Lunar Shadows: Awaken

Selene

Wiping down the bartop, I think about my ongoing conversation with Selene and an easy smile tugs my lips upward. She’s got a great sense of humor, is witty, intelligent, and has a silly side that is very carefree. I can sense a darkness within her, however. It clouds the bright light that is her soul and I found myself often wondering today how to help her break through it.

One of my bouncers pokes his head into the bar and brings me back to the present. I give him a nod to open, which he returns and the door swings closed behind him as he disappears back to the street level entrance. Within moments, the eerie stillness of the lounge washes away to the din of excitement, music, and glasses clinking. I turn around, turning on the TVs to play the sports channels. Every time the entrance doors swing open, I find myself searching eagerly for Selene to walk through, wanting to see her icy blue eyes again. Feeling anxious, I roll my sleeves up to my elbows methodically. Rather than my work shirt, I decided to wear a plain black tee underneath a deep green and black flannel and left it unbuttoned. It is an old, comfortable favorite, given to me as a birthday gift from Kyrre a few years back. She had told me, ‘It contrasts your eyes nicely,’ whatever the hell that is supposed to mean.

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, my chest tightens momentarily as I look up, only to deflate upon seeing my brother.

“You alright? You look kind of lost,” he chuckles, leaning against the back of the bar.

“Yeah, I’m good. I kinda feel like a teenager again,” I mumble, glancing around the bar.

“Huh? Why would you—no way!” Trey grins widely as he pushes upright. “You’re expecting to see Selene again, aren’t you? Aw, are you guys having a date?” he says mockingly, making a kissy face at me.

“You’re such an ass,” I roll my eyes, hiding my smirk. “Why don’t you worry about your own interests, hmm?” I add, giving him a slight shove out from behind the bar.

“What?” he asks confused, turning back toward me.

I just give him a toothy grin, pushing him bodily toward the club passageway. Stopping at the record player, I browse some music, trying to keep myself distracted. A sharp elbow hits my side and I glare at Treyvar, about to tell him to get to work when I see his smirk and I turn quickly toward the entrance. My chest tightens when I find Selene holding a door open and letting Ria in behind her. I flash a glance at Trey, laughing at his expression as he gawks at the door. I watch as his face goes slack before he scurries through the curtains like a rat.

“Coward!” I teasingly call after him, laughing again.

Meeting Selene’s gaze, I see her smile and give a little wave. I grin widely, making my way back to the bar to get her drink order prepared and notice her wave at her two friends from last night sitting in a nearby booth. Glancing at their table, I take out two cocktail glasses and make a couple daiquiris for them as well.

Adding a slice of lime to each glass, I place them on a tray and carry them over to their table when Vala steps in front of me closely, placing her hand on my forearm. I glare down at her hand silently then flick my eyes up to hers and she quickly removes it, worry pulling her brow down. Stepping around the tray, she leans in to speak quietly.

“A group of vamps just entered, at least seven of them,” she says tensely.

Narrowing my eyes, I respond lowly, “This is a neutral area, they have the freedom to be here as long as they don’t cause problems, you know this. Go out back and pull out the mixers we have saved, but let them know we have low stock,” I mutter, moving toward Selene’s table.

“Ky—”

“Don’t touch me, Vala, you know I don’t like it,” I growl as she withdraws again, her eyes slightly round.

“Caedes is here,” she hisses with fear and anger mixed in her voice.

Whipping my head toward the doors, I lock my eyes on him centered in his eerie group of the undead.

What the fuck is that bastard doing here? Valdr snarls, sending a rumble through my chest.

Pushing the tray of drinks into Vala’s hands, I direct her to Selene’s table and stalk toward the entrance. Caedes is their leader—the vampire king—and he’s at least two thousand years old, though his appearance suggests otherwise. He has a narrow face with sharp features, unblemished, smooth milky skin, and short ebony hair. His lanky body belies the extreme strength he is capable of, as well as speed. To humans, if his blood red eyes are glamoured, he looks to be in his mid-twenties and completely unexceptional, which is what makes him—all of them—so dangerous.

All vampires have the same eyes, body type, strength, and speed. Most have some magic and psychic abilities, all of which vary in intensity and are what they primarily use to catch their prey. Their powers are useless against other supernatural beings except for their physical traits, however, putting them on even grounds with us wolves. What the hell are they doing here? I haven’t seen him since Mother’s disappearance, over a hundred and fifty years ago, I growl as I cross the floor through the parting crowd.

There was that one time in the Underground, he was pissed you ripped his henchman in half during one of the fights. Remember how he bared his fangs at you from the stands? Valdr reminds me, bristling at the vampires’ proximity.

Growling as I approach, Caedes steps out of the creepy group with every one of them staring at me, unblinking.

“Ah, Kyran. You’ve grown, though not out of that nasty temper of yours, I see,” he taunts, his red eyes gleaming.

“Glamour your eyes, all of you. I won’t have this shit ruin my business,” I glare at them all, watching as they comply and their eyes become muted shades of brown.

“You are not welcome, Caedes, not here, not after what you did to my pack. Leave, before I force you out,” I snarl, feeling the energy of my pack’s attention around me.

“Hmm, yes, I know, I know. I am just stopping by to speak with a friend. I heard about this little place and wanted to take a look around, no bother from me,” he drones, his eyes darting around the bar and abruptly coming to a halt, a smug smile tugging on his thin lips.

Quickly turning sideways so I don’t put my back to him, I follow his gaze to Selene’s table and find her back to us—thankfully—keeping her completely unaware of what’s happening. Lashing my hand out, I clench Caedes’ throat and shove him bodily through the door, causing his parasites to hiss behind me.

Snarling, I slam him against the concrete wall, cracking it a bit with the force of his impact. Caedes glares at me with a wicked grin, not bothering to move against me. Lifting his hand, he points a sharp finger at my chest.

“Looks like you have a weakness, dog,” he runs his tongue over his teeth gleefully.

My control slips and I smash my fist into his face twice, shattering his nose and cheek then launch him halfway up the stairs. Before his body hits the concrete, he twists into a crouch with his head snapping up and baring his fangs at me. A low hiss escapes him and his leeches rush into the stairwell and out toward the street in a blur, their wind lightly billowing my unbuttoned shirt.

Caedes spits a mouthful of blood at my feet then darts away, leaving his laughter echoing around me. I slam my fist into the place his face was moments ago, my blood boiling. Clenching my jaw, I heal my hand and wipe the blood on the inside of my flannel, turning at the sound of the door swinging open. Trey and Vala come through wearing mirrored expressions of concern.

“I didn’t hear anything from you and wanted to see if you’d need backup. Why the hell were they here?” Trey looks baffled, putting a hand to the back of his head.

“What did he say to you? I haven’t seen you that angry in a long time,” Vala says quietly, eyeing the broken wall.

She steps through the door with a shake of her head, briefly returning with a tall painting and hangs it over the smashed area with magic. Glancing at the blood on the floor, she waves her hand and it turns to dust. Looking back at me, she silently raises an eyebrow.

“He didn’t say much, just that he was meeting a friend and wanted to look around here because he’d heard about it,” I mutter, running my hand over my face.

I can’t be so reactive, not anymore. I have too many people depending on me to behave rashly, I chastise myself as I take a breath and sigh, grateful that it didn’t turn into a bloodbath.

Pushing the door aside, I hold it open for Vala and Trey to walk through and turn to follow them, halting before I almost run into one of Selene’s friends making her way outside. I step back and let her through, giving her a small smile which she doesn’t even acknowledge, pushing past me and hurrying up the stairs.

Bitch, Valdr grumbles irritably.

Enough, I reply, suppressing a chuckle and stepping into the lounge.

“Hey, Kyran,” I hear Selene’s melodic voice call out and a wave of calmness washes over me at the sight of her.

She’s at the far pool table with Asteria, setting up a game. My eyes run over her involuntarily, appreciating her beauty, feeling as if every time I see her it’s like the first time all over again. I smile genuinely, snatching Treyvar’s shoulder before he gets too far ahead of me and drag him over to their table.

Did he just whimper? Valdr teases, making me huff out a laugh.

“Selene, Asteria, this is my brother, Treyvar,” I announce with a grin, feeling the tension rippling through his body.

“Hey,” Selene greets with a smile, racking the pool balls.

“Mmm, we’ve met, officially. Last night,” Asteria drawls out with a smirk, conspicuously unzipping her bawdy outfit a few inches lower.

I look at Trey incredulously, watching as his eyes bulge out at the floor and he swallows thickly.

Dude, I gotta hear about this, I mindlink him with a laugh.

A shake of his head is his only response as Asteria laughs with a roll of her eyes.

Selene hands me a cue stick with a wink, and I smile, eager to enjoy the night with her.

Selene

“You’re very beautiful, Selene,” Kyran murmurs, leaning in to take the cue stick from me.

“Thank you,” I blush, tucking some hair behind my ear. It’s disorienting, hearing him say that. I’m used to the crass compliments men usually hand out, but never something so simple and truthful, the way he says it, I wonder as I rack the balls.

“Hazel left her wallet in her car and will be back in a moment. We can play a quick game, I’ll take it easy on you guys, don’t worry,” I banter, grinning.

“Ha!” Ria barks a laugh, tipping back the last of her drink.

Laughing, I set my stick against the table and take her glass from her, grabbing my empty one as well. “I’ll be right back,” I say over my shoulder, stepping toward the bar.

Kyran’s gentle hand presses lightly against my lower back and I feel his warmth bloom over my skin, giving me tiny tingles as he leans toward me. “I’ll make them, so you can trust that your request is done properly,” he murmurs lowly, giving me a small smile.

Grateful for his attentiveness, I smile back and hand him the glasses, watching as he crosses the floor and ducks behind the bar, deftly making our drinks. Turning back toward the pool table, I narrow my eyes between Ria and Treyvar, sensing some tension.

“Hey, Treyvar, how’d you meet Ria?” I ask, noticing her smirk.

He scuffles his shoe against the floor, glancing at Ria then quickly averting his gaze to me. “I, uh, she—I work the bar in the club, she ordered a couple of drinks from me,” he says quickly, his cheeks flushing.

I raise my brow at Ria as she shrugs her shoulders with a grin. “He’s scared of wi—ah, women. Confident, powerful women,” she clears her throat and flashes a grin at Treyvar.

I roll my eyes with a laugh, knowing damn well how imperious Asteria can be. Kyran returns, handing me my Nojito and Ria a pretty looking purple cocktail. “Oh, what’s that?” I ask, curious.

“It’s called Purple Rain, I figured it suits Asteria. If you don’t like it, I will make you a different drink,” he turns to her, running his hand through his dark hair.

“Thank you, no worries. This is delicious,” she responds, already a quarter of the way through her drink.

Placing my glass on a small table at the wall, I pick up my stick and chalk it. “Alright, you guys ready to get your asses handed to you?” I grin, bending down to line up my shot.

Jamming my stick into the cue ball, I barely make the break and laugh as I scratch immediately, joined by everyone else.

Straightening, I notice Kyran’s amber eyes narrow as he smirks, easily pocketing a few balls in succession. When he meets my gaze again, I scrunch my nose at him playfully, causing him to laugh. Treyvar excuses himself before playing, mumbling something about work and crossing the lounge toward the club quickly. Ria laughs loudly, watching him go before sweeping the table of a few more balls.

I’ve gotta talk to her about this, something is up, I just know it, I think to myself as I take a sip of my sweet drink, peeking over the rim at Kyran as he lines up for a shot across the table. Smirking, I turn sideways, sitting on the edge of the table in front of the ball he is aiming at. Watching as the cue ball bounces off the cushion, I grin when Kyran’s warm gaze flicks up to mine. His eyes narrow slightly and I pout innocently, blinking slowly, noticing the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Hopping off the table, I try earnestly to line up a shot straight down the side of the table. As I aim, I see Kyran’s forearms fold over the side with his muscles contracting. Focusing, I take my shot, sinking our last ball in the corner pocket. I gasp, grinning wide and Ria whoops loudly, finishing her drink. Kyran gives me a crooked smile and gestures at the eight-ball near the center of the table. As I move toward the cue ball, I brush past Kyran and his hand squeezes my hip lightly, sending tingles down my leg. My ears get hot as I suck in my lip, feeling a bit flustered. He’s very respectful, but I want to show him how he makes me feel, I wonder as I enjoy the feel of his touch.

As I turn to look back at Kyran, I notice Hazel coming back into the bar making her way over to us. Once she reaches our table, Melody appears from the club entrance smiling broadly. “You guys, you gotta get in here!” she calls over, waving at us excitedly. “This crowd is wild.”

Hazel glances at Ria for a moment, her gaze shifting to me then landing on Kyran. A sly grin spreads on her face as she takes my hand, pulling me toward the club. “C’mon, let’s go,” she says over her shoulder eagerly.

“Hold on a second,” I say, tugging my hand back. I remove my jacket and fold it over my purse, looking at Kyran. “Is there somewhere safe I can put these?” I ask, smiling a little awkwardly.

I watch as Kyran takes off his flannel and his thick arms bunch with the movement. He holds his hand out for my things and I give them to him, watching as he bundles them up inside his shirt. Stepping toward me, he leans down near my ear murmuring, “They’ll be in my office, I keep the door locked.”

Straightening, he takes a few steps back, nodding his head past my shoulder for me to follow Ria and Hazel. I smirk, turning and walking slowly toward them, knowing he’s watching me go.