, drawing me to gaze upon a pair of serene blue eyes.Jaxon. As bright as the sea on a glorious summer’s day, I cast myself adrift in his gaze. A cool wash strokes my heated skin, my limbs becoming weightless as I float in his arms. He smells like the earth, and he feels like home.

“Aspen!” Swayer calls, breaking my trance. Hunting for my feathery companion, I find a mass of vampires have flocked to aid Torsten and Chase in restraining him against the castle wall. I instantly throw myself out of Jaxon’s hold, ungracefully hitting the ground, but I’m on my feet within seconds. Stumbling forward, I grab the t-shirt of the nearest male and toss him aside. Even in agony, the strength of my inner monsters prevails. The next, I grab by the hair, a braid similar to Jaxon’s that I yank backward whilst driving my heel into his calf, a crack penetrating the air. And so, it continues until the vampires either step back with their hands raised or in a pile at my feet.

“Release him,” I glare at Torsten. Chase stands between us, deciding the best way to tackle my anger is by telling me to ‘calm down’—a bad choice. I move in a blur, breaking each of his ribs with my fists before slamming my knee into his balls just because I can. Torsten watches his friend topple aside and finally releases Swayer, who’d stopped struggling in favor of gawking at me.

“For the second time tonight, I feel like the situation has gotten a little out of hand,” Jaxon grunts. Whatever I thought I saw in his gaze earlier, concern or wonder, has dimmed. Instead, the commander of the army stands beside his injured men, radiating disappointment. “No one here will harm you, but your bird wasn’t part of our mission.”

“Consider your mission a failure,” I scoff, hating to refer to myself that way. “Sawyer stays with me at all times, and it appears I’m unable to enter the castle. So, have your men stand down while we take our leave.” I make it two steps before Jaxon and Torsten are in front of me, barring my exit.

"Why are you unable to enter the castle?" Jaxon asks patiently, despite the clench to his jaw. I can already see that he’s not the type to handle losing well. Swayer shifts back into his raven form, sitting on my shoulder as I narrow my eyes and bare my fangs. I wonder if I’m more irritated with myself for believing I could walk into a new life so easily or letting myself hope it was possible, but the vampires don’t need to know that.

"Apparently, you missed the memo of what your little mission entailed, so let me break it down,Jax,” I push a finger into his solid chest above his folded arms. "I'm Aspen fucking Winters. Born of vampire and werewolf. I can walk in sunlight, shift against the moon, and survive on a mixed diet of blood and food. I'm faster than you, heal quicker than you, and havedoublethe heightened senses than you do. I can't just waltz into that cesspool,” I gesture towards the huge wooden door. “The scents of blood, sex, and sweat, and the sounds within those encased walls, will all have my brain imploding before I make it over the threshold."

Using a finger gun, I hold it to my temple and act out a little gunshot-through-the-head scene, sound effects included. Jax doesn’t react, his jaw remaining tight and stance wide. Torsten, on the other hand, has the good sense to rub his neck and look sheepish.

"Is that why you lived alone, so far from the shifter camp - because of your overactive senses?" Swayer startles more than I do at Torsten’s deduction, but I can’t deny that my anger is dislodged as a new realization sets in. They have no clue about my banishment. Before any uninvited emotions surface, I shrug and continue to barge past. I’m halted by a hand wrapping around my wrist, surprised to find Chase responsible.

"Just wait out here," he says and speeds away, leaving me in front of an audience of healing vampires and the castle I'm longing to enter. I ignore their curious stares, some more impressed than pissed. Huffing, I pick a spot on the castle wall to lean against whilst Sawyer remains hyperalert from his perch on my shoulder.

The headache has finally subsided. I haven't felt a pain that intense since I was thirteen, and trust me, my teenage years were the worst. Inhaling an onslaught of strong scents causes a chronic sinus migraine my wolf can’t fight off fast enough. Only lending myself to the other internal monster will do it, and that comes with its own consequences. Drinking from Jaxon is the only time I’ve managed to ingest blood without killing someone. Unlike the blood of humans kidnapped and presented to me as food sent me into a frenzy, Jaxon’s soothed me. Sent me into a daze of bliss, much like that of a post-orgasm. Another use for the humans before their execution.

A flash of movement in my periphery announces Chase’s return, two stuffed duffle bags hanging from each of his wrists. He stopped to change, swapping his t-shirt for a fitted vest barely holding together at the seams across his broad chest. Perhaps there were once sleeves, but his bulging biceps would have torn them clean off the black cotton. Instead, his tattoos are on full display, and I only realize I’m staring when Swayer peeks me in the side of the head.

Chase’s brow quirks, a smile pulling as his full lips. Damn it. Clearing my throat, I stand and face the horizon beyond the wall, staring at the forest instead of his temptation.

"I suppose you have a plan?” Jax asks gruffly. Chase throws them each a bag before slamming another into my gut. A sharp inhale sounds from the vamps still hanging around, but I merely reciprocate his smirk. It’s about time they stopped treating me as fragile.

“I spoke to Lorcan,” Chase nods, shouldering the last bag. “We can go somewhere else, but we’ll be racing against the sunrise to get there.”

“It’s your call, Pri- uh, Aspen,” Torsten inclines his head. Stony gray eyes lift to mine, uncertainty hidden within. Of the three, Torsten seems the most cautious of what he says and how he treats me. I assess him momentarily, knowing my mind is already made up. Nothing will stop me from seeing through this night, if only for the need for adventure.

Or to quench the thirst awakening inside of you,the voice in my head reminds me. Yeah, maybe that too.

Chapter4

Torsten

We arrive at the woodland cabin with half an hour to spare. As soon as Chase mentioned where we were headed, it seemed to make sense. Too much sense for the one who only ever has three things on his mind-- training, fucking, and gorging. My worry is which of those things was at the forefront when he personally asked the king for use of his secret cabin.

Built three decades ago, the two-story lodge offers complete seclusion, well-hidden within the woodland. Built from oak-grain panels to act as camouflage, twisted columns secure a porch hanging over an unsuspecting front door. Large windows surround the upper level behind a wrap-around balcony to take in the views. Following the castle’s coastline, a sandy beach and a vast ocean offer complete privacy for a midnight swim.

The retreat was commissioned for Lorcan’s personal use. Most vamps don't know it exists or how our king sneaks here sometimes to be alone. He doesn't confide in many, but it’s been obvious to those paying attention that the strains of his role have been affecting him more than they used to.

“We’d best get set up inside,” I state, turning to Aspen. “Shall I take your bag from here?” I’ve refrained, watching her run with the duffle awkwardly bumping into her backpack, but it’s been instilled in me to care for our women. That concept is striking tenfold now that I’m in the princess's presence.

“I’m sure you’d love that, huh?” Aspen scoffs, flipping her white hair over her shoulder. I frown in response. “I’m not a damsel in distress. I don’t need babysitting.” Following Jaxon to the porch, Chase chuckles and pats my back. Fuck me, I guess.

We’re permitted entry after Jaxon punches the security code into a keypad hidden within a false panel. An advancement implemented by the ‘Techies,’ a group of vamps who are unnaturally good with technology, when they upgraded the windows. Despite Lorcan’s wish to keep his cabin a secret, Jaxon convinced him that both the army and techies needed to be involved to ensure his safety.

“I’m taking the first shower!” Chase shouts, shooting through the cabin. Jaxon busies himself preparing a fire with the pre-cut wood. Aspen sits at the kitchen island, muttering to her bird with her back to us. So, I suppose I’ll focus on what I do best—securing the perimeter.

An electronic pad sits on the wall just inside the front door, controlling the metal shutters that clamp down over every window upon being pressed and force the impending sunlight to stay where it belongs. I wasn't part of the construction team, but I remember hearing how they insisted to the King that the cabin didn’t need any windows and then served time in the dungeons for questioning him so boldly. For whatever reason, Lorcan had a specific safe haven in mind and wouldn’t be deterred. Windows, romantic backdrop, porch swing, and all.

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