

### Beast Within

Beasty Series

Book One

By

Tyffani Clark Kemp

~~~

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Published by

Tyffani Clark Kemp

Copyright 2013 Tyffani Clark Kemp

SideStreet Cookie Publishing, LLC

www.sidestreetcookiepublishing.com

All rights reserved.

Cover design by Vivid Designs

Back cover designed by J.A. Howell

### ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Jose Fernando Otero - Thank you for helping me with the words "forthwith" and "behest". You ARE the Master of the Universe.

J.A. Howell and Teri Sanfelipo - Thank you for your consultation on Catholicism.

Mary Freeman - Thank you for helping me name my characters, working through plotlines, and helping me pick the right cover.

Amy Ravenel, J.A. Howell, Madi Danner, Sammy McHenry - Thank you for beta reading and giving me insight on things that needed to be changed and worked out better.

Tamara Beard - Thank you for organizing the Beasty Blog tour and helping me stay organized.

### TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty One

Chapter Thirty Two

Chapter Thirty Three

Chapter Thirty Four

Excerpt

About The Author

### Chapter One

The ring of steel against steel permeated the room, punctuated only by the grunts of the two fighters and the occasional quip from the TV in the corner. A man and a woman fought across the room in a series of choreographed movements. Their swords were extensions of their arms, a part of them that they used to make their dance fluid and lithe.

Finally, the man pulled back and smiled. "You're better than I am," he conceded with a bow. His English accent was smooth and his eyes danced with an untold secret that made her heart skip a little beat. If only her roommate wasn't into him.

Luna Grace ran a swordsmanship school in LA which meant she didn't just teach children, teens, and adults. She also choreographed movements for actors and stunt people. Michael was better than he wanted her to know. He was holding back, but she didn't know why. Still, at least she'd given him a workout. He was breathing heavy and sweating worse.

"Well, Michael, my door is always open if you need improvement."

Michael's hair was a sort of muddy blonde/brown. He kept it short and it suited his facial structure. His eyes were a soft greyish blue that smiled when he did. He was buff, and attractive. Her roommate Cadence had been "talking" to him for the last week. Michael was the star of the _WillSpy_ films, a series that was supposed to be high-action, but tended to be more romantical and cheesy. At least, that's what she'd heard. She'd never seen any of them.

"You're so kind and humble," Michael joked.

Luna shrugged. "Yeah, well. You know."

"I'll see you later tonight, Luna Grace."

Why he insisted on calling her by her full name, Luna didn't know. "What do you mean 'later tonight'? Are you coming over?"

That would be a first. Cadence was worried because they hadn't slept together yet. He took her out, they had fun, and he brought her home. Was that normal? Luna wasn't sure. Nor did she care.

"Party tonight. You are coming, aren't you?"

Luna cocked an eyebrow. "I don't do celebrity parties."

The TV in the corner suddenly became louder and she looked up. "Today we're talking with Gabriel Slade," the woman crowed. Luna marched over to it and flipped the screen off before his face came on screen. When she turned, Michael was looking at her quizzically.

"As I was saying-"

"You're coming. Cadence will talk you into it. I'll see you then." He winked at her and left, his jacket tossed over his arm.

She frowned. What had he done with his swords? The thought was forgotten a moment later when her cell phone rang.

"Eep!" Cadence squealed on the other end before Luna could say hello. "We've been invited to a party tonight!"

"Yes, I know." Luna had no trouble curbing her enthusiasm.

"Go home and shower," Cadence ordered. "We're going shopping."

The line went dead before Luna could protest, but she knew if she didn't comply with her friend's wishes there would be hell to pay.

Luna made it home before Cadence. It was very rare that she didn't. She shoved the case that held her katanas into the far back corner of her closet and shut the door. Cadence didn't like Luna's swords in the house. They were her father's, passed down for several generations. Not only was she worried someone would try to steal them for their worth, but she was afraid they would kill Luna and Cadence for them if they knew the swords were in the house.

The two katanas Luna owned were the only ones of her father's she had left. She'd sold the rest of her father's vast collection to pay off his debts. She and her father had once suffered a break in from men who wanted to steal the collection. She was only eight at the time. Her father had been shot when one of the thieves' guns accidentally went off.

Luna had made the mistake of telling Cadence about the incident. The other woman had freaked out saying she wasn't going to die at the end of a sword. So, Luna hid them to avoid Cadie's irrational fear. She'd been told more than once that if the swords were ever found in the house, she'd have to move out.

The doorbell rang. Luna rolled her eyes and slipped out of her sweaty clothes.

"It's Elmo, Luna!"

Guglielmo was Luna's oldest friend. They grew up together not far from where she lived now. Elmo, as they called him, still lived at home with his mother, one of the sweetest people Luna had ever known.

"I'm getting in the shower. I have to take Cadence shopping. Be out in a minute. Grab a beer from the fridge if you want one." Elmo had his own key, but he always rang the doorbell so they knew he was coming.

"Take your time." His mother was from Spain and he had a little bit of an accent himself. He spoke fluent Spanish, complete with the _th_ sound in place of the _s_ and _z_.

Luna rinsed off the day's workout and bathed quickly. When she was done she dried off and dressed in a pair of jeans and a graphic tee. It was a shirt Elmo had given her with a guardian angel on the front. He stood with his wings back and a sword held in front of his face. There was just something about it that Luna loved.

Elmo smiled at her when she walked out to the main room. "Nice shirt. What are you shopping for this time?"

"Some celebrity party. I don't even know."

Elmo frowned. "The only party I know of tonight is Slade's party."

"Gabriel Slade?" Luna shook her head. "Has to be someone else." No way was she going to Gabriel Slade's party of the year. Not a chance.

"Why do you hate the man so much? Have you ever even met him?"

She shook her head. "I don't need to meet him to know what kind of person he is."

"And what kind of person is that?"

"A celebrity. They're all the same."

Elmo tried to hide a smile, but the corner of his mouth twitched. Luna huffed and looked away.

"Don't." Elmo brought her face back around to look at him with his finger on her chin. "What are celebrities like?"

He was still laughing at her. Luna glared and answered, "Arrogant, entitled, bossy, rude." She couldn't think of anything else. He flustered her sometimes. Not because she was interested in him, but because he was interested in her and made no attempts to hide it, even though she'd told him many times that nothing would ever happen between them.

A key jiggled in the front door and it flew open a moment later. Cadence charged into the house squealing loudly like she did when she was excited.

"Let me shower and change and we'll go. We don't have much time! Hey Elms."

"Hey. Should I get something delivered for later?"

"Chinese!" Luna and Cadence said in unison.

"Michael's going to meet us there. Luna, what are you wearing tonight?"

Luna shrugged. "We're going shopping aren't we?" She knew she wasn't going to buy anything new for this party, but she gave Cadence the illusion that she was.

"Right. Okay. Five minutes."

Thirty-five minutes later, Luna locked the front door and followed Cadence to her car.

"So what party are we going to tonight?" Luna asked and buckled her seatbelt. She feared she already knew the answer to the question, though.

"There's a huge party up at Gabriel Slade's place tonight! Eek!" she squealed.

"Who?" Luna asked just to push Cadence's buttons.

"OMG! The actor Gabriel Slade? He practically owns Hollywood. Come on, Luna. You know who I'm talking about. Super sexy, gorgeous blue eyes, Australian accent. At least, I think it's Australian. It's definitely British or something. Come on! You know."

"Sorry."

"Ugh," Cadence huffed and started the car. "Doesn't matter. You're coming, you're going to have fun, end of discussion. We'll get you something super great to wear."

"If I'm meeting an actor I don't want to look plastic and fake in something I'd never wear. That's all he ever sees anyway." Truth be told, Luna wasn't really worried about what she looked like. She just wanted to be comfortable.

"Good plan. Stand out. We probably won't meet him though. If he's even there he probably won't join the partiers. He'll stay with his own kind." She laughed at her own joke. Luna didn't find it very funny. In fact, she was sure that was exactly how he saw it too.

"It's supposed to be cool tonight."

"Thanks, Weather Man Luna. I'll take that into advisement. Oh! I saw this dress in a magazine last week. Gorgeous! I was so jelly when I found out that it's not even available for sale yet."

Jelly, Cadence's abbreviation for jealous. It was the stupidest thing Luna had ever heard of, but it stuck in her head. For the most part she could keep from using it in the wrong company, like hot men, but at times like now when she said, "Jelly Doughnut?" it was harder to avoid.

"OMG! Totally!"

It was their thing. She and Cadence couldn't be any more different, but they got along surprisingly well. She'd badly hoped Elmo would find Cadence appealing, but it hadn't happened quite that way. Elmo was always there when she needed help, just as he'd been when they were children, but his attachment to her bordered on obsessive.

"You can bring Elmo for moral support if you want," Cadence added as she sped down the street.

"Won't we need an invite or something?"

"To get in the house, yeah, but from what I hear that part of the party is pretty stuffy. All the rich people who are too good to enjoy themselves get invited to the house."

"You talk about it like it's segregated."

"Gabriel Slade's parties are, like, tiered. The rich, influential people who he wants to get in good with are allowed into the main house. The people who just want to mingle and get known - out of work actors and newbies - get to wander around the villa outside and see who they can meet. People like us who just want to have a good time and say we went to a Gabriel Slade party get to party outside the walls. That's where the music and good stuff is. I've been trying to get to one of his parties for years!"

"Right. So we don't actually get to go into the house and meet the cool people, we just get to be lame and stay outside the house, but on the actual property. And she says this will be good for me."

"It will. It'll be fun too. Just wait."

*****

Gabriel stepped out on the balcony to survey the damage. The villa was being decorated for this stupid party tonight. He was obligated to hold them. As one of the most influential people in the film business - he owned most of the production companies - his parties were the best.

He even allowed anyone who was no one to come, so long as they stayed outside the walls. Some got in, some he invited in to keep up appearances, and most ended up passed out on his lawn the next morning. As long as they weren't in the house he refused to be responsible for them.

"Mr. Slade."

Gabe turned to Devonshire, his right hand man. When he had found Gabe he was already well into his sixties. "What is it?"

"The ice sculptures are early."

"I'll say. What do they expect me to do with them?"

"They say you'll have to take them or they're going back to the warehouse. They want to speak with you, sir."

"Of course they do. I'll be with them in a moment. Is there anything else?"

"Not yet, sir."

There was always something else, but never when it was convenient. Gabe checked his reflection and smoothed back his golden hair. He'd had it trimmed last night by Mrs. Stone, his cook and head house keeper. He kept it just above his collar. He preferred it long. His face needed a trim before things got started as well. Gabe kept some stubble. Women found a little bit attractive. With a deep breath he descended the stairs into the main room and across the foyer to the front door. Devonshire was arguing with a man there.

"How can I be of assistance?" Everyone turned. What a stupid question, their eyes were saying. Everyone knows that if Gabriel Slade wants to be of assistance he certainly can be. Didn't he know that?

Devonshire's relief showed plainly in his face.

"What is the problem here?" Gabe's voice resonated bass and authority. "Are these the ice sculptures for my party tonight at nine o'clock?"

"Yes sir," the truck driver answered.

"It's only just after eleven in the morning. You're early."

"Yes sir. The delivery time was misread."

Ah. There was the truth of the matter. "So how is this my responsibility? If you misread the delivery time then the problem is yours to solve, yes?"

"If I take them back to the warehouse-"

"Well, the only other option I see is that you sit in the driveway parked with the truck running so the sculptures don't melt and I don't think you have gas enough for that. And what about my guests? How will they park their cars?"

"No, there wouldn't be enough room for that," the man agreed.

"Exactly. So what are we going to do about it?"

"We'll take the truck back to the warehouse until it's time to deliver."

Gabe gave him a stiff nod and turned to go back inside. Devonshire received a call as he reached the door. Predicting bad news, he waited until the man was done.

"Michael, sir. He's at the gate."

Fantastic. Gabe shook his head and slammed the door hard enough to make the glass rattle.

*****

Luna leaned her head against the wall and waited for Cadence to emerge from the dressing room in yet another amazing outfit that wouldn't suit her because it wasn't expensive enough.

"What about this one?"

The dress was bright pink and covered in sequins. "You'll certainly stand out."

"Luna, I want your honest opinion. Are you bored?"

Of course she was bored. These stupid stopping trips always turned out to be about Cadence, but she couldn't tell her friend that. "I think it's tacky and cheap. I like the black one that barely covered anything up. It was good."

"Yeah, but you said it was going to be cold tonight."

"Buy a long jacket to go over it. You can leave it open and still see the dress. Get some great shoes to really call attention."

"Damn, you're good at this."

"I know. It's a gift. Can we go get something to eat now?"

"We still have to get your outfit."

Luna shook her head. "I'll just wear something I have already. It's no big deal. Of course, I don't want to embarrass you."

"What? As pretty as you are? Men kill for a second look at those green eyes. I'll let you go through my closet if you don't want to buy anything. If nothing else, you can wear some of my great shoes."

"Deal. Now pay so we can get food. I'm freaking starved."

They made it home an hour later.

"God, I have so much to do to get ready and only four hours!"

Luna chuckled at her overdramatic friend. They'd met through a roommate finding service three years ago.

"Cadie, you try too hard."

"Have to work for it if you want it. I'm not trying to be noticed or anything, but good gracious, you meet some crazy awesome people at these things!"

Relationships that only lasted one night were not Luna's ideal. "Are you going to be bringing Michael home tonight?"

Cadence poked her head around the corner of the hall to her room. "IDK."

Why she insisted on speaking in text messaging lingo Luna would never know. "Well, if you do, warn me so I can go stay at Elmo's. I don't want to be privy to your howling again." Where was Elmo?

"I do NOT howl!"

"You howl. It's a wonder they finish."

A shimmering red Dorothy slipper flew in her direction. Luna dodged it in time for the second one to clunk her knee.

"Now THAT is a howl!" Cadence said of her cries of pain. "I don't sound like that when I'm gettin' laid."

"That's exactly what you sounded like."

This time a denim jacket wrapped itself around her head. "Is denim even in anymore?"

"I think so."

The doorbell rang and the door opened a second later. Elmo marched in with Chinese takeout and a case of beer.

" _Hola_ , Luna."

"Hey. Cadence is in her pre-prep stage."

He nodded and grinned, showing straight white teeth. "Is denim even in anymore?"

"We're not sure. She's not wearing it though."

"Is that what you're wearing?" Cadence was peeked around the corner again.

He was in a blue sweater and jeans and white sneakers. "Yep. Does it embarrass you?"

"A little."

"Then I've done my job very plainly."

"Yeah. Very plainly."

Luna tossed the jacket back at Cadence and missed when she disappeared. "Leave him alone, Cadie."

"You hungry?" Elmo asked and started unloading the food.

"I don't want to get bloated!" Cadence shouted around the corner. Luna rolled her eyes.

### CHAPTER TWO

Gabe stalked into the study where his friend sat in a leather-bound chair, glass of brandy to his lips.

"Why are you here?" he growled. "You're supposed to be filming."

"I'm in town working with a choreographer, if you must know."

"You work for me, so I must know. I didn't sanction that." Gabe rubbed his chest over his heart. The frozen organ sent shafts of cold through his extremities.

Michael's eyes lingered on Gabe's chest for a moment, and then went back to his drink. "I know." He finished it off in one huge gulp. "I felt I needed the work though."

"How long have you been in town?"

"About two weeks. I have a few friends coming to the party tonight. That's why I'm here." He looked up and speared Gabe's eyes with his own. "To hang out with some friends at your party."

Gabe nodded tersely. "Fine, but don't cause any trouble." He couldn't seem to get that growl under control today. Michael, though they really were the best of friends, grated on his nerves so bad most days that it was a wonder Gabe hadn't torn him to pieces yet.

"Me? Cause trouble?" Michael refilled his drink. "Why would you even say anything like that, Gabriel? It hurts my feelings."

"I'm going to hurt more than your feelings if you don't get out of my house." Gabe turned on his heel, well aware that Michael wouldn't go anywhere until he was good and ready. "Devonshire!"

Devonshire was there a moment later. "Yes, sir."

"I want him out on the dunes. Not in my house and not in the villa, understood?"

"Yes, Mr. Slade."

*****

Luna was quick. She showered, brushed her teeth and hair, and was dressed with time to spare, so she sat on the sofa with Elmo grubbing on Chinese for the second time that evening and drinking beer. She had a good buzz going by the time Cadence joined them.

"How do you do that? You always look good and you take no time at all." Cadence hooked some fabulously long earrings in her ears and slipped her stilettos on.

"You should try it. It might help you." That earned her a stiff punch in the arm. "Truth be told, though, I think it's my natural tan and my long dark hair. It's classic." Luna's mother was a Native American and her father was a little bit of everything else. Somehow she'd gotten all the best features according to him.

"I have a tan. I'm Hispanic and my hair is dark too."

Luna shrugged. "Is Michael picking us up?"

"We're going to meet him there and before you ask, we are not arriving to this party in your beat up clunker, Elmo. I'm driving."

"Fine by me."

"I'm sure it is. The two of you can cuddle up in the backseat."

Luna rolled her eyes and snatched her scarf and jacket from the back of the sofa. "I'll drive, just for that."

*****

They pulled up to the front gates at ten after ten. Luna felt good. The buzz she already had almost guaranteed they'd be able to leave in the next three hours. Cadence hated it when Luna whined about how drunk she was. She had no problem admitting she was a lightweight.

The man at the gates gave them a ticket which Luna hung on the rearview mirror. The gates parted slowly and they drove into "the party". It was almost literally a wasteland. Just mounds of sand and weed bushes except for the wooded area that bordered the inside of the wall. Parking was to the right as they pulled in. Luna pulled into a place she wouldn't be able to get out of in an hour or so and they got out.

"Luna, you look good. You might find yourself a man tonight. Sorry, Elmo."

She'd opted for jeans and a light grey cardigan over a camisole. She wore a red scarf to top it off and matching red knee high boots with a heel not designated for sandy places. She heard surf crashing on the beach and half wished she was there right now. People were already stumbling about drunk. One couple, if they were even a couple, was lying across the hood of a car dry humping like their lives depended on it.

"So tacky," Cadence said.

"Your party."

"Gabriel Slade's party, thank you very much. Ready to get your mingle on?"

"Mingle? With whom? These aren't the kind of people I'd want to mingle with at a party like this."

"Oh, come on. You never know who you'll run into!"

"I'm better off not knowing." Some guy whooped it up in front of a group of girls who rolled their eyes and walked away.

"Oh, don't be jelly."

"Of what?" Luna asked, incredulous.

Cadence marched off in a huff.

"I'll find you, Luna." Elmo hurried of, pretending to see someone he knew.

Luna wandered for a bit. There was a band closer to the house and she wondered if the guests had arranged that or if Gabriel Slade had taken pity on his desperate guests and hired them to play.

After being hit on for the fiftieth time, Luna climbed a sand dune that overlooked the villa and the party on the dunes and took a seat so she could watch both.

### CHAPTER THREE

Gabriel hid in his bedroom under the pretense that he was looking for a memento for someone. A picture or something or other that he said he had but couldn't even remember the woman he'd spoken to. That was the problem with his life. There were too many people. Far, far too many people.

He wandered onto the balcony to see how the parties were going. Maybe he'd find someone to capture his attention for a few moments. After all of his years of life it was hard to find someone who didn't have the same thing to say.

A drunk woman meandered through the walkways beneath him. She came to a wall with a locked door, turned around a few times, and went back the way she'd come. A man met her at the end. They didn't know each other. Gabe could hear the conversation.

"Hey baby. What's your sign?"

"Get lost," she answered. Cute, but he'd heard it before.

"Aw, don't be like that. Aren't you here to party?"

"Everyone's here to party, idiot."

Either the man was emotionless, except for the ones that were trying to get him a score, or he was too drunk to realize he was being criticized. Either one, he wasn't going to get anywhere with that woman. Gabe moved on.

Someone jumped into the pool with their clothes on, shoes and all. He hated that. It started a rash of everyone thinking they had to jump in to be cool. Idiots. He moved on.

A flash of red caught his eye. On the other side of the wall a woman climbed to the top of one of the tallest dunes near the villa. She was hard to miss with her bright red boots and scarf. The top of the dune was touched by light from the villa. She certainly stood out as she took a seat on the sand.

Gabe watched her watch the people inside the maze. From her perch she had a pretty good vantage point. She was above the wall, but she wasn't trying to get over. Either she was stupid or she respected the rules of engagement. Interesting. He watched her a little longer.

When she got bored with the villa, she turned and watched the idiots on the dunes. There was a mosh pit, or what was supposed to be a mosh pit. The band wasn't quite hard enough for that, but still the idiots tried to mosh. Most of them were too drunk to stand up straight. A lot of the uninvited were drunk when they showed up. There were a lot of before-parties when he threw his. Most of the guests outside the walls wouldn't show for a few more hours.

The woman cheered when the band's set ended. Maybe she liked them.

Gabe had to get a closer look. He could make out her features from here, but with the deep shadows constantly shifting it was impossible for him to tell what she looked like.

A pain tightened Gabe's chest over his heart. Strange. Maybe he was having a heart attack. That would end this stupidity for sure. He checked his watch and realized he'd been up here for thirty minutes at least. They'd wonder where he'd gone. He was going to have to mingle or something. Might as well go talk to the pretty girl in the bright red boots. He rubbed his chest as the pain faded. So weird.

Devonshire was outside his door about to knock when Gabe opened it.

"I'm coming," he said. "I'm going out on the dunes for a bit."

"Sir?"

"No worries. I doubt I'll be recognized. They're all too drunk to see straight. You can watch me from here if you'd feel safer. Just keep an eye on the pretty girl with the red boots." He patted the man on the shoulder and stepped past him.

"Oh, Gabriel. Did you find that photo-"

It was a photo. He had a good memory if he'd just pay attention. Problem was, he didn't want to pay attention most of the time. He didn't bother to answer her and she stopped talking when she realized he wasn't even going to look in her direction. Most of them were used to his aloof manner. That's what they called it. Gabe called it "just don't give a fuck".

He slipped out the kitchen door and crossed the pool where everyone was laughing and drinking and having a grand time. He wound his way through the narrow halls of the villa and out through a door few ever found. It was hidden behind vines on both sides so no one would mess with it.

He climbed up the dune directly behind Red Boots, but changed direction so he could approach her from the side instead. That would give him more of an advantage. He climbed the dune on sure feet. She was watching the band on the other side of the yard so she didn't even see him until he called out to her.

"This a private party?"

She turned to him and smiled. There was a shadow on her eyes, so he had trouble seeing the color, but her features were smooth with high cheek bones and a cute nose that suggested there was some African American in her blood line. There might have been a little Asian too and definitely Native American.

"Nope," she said. Her voice wasn't small, but it didn't overpower. "This is an all-access dune."

He laughed at her wit and realized a moment later that he'd actually found that cute. It wasn't a forced laugh like he so often had to use. She had a beer in her hand but she didn't seem to be drunk.

"You like this band?"

She smiled politely. "Not really. Not hard enough for me, but I'm not going to complain. Free show."

"Free beer." He motioned to her drink.

"That too. Hey do you know if Slade hired the band or was that set up by the fans?"

Was she really asking that question? What game was she getting at? "I think Slade hires the bands. Why do you ask?"

"I was just thinking it's nice of him to hire the bands since they aren't allowed inside, but if they hire the bands it's kind of presumptuous to just assume it would be okay."

He chuckled. What a roundabout way of thinking. "I suppose so. Have you been inside yet?"

"I can't get inside. I'm not influential enough."

"I just came from inside."

"Why did you come out here then?"

Oh, she was cute. "Isn't this where the party is?" Part of him, a long ago forgotten part, felt bad for messing with her, but a more practical side that had also popped up from nowhere, needed to know if this woman was for real. There was another part of him that he didn't want to acknowledge that was feeling something foreign, yet oh so familiar.

"You call this a party? I call it debauchery. That girl there," she pointed to a woman in a pink cardigan and neon fuck-me heels, "she's on her fourth man of the night. I'm convinced she's trying to sleep with everyone here."

"Why are you here?" That was the real question, wasn't it? If she hated it so much, why was she really here?

"I came with my roommate who thinks she's going to get lucky - she usually does - and my friend who is off chatting up a girl he won't call because he's in love with someone else."

"And she's not into him. Is that it?" There was something about the way she said that. Her tone held frustration, annoyance.

"That's exactly it. He may get himself into the outer courts though."

Gabe laughed a deep, resonating, gleeful sound. "Outer courts? Is that what they call them?"

"That's what I call them. Beautiful set up though."

He caught himself just before he said thank you. Time to move a bit. He stood, brushed off his trousers, and offered her a hand. "Come," he said. "Let's go into the outer courts." Strange words that hadn't been uttered in so long, they tasted bitter and cold.

She blinked up at him and hesitated before she took his hand and let him help her up. "We won't get into trouble?"

He shook his head and turned down the corners of his mouth in dismissal. Yeah. She was real cute. "Nah. People sneak in every year. No one gets in trouble. Threatened a little maybe, but never in trouble."

"Well, that's nice." She dusted off her back side and knocked her boots together.

"Nice shoes."

She smiled. It lit her face and took his breath away for a moment.

"Thanks. They're my roommates, but we share everything."

"Yeah? You get on well?"

"Yeah. We didn't at first, but you know how that is. Two girls moving in together. You have to set ground rules."

"Of course." He kept a tight hold on her hand. He would have liked to say it was simply to keep her from falling down the shifting sand, but there was a current running between them. He didn't know if she felt it or not, but it was there, strong and alive with something he didn't understand. It ran up his arm and through his body, tingled through his blood. Her skin was so soft, her hand so tiny in his big paw. Absently, he ran his thumb across the back and found a smooth place. A scar. He couldn't help but wonder what it was from.

Gabe led her through the hidden door after he made sure no one was watching.

"How did you know that was there?" she asked.

He put a finger to his lips and didn't miss that her eyes lingered there for a moment. "I've been here a few times. I've never seen anyone else use it." That wasn't a total lie. Funny. He felt bad about lying to her.

Her hand stayed in his and she didn't try to pull away. He led her expertly through the maze, getting "lost" a few times just for appearances. She thought that was funny.

"Oh yeah. You're the man."

"You know it." He turned to smile at her and was caught by her eyes. "Bloody hell, woman!"

"What?" She gave him a blank, innocent face. "What did I do?"

"Your eyes. Are they naturally that green?"

"Oh. It's probably the red scarf."

"Red scarf," he scoffed. Yeah right. "You're not wearing colored contacts?"

"Nope."

"Wow. I bet you get that all the time, don't you?" Seriously, her eyes were nearly like emeralds. He'd never seen anything so beautiful. Well, once, but that was different.

"Yeah. It's a good line, though. Better than some."

Gabe frowned at her. "It wasn't a line." She couldn't seem to find words to say, so he turned and led her across the pool. He checked to make sure no one was looking before he led her through a gate and across the front drive, past the fountain, and into the garage.

"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice a low whisper.

Gabe chuckled. When was the last time he'd laughed? For any reason? At some point he'd stopped laughing to humor people because he didn't find anything funny.

"Trust me." He flipped on a light and - her hand still in his - they walked down a concrete ramp. He felt her tense and realized what this must look like. "Slade has this incredible collection of classic cars. Do you like cars?"

He looked back and caught her smile.

"I like to look at them, but I don't know much about them."

"Well, what do you know a lot about?"

"Swords," she answered. Gabe stopped walking to look at her. In the dim light, her amusement was palpable. "My father was a sword maker. He taught me and I teach other people here in the city. I teach a lot of celebrities."

Gabe swallowed. A sword maker, huh? How ironic. He flashed his most disarming grin and asked, "Have you ever taught Gabriel Slade?"

Her lip curled up in a sneer that caught him off guard and he almost slipped.

"No, thank God. I did have a lesson with WillSpy this afternoon though. He's pretty cool as far as celebs go."

Ah, so there was the connection. "WillSpy, eh? I heard he's a proper arse."

"He's not so bad."

Gabe continued his trek down into the second garage and flipped a switch. Her shocked gasp was more than satisfying, but not for the reasons Gabe expected.

"Oh, wow."

"Yeah, exactly."

She dropped his hand and stepped forward. There were probably twenty-eight different cars here, all different makes and models. He watched her run her hand over the Shelby's sleek red exterior. She inspected his collection of muscle cars, and then made her way to the least of them, but one of his favorites, a Chevrolet Caprice classic Station wagon.

"How is that your favorite?" he asked, sauntering over to her. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. What?

"My dad had a car just like this," she said and sniffed. "I had to sell it when he died."

There was so much emotion in her voice that Gabe wondered if it had been a mistake to bring her down here. He hated crying girls because they got in his nerves, but this one made him want to hold her.

She turned to him, a sad smile on her face. "This one is in much better shape though."

Gabe swallowed a boastful comment about having had this one restored, and took her hand again. He flashed his grin once more and said, "Want a drink? I mean a real drink. Something other than beer."

She nodded slowly, the tears fading. That made his heart happy.

"Yes. I'd love a drink."

Gabe motioned with his head. "This way." He let her precede him up some stairs and pushed open a door that opened into the house. When they were in the house, he took her into the kitchen.

"You meant all the way into the house. Damn. Cadence will be so jelly."

"Cadence will be jelly?" What the hell?

"Yeah," she blushed. "Cadence is my roommate. This is a great kitchen."

She pulled her hand from his. He felt so cold he actually shivered. It was such a shock that he stared at the back of her head for a moment, wondering what had just happened. She shocked him further by stroking the chrome faucet. He didn't bother to ponder that. Let her have her moment. He took out his phone and sent Devonshire a text.

"I'm in the kitchen. I have a guest. We will be going upstairs shortly." He switched his phone to silent and slid it into his back pocket. No interruptions until he or she said.

Green Eyes turned to look at him. She was so small compared to his massive size. He could break her in half with a simple flick of his-

"Do you drink vodka?" he asked and shook his head to dispel the inappropriate thought.

"I'm a whisky girl," she answered.

"Nice." Without thinking he opened a cabinet and pulled down a bottle.

"Should you be going through the cabinets?"

This girl was serious. The nervous shifting of her feet told him all he needed to know. She had no idea who he was. Of course, he lived in a world of actors. She could be really good. It warranted further proving.

Gabe winked at her. "It'll be okay."

"You really have been here before. If we get caught I'm blaming you."

"If you consume it you're just as much to blame." He pulled down two glasses and dropped a couple pieces of ice in each. "You drink it straight?"

"Straight to the head," she affirmed.

"My kind of woman." He poured the drinks and handed her one. "To a great party."

"Good company," she added. They clinked and sipped.

"Good company indeed. Come." He took her hand again and warmth spread through him like a fire. It hit places he wasn't ready to hit and jolted certain parts of him alive that needed to stay dead a little while longer. "I want to show you something."

He led her around one of the common rooms and to the back stairs that led to a back entrance to his room.

"We can't go up there," she barely whispered. "Isn't anything off limits in this house?"

"Yes," he told her very seriously. "The west wing. This isn't the west wing."

"Oh my god! You're going to get me arrested!" But she followed him silently up the steps and through the back door to his room. It led through the closet and the bathroom to get to the bedroom which was small in comparison.

"This is ridiculous," she finally said in her real voice when they were safely hidden away. "Is this Slade's actual bedroom?"

"Yeah," he said. He hated how just being in here with her made his voice husky. Shit. She would notice.

But she didn't. She looked around paying him no attention. He liked being able to watch her as she stroked the glossy mahogany dresser reverently. Was she wondering if she was going to be in his next film or if she was going to get laid?

Those thoughts could be going through her head, though. The test wasn't over yet.

"This is nice."

"Yes, it is," he agreed and felt a little vain.

She unwound the red scarf from her neck. The gray cardigan almost fell from one shoulder where he saw the red straps of a bra and a camisole. A soft scar marred the perfect skin of her collar bone. Without thinking, he crossed to her and traced the scar with a finger. He looked into her eyes. She'd stopped breathing. Gabe traced his finger down to the top button of her cardigan and fondled it until the button popped free. It was nothing for him to be so brazen, but tonight, with her, something about it felt dirty. But he continued. God in heaven, the camisole underneath was the same bright red. When he looked up again her eyes almost glowed.

"What happened?"

"Oh, the scar? Um," she stuttered. He couldn't help but smirk. "My dad..."

His head snapped up, furious. Her father had done this to her?

"No!" she said in a rush. "We were practicing. It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention. I can't remember... I think I was upset about a boy at school or something. I didn't get my sword up in time. It was an accident."

Gabe nodded as he ground his back teeth together. Finally, the last button was free. He pushed the cardigan from her shoulders, brushing her arms with his fingertips as he did. Her skin reacted to his touch and she shivered.

"Do you think it would be okay if..." She motioned to the bathroom.

He shrugged when he wanted to laugh. "Why not? It's just a toilet." The red popped against her olive skin and all Gabe wanted to do was see more of her. When was the last time he'd lost control of his lust?

She took her drink with her and closed the door. Finally the moment of truth. Gabe slipped out of his suit jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. He rolled the sleeves up out of comfort and habit and tossed back his drink. The glass he set on the dresser, and walked out onto the balcony for some fresh air, hoping it would calm him down.

Hurry up, little one.

### CHAPTER FOUR

Luna shut herself in the bathroom and locked the door. There was no door to the closet so she hoped Slade didn't walk in. She didn't really have to pee, she was nervous as hell. This man was sexy, there was no denying it. Long blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, sexy Australian accent, he was gorgeous. His khaki on pale blue suit was nicely tailored to his tall, lean frame. He had her in Gabriel Slade's bedroom. If she knew who the man was she might be a little more impressed. If he left his home open for just anyone to come have a fuck in his bed then he must not care much about himself or his things.

Why not go for it? Luna swallowed the last of her drink. The whisky would hit her soon. The beer might already be impairing her judgment, but he was sexy and Cadence would be impressed. That last thought made her reconsider, but only for a moment. She left her glass on the sink. Let Slade pick it up. It was chipped anyway.

Luna fluffed her hair. With a deep breath she opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom.

She didn't see him at first. She looked around afraid he'd decided she wasn't worth the time and left, but he came in off the balcony. His smile was considerably more subdued than when he'd flashed that boyish grin just before he complimented her eyes. She got a lot of compliments on her eyes, but for some reason his had struck her more than usual.

"Okay?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yup."

"Good."

His empty glass sat on the edge of the dresser. Were they both that nervous? Funny. He hadn't seemed nervous when he undressed her. She was glad she had the cami on, or this would be really awkward.

"You might leave a ring." She nodded to the sweating whisky glass.

He followed her gaze and smiled. It was sad around the edges now, where before he'd been gleeful, almost giddy. What had she done to change that?

"It'll be alright. I'm not worried."

"That's kind of rude." Luna stepped past him to look over the balcony. No one was sober anymore. If they were still standing they were stumbling about directionless. "Beautiful view." The skyline of the city could just be seen in the distance.

"Yes it is."

She turned at the soft contours of his voice. This man was the epitome of bipolar. Maybe she shouldn't be messing with him.

His shirt was open. Had it been like that before? A soft breeze caught the right side and blew it open. Holy Mary mother of Jesus, she almost crossed herself. Each of his _eight_ abdominal muscles was perfectly etched across his stomach. She couldn't look away. She didn't want to. How embarrassing.

"I worked hard for those."

She nodded, but couldn't find her voice to comment. What did she say? They're nice? She didn't need to look stupid on top of shallow.

He bent a little to see her eyes and lifted her chin with one finger. A smile that resembled the ones from earlier crossed his lips. "You okay? Do you need a minute?"

"You might be used to this," she motioned to encompass the majority of him. "I teach children how to safely wield a sword for a living. Don't get a lot of that." What? No. She needed to stop talking. And where had he got that tennis ball he was tossing from hand to hand? Why did he keep going through this man's things?

His lazy smile turned into a lopsided grin and she wanted to jump on top of him right then and there. He pushed both sides of his shirt away and fisted his hands on his hips. He didn't have to say a word.

"Now you're teasing me," she complained.

"You're blushing." Luna tried to turn away, but he caught her chin with the same hand he had the stupid yellow tennis ball in and made her look up at him. It was rough against her chin. "Don't turn away. It's cute. Not many women blush around me anymore."

"Anymore?" Arrogant much? She was proud that she'd kept that comment to herself.

"I'm in kind of high demand."

What? He walked away from her and into the bedroom. Luna turned but stayed on the balcony. The way he walked was so confident. He held his spine so straight. It commanded her attention. He slipped the shirt all the way off and laid it on the bed for all the world like he was about to undress to go to sleep.

Luna gawked. The muscles across his back flexed as he moved his arms - smoothing his hair, taking off his watch. He acted like he'd forgotten she was in the room.

He turned and froze when he caught her staring. "What?" he asked. "Too much?"

Luna shook her head. Of course it was too much. She wanted to run her hands over his body. It was just too perfect. Could he be real?

He smiled and crossed to her. "Calm down. Haven't you seen a naked man before?"

Not one that looked like him. And he was going to get naked? She didn't think her little heart could take it.

"If you want, I can send everyone home. Watching you panic while I undress is far more entertaining than anything that could possibly be going on out there."

"Send them home?" Her voice was broken, or hiding away somewhere so she wouldn't say or do anything stupid.

He nodded at her. Some pity crept into his eyes, but not much. He was enjoying this at her expense. How could he send everyone home, if...

Oh god. Oh god, no. She was in Gabriel Slade's house, in Gabriel Slade's room, lusting after none other than Gabriel Slade's bare torso. Why hadn't she guessed it before? He led her expertly through the maze, faking getting lost to throw her. What an ass! He'd shown her his own cars, gone through his own cupboards, poured her his own whisky, and led her through his own house. Of course he'd been here before. He fucking lived here!

"I have to go." She shoved past him to grab Cadence's scarf and cardigan and marched out the door.

"Wait, no. Use the-"

She'd gone down the closest set of stairs, the ones in the front that led her straight down into the thick of the party. It was too late now. She was committed and had already been seen. She found her way through the kitchen and across the pool to the villa.

"What's happened?" Devonshire asked with sincere concern. Everyone stared as Gabe buttoned his shirt.

"Go up to the balcony and direct me. Red boots, red camisole, dark hair." He didn't waste any more time explaining. Gabe darted out into the villa after her.

He'd never had a woman run from him after finding out who he really was. What the hell was wrong with her? He wasn't going to bite. Well, maybe a little. Definitely a little. He wanted to sink his teeth into the back of her neck and listen to her mewl. He was good at figuring these things out and he was convinced that was how she would react. He needed a chance to find out.

If she hadn't run off, if she'd stayed with him the night, he didn't think he would have cared. No, he would have cared. That was just it. The way her eyes devoured him and the blood rushed to her cheeks...

He wanted her. She wanted him; at least she had until she realized who he was. He should have kept the game up until morning. If he'd had her tonight he could have convinced her to stay. He wanted her to stay, wanted to feel her warm in his arms, to know what her skin smelled like. He might not get that chance now. Why was he so stupid and arrogant?

He wasn't being arrogant, he was being careful, he reminded himself.

Devonshire motioned that she was ahead of him and around the corner. She was so flustered that she wasn't looking up to see if he was watching. Good and bad. Why did she hate him so much?

Gabe rounded the corner and pulled up short. She was lost, confused. She backtracked and he hid around a corner in the shadows. She found the right path and he followed at a close distance. When she ran into a man he assumed was her friend he slipped inside a hidden room in one of the walls. He wanted to do strange things to her in here.

He had one more test. Yes, he was aware that his tests had got him in this strange situation, but he had one more thing he needed to check.

### CHAPTER FIVE

Luna ran smack into Elmo. Her head bounced off his shoulder and she made a sound like a dying cat.

"Luna! _Dios mio_! Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she said. "I need to get out of here. I can't find a way out."

"Oh. Over here."

There was a wrought iron gate that led out to the dunes, but it was locked. Luna looked around. Her lock picking skills weren't the greatest but she thought she could get it.

She stepped on something that scraped against the cobblestone path. When she lifted her foot she revealed a heart-shaped key that matched the gate. Warning bells should have gone off in her head, but she was so ready to leave she wasn't thinking straight. The gall of that damn Gabriel Slade!

Luna looked up to see where the key had come from. A leather wallet sat in plain sight on the lowest balcony of three. If common sense had been functioning she would have realized how obvious that was, but common sense hadn't been her friend since Slade so charmed her into believing he wasn't himself.

Luna had given Cadence her last little bit of change for gas. She needed cash for a cab and the wallet was wide open. She almost laughed at how easy it was, like the days after her father had died. Like snapping her fingers, the bill was in her hand, folded and in her pocket.

Elmo gasped. "Shit."

Luna followed his gaze up. There he was, haloed in light like the god of petty theft, his golden locks tucked behind his ears and his hands steepled against his lips. His eyes, were they closed? The square line of his jaw worked, muscles undulating beneath the skin like snakes in a pit. Slade was not supposed to be this sexy. He was not supposed to make her insides flutter and he was surely not supposed to catch her stealing.

He lifted a leg over the rail and mounted a narrow fire escape, though in this maze a man would be hard pressed to find his way out. Then, Slade did something truly amazing. Instead of climbing down the rungs, he disengaged a locking mechanism and the steps slid down toward them. They caught at the bottom and he jumped off, his hard-soled dress shoes clacked against the cobblestone floor. His top several buttons were still undone showing his smooth, muscular chest. He reached out to take the wallet. His sleeves were still rolled up baring thickly corded forearms. The wallet disappeared.

"I can take it from here." Slade's tone burned with anger and, was that hurt? Shit.

"I don't think-" Elmo started to protest.

All Slade had to do was shoot Elmo a scowl and he shut up. Amazing. He never shut up mid-sentence. Ever.

"Come." He walked away, expecting her to follow. Luna's fear would allow her to do little else. She started moving, tail tucked between her legs, that bill all but burning in her pocket. He hadn't asked for it back.

Slade took the heart-shaped key from her and unlocked the gate. He held it for her and let it shut behind them as he led her across the dunes to the now hundreds of cars parked there.

"Where are we going?" she asked, more than a little afraid.

"I'm going to walk you to your car."

Oh, just great. She couldn't even make a clean getaway. He was going to walk her to her "car". There was utter silence except for the sound of the sand shifting and sucking at their shoes. He handled it with ease, carrying himself like he had all night. There was no doubting he was an incredible man. She just wasn't sure he was the right kind of incredible.

When they reached the cars she meandered for a moment and stopped by a shiny black one. It looked aerodynamic and impressive and she hoped it would do the trick.

"Thank you," she said.

Slade nodded, folded his arms over his chest, and shifted his weight to one foot. His jaw was still working and his eyes, oh those intense royal blue eyes, were now boring into her skull. She took the bill from her pocket and held it out to him. That had to be what he was waiting for.

He just looked at it, then at her. "You went to the trouble. Might as well keep it. It's the only memento you'll have from this evening."

Ouch. His tone dripped with venom, but beneath it all, she could taste the bitter hurt she'd caused. Was he upset she'd runaway or because she'd stolen from him? In her defense, she didn't know it was his wallet.

"What do you want me to do? Frame it?" There was that sharp tongue her roommate was always telling her about.

His gaze went from furious to amused. "Are you going to get in?"

She swallowed. Here it was. "No."

"No? Isn't this your car?"

"No. I came with my roommate. I took the money for a cab. I was going to pay you back."

His features slowly softened into a relieved grin and he laughed so loud she was sure they could hear it over that awful music at the party. What band was playing now? They sounded like a bunch of screeching birds.

"You stole money from me for a cab?"

"Yes." She wasn't sure where the miscommunication was.

"You were going to pay me back." That was the part he didn't seem able to believe.

"Yes, of course. You thought I was just going to steal money from you?"

"It's been done before. Come." He took her by the hand and pulled her across the sand, back to the villa.

"Wait. What are you doing?"

"I'm going to give you a ride home." He made sure there was no room for argument.

Elmo was still by the gate, no doubt waiting to give Slade a piece of his mind. Seeing her, though, threw him off his game.

"Luna?" He sounded lost.

They didn't stop, but Gabriel turned and said, "I'll give him a ride too. He looks like he's ready to shit himself."

"Well, that's what happens when you're such an asshole." Ugh, that sharp tongue again.

"Watch your mouth, little one."

Little one? "Or what?"

She motioned for Elmo to follow and he jumped into action. Slade led her back into that impressive garage, but this time she was just pissed.

"What do you do, collect them?" Elmo asked.

"Yes."

"Do you drive any of them?" Luna piped up. She let her sarcasm drip through.

"Yes." That was all he gave her.

The driver, a tall, thin man with dark skin, short bleach-white hair, and a hawk-like nose waited by a short limo. He had the door open, posed in the motion for her to get in. Dressed to the nines in a tux with tails, shiny shoes, and why gloves, he impressed her, even through her annoyance. Despite his sever features, when he looked up and caught her eye, his were soft and curious.

"In," Slade told her. "Both of you."

Elmo climbed in and Luna followed him. Slade slid into the seat next to her and the door shut. She was glad they weren't alone.

His presence was imposing and sex rolled off him in waves. Or maybe that was just her. Did Elmo notice? She didn't ask to find out.

"I'll take your friend home first." Apparently, he wasn't glad they were alone.

"He lives farther out. You'd have to double back to drop me off."

"I have to come back anyway."

That was a fair point. Elmo didn't see it that way.

"I don't think that's such a good idea," he said, and he sounded pretty insistent.

"I don't care what you think."

"She's not your property."

"That's enough." Both men looked to her like they couldn't believe she'd interrupt. "I'm not going to sit here and listen to a pissing contest. Someone's going to get hurt."

"What makes you think that?" Slade's arrogance was stifling.

"Because I'm the one you're pissing on and you're starting to piss me off."

He blinked at her. Those eyes so clear and blue, even in the darkness. Why did blue eyes have to be her weakness?

"You are a little viper, aren't you? How can someone so small pack such a big punch?"

There was something in the way he said that last part, like he meant more than just her sharp tongue. "I'm not small," she snapped. "You're huge." The moment she said it, the regret set in.

He grinned. Those perfect white teeth flashed behind his delicious looking lips. "That's what they all say."

"Oh my god," Elmo groaned. "That's disgusting!"

"Oh, grow up," Slade snapped and Luna giggled.

Both men looked at her. "I've been telling him that for the longest."

Elmo sighed and shifted over to the other side of the car. Great. Now his feelings were hurt. The fix usually consisted of dinner and a movie at home, preferably his so his mother could chaperone. Any time spent with her he deemed golden.

The rest of the ride was silent. They dropped Elmo off and then drove her home. He didn't say anything to her, but with Elmo gone his gaze never wavered. She kept her eyes on her hands, fighting the nervousness and fear that he would suddenly change his mind and call the police.

The limo stopped in front of her apartment and she turned to open the door, ready to escape.

"Wait." He slid out the other side and came around to her door more quickly than she thought was really possible. Strange.

She stepped out and accepted his helping hand before she really thought about it. When she tried to get her hand out of his quickly, he just grinned and held on tight enough to hurt. The car door slammed.

"You're not coming in," she said with more force than was warranted. Truth was, being so close to him reminded her of his little striptease and it made her lightheaded. Inviting him in would have been a disaster.

"Why not? You've been in my home."

"I was invited."

"Were you?"

"Well, yes. You invited me in." Dragged her by the hand, actually.

He laughed. "Am I not invited inside your home?"

She shook her head. "Never on the first date." She winced. Good job.

His features softened and he lifted her fingers to his lips. He kissed them gently and purred, "Until the next date then."

Her feminine parts clenched and she wished she could just walk away. She reached into her pocket with fingers that tingled from the touch of his soft lips. What would they feel like against hers? She shook her head to dispel the thought and pulled the bill out.

He lifted her chin with his finger and for one glorious and terrifying second she thought he might kiss her. But he didn't. In the softest, husky voice he said, "Keep it."

"I can't keep your money. I told you I was going to pay you back."

He placed his finger over her lips. "You owe me."

Great. In the debt of the beast.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow evening at dark."

Dark? What kind of time was dark? "Oh...kay?"

"It will be date number two, little one." He opened his own door and grinned that grin that turned her knees to jelly. "I never got your name."

"Luna Grace," she answered.

"Until then, Luna Grace." He chuckled like he found great enjoyment in saying her name.

She nodded. Until then. She watched him climb into his car and drive away.

*****

Gabe grabbed his chest and arched against the sudden pain as his heart. For the first time in over a thousand years it thumped against his ribcage. It shattered into a million tiny shards that started to make their way through his veins. His blood chilled to ice.

"Mr. Slade? Gabriel!" Devonshire was unbuckling his seatbelt in an instant.

"No!" Gabe cried. "Stay where you are. I think..." His heart thumped again, stronger this time, though it was still weak. Then nothing. "I think my heart is thawing."

"What?" Devonshire's eyes widened. The older man could barely contain his excitement.

"Get me home!" Gabe needed to be in his home away from people. "I want everyone gone when we get there."

Devonshire sped back to the house and didn't stop for the gate. It was already open. The partiers on the dunes cheered as they flew across the property and up to the front door.

Gabe didn't wait for Devonshire to open his door. He staggered out of the car, across the driveway, and up the front steps. Devonshire was there to get the door for him and help him inside. Gabe tripped on the threshold, but caught himself before he fell. The women in the house gasped as they watched him stumble inside.

"Party is over," Devonshire called out. The gawkers just stared.

"Out!" Gabe roared, his voice bordering on non-human. "Now!"

Everyone jerked into motion, grabbing purses and jackets and whatever else. They hurried out the front door.

"Get everyone out of the villa and off the dunes," Gabe instructed. "I don't think this is going to be a good night. Find Michael."

"Sir?" Devonshire asked.

"Bring him to me!"

A pain seized Gabe's chest and he fell to his knees as a woman ran past him. He cried out and fought not to writhe on the floor. There would be no unconscious party-goers to deal with in the morning. That was a first.

"What in God's name?" Mrs. Stone hurried into the room. "Gabriel? What's happening?"

Gabe roared with the pain and his chest clenched again. More ice pumped through his veins.

"He's met a young woman," Devonshire answered.

"Oh, finally!"

They were far too happy about this. "Can I please...have your...attention...for just a moment," he panted.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Michael's irritating voice brought Gabe around to the direction of the kitchen.

"You brought her here," he growled.

Michael shrugged. "Is that such a bad thing?"

Gabe would have growled at him, he made the attempt to do just that, but something stopped him. The breath caught in his lungs and he strangled on the growl. Something popped and vibrated through the room. It hit Gabe like a wave and threw him to the ground. Mrs. Stone shrieked and stumbled, but Michael was there to catch her. Devonshire howled as he hit his hands and knees beside Gabe. He heard the rest of the staff react similarly.

"What's happening?"

Gabe looked up into Michael's eyes. "It's going to be a bad night."

### CHAPTER SIX

"Luna! You'd better be here you stupid or I'm going to kill you!"

"In here," Luna called from her bedroom.

Cadence burst through the door, almost knocking it from its hinges. "What the hell is wrong with you? I looked for you and you weren't there. No one had seen you or Elmo. And then I was approached by a man in a uniform who said you'd been given a ride home! Are you stupid?"

"Gabriel drove us both home."

"Who?"

"Gabriel Slade. He drove us both home." She pushed herself up on her elbows and handed her the bill.

"Holy shit snacks! He gave you five hundred dollars? What the hell did you do with him?"

Luna shook her head. "I stole it."

Her roommate's eyes went cold. "You did what?"

"Well obviously I didn't know that when I grabbed a bill out of his wallet it was going to be half a G."

"Why did you take his money, you kleptomaniac!"

Luna grinned. "I was just going to borrow a twenty for a cab ride home. Who keeps a five hundred dollar bill in their wallet?"

"I guess Gabriel Slade does. Did you sleep with him?'  
"What the hell is wrong with you? You know I didn't." Oh, she was so glad she could say that. Sort of.

"Yeah, I know. I just like to get you worked up. What's he like?"

"Brusque. Demanding. Rude. Sexy as hell."

Her roommate giggled. "That's a given. So tell me what happened."

"Oh my god. So Elmo was helping me leave. I got lost and couldn't find my way out. We found a key on the floor and I looked up and his wallet was right there, open. I snagged a bill before I thought about it."

"Oh my god, Luna. Even I know that's a trap. How did he catch you? What did he do?"

"Elmo saw him. He was standing there above us on a ledge the whole time. He was so pissed." She paused. "No, that's not it."

"He wasn't pissed? I would be."

"No, he was mad, but not at me I don't think. At himself maybe. I think he was hurt."

"You hurt his feelings? Somehow I doubt that's possible. I don't think he has any feelings."

"I wouldn't bet on that if I were you."

"So, you stole his money and he what? Kicked you out?"

"Walked me to my car."

"What?"

Luna laughed. "Yeah. Problem was I didn't have one, so I explained why I took the money and he drove me and Elmo home. Dropped me off, wouldn't take the money back, and told me I owed him a second date. He's Australian, by the way."

"Second?! As in, you stole from him on the _first_ one? When is this second date supposed to be?"

"Tomorrow at dark."

"Dark? What kind of time is dark?"

"My thoughts exactly."

"Well, you can buy something great to wear with his money and thank him by looking super sexy for date number two. By the way, I'm so jelly."

"Jelly doughnut."

"Totally."

Cadence left and Luna flopped back on the bed. Of course she was going to give the money back. She felt stupid for stealing from him, but it hadn't bothered him enough to call the police. Unless that was what she owed him? Luna's heart sank into the pit of her stomach. That was exactly what he was going to do. He was going to lure her out under the pretenses of a "second date" just to have her arrested. She made up her mind then and there that she wasn't going to go. She wasn't going to jail. She might deserve it under the law, but she wasn't going.

He knew where she lived though. Maybe he would just let it go?

Luna fell asleep and woke late the next morning refreshed. Gabriel Slade was a reasonable man. He'd shown that last night when he so graciously drove her home and dropped the whole "You just stole $500 from my wallet" thing. She told herself that at least.

"Morning, clepto." Cadence sat in front of the TV in her bunny pajamas. A bowl of cereal balanced on her lap. "Sorry, chicky, but I used the last of the milk."

"Great. I get pop tarts." Really, she loved any excuse she could get to eat pop tarts. Normally they made her feel guilty. Her dad never let her eat them. She stuck two in the toaster. When they popped up she slathered them with butter and tossed them on a plate. The doorbell rang as she sat next to Cadence.

"You get it," Cadence said. "You were up last."

"We seriously need to change that rule." Luna balanced her plate on the sofa arm and padded across to the door.

"I think we made it when you were drunk," Cadence called.

She pulled the door open. The driver from last night stood on the porch dressed in the same outfit and holding a large white box.

"Ma'am." He bowed at the waist.

"What's this?"

"For you."

"I didn't order anything." Maybe it was for Cadence. "Do I need to sign?"

"No, ma'am."

She took the box, it was heavier than she expected. He bowed once again and left.

"What is it?" Cadence leaned on the back of the sofa.

"I don't know." Luna set the box on the back of the sofa and lifted the lid off. It was stuffed with paper so she couldn't see what it was. On the top lay a red rose and a note.

"OMG!" Cadence exclaimed. "It's from your sugar daddy! I just know it!"

"Sugar daddy? Really, Cadence?"

"He gave you five hundred dollars to go on a date with him."

"I stole five hundred dollars from him and he said I owe him for it." Luna opened the note and was impressed by the flowing script.

"Hello, little one," it started out.

"Little one?" Cadence asked. She practically hopped up and down.

Luna ignored her and kept reading. "I said you owe me, but the truth is I owe you. I hope you don't think me presumptuous. I didn't know if you owned anything fitting for the evening I had planned so I've provided something for you. I wish I knew your favorite color. I will have to remember to ask. In the meantime, I think this will complement those green eyes just fine. Until we meet tonight, little one. Gabe."

"He signed it Gabe!"

"So."

"Not Gabriel or Mr. Slade, but Gabe. That means you're on a nickname basis already!"

"What are you talking about?" Luna pushed the paper away and both women gasped. The lavender formal was covered in crystals. They caught the morning sunlight that streamed through the window and shimmered. She didn't wait to see anymore. Luna slammed the lid back on the box and set it on the floor behind the sofa.

"I'm not going."

"What?" Cadence looked like she was about to explode. "Fine. I'll go. Someone's gotta wear that dress."

"No." Luna let a finality drip from her voice that even Cadence didn't argue with. "No one is going." She dropped the rose and beautifully ornate card on top of the box and took her pop tarts to her room.

Gabriel stalked back and forth across the carpet. He was so close to the edge he could feel fur prickling beneath his skin. The beast shifted and rolled just beneath the surface.

"You'll wear a hole in the carpet with your pacing, sir." Devonshire was the only one who'd been with him from damn near the beginning.

"I don't care!" His voice. With the beast so near it was the one thing he hadn't learned to control even after all this time. "Why is this happening?" Ice still boiled in his veins. Things he'd long ago abandoned as futile now rushed to the surface begging to be let in, but he couldn't. Not again.

"Perhaps...she is the one, sir."

"The one?!" Gabe roared. "The one?! How can you say this to me? The one is a lie! A myth! She doesn't exist."

"I beg to differ."

Gabe had his loyal friend by the throat in the blink of an eye. "Why are you saying this?" He knew his teeth were in the wrong order; his eye must be blazing by now.

"Sir, if you want to see her tonight you'll need to calm down."

Gabe roared again, felt his back hunch as the beast fought for control. He pulled away from Devonshire and let all of his fury and fear and anticipation fill the room with his screams.

Maybe if he hunted they could get this out of his system. "I'm going out," he told Devonshire and started ripping at his clothes. A mouth full of jagged, murderous teeth impeded his speech.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"What choice do I have?!" He whirled around so Devonshire could see how far he'd changed.

"Very well, sir. I'll release the game."

"Thank you. You gave her the dress?"

"I did."

"Good."

Luna moped all day, though she tried to convince herself that she was just tired from being out late the night before.

"You were home by midnight." Cadence didn't buy it either.

When the doorbell rang just after dark, Luna answered it in her pajama bottoms and a tank top. Expecting Gabe, she was relieved to find the currier from before.

"Ma'am. You're not ready."

"No. I'm not going."

"Pardon?" The man looked scared, furious, and humored all at the same time.

"I'm not going. You can tell Mr. Slade that I appreciate the offer, but he can have his dress back and his money. And I'm sorry."

"Mr. Slade will not be happy."

Luna steeled her spine and raised her chin a fraction. "If he has a problem he can come and talk to me himself."

Really? Was that such a good idea after she'd stolen from him and he'd spent God only knew how much on that dress? She shook her head at herself. Stupid and careless.

"I will be sure to let him know." Now he was amused.

"Fine. Have a safe drive."

Luna closed the door and locked it.

"Have a safe drive?"

She couldn't bear to look at her roommate just then. What she really wanted to do was go to her room and cry, so she did.

*****

"What do you mean she's not coming?" For the second time that day the beast within him fought for placement.

"She said to tell you she was sorry and that she would return your dress and money."

"What am I going to do with a purple dress?" he roared.

"Well, she said if you have a problem you can talk to her yourself."

"Right." Gabe nodded and the beast grudgingly receded. "Bring my car around, Devonshire."

"Yes, sir."

Gabe sped the short drive to her house, unworried whether he would be stopped by the police. The night had been miserable. Neither he nor his staff was able to change form to relieve their misery. He needed to see his little one. When he had decided she was his he wasn't sure.

"Yes, you are." He was talking to himself again. "It was the moment you saw her."

Devonshire's talk about "the one" had set his mind spinning, unwelcome though it was. He'd come to respect mention of "the one" as myth. Nothing could break this curse he'd wrought upon himself. He'd come to accept that he was cursed for all of eternity.

The Lamborghini's tires screeched to a stop in front of his little one's house. He jumped out and slammed the door. Gabe stalked to the front door and rang the doorbell. His heart raced in his chest, his eyes searched, trying to see through the door, searching for her. Just to see her face again and those green eyes. His heightened sense of hearing caught movement inside and the sound of paper crumpling.

"Who is it?" It was faint, muffled. Not her voice.

"I don't know, Cadence. Why don't you go check?" That was her. Her tone was annoyed. He smiled through his terror. Terror? Yes, fear that she would reject him like all the others.

"You get it. I'm eating."

"You know, one day you're going to miss something important because you didn't answer the door and I am going to send them away without a care." Her voice drew nearer as she spoke. The lock moved, the knob turned, the door swung open. He caught the scent of something tangy and chicken. Gabe looked down into her startled green eyes.

She was the one.

### CHAPTER SEVEN

"Mr. Slade." Luna nearly choked on the piece of chicken she was chewing. How utterly embarrassing and incredibly awkward.

"You said you weren't coming. Why aren't you coming?" His voice was deep like it had been last night.

"Well, I just..." What the hell? Where had her courage gone?

"You owe me."

"Yes, you said that last night, but-"

"No buts. You stole from me and I let you off the hook. Second date. You owe me."

"Well maybe a girl doesn't want to feel like she's dating someone because she's being ordered to!" Luna stopped before the cursing started.

"Luna!" Cadence gasped from beside her. "She's sorry, Mr. Slade. Or should she call you Gabe?"

" _She_ may call me Gabe. If she wants," he added. "Why isn't she dressed? Why won't you come?"

Was he disappointed? No, he looked scared. She ignored Cadence's smug smile. "Well, maybe if you asked nicely."

"Will you please come to dinner with me?"

"No."

Cadence slapped her arm. When she did, Gabe stepped up and growled. Both girls stopped and stared.

"Are you laughing?" he blinked at her.

Luna couldn't stop the tears of mirth that rolled down her cheeks as she fought to keep from laughing out loud. "No."

"Was that a joke?" Gabe couldn't seem to believe she would make such a joke.

"Yes."

"Well, I don't like it."

"Seems to me you could use a bit of humor in your life."

"Oh my god! Luna that sharp tongue. I swear."

"Yes, she is a little viper. Get dressed. Please. Make sure she does."

"My pleasure."

Gabe turned away as the limo from the night before pulled up. Cadence shut the door.

"You heard him. Go get dressed. I swear, Luna. Sometimes you're just thick."

It took thirty minutes of them working together to get her dressed and her hair and makeup done.

"Perfect," Cadence declared as she finished applying her lip gloss. "When he invites you to his next movie premier be sure to hire me."

"Yes, ma'am." Luna slipped her feet into the silver heels and grabbed the clutch that Gabe had generously provided. "If I end up in the slammer, bail me out."

"Don't be silly. Just don't steal from him anymore."

Luna rolled her eyes and left. The currier waited by the car. When he saw her he opened the door. She glanced around. The neighbors were watching from their windows. Well, she'd give them a good show. Luna slid into the backseat of the limo. Gabe wasn't there and they didn't wait for him either. The currier-turned-driver pulled away from the curb and drove through the city.

The restaurant was one that celebrities frequented, and it had a strict dress code, if the ensemble Gabe had picked out for her wasn't proof enough. The driver gave her name at the door and she was led through a dark hall into a wide open room. The walls were sheets of black glass. Luna didn't want to guess at the kind of secrets they might hide behind them. Blue floor lights gave the room a cool glow. Luna stopped at the top of a set of stairs that led to the main dining floor. Gabe was front and center, waiting for her, keeping a close watch.

She took the first step down and the lighting changed to a soft lilac that matched her dress. Luna shook her head and smiled. All of this attention from a man she'd met the night before and didn't even care for. It wouldn't last. She'd give it a week tops.

Luna made it to the table. Gabe was on his feet to pull her chair out for her and he pushed it back in as she sat. "Thank you," she offered softly.

Gabe took his seat across from her. He was in a suit and tie again. Grey on black this time as opposed to his cream on light blue last night.

"I'm glad you came."

Luna chuckled. "I didn't have much choice."

Gabe looked stricken. "Did I force you to come?"

"No," Luna answered. "No, I came because I chose to."

"Then how is it that you had no choice?"

She thought about that for a moment. "Maybe I felt a little forced," she tried for truthful. "You are quite heavy handed."

"Yes, I know. Is that why you didn't want to come?"

Luna shook her head and decided to continue with the truthful approach. "I was afraid it might be a trick."

Gabe nodded like he understood. "You thought I'd have the police waiting."

If there had been enough light he would have seen her blush. "How did you know?"

"I thought about it." He flashed his perfect white teeth at her. "I thought that might be a little cruel though."

Luna unsnapped her clutch and slid the five hundred dollar bill across the table to him. "Why didn't you tell me I'd taken so much?"

"You didn't even look at it?"

She shook her head. "Who keeps this much money in their wallet?"

"I do."

"Why do you leave your wallet lying open on a balcony during one of the biggest parties of the year?"

"The biggest party of the year, and I was looking for thieves like you." He grinned as he spread his napkin in his lap.

"Is that a joke?" she mimicked.

"Yes, and it was a good one."

Luna shook her head. "Well, I don't like it."

Gabe shrugged. "May I ask you-"

"Probably not."

"There's that viper tongue again."

"Yeah, I know. I need to learn to tame it."

"No." His eyes, the blue now a glowing violet from the lighting, were dead serious. "Don't."

"My dad used to say the same thing. Listen, Gabe. I didn't even know who you were until you admitted it was your house."

"I know."

"I didn't mean to steal from you. Not that I meant to steal from anyone, but the money was right there and I had no way to get home."

"Why did you leave so quickly?"

"I don't know," she lied. No way was she going to admit the truth here.

"Tell you what. The money is forgotten. You can keep this." He pushed the bill back to her. "No excuses. It's not like I need it anyway."

"And I do?"

"Stop putting words in my mouth." Demanding, self-assured Gabe was back. "Whether you need it or you don't, the money is yours. Let's start over, shall we? My name is Gabriel Slade. Gabe, if you like. I apologize for assuming you already knew me."

"Luna Grace," she introduced herself. A shadow flicked across his face and was gone.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Grace. I am impressed by your thieving skills. If I hadn't been watching you never would have been caught."

"First time I ever was."

"First time?"

Luna nodded. "I'm good at it for a reason." She smiled and sipped her drink.

Gabe leaned back in his chair. Curiosity oozed from his pores. "Do tell."

"My father and I never had much money," she recalled wistfully. "There was never anything leftover for extras so I didn't get bubble gum or candy bars or ice cream like the other kids did. If I wanted it I had to steal it."

"Ah. So you are a viper-tongued thief. Why did you stop?"

"I didn't, obviously." He chuckled. "No, Elmo and his mom made me quit."

"Elmo? This is your friend from last night? His name is Elmo?"

Luna nodded. "Guglielmo. It's a family name. They had an intervention and took me around town one day until I had a job. Didn't have to steal anymore."

"So he looks out for you."

"Yes."

"He is in love with you."

"I know."

Gabe paused. "You know? And what are your feelings for him?"

"Friend zone."

"Poor guy." He didn't sound like he cared all that much.

"I love him. He's like the brother I never had."

"What happened to your mother?"

"She died giving birth to me. She was very sick."

"So you're orphaned. As am I. Are you hungry?" As he asked, a plate of salad was set before her. "I know you already ate. I didn't order for you because I wasn't sure."

"No, we had just started dinner. I'm starving."

"Good."

Gabe took so much pleasure in that, all Luna could do was laugh. Why did it feel so good to make him happy?

"So you've never seen any of my movies?"

Luna shook her head. "No. Sorry." She stuck a bite of lettuce in her mouth.

"No need to apologize. It may be for the best. I'm not sure how good they are. How did you know who I was then? The hints I gave you could have been anyone."

"My father worked for you once a long time ago."

"Oh really?"

Luna nodded. "Your car broke down on a country road and he gave you a ride."

"I remember." Gabe's eyes met hers and for a moment her heart stopped. There was something about this man that made her sad and happy at the same time. His eyes were so tortured, yet they held such tenderness for her. "He was a good man. He gave me this." Gabe reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a very small metal box connected to his keys. He popped the little lid off and handed her the bottom. Inside was a piece of bubble gum, the kind with the comics stuck to it. The kind she never got. Tears pooled in her eyes and she fought not to blink so her makeup wouldn't run. "He told me, 'That was for my daughter, but I owe you something for the honor of allowing me to give you a ride'."

Luna chuckled. "You're the reason I never got any bubble gum."

Gabe took her hand from across the table. "I'll be the reason you never want for bubble gum again, if you'll let me. I promise."

Luna's breath escaped her and she struggled to breathe. She snatched her hand from his grasp and said, "Excuse me. I'm going to use the restroom."

Gabe took his hand back slowly and looked back at her with guarded eyes. "It's over there," he pointed.

"Thank you."

Luna made a hasty retreat and ducked into the lavish bathroom. The same black walls were in there too, but the lighting was regular fluorescents. She looked herself eye-to-eye in the mirror and took several deep breaths. "You've got this," she told her reflection. "You can get through this. It's just one night and you'll never have to see him again." Who was she kidding? She'd already tried to tell him no and it hadn't worked very well.

A woman stepped out of a stall. "You alright, sweetheart?" she asked.

Luna nodded. "I'm fine."

"You the girl here with Gabriel Slade?"

Was it that obvious? "Yes."

"Good job!" The woman looked like she wanted to claw her eyes out.

Luna smiled like she'd won the lottery and went back to her table. Gabe was still there, though it looked like someone had poured water in his sprite, so to speak.

When she returned he pulled her chair out for her again.

"How old are you, Gabe?"

"Heh. Does it matter?"

"No, but I was ten when my dad helped you so you had to be at least 18 then."

"Does that bother you?" His eyes searched her face, but wouldn't quite connect with hers this time. She'd hurt him when she ran away. Again.

"No, but eventually it's going to get out. Cadence doesn't care now, but she will. Elmo cares. I'd just like to be prepared when one of them blurts out "Oh my god. You went out with a guy that was..."

"Fourteen years older than you."

"Fourteen." She did the math quickly. "You're thirty-eight."

He nodded. "I'll ask one more time just for clarity, does that bother you?"

"Nope. I just like to be prepared. That's all. Where's my salad?"

Gabe regarded her strangely. "I assumed you were done."

"Why?"

"You ran off to the bathroom. I thought you were going to leave."

"Because I had a moment and needed to calm down?"

"Well, I didn't know, Luna. I don't know you yet."

Why was he getting angry? "It's fine. You owe me a salad. Will I get more food?"

"You're not leaving?" This utterly had him shocked. "You're going to stay and finish dinner."

"If the throng of jealous women doesn't tar and feather me, yeah. I'm going to finish dinner."

If a smile could melt ice, then that grin he kept flashing her was going to melt her into a puddle on the floor.

"You're going to have to stop doing that."

"Doing what?" he asked as their next course was served - grilled lamb pops on a bed of seasoned rice with a medley of vegetables.

"Grinning at me like that." What did she say that for? He flashed his pearly whites and turned his face to the side.

"Why? Does it do something for you?"

"It does something alright. You've got a little something caught in your teeth there."

"Where?" He tried clear it out with his tongue. "Did I get it?"

Luna shook her head. "Nope. It just moved." Of course there was nothing in his teeth, but it was funny to watch him try to get it. She finally gave up trying not to laugh and covered her mouth.

"What? Oh." Gabe nodded and smiled. "I've got something for you."

"That sounds ominous."

"Yeah, you should be scared."

The rest of dinner flew by. Luna eventually felt herself relax and that bothered her. She didn't want to become attached to this man. She didn't want to be his friend or his girlfriend, but she couldn't stop thinking about the other night in the bedroom. She couldn't stop thinking about the way his fingers brushed against her skin or the way he made her heart skip at twice its normal rhythm. When he finally walked her out into the night only his Lamborghini waited for them.

"I'll drive you home," he answered her questioning look, "unless you're not ready to go home."

"What did you have in mind?"

Gabe took that for the invitation it was and pulled the car door open for her. "I'll show you."

He was a good driver, and fast. They sped across town back toward his villa. She was not ready to go back there again, not after the things that had - and hadn't - happened last night, but they were on their way and it was hard to say no to him. Especially when he smiled at her like that.

The currier/butler waited at the front door for them when they arrived.

"Thank you, Devonshire." Gabe tossed him his keys and they walked into the house.

It was just as she'd left it the night before.

"You clean up quick."

"That's because I don't do it. Come." He took her hand and led her the opposite way than last night, down some steps and into a large, open study. "You saw my car collection last night. I thought you might be interested to see some of my other collections."

Luna looked up and up and up. All around and above her were books for three stories. "My god," she said. "Gabe..."

"Yeah. There are more in there." He pointed to a set of double doors.

"More? Good grief."

"I thought you might like it. Most people do." He pushed through the doors into a private office. This room was only one story, but the walls were covered in books.

"There's not enough time in the world to read this many books." Gabe shrugged. "Have you read them all?" He nodded. "What are you, hooked on phonics?"

"Something like that." He showcased that lopsided grin that she saw once in passing last night. It was his comfortable look. He was in his element here.

"So, when you aren't busy ruling Hollywood with an iron grip of sexy masochism, you're reading." She found that hard to believe, but someone with his extensive business savvy had to be intelligent, right?

"You think I'm sexy?" Gabe leaned against the desk and palmed another yellow tennis ball.

Oh god. He was so arrogant. He knew she thought he was sexy.

"You have a dog?" When he frowned she nodded to the tennis ball.

"Stress relief," he gave the ball a squeeze and set it back down.

"That's a tennis ball."

"I know. I tend to pop the ones with the stuff inside."

She shook her head, amused. "You were stressed last night?"

"Hm?" he eyed her warily.

"Last night," she tried again. "When you stripped for me. I swear it seemed like such a natural thing for you to do. Undress in front of a stranger."

"That viper tongue of yours, little one." His eyes blazed with lust and unspoken intentions. "You don't know what it does to me."

She struggled with wanting to and hating herself for it. "Maybe I should go." She turned to leave, but he caught her by the wrist.

"Please don't."

Luna turned to look at him. His eyes begged her to stay.

"Do you want a drink? Or maybe coffee?"

She frowned at him. "Yeah, okay. Coffee sounds good," she said against her better judgment. She cringed inwardly at her weakness for begging men with blue eyes.

Gabe beamed at her and rubbed his chest.

"You okay?" she asked.

He nodded and frowned like he was feeling pain. "I'm fine. Kitchen is this way."

"I remember." She preceded him out of the study, through the library, and across the front room to the kitchen. There was an older woman at the counter in a uniform that matched the butler's. What was his name? Devonshire?

"Hello, dear," the older woman said. "I'm Mrs. Stone," she said in a thick Irish brogue. "You must be Luna."

Luna quirked an eyebrow. "Seems my reputation precedes me."

Mrs. Stone smiled so kindly that Luna wondered just what Gabe had told her.

"What can I get for you, dear?"

"Coffee," Gabe demanded. "Or tea. Whatever Luna would like."

"Please." Luna pierced Gabe with a stare and addressed him the same way she would an insolent child. Instead of being perturbed, Gabe just grinned at her, his royal blue eyes sparkling.

"Please," he added softly then turned to the older woman. "Thank you, Mrs. Stone. We'll take it in the study." He turned back to Luna and looked her up and town, the smile still lighting his face. "It that's alright with you." He was still talking to Mrs. Stone.

"Of course."

"Actually, I'd like to stay here." Luna crossed her arms over her chest and the two of them stood off against each other.

"I'd like to go back to the study where we can talk in private."

"I'm sure you remember where 'in private' got us last time, Gabe. I'd like to avoid that this time."

His eyebrow went up and he worked his jaw like he was chewing gum. "What was so bad about the last time?"

"Everything." Nothing. She hated that she believed that.

"That's funny. The way you blushed at me said differently."

He stepped closer to her and his finger traced her scar again. Her skin burned with his touch and she fought not to shudder.

"See," he said. "You're doing it again." His finger dipped lower, tracing the low cut line of her dress. "All the way to here."

Mrs. Stone cleared her throat and Luna jumped. She avoided Gabe's amused smile.

"If I may," the woman offered. "Why don't you compromise and take your refreshment in the front room?"

Luna looked back to Gabe. His gaze had become intense as he stared at her.

"I'm not used to compromising," he said slowly, "but I'll do it. For you."

What?

"Did you want tea or coffee, dear?" Mrs. Stone asked.

Luna shook her head like she was under some kind of spell. "I don't want either," she blurted and marched out of the kitchen.

Gabe caught up with her as she made it to the library. "Luna, if it's that important to you we can stay in the kitchen."

She snatched her clutch off of the sofa and turned. His imposing figure blocked the doorway. He'd pulled himself to his full height and puffed out his chest. He was truly intimidating.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving."

"What? Why?"

"Because I don't want to be here, Gabe." She let all of her frustration with herself out on him. "I don't want to date you. I don't want to be your girlfriend. I want to go."

He stared at her, shock written all over his face. "I'll...have Devonshire take you home, if that's what you want."

"I do."

"Devonshire!" he shouted for the man and there was an extra note in his deep voice. The man appeared a moment later.

"Yes, Mr. Slade."

"There's nothing I can do to make you stay?" Luna shook her head. "Very well. Please take Miss Grace home. I apologize for imposing myself on your evening, Luna."

That was the last thing she'd expected. He was so calm on the outside, but his eyes boiled with something she didn't quite understand.

"This way, Miss Grace."

Luna followed Devonshire from the room and out the front door without another word.

### CHAPTER EIGHT

Gabe watched Luna leave helpless to stop her. If she was the one then her love for him couldn't be forced. She had to come upon it on her own.

Don't force her. Don't force her. Don't force her.

Gabe wandered into the study.

"You owe me!" exploded from him despite the mantra he chanted to himself. His voice took on an extra bass that it shouldn't have. He let out a ferocious roar and swiped at the nearest wall. His hand formed into an enormous claw and he took out a whole section of bookshelves. Gabe stopped roaring and watched his hand reform. Control like that was not something he'd experienced before. He stared at his hand until Devonshire came back in.

"Are you alright, Mr. Slade?"

Gabe nodded.

"Do you require medical attention?"

"No, Devonshire, I'm fine. Show me the girl."

"What?"

Devonshire was descended from Haitian voodoo priests. He worked enchantments for Gabe when he needed them.

Gabe turned and his eyes weren't kind. "Show me Luna."

Devonshire inclined his head. From his pocket he brought a bit of dust. He sprinkled it on the floor and a cloud of smoke rose from it. A moment later Luna's face was before him. It took a few seconds for her to come into view. She was in her home with her roommate Cadence. The Elmo boy was there too.

"What happened?" Cadence was trying to ply the story from her. "Was it really so awful?"

"Yes! He was awful! He was terrible and rude and pushy and... Do you know what he said to me when I was leaving? I owe him! How do I still owe him? I tried to give back the money. He wouldn't take it."

"Wait. You still have his money?" Elmo was asking.

Luna ignored him and plowed ahead. "He asked me out to dinner. Haven't I paid him back yet? I spent an evening with him. He can't even spend an evening with himself. How am I supposed to?"

"You know what he wants don't you?"

"No, Cadence. I don't think-"

"You're gonna have to sleep with the man before he lets this go. I can't believe you stole his money. _Are you stupid_? You got yourself into this. Get yourself out of it. Go offer up your body to him like the god that he is," Gabe winced, "take it like a man, and it'll be over with. I don't understand what it is you don't like about him anyway."

"He's rude. He's pushy. He's arrogant. He's controlling. He's demanding."

"Yeah, but did you see those eyes?"

Luna stopped then. Gabe watched her face soften and her eyes drift. "Yeah. I did."

"There." He stuck his hand in the image and it froze for him. "You see it don't you?"

"I do," Devonshire nodded. "She has feelings for you no doubt, but there is something keeping her from realizing them. Or maybe that is the problem."

"What is?"

"She realizes her feelings for you, but she does not want them."

Well that was a problem wasn't it? She had to _want_ to love him. There was no other way around it.

"I need to be able to keep an eye on her." He demanded. "I need a way to see her."

Devonshire nodded and held out his hand. "Give me your phone."

Gabe handed over the device. They'd done this before with a mirror and another woman who Gabe once thought could be _the one_. She'd died before he had a chance to find out. Obviously, not the one.

Devonshire sprinkled some of his dust on the phone and chanted a few soft words. He waved his hand over it a few times and handed it back. Gabe blew the dust in Devonshire's face. "You could have dusted it off for me, mate." The older man just shrugged. "Glad you think it's funny." He held the phone up to his face and said, "Show me Luna."

Luna's face came on the screen like he was watching a video. She wasn't happy. She and Elmo were fighting about something.

"How dare you!" she shouted. "Just because a gorgeous, hard-body actor shows some interest in me does not mean all he wants is sex. I'm worth a shit load more than that."

"Oh, Luna if you only knew." Gabe whispered the words, though Devonshire heard anyway.

"How do you know he has a hard body?"

"Who doesn't?" Cadence chimed in from the kitchen. She shot Luna a desperate look.

"Luna wouldn't. She didn't even know what the man looked like until yesterday."

Luna took a relaxed pose and her face went dead empty. "It's not hard to imagine, Elms. Got a good look at his forearm last night. The rest is pretty easy to imagine."

"Forearm, sir?"

Gabe shrugged.

"His forearm?" Elmo wasn't the least bit convinced.

"Yeah." Gabe had to give it to Cadence. She was really trying to help Luna out. "It's a girl thing, Elms. You wouldn't understand. Nice forearms equal a hard body. We're usually right on this stuff."

Gabe saw how Elmo was struggling not to look at his own forearms. He crossed them over his chest.

"You two are so full of shit I don't know what to do. And you egg her on, Cadie."

"Luna does what she wants to do. She wouldn't have gone to that party last night if she wasn't curious."

"No, she wouldn't have gone to the party last night if she didn't think she owed you something or thought she was going to get something out of it."

"That's enough, you guys. I'm going to bed. You duke it out on your own."

Luna left the others arguing in the living room and shut herself in her bedroom. Gabe counted the doors so he would know which window was hers. He would have given anything to hear what the other two were fighting about, but the thought was soon forgotten when Luna slipped out of her dress. She let the heavily jeweled thing drop to the floor. Devonshire cleared his throat and stepped away. Gabe ignored him to stare a moment longer than was prudent. There was a tattoo on her left shoulder blade. He had exceptional sight, but the screen on his phone was small and he couldn't quite make it out. He could ask her about it later. Before she turned, Gabe waved his hand over the screen to send the image away.

"If I may be so bold as to ask, sir."

"What is it, Devonshire?"

"How does she know you're a hard body?"

Gabe sighed. "I took off my shirt."

"Right. That would do it." The corners of his mouth twitched.

"Go ahead and laugh. I promise you'll regret it."

"I have no doubt of that, sir. Are you ready?"

"Is it time?" Gabe looked out the window. The full moon shone high in the sky.

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. Let's get this over with." It was no wonder he was having so much trouble with control. When was the last time he lost track of a full moon? "Are you coming with me this time, Devonshire?"

"Always, Gabriel. Always."

The full moon began a new cycle. His heart had already begun to thaw and he felt the clock ticking. Seven days as the beast and he couldn't change back to human. Luna had seven days to get her heart and mind right, because when he was a human again he would spend every moment showing her that he could be loved - man, beast, and frozen heart.

"I hope you're ready, Luna," he whispered to the wench in the sky that commanded his cycle, "because I'm coming to claim your heart."

Seven days and it started all over again. He had until the next full moon or she and his redemption were gone for good.

The wind shifted and the temperature dropped in a way that had nothing to do with the weather. The full moon cast her glow but her song could be heard only by those born to hear it. Screams of pain echoed through the mountains, bouncing off trees and rocks. Fear struck the hearts of the townspeople and Cethin fed from it, using it to fuel his ire.

The minds of the cursed whispered through the night. "He's found her," they cried. "He's found the one to break his curse."

They couldn't let the curse be broken. They couldn't let the prodigal ascend back to The General where his curse would be lifted and he would regain his place in the army.

"The woman must be destroyed. She cannot be allowed to live to free the cursed one." Cethin spoke the words aloud, but his wolves heard them in their minds.

The Fallen One had once found a woman who could love the beast within him. She would have lifted the curse, but they'd removed her from this world on a night just like this one. They'd taken any chance Gabriel had of finding someone to love him and sent him into despair so deep it seeped into his soul and froze his bleeding heart. They couldn't have known that it would make his beast and the man more ferocious than ever, but it had and they rejoiced in their victory.

They also could not know that The General would take pity on His once beloved's plight and send another who could love the beast. They couldn't have known, but now they did. They would kill her and set men to watch The Cursed One day and night for all of eternity. There would never be a chance for him to return to his place.

They met in their cursed forms, for this was how they knew each other. They lived among each other in the town, but only as the beasts could they tell who was one of them.

"How could this thing have happened?" one asked. "We killed _the one_ so long ago."

"She has returned from the dead," another said.

"She has not returned." At the sound of Cethin's voice, the cursed silenced. "Her ghost has not returned to haunt us nor has she been reincarnated. I feel your foolish thoughts and you make me sick." Thousands of years they'd wandered in these bodies, their only determination to keep Gabriel from finding _her_. "The General has sent another woman, in His kindness which I call weakness. We will hunt this woman down and we will remove her as we removed the last. And when He brings forth another woman to break the curse we will hunt and kill her as well. The cursed one will be returning soon. He will bring her here."

The wolves howled in the night. The cries of children and frightened men and women were heard and the high one laughed. It was raspy and thick with age, but he would not miss this opportunity to quell the beast's hope once and for all.

"Go," he commanded his wolves. "Take what you will of the village."

As the wolves killed he pulled energy from them and their marks.

*****

Luna stripped out of her clothes and let the gorgeous dress drop to the floor in a heap. Gabriel Slade was gone from her life for good, she hoped. Beckoning eyes and gentle lips be damned. She was better off without him. He'd caused her enough trouble as it was.

She slipped out of her under clothes and threw on an over-sized shirt that used to belong to her father. It was one of the few things she had left of him.

Locking the door and making sure the window was shut and secured, Luna pulled her katanas from the back of her closet. She used the key that hung on the necklace her father had given her. It was decorative so no one would know what it was for. She unlocked the box and lifted one of the two sheathed katana's. Her father had taught her with a broadsword with which she was more than well trained, but as she grew up and studied the different blades, these became her favorite. He hadn't made them but swore someone in their genealogy had. They'd been passed down in his family for many generations and now they were hers.

Luna ran through her routine as she did most nights. Tonight, though, it was to relieve pent up frustration. She wanted to get Gabriel Slade out of her mind so she could move on.

CHAPTER NINE

Luna wiped at her face with a towel. After a long morning running after wayward children it was a wonder she had any sanity left. People needed to raise their kids better, in her opinion. Her father would never have allowed her to do or say most of the things that had come out of these children's mouths.

"Luna Grace."

Luna turned at Michael's voice and smiled. "Hello, Michael. We didn't have a lesson today did we?"

"No. I was sent to deliver a message."

Michael dipped his head as if in supplication.

"Okay. What message and from whom?"

"It's actually less of a message and more of a job offer."

Luna frowned. He was being strange, dancing around the subject. That could only mean one thing. "It's Mr. Slade, isn't it?" Couldn't he just leave her alone? If she cut ties now there wouldn't be any problems later.

"Yes and no. He would like for you to teach some choreography on set for a week or so."

"Where is 'on set'," she asked, already aware of the answer.

"The castle," Michael answered, like he couldn't believe she'd ask. "In Austria."

Luna swooned a little. An all-expenses paid trip to Austria to stay in a castle for a week and do what she loved to do. How could she pass that up? "I don't think that's such a good idea. I have responsibilities here."

"Gabriel won't be there." Michael's eyes sparked. Did he know of the tension between them?

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I am just aware of how you feel about celebrities. Look. I know you don't care about the money, but-"

"And what is _that_ supposed to mean?" Now she was offended.

"You're not a materialistic person. Listen, if nothing else, it's something to put on a resume should you need to one day."

One more reason not to pass this up. "And when would I leave for Austria?"

"This evening. Your ticket has already been procured."

Of course it had. Luna nodded. "Alright."

The rest of the day flew by in a haze. Luna was shuttled home to change and pack then taken to LAX to catch her flight out.

Luna stared out at the growing dusk as they waited for the plane to taxi down the runway.

"You're sure Slade won't be there?" she asked of Michael whose seat was next to hers.

"Yes. What is it that you really have against him, Luna?" His tone was soft. "Do you hate our kind so much?"

Luna smirked at him. "I don't hate 'your kind'. I've spent some time with him," she admitted. "He's too presumptuous, too controlling. Always with the 'come', 'sit', 'do as I say or else'. It's too much."

"Yes, he is quite overbearing."

The way he said that... "You're close to him, aren't you?"

"We're friends. We've worked together a long time. He hates me most days, but that's just his way. We're quite different."

Luna raised an eyebrow. What an understatement. "So you vouch for him then?" She wasn't sure why she asked or why it mattered.

Yes, you are, she told herself.

Michael looked at her like he was wondering the same thing. "Yes. I vouch for him. Somewhere underneath all that anger there's a good man."

"And you know this for a fact?"

"I do."

"So what's his story, then? Why is he so angry?" That was the real question, wasn't it?

"He'll have to tell you that. It's not my place."

"Of course, well, I don't want to be the one to find the mushy center that is Gabriel Slade. I'm going to try to catch some sleep."

"Sure. Rest well."

Luna didn't expect to fall asleep so quickly. Nor did she plan to sleep the whole flight, but when she opened her eyes, they had already landed and Michael was shaking her awake.

"Hello, sleepy head."

She blinked up into his grinning face. "I slept the whole way?"

"Yes, ma'am. I've got your carry-on. Shall we?"

Luna followed him off the plane. They got their suitcases at luggage claim and were escorted to a waiting limo.

"You'll like the castle," Michael told her with an emphatic nod.

She smirked despite herself. "I've never been in a castle before."

His smirk turned to a grin. "Well, now you will. It's a little confusing though, so have someone show you where to go until you get the hang of it."

She nodded her understanding. The drive was long, but worth it. Snow covered the ground and the trees. Luna stared out the window mesmerized by countryside she'd never before seen. By the time they made it to the castle she was completely overwhelmed.

Slade's castle sat atop a hill. It was an imposing figure against the sun that set behind it. The sight took Luna's breath away. "This is where the _WillSpy_ movie is being made?"

She caught Michael's grin and nod out of the corner of her eye. She was officially impressed. Slade's house was magnificent, she blushed remembering why she knew what the bedroom looked like, but this was beyond anything she would have imagined. As they drew nearer, Luna couldn't keep the stupid grin off of her face. Perhaps knowing Slade had its perks.

Michael was grinning at her as they got out of the car.

"Not a word to Slade."

He mimed zipping his lips and tossing away the key then held his hands up in surrender.

"Have someone escort you to the dining hall in twenty minutes. You should probably change into something you'd workout in."

"Oh. We're starting tonight?"

"The sooner we start, the sooner we finish, and the less of a chance there is of you running into Gabriel."

She nodded. "Right." With that as her resolve, Luna followed a man around to a back door. He was impeccably dressed, just like the staff at the house in LA, only here, they were dressed in a deep red on black ensemble that was trimmed in gold.

The hallway was dark and empty. He led her into a part of the house she was sure they reserved for staff. When he opened the door to the room she was to stay in, all of the excitement and wonder from her trip here came crashing down around her feet. There was a bed - it was really more of a cot - on the far side of the room. No, closet was a better word. A dresser was shoved in one corner and a chair adorned the other side. The walls were plastered with some kind of tacky wallpaper. Luna was sure there was probably asbestos in the walls. It was drafty and cold and smelled old.

This was where Slade wanted her to stay? So, this was the catch. He was getting her back for her outburst the other night. She tossed her bags on the bed and turned to offer the man a polite smile.

"Is there a shower?" He shook his head. She rolled her eyes and turned away. "Thanks."

When he left, Luna closed the door. It wouldn't even lock. She nodded to herself. Fine. If this was the game he wanted to play, then she'd play along. She'd get her money, get her referrals, and get out. She wouldn't even have to deal with the man while she was here.

Twenty minutes later, dressed in loose pants and a tank top, Luna made her way up a set of steep, wooden stairs and into a warm hall that revived some of the enchantment of where she was and what she was doing here. The light jacket she wore wasn't necessary.

"Excuse me," she flagged down one of the staff. "Can you tell me how to get to the dining hall? I'm Luna Grace. I'm supposed to be teaching choreography-"

"Yes." The woman cut her off and marched ahead, not even motioning for Luna to keep up.

How rude. Luna followed, hoping she'd be led to the right place. They twisted down ornately decorated hallways. She wished she had a chance to admire them, but the woman walked so fast that it was all Luna could do to keep up. Her guide burst through a set of double doors, bowed as she entered, and left.

Luna looked around at the faces staring back at her. "Hello," she smiled, trying to swallow her nervousness. "I'm Luna Grace."

"Yes, but what are you doing here?" a man asked her. He wasn't any nicer than her guide had been.

"Luna is our choreographer," Michael spoke up from the back of the room. He peeled himself off the wall and gave the man a vicious stare. "Guest of Gabriel Slade himself."

"That little thing is going to choreograph a sword fight?" he spat.

Michael didn't say anything. Her grabbed a broadsword from a rack in the middle of the room and tossed one to Luna. She balanced it in her hand for a moment, feeling its weight and balance.

"This is badly balanced," she announced, "but I guess it will do."

Silver glinted in the corner of her eye. Luna threw up the sword to defend herself, blocking Michael's strike.

"What are you doing, you crazy?"

Michael only grinned and struck again, low this time. Luna dropped her blade to ward off the attack.

"Keep it up," she growled, "and you'll wish you hadn't."

"Hm. You sounded like Gabriel just then," he said low for her ears only.

Luna lunged, driving Michael back. Several people had to jump out of the way to avoid being bowled over as Michael defended himself from her strikes.

"I didn't mean it," he chuckled as he fought her off with little effort.

Luna gave one last powerful swing and stood back. "You've been holding back," she accused.

"Me? No. What reason would I have for that? Just teach them the routine's we've gone through the last two weeks."

Luna nodded and turned to the man who'd been so rude. He stared at her, his mouth agape. "I'll need to work with everyone one-on-one. Do you want me to start right away?"

He nodded. Inwardly, Luna groaned. It was going to be a long night.

### CHAPTER TEN

Luna crashed on her cot at sunrise the next morning. The only consolation she had was that she'd actually worked with people who were somewhat literate in swordplay. By far, Michael was the most handy, but the others were able to stay caught up until they got the hang of the moves.

She groaned as the bars that held the thin mattress dug into her back. She'd stick it out though. Show Gabriel Slade that she wasn't a wimp. By the time she left, he'd see that he couldn't break her.

A knock on the door roused Luna from her thoughts. She got up to answer it, her muscles protesting as she did. It was the same man who'd brought her to the room the evening before.

"What's up?" she asked groggily. Had she fallen asleep?

"Lunch," he told her. "I'm to escort you."

She hitched a brow. "Lunch? What time is it?"

"Noon."

She'd slept all of six hours and hadn't even noticed. Neither had her body. She was so exhausted from the jet lag and being awake all night she couldn't think straight.

"I'd really like a shower," she told him. "Is there nowhere that I can do that?" She'd skip lunch if she could take a hot shower. Priorities.

He shook his head again.

"I'm on my period," she blurted, even though it wasn't true.

The man sighed and glared, but motioned for her to follow. He took her back outside the same way he'd brought her in, and led her around to some stables.

"You've got to be kidding me," she said to herself. He wanted her to shower with horses? Really? Gabriel Slade was going to have to die.

Whether she wanted to admit it or not, the shower the young man who bore so much attitude showed her was very clean. Luna thanked him and marched back to her room to get her clothes.

The water that came out of the spigot was steaming. Luna luxuriated in the stable shower for what had to be an hour. She didn't care that it was big enough to bathe a horse. She had it all to herself and she took advantage of it. By the time she was done she felt like a new person, though not any less exhausted. She trekked back to her room to put her things away and wandered to the upper hall once more. Grumpy was there and he led her to the dining hall. Her stomach grumbled its protest at missing breakfast and lunch, and skipping dinner the night before, but she reminded herself of the great shower she'd gotten and joined Michael in the middle of the room.

"Where were you?" he asked. "You missed lunch."

"I was taking a shower." He frowned, clearly lost as to why she was so happy about that, but Luna didn't mind.

*****

Gabe woke disoriented, groggy, and cranky. The sun was far too bright and his mind had lost four days somewhere. Not good. There was no telling what could have happened in four days' time.

"Sir."

He rolled his head around to look up at Devonshire. "Tell me," he said, expecting horrible news of maulings and murders and whatever else.

"It's only been three days."

Gabe took that in for a moment. "Three days. That means... The curse is breaking." His heart leapt. It thumped hard against his chest. More ice poured through his veins. With that, his heart sank back into his chest.

Luna was the one to break the curse, as if he didn't already know. He pushed himself up out of the dirt and leaves and accepted the robe Devonshire offered him. He covered his nakedness and spat, hoping to rid himself of the taste of blood that clung to his mouth. He needed a toothbrush and a hot shower.

"I want to clean up and go visit Luna," he told Devonshire.

"Very good, sir."

Gabe trudged the sand dunes back to the house. He wound his way through the villa and into the kitchen where Mrs. Stone was cooking for him. She beamed at him when he entered. Gabe just shook his head.

"Will you send some tea up to me, Mrs. Stone?"

"Of course, Gabriel." She hummed a cheerful tune as she turned from what she was doing to make his tea. "There's a piece of bone in your hair, dear."

Gabe nodded. He stalked past her and charged up the stairs to shower.

An hour later, he pulled the Lamborghini up in front of Luna's house. There were two cars in the drive. He didn't remember any the night he'd dropped her off, and only one the night he'd taken her to dinner. He sniffed the beat up blue train wreck as he passed it and snorted. That Elmo person was here. So was the roommate.

Gabe knocked on the front door and waited. Cadence answered a moment later.

"Oh. Mr. Slade." Her thin brows knit together in confusion. "How can I help you?"

"I want to see Luna," he demanded.

She laughed awkwardly. "She's not here."

"Well, where is she? I'll go get her."

Cadence's eyes narrowed. "She's in Austria."

Gabe couldn't contain his confusion or shock. He could tell the woman was telling the truth, or at least thought she was. "That's impossible. Why is she there?" What the fuck was going on?

"You hired her. OMG. Are you kidding me? If you didn't hire her, who did?"

Gabe nodded. "Yes. I remember now. Thank you." Michael. He was going to kill him. He snapped up his cell and dialed. "Devonshire, get the jet ready. I'm going to Austria. Yes, I know it's four days early. I'll explain when I get home."

*****

For the rest of the afternoon, Luna matched up fighters, arranged where they would stand and ran through routines until her eyes crossed and her head throbbed. She stumbled over her own feet. Michael caught her before she face planted.

"You alright?" He settled her safely back on her feet.

Luna nodded. "I'm good." She turned as the double doors opened and dinner was brought in, along with several long tables that looked like they were native to the house.

When the tables were set in place and the food set on top, everyone sat down to eat. Michael grabbed a seat next to her as she helped her plate with food.

"Make sure you get some of the mashed potatoes. They're all garlic and cheese."

Luna smiled. "That sounds amazing. I swear. I'm so hungry I think my stomach is eating my backbone."

"Wow, that's...colorful."

She grinned at him. "Has Cadence called you?"

Michael's phone ran a moment later. He speared her with a humored gaze and answered, "Hello? Hey Cadie." He frowned. "Yeah, she's right here. Hold on." He hit the end button.

Luna's eyes widened. "What was that?"

He shook his head. "You don't want to know. Do you like brisket?"

Luna chuckled. "Yeah, sure." He actually put the food on her plate for her. She shook her head.

"So, Luna, where did you learn to fight?" The girl across the table, a petite woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes smiled at her as she helped her own plate. Luna didn't miss that her eyes flicked quickly to Michael, then back to her.

"My dad taught me," she answered. "He was a sword maker. He said it was a gift passed down through my family.

"That's so cool! Did he make a lot of swords? Did you bring any with you?"

Luna gave her a sad smile. "I had to sell most of them after he passed away. I only have mine, but he didn't make those. I wasn't able to bring them with me."

"Oh, that sucks! Why not?"

Luna blinked. This girl was inquisitive. "Um..."

### CHAPTER ELEVEN

Luna woke with a cough, a sore throat, and mashed potatoes in her hair. She rolled over and moaned as a bar dug into her back. She pushed herself up and let her feet rest on the cold floor. She felt hung over, but she didn't remember drinking. She never drank that much anyway. She gathered her clothes for a shower and stepped into the dark, dank hallway.

When she had all of the food out of her hair \- there was brisket and something green too - she dried off and dressed and trudged back to the castle. By now, she thought she could at least make it to the dining hall on her own. She ran into Michael on the way.

"There you are. Get enough sleep?"

He was grinning like he knew something she didn't. Luna frowned at him. "What the hell happened last night? Was there a food fight or something?"

Michael gave a hearty laugh. "You fell asleep in your plate, Luna. Why didn't you say you were so tired?"

She shrugged. "I didn't realize I was that tired? I really fell asleep in my plate?"

Michael nodded. "You were about to answer why you didn't bring your swords with you and you just passed out."

She frowned. "I don't even remember being asked that." How weird. "I must have been out for a while."

Michael grinned, but it only lasted a moment. He got a far off look in his eyes and he tilted his head as if listening to something far away. When he came back, he gave Luna a devious, guilty grin and said, "Let's get to practice. Shall we? If you're not awake now, you certainly will be."

"What does that mean?"

"It means we have work to do."

He walked with her to the dining hall where the others were already gathered. When Luna walked in, the atmosphere changed completely. She couldn't ignore the amused stares. One guy in the back even pointed and laughed.

"Yeah, okay," she said. "It's funny. I fell asleep. Can we just get to work?" She wanted the attention off herself.

Luna reached for the broadsword she'd been using for the last two days. She really missed her katanas. If Cadence hadn't been there when she went home to pack she would have brought them with her.

Someone gasped on the other side of the room as everyone was taking their marks. It started a ripple of discord and whispering across the room that didn't quite make it to Luna. She scanned the people in a slow turn that brought her around to the double doors. Not a second later, the doors burst open and her heart sank as butterflies invaded her stomach cavity.

*****

Gabe stormed into the dining hall, his face set in a frown that almost slipped when he saw the confliction on Luna's face. She didn't know she gave herself away so completely by her facial expressions. Even if she hadn't, he smelled disgust and desire coming from her.

The room had been transformed into a makeshift ship deck for the scene they were choreographing. There were twelve people in the room including Michael and the sour-faced director. He didn't count Luna. She stood out. The pants she wore were loose fitting but they stretched across her arse, accentuating it nicely. She had her back to him now, so he could make out the tattoo etched just inside her right shoulder blade. A bird, wings spread, carried a full moon on its wings. Underneath was her name in scrawling script. Gabe almost smiled. She, most certainly, was _the one_.

"What's this?" he thundered. Anger was the only way he knew to mask his real emotions, so he let it fill his voice, covering the longing he felt for the woman who refused to look at him. He actually enjoyed making her squirm. Gabe watched her pretend to be busy arranging the swords as he approached.

"I've been working with Luna on some new moves for the movie," Michael spoke up, sauntering across the room. "I thought it would be a good idea to bring her on set to work with the stunt people." He shrugged, looking smug.

Luna froze, then whirled around. "You said he knew," she gasped. When her eyes flicked to him, she shrank back and swallowed at his proximity. "I though you knew. I thought..."

"Yes," he prodded, his tone still frigid.

"I thought you weren't going to be here."

He almost laughed then. Now he understood. Michael had tricked her with promises of his absence.

"Is she that good, Michael?"

"She's pretty good."

"Alright then. Show me."

Her face went empty. "What?"

"Show me what you've done so far? You can't have gotten much done. I just saw you four nights ago. You've had less than two days." He crossed his arms and made sure he was standing up straight. "Can't be much."

Luna's eyes hardened and her spine straightened. She was still so small next to him. She amused him, amongst other things. Luna turned to the director. "Show him what we've done."

Oh, her voice was cold as ice! Gabe let his face relax into a smirk that galled her even more. She set her jaw and stood off to the side to watch.

Gabe stood an equal distance between her and the director and waited as everyone chose their props and took their marks. The director called action and he waited to be amazed.

Amazed wasn't the right word and impressed was an understatement. The actors moved and shouted their lines. The lines needed work, but the choreography was almost perfect.

The scene was done, except for some melodramatic lines that no one would remember. Or everyone would and they'd follow Gabe to his grave.

The room was silent. Everyone watched Gabe for a reaction. He made them sweat for a moment.

"You did this in two days?"

"Yes," Luna snapped.

He chuckled. "Not bad." Gabe addressed the room, "From the top with an emphasis on Michael's lines please." He moved away from her and felt the tension within her unwind as he did so. He could relate. She did things to him that even he didn't understand.

Michael's lines needed work. Gabe rolled his eyes as the man delivered them with no emotion. Of course, this was _WillSpy_. No one watched it for the acting.

"No, Michael. We've been over this."

"Maybe you can show me how it's done then. You're the all-knowing."

Gabe seethed, though he knew his friend was trying to help him out. "Fine. Luna!"

"What?"

He turned when she snapped at him. The tension in the room grew again, but this time the stunt people were the ones panicking. How dare she speak to him that way? What made her think she could get away with that? Gabe smiled inwardly. She could get away with anything.

Outwardly, Gabe let his exasperation with her free. "Come demonstrate with me. You know these steps better than I."

She rolled her eyes, those shockingly green eyes, and moved to him around the people that stood on their marks. Luna took the sword handed to her by the woman opposite Michael and glared up at him.

"From the top!" he shouted and waited for the director to call action.

When the call was made, Gabe stepped against Luna, circling her as the others fought around them. The ring of steel called to memory a day long past and he pushed the thought away.

"Words fail where betrayal cuts deep, my love," he uttered the lines that belonged to Michael. "Spurned from one side of the world to the other, my heart bleeds to realize what we had was all a lie."

"Pretty words for a man, don't you think?" Luna surprised him by breathing the words back. There was a force behind them he didn't care for, a spark in her eye that caught flame and burned with some unknown hatred.

"Pretty? Hardly. Rhyme and verse, perhaps. The kind that comes from a broken heart and dashed hopes."

"Your heart lives only for the sea, your hopes only dashed by rough waters."

She struck then, a blow he deflected with his own blade. He caught her wrists in both his hands; she was so easily broken.

"My heart beats only for you," he breathed. Gabe looked down into her widening eyes as she saw the truth in the words he'd changed to fit his liking.

Luna pulled back. He knew she was flustered, trying hard to stick to the script. She was flushed across her cheeks and chest. He found it endearing. She swung her sword and they worked through the choreography before the next lines. The footwork brought them around so her back was to the wall. Gabe stepped forward, invading her space so she had to step back. She followed his lead, improvising well.

Until her back was to the wall. Gabe pressed into her space until they were so close he could feel the heat coming off her skin. Her breath hitched and she looked up into his eyes. Her hesitant desire burned into him.

"And now, my love, you are mine."

Gabe hovered over her a moment longer than was necessary. He felt the shock that rippled through the room as he finally stepped back and gave Luna her space.

"That, Michael, is how it's done," he said and his voice carried through the empty room. "Thank you, Luna." He turned away from her so he could get himself under control before he addressed the room.

What happened next was bad luck, the wrong place at the wrong time, and everything else. Someone on the far side of the room screamed. Gabe turned to see what was going on. A woman batted at the air in front of her face and bumped into the woman next to her. That woman stumbled and fell into three other people. Those three people happened to be between Luna and disaster.

The man closest to Luna's right side was shoved by the three people the woman had toppled. He flung out his arms to catch himself. The sword in his hand left his possession and flew through the air. The blade slid across Luna's right arm as she attempted to avoid the wreckage. She should have kept walking.

Luna shrieked in pain and pulled her arm against herself. Gabe could already smell the blood. His beast woke and sniffed the air.

Gabe was by Luna's side and had her scooped up in his arms before anyone else knew what was happening.

"Michael, the doors."

Michael pushed the doors open for him and Gabe carried Luna from the room as she whimpered against his shoulder.

"You're alright," he whispered to her. Blood soaked into her shirt, bright red and glaring. He fought the beast for control, reminding himself that Luna couldn't die. He couldn't lose her, not this time. Not when he had a chance finally. "I've got you, little one."

Gabe carried her into the nearest bathroom and set her on the sink. "Luna, let me see."

She pulled her arm away from her shirt and he sucked in a sharp breath. She was going to need stitches.

"I'm taking you to the hospital."

Luna whimpered against his shoulder as he lifted her once more. His frozen heart thumped in his chest, shattering a little more and sending shards of burning ice through his veins.

*****

The high one called to his wolves reaching out with his mind and power to turn them and bring them to him. He needed their energy.

"He has brought her here," he spoke to their minds. "He is with her."

Cethin felt each time Gabriel's frozen heartbeat. They were connected this way. It was a product of the curse they shared.

"I want her dead," he told his wolves. "I want her life taken from her and his chances of breaking the curse ruined. You." He chose a wolf from the pack. He was a new one and still strong. "Get into the castle. Take care of her."

The wolf nodded and left at a run.

Revenge would be his.

### CHAPTER TWELVE

The Austrian doctor had to put fifteen stitches in Luna's arm, but he said she'd be just fine.

"Are you doing alright?" Gabriel asked from his side of the car.

Luna leaned her head against the door and nodded. She was fuzzy from the pain medication and blood loss, but she was otherwise fine. "Thank you," she said.

Gabe stared at her, his bright blue eyes admonishing. "Why do you thank me? Did you think I would let you bleed to death? Is that really what you think of me?"

Luna turned her face away from his intense gaze and back out the window. Snow fell softly, sticking to the ground and trees.

"Stop the car," Gabe ordered.

Luna turned to look at him. Was he going to dump her on the side of the road?

The car stopped and Gabe climbed out. Luna stayed seated as he came around and opened the door for her.

"What are you doing?" she asked, wary. She just wanted to sleep until the fog on her mind lifted.

"I thought we could walk."

"It's freezing." She was nonplussed when Gabe took off his coat and handed it to her. "Now you'll be cold."

"I'll be fine. Trust me. Please, walk with me, Luna." He held his hand out to her.

Luna took it and stepped out of the car. The biting cold proved enough to pull her out of her haze a bit. She slung his jacket around her shoulders and pulled it tight. It was warm and smelled of him, a deep rich scent that she couldn't place.

Gabe stuck his hands in his pockets as they walked. The car stayed several feet behind them barely moving with their slow progress. The snow crunched under Luna's feet and she smiled.

"You like snow?" Gabe asked.

"I've never seen it before."

"No?"

She shook her head. "I told you my father didn't have much money."

The silence that fell between them was awkward, but Luna had a sneaking suspicion that it was only awkward for her. Gabe walked with his head down and hands in his pockets like he did this every day.

He wore another suit. This one was navy with that light blue shirt he'd worn at the party and a royal blue tie that matched his eyes.

"My dad took me to the mountains once when I was really young. He'd been watching the weather channel and wanted to make it for the first snow of the season." She laughed to herself at the memory.

"What happened?"

"It never snowed." She watched the corner of his mouth turn up in a rueful smirk.

"What bad luck."

"Oh, we had so much fun that day. The drive into the mountains and back was all we really needed. I wish he was still with me."

"Do you mind if I ask what happened to him?"

"Yeah," she snapped. "I do."

"I'm sorry if I offended you. The other night at the house... I can be forceful. I didn't mean to push you into something you didn't want. I only wanted to get to know you. Dating is...not something I'm used to."

Luna took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She didn't want to think about what he preferred to dating so she ignored it for the time being. "No, Gabe. I'm sorry. I was rude and I shouldn't have said what I did."

"So, you didn't mean it?"

"Oh, no I meant it," she lied and smiled a little. "But I could have been a little more tactful."

Gabe stopped walking and frowned at her. "Luna-"

He stopped and tipped his head to the side, listening to something she couldn't hear. Was he sniffing?

"What is it?" she asked, looking around.

"I think we should get back in the car."

"Why? What's wrong?" Now she was nervous.

"I forgot there are wolves around here. Come."

Gabe guided her back to the car and they sped back to the castle, though she wasn't sure why. Weren't they safe from wolves in the car? Weird.

"Are we practicing this evening?" she asked as they pulled up in front of the castle.

"Are you up to that?" Gabe gracefully unfolded himself from the car and came around to open her door once again. "To be quite honest, Luna, you look dead on your feet. I think your judgment is chemically impaired. I don't think that would be a good idea."

Luna nodded and started to fold her arms across her chest. When she bumped the bandage over her stitches, she stopped and dropped them to her side.

"I wanted to watch Michael go through a few more scenes. His co-actor isn't here yet so he's just working on his acting." Gabe rolled his eyes. "You can sit in with me if you like. See a _WillSpy_ movie up close and personal."

The devious grin he gave her worked its magic and Luna smiled back. "Yeah, alright. Let me change." She was still wearing the bloody tank top. She turned from him, headed to her room.

"Where are you going, Luna?"

She turned back. "To my room," she answered matter-of-factly.

His left eye narrowed while his right eye regarded her. Luna almost snorted at how crazy he looked. "Show me."

She started. "Oh. Okay." Luna led him around the back. She didn't even think about it when she pulled the door opened and led him down the musty hall to her room.

"You've been sleeping here?" Gabe's voice was soft and low, but thick with fury.

Luna shuddered and nodded. "I thought this was where you told them to put me."

"Why would I tell them to put you in here?" he exploded with anger. His eyes flashed with fire and his tone took on a bass that she didn't know was possible.

She shrank back. "I thought you were trying to get back at me for the other night."

Gabe's ferocious eyes became startled. "Is that what you really think of me?"

"I don't know what to think of you, Gabe. You scare everyone else and you piss me off."

"I don't scare you?"

"When you roar like that, you do a little. It's a bit irrational I guess."

Gabe winced and rubbed his chest. "Give me a chance to prove to you that I'm not that bad." He held his hand out to her.

Luna looked it over warily, took it by the thumb and turned it over, just for humor. She glanced up at him, but his expression was unchanged. She slipped her hand into his. Warmth spread between them and up her arm.

Reminiscent of the night he'd dragged her through his house at his party, Gabe led her up into the castle and through the halls until they ran into one of the female staff members.

"Luna, who put you in that room?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. A young man. He had slicked back black hair and black eyes. Very thin, like he doesn't eat much."

Gabe spoke to the girl in German. She nodded and left the way she'd come.

"I didn't know you spoke German. I guess I should have." Well, duh.

"I knew a few languages. This way, little one."

Luna had no choice but to follow. Gabe still had her hand in his like he was afraid that if he let her go he'd never get another chance. They marched down a hall and up another until Luna was completely turned around.

"What did you tell that girl?" she asked.

"I told her to have your things brought up to another room, to find the young man you spoke of, and to bring Michael to me at once."

"Oh." So there.

Gabe finally stopped in front of a door and pushed it open. "This will be your room until you leave," he told her.

"You called for me?" Michael sauntered into the room, his voice full of sarcasm.

"Why was Luna in the basement?"

Basement? Did castles have basements? She thought they were called dungeons. Lovely. She'd been sleeping in the dungeon.

Michael's eyes flicked to Luna. Concern replaced the smugness that had been there a moment ago. "Basement? I don't know. Why were you in the basement, Luna?"

"I thought I was supposed to be there."

"She was _sleeping_ in the basement."

"And you thought you were supposed to be sleeping there?" Michael asked. He crossed his arms over his chest and gave Gabe a look that said, "You're the one to blame for that."

" _Du wolltest mich_?"

The black-haired man stood in the doorway. Luna didn't know what he said, but Gabe's demeanor changed completely. He went from perturbed to royally pissed. His grip on her hand tightened and she had to shake it free as he started shouting at the man in German. The man said something back and spat in his face.

Luna gasped. An animal sound emanated from Gabe's throat and he actually pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the spit from his face.

"Take him out back," he said to Michael.

Michael nodded and grabbed the man by the back of his neck.

"Out back?"

Gabe ignored her. He turned furious eyes to her, but they softened some when he saw her face. "Your things should be here soon. I'm sorry. I need to take care of this."

"What did he say?"

He shook his head. "You don't want to know. I don't want you to know." He took her hand once again and leaned over it, pressing his lips to the backs of her fingers. "I'll be back for you."

He dropped her hand and turned, stiff like he was afraid that if he didn't leave right then, he wouldn't, and he was gone. The door closed with a click, leaving Luna alone in the dim room.

### CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Gabe rolled his sleeves up and stalked across the yard to the stables in the back. Michael had the black-haired man tied to a post. One whiff of him and he'd known what he was. There was no hiding it.

"Who sent you?" Gabe asked when he was within earshot.

"You already know the answer," the man answered in German.

"You're not very old. What's your name?"

"Erwin."

Gabe rolled his neck, barely containing his fury. "You're lucky Luna was with me up there," he told him. "If it had just been us three I would have ripped your head from your shoulders without a thought." Fear finally registered in Erwin's eyes. "As it is, I'm having trouble not doing that right now, but I want you to go back to your master and tell him you failed. He will take care of the rest for me."

"We will dispose of Luna, just as we did Belle." The young man snarled. His eyes flashed as his face started to change.

"What did you just say?" Gabe growled. Now it was his turn to fight his beast. He took a step closer to Erwin, but Michael shook his head at him.

"You thought Belle's death was an accident?" Erwin's laugh came out a ragged bark.

Gabe's fists clenched at his sides and he ground his teeth until he was sure they'd break. A young woman joined Gabe and stood just behind him.

"Go," he told Erwin, "before I change my mind."

Erwin snapped the ropes that bound him and took off across the lawn. When he was out of sight in the tree line, Gabe heard the screams that accompanied the change. "Follow him," he told the girl. "I want to know what's going on."

She nodded and ran off. A few moments later, similar sounds could be heard from the woman.

"Are you alright?" Michael asked.

Gabe nodded. "I'm always alright, Michael." He rubbed his chest as a sharp, cutting pain ripped through him. The only pain he showed outwardly was a small wince that Michael may or may not have noticed.

"I need to get back to Luna," he said.

"Yeah."

Gabe turned away from his friend. "Thank you," he said without looking back.

"Of course."

He grinned. The smiles were coming easier than they used to and they were like second nature when he was with Luna.

*****

Luna almost missed the knock on the door as she stepped out of the shower. She wrapped herself in her towel as she crossed the room and pulled the door open. She hadn't expected Gabe to be standing there, hands locked behind his back. His blue gaze took her in before a lazy grin turned the corners of his mouth up.

"Is that an invitation?"

Her eyes widened before she realized it was a joke. "No. Certainly not."

"You know, I took you on a second date and you haven't let me in your home yet."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Gabriel Slade, you are so inappropriate."

He nodded. "Most assuredly. Get dressed. They're waiting on us."

"My clothes haven't come up yet." She was starting to get uncomfortable, standing there in a towel, talking to Gabe as her hair dripped in her face.

Gabe looked down and lifted two small bags from the floor. "Is this all you brought with you?" he frowned.

"Yes."

Gabe stepped back and bowed slightly. Luna smirked as she shut the door. She towel-dried her hair and slipped into a pair of skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, and a hoody before tying her damp hair into a bun.

When she opened the door, Gabe was leaning against the door jamb with a red rose held to his nose. When he looked up, his eyes smoldered with things she didn't want to have to admit.

He handed her the rose. "For you."

She took it gingerly and held it to her nose. "Are you trying to make me like you?"

"No, unless it's working. In that case, yes. Is it working?"

She looked up from the sweet smelling flower to see that boyish grin flash perfectly white teeth.

"No." Another lie. The grin widened and he pushed himself away from the doorjamb. "Shall we?" He looked down. "You're not wearing any shoes."

"Can't I go barefooted?"

One eyebrow went up and he frowned for a moment, then shrugged. "If you like that sort of thing."

Luna laughed. "Shoes are for outdoors, feet are for indoors."

"If you say so."

The set they were practicing on was an upstairs room with a balcony. Gabe had a chair for her set next to his against a wall. The grumpy director was there, along with the crew and a few other actors who wanted to watch.

"Mr. Slade is here," the director said. "We can begin."

"So much sarcasm," Luna said.

Gabe snorted. "You haven't seen anything yet."

"Quiet on the set!"

Luna stared innocently at the director. Gabe laughed.

"Action!"

Michael ran through the scene with the stand-in actress. When the director finally called cut, no one said anything as they waited to hear Gabe's verdict.

"He really is bad, isn't he," Luna accidentally said out loud. Gabe covered his smile with a hand. Michael glared at her. "Sorry."

"You think you can do better?" Michael snapped.

"Probably," she laughed. Gabe shook next to her.

"Well, then, by all means, give it a try. Someone give her a script."

She looked to Gabe who shrugged. "Be my guest." His gaze sent heat burning across her cheeks. Memories of earlier in the dining hall. She could feel his body pressing against her personal space, as if he had her pinned to the wall again. His breath feathered down her neck.

Luna sucked in a gasp of air as she realized she been staring at him. From his heated gaze she knew she'd given herself away. Gabe handed her the script and she flipped it open so she wouldn't have to look at him. But she couldn't concentrate with him staring at her. She slipped off the chair and wandered to the balcony where Michael and the actress stood.

"These two pages," Michael pointed to her. There was some kind of sympathy in his voice. "You got it?"

"Yeah, I think so." The lines were a bit shallow, not hard to remember if you'd ever seen any kind of romantic suspense movie. She flipped the script shut and handed it to Michael.

"What's this?" he asked.

"I thought I was doing your lines."

Michael scoffed. "As if you could. Fine. Show me what you've got."

Luna grinned and pushed him out of the way. "You're blocking my light."

"Oh, we have a diva on our hands, Gabriel."

"I've noticed."

Despite trepidation, Luna looked up. His eyes were like two points of blue light in the otherwise darkened room. Her breath caught in her throat and the lines flew out of her head as the director shouted, "Action."

Luna blinked at Gabe and then the woman standing in front of her. The actress smirked, and it wasn't kind.  
"What happened?" Michael whispered in her ear. "Get distracted?"

"Shut up."

"Perhaps you need a better partner," he said loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Forsooth."

Luna turned. Gabe was standing right behind her.

"Did you just say 'forsooth'?" Who even said that?

He pressed his lips into a line and handed her another script. Luna waved it away.

"I've got it."

"You sure?"

She nodded. He shrugged and shooed the irritated actress off the balcony. Then, he settled himself against the railing.

"Action." The director didn't seem to care anymore.

"You spurn me at every turn," Luna delivered the line with narrowed eyes.

"How do I spurn you, my love?"

Luna hated the way butterflies formed in her stomach when he used that word, even if it was a fake line from a movie full of fake people.

"You throw that word around like the kisses you throw around town." Brief pause for effect. "Yes, I know of your activities when you think I am away to sea. I saw you locked in a passionate embrace with the Duke."

"My love, what you saw was nothing compared to what I have with you. What we are together."

She frowned, getting into the role. "What are we together? Two thieves who pretend to be a gentleman and a lady."

"Thieves?" Gabe pealed himself away from the railing and inched into her space. "I, William, am a pirate. If you want to be a mere thief, be my guest."

"Yes, Catherine, a pirate is all you are. Should we meet on the high seas, do not hail me in need of help. My ship and crew are no longer available to you."

Gabe was in her face again. He reached out a hand and touched her cheek. "And what of your heart, my love?"

"I have no heart." Luna jerked away from his gentle touch. "I am only a pirate. And a fool it seems."

The end of the scene called for a passionate kiss that became a steamy love scene. Luna's heart thumped in her throat as Gabe leaned into her, his face mere inches from hers. His lips were slightly parted. His breath was warm and sweet with the scent of chocolate and she wondered if that was what he'd taste like.

Gabe's eyes blinked up, staring into her own. "Do you trust me yet?"

"Huh?" She couldn't form thoughts to make coherent words.

"Hm," he hummed and the sounds reverberated in her chest. Was he purring?

All of a sudden, Gabe pulled away. He straightened, but never looked away from her. He smoothed his suit and set his jaw.

"You said forsooth," she murmured.

Gabe chuckled without sound. "Yeah, I did. What of it?"

She shrugged. The spell was broken, but Luna still felt enchanted. Despite being controlling and quick-tempered, Gabe really was quite charming.

"If you don't know what to do after that, I feel sorry for you." Gabe gave Michael an amused look.

Luna giggled on her way back to her chair. With it she released some of the tension that had been building between them in the last hour or so.

Gabe sat next to her, the rose pressed to his nose again. "These roses are known to be some of the sweetest in the world," he told her.

"Is that so?"

"Forsooth." He grinned. "They've won contests. You dropped this." He handed it back to her.

"I've got you figured out, Gabriel Slade," she told him as she took the rose.

"Have you? I'd love to hear what you've figured out."

"You're an ass." She smiled. "You're pushy, and controlling, and rude. I'd even say mean."

"Yes, I'm quite mean. You haven't told me anything I don't already know, little one."

"Hm. Beneath all of that, you're a lonely romantic, looking for someone to give your heart to."

Gabe regarded her with questioning eyes. "You might not be too far off. We will see."

Luna watched him the rest of the evening. He stayed leaned toward her on the arm of the chair, but he let her have her moment. She had no delusions that he was unaware of her gaze on him, but he ignored her for the most part. She realized, even though he talked his movies down he truly loved what he did.

"Thank you for the work you've done," he said as they walked back to her room later. "I'm sorry about your arm, though. How are you?"

"I'm fine. It's starting to ache a little," she realized.

"Do you have something for it?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine." His concern unnerved her.

"If you're up to it, I'd like to show you something. Another one of my collections."

"Sure." Luna sighed quietly as she resigned herself to accept her attraction to him.

Gabe turned down a dark hallway. He didn't have her hand in his this time. They were stuffed in his pocket like he was trying not to touch her. She could relate. She still felt his touch tracing her cheek, his breath on her lips, the way her lips tingled at the thought of meeting his. She shivered and twirled the rose stem between her fingers.

Gabe stopped in front of a door. "This is the war room," he said. His hand rested on the handle, his long fingers curled around it.

Luna looked up at him. He looked concerned.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

Gabe pushed the door open and Luna became well aware of why it was called a war room. Bayonets lined the ceiling of the oblong room, their swords pointed up, but that wasn't the most impressive part. Not for Luna. Displayed along the walls were swords of every kind. Luna looked up at Gabe with a grin.

"You really know the way to a girl's heart," she joked.

He smiled back at her. "I was hoping."

She started a circuit of the room, inspecting the different blades. Against the closest wall he had an impressive display of katanas that looked authentic.

"This is better than the books," she admitted.

"I'm glad you approve."

Luna shook her head and stopped. Something at the back of the room caught her eye. She moved away from him and the katanas to get a better look. It was a set of swords, ancient and probably in better shape than they day they were made.

"You like them?"

"Where did you get these?" she demanded. Her voice shook with anger.

"I bought them. Why?"

"My father was a collector too." Unwanted emotion made the musing more accusatory than it should have been. "When he died he had a lot of collections that I had to sell to pay off his debts. This was one of them." She turned to Gabe and stared him straight in the eye. "Tell me the truth. Are you stalking me?"

To her amazement, he laughed. "Stalking you? Not hardly. I never laid eyes on you before the night at the party. These are just coincidences." He swallowed. He was nervous. He was lying.

"Quite a coincidence. My father only cherished one thing other than me in this world and that was his swords. You're telling me that my father giving you my bubble gum and you buying his swords is just a coincidence?"

"No, you're right. I don't believe in coincidences, but I promise this is not my doing."

"How am I supposed to believe that?"

"You underpriced these."

"I didn't think anyone would actually buy them," she spat, "and I certainly didn't think the world's greatest millionaire actor would be interested. If I'd known, trust me, I would have jacked up the price and marketed them straight to you."

"Why are you angry, Luna? I can see how little you care for me, I'm trying hard to change that, but what have I done to you personally to make it so?"

Luna couldn't answer. Instead, her fear and rage at the situation got the better of her. She unsnapped the glass case and pulled out one of the swords. Her father had assured her it was Arondite, the sword of Lancelot. She tested its weight, having not picked it up in years.

"Luna, what are you doing?" he laughed.

"Get one," she said.

"What? Luna these are antiques. They're older than antiques."

"My dad said that if they were going to break they would have done it hundreds of years ago. This is the sword he taught me with. He took really good care of them, so I'm confident in his assessment. Pick your sword."

"Luna, I'm not going to fight you."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not. Devonshire!"

She should have known the older man wouldn't be too far away. "Calling in the bodyguard. Just like a celebrity."

"Luna, I'll hurt you."

"You think you're that good, huh?" She spun the sword so the hilt circumvented her hand and landed back in her palm. Then she sliced the air with it a few times. "I'm good too. I'm not as fragile as I look."

"Clearly. And your father didn't know how crazy you are."

"You called, sir?" Devonshire entered the room with his tux tails flowing behind him. He surveyed the scene and his gazed stopped on Luna. "Oh dear. What would you like to do, sir?"

"Disarm her, please."

"Absolutely, sir."

Devonshire crossed to her and held out his hand like that was supposed to do something. "Miss Grace, if you don't mind, Mr. Slade would like his sword back."

"His sword," she scoffed.

"Is it not his sword?"

"It is now."

Devonshire gave a little bow. "He asks that his sword be replaced in its case."

Luna rolled her neck. "You can tell Mr. Slade that I don't appreciate being treated like a child. You may also tell him that I'd like to go home."

"Are you not speaking to him, ma'am?"

"No. I'd rather not." She knew she was being childish, but she had to give it to Devonshire, he was handling her well.

"Very well, Miss Grace. I shall let Mr. Slade know. The sword, ma'am."

Luna handed Devonshire the weapon and made the mistake of looking at Gabe. He stood on the other side of the room looking helpless and lost like a child in the street who couldn't find his parents. She closed her eyes and looked away as Devonshire secured the sword back in its case.

"If you'll follow me, I will take you back to your room. I will have arrangements for you to leave in the morning. Is that expedient enough for you?"

Expedient? Was it "use an old word day" and she hadn't been told?

"Yeah, that's fine." Luna followed the older man from the room. At the last minute she turned and said, "Maybe next time you'll do your dirty work yourself." Gabe's eyes brightened some. Shit. She'd just given him hope of a next time.

What was it that she'd forgotten to remember? Oh yeah. She hated Gabriel Slade.

*****

Gabe watched the waning moon. His heart thumped painfully in his chest to remind him what was at stake.

"Sir."

"Come in, Devonshire." He turned away from the window and spread his hands helplessly. "I thought it was going well."

"What happened?"

"Apparently, I unknowingly bought her father's swords when she sold them several years ago and that makes me the bad guy." He turned back to the window. "It's easier when I don't care."

"Don't say that, Gabriel."

Gabe shrugged. "It's true. When I don't care I can get what I want and get on with things."

"Yes, but that doesn't break the curse."

"What's the point if being nice means I get walked all over in the process and I still don't get the girl? Has Alina returned yet?"

"Not yet, sir."

He nodded. "Let me know when she does. I'm going to run." He handed his coat to Devonshire and loosened his tie. The beast clawed at his insides, ready for some release.

### CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Morning dawned brighter than Luna really cared for. Sunlight streamed through a window, just another reminder of the fact that she'd let herself get emotionally involved with a man she hated. It didn't matter that his blue eyes spoke of torture a man should never know, nor that his proximity made her heart race. She didn't care if he was chiseled from the finest materials God created. He was Gabriel Slade and he was not to be trusted. More than that, he was not to weasel his way into her heart and life and carve himself a place there.

But he'd done just that. That was why she had to leave this morning before he woke up, before she saw him and lost her nerve. She had to go home, get back to hating him. She needed to go back to her simple life where millionaire celebs didn't ask her out on dates or invite her to their ancient Austrian castles to work with their stunt people to choreograph pirate sword fighting scenes.

Luna huffed and shoved her clothes into her bag. She left the bloody tank top on the sink counter and slipped her shoes on. The knock on the door stopped her mid-shoeing. Her heart jumped into her throat. She mentally beat herself for hoping it was Gabe.

"Who is it?"

"Devonshire, Miss Grace. I am alone." Luna opened the door. "Mr. Slade wishes you a safe trip and promised he wouldn't impede your departure. If you're ready?"

She nodded and grabbed her two small bags. As she left, her eye caught on the rose Gabe had given her the night before. It sat in a vase on the dresser. She was sure she'd left it on the floor in the war room. Had he been in her room last night? She shook her head, dispelling the thought. He wouldn't have... Would he?

Gabe watched from an upstairs window as Luna disappeared into the backseat of a car and left the castle yard.

"Sir."

He'd ordered Devonshire to stay and arrange for her to be driven to the airport by someone else.

"What is it?"

"We found Alina."

Gabe lifted an eyebrow. "Found?"

"She was not alive, sir."

Gabe let out a heavy breath. "Not good. Is there anything else?"

Devonshire shook his head. "No, sir. But I would like to ask..."

"Yes?"

"What will you do about Luna, sir?"

Gabe shook his head. He honestly didn't know. He took his cell from his pocket and held it up. "Show me Luna."

Luna's face flashed onto the screen, so close that for a moment he thought he might touch her. She was staring out the car window. Reflected by the smooth surface, her forlorn face seemed closer than it was.

"You didn't have to go," he muttered to her, wishing she could hear. He watched her for a moment longer before he waved the image away. "We need to make funeral preparations, Devonshire."

"I have already begun, sir."

Gabe nodded. "When I get back to LA," he paused. What would he do when he got back to LA?

"Yes, sir?"

"I'll go see her." Could it really be that simple?

"Very good, sir."

Yeah, it would be that simple. It had to be, because he didn't know what else to do.

### CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Luna had deluded herself into believing that not hearing from Gabe didn't bother her. Gabe was a pain in the ass. The lyrics to _Sexy and I Know It_ floated through her head and she smiled.

"Nice moves."

Luna jumped ten feet out of her skin and dropped the sword she was practicing with. She shuffled her bare feet out of the way. Irresponsible.

"Elmo!" He was leaning against the doorjamb or her bedroom. Tall and lean, he was actually quite attractive. When had he done that? "I didn't hear you come in. If you'd been Cadence..." Her heart thumped against her chest.

"You'd have been dead. But I'm not Cadence." He pushed himself away from the wall and came in to sit on her bed. "You're looking good. With the katanas," he added quickly. She didn't accept compliments well from him. "It doesn't have anything to do with Slade does it? You practicing in the house?"

"No, of course not." Elmo could spot a lie a mile away and the look he gave her now was the one that said, "Tell me the truth before I wring it out of you."

Luna sighed and sat next to him. "He bought the set of swords of my dad's that I had to sell. He has them on display in his castle."

"I know."

"You know?"

"I sold them for you, remember?"

"And you didn't think to tell me he'd bought them?"

"What would you have done? Not sold them to him?" She didn't answer. "Exactly."

"I would have at least bumped up the price. I may have overreacted a bit."

"What did you do?"

"I rescued the Lancelot sword and challenged him to a fight."

"You would have won."

"I don't know. I think I might have been on the losing end of that one."

A key scratched at the front door.

"Shit." Luna shoved the katana into its sheath. The blade bit into her hand between her thumb and forefinger. Her eyes went wide and she looked up at Elmo as the pain registered.

"Bathroom. I'll get them put away."

"I'm home!" Cadence called.

"Don't come in here!" Luna shouted and slammed her bedroom door. She turned the lock and prayed Cadence wouldn't come inspecting.

"Um, okay. I saw Elmo's car outside. You got him in there with you? Dirty hoe."

"Way to go," Elmo said. "She now expects us to have sex."

Luna held up her bleeding hand. "When she sees this you will be in as much trouble as I am." She slipped into her private bathroom and stuck her hand under cold water. It stung like a mother and tears pricked her eyes.

"I pushed the box to the back of the closet," Elmo said. "Are you okay?" He wiped away a tear.

"I'm fine." She tried to shrug him away. She'd have a bandage on her left hand to match the one on her right arm now. Sexy.

"Don't do that," he practically begged. "Let me help."

The water in the sink wasn't pink, it was blood red. Elmo lifted her hand to inspect it. "It's not real deep. I don't think you'll need stitches." He took some toilet paper and pressed it to the wound. "Hold that." Then he dug through the drawers and cabinets until he found a bandage and some gauze.

"Dad taught me to always be prepared."

"Yeah, I know." He ripped open the bandage with his teeth.

"That's sanitary."

"Shut up. Don't be jelly."

Luna shook her head. "You're jelly."

"Not right now." He looked up into her eyes and how much he loved her could not be mistaken. "I'm the one with your life in my hands right now. Nothing to be jealous of."

Luna swallowed around the knot in her throat and shook her head. "No. I'm emotional right now. Stop it."

"You're emo and jelly? Bad day." He pressed the bandage to her cut and wrapped it with gauze. "So, no more Slade?"

"No. After my two little outbursts I doubt he wants to mess with someone so bipolar."

"Two?"

The doorbell rang. Luna's heart jumped into her throat. Was it Slade? How ironic would that be? If it was, she would tell him to go to hell. Right? Because that was what she wanted wasn't it?

"Luna! It's for you!"

Elmo deflated. They both knew who it was.

"Be there in a minute!" He finished taping up her hand. She tried to think what to say, but there was nothing.

"Go." He stepped out of her way, his eyes downcast. Double shit.

Cadence had the front door wide open. Gabe was there with Devonshire right behind him. Did he do anything on his own?

"Hello, Luna." His eyes brightened when he saw her, everyone saw it. Elmo hung back.

"Hello, Mr. Slade." She tucked her hand behind her hip to keep it out of sight.

Gabe scrubbed a hand over his face. "So we're back to Mr. Slade. Okay. Luna, I wanted to invite you to dinner at my place tonight. I'm cooking."

That beautiful grin of his made her heart stop. "Mr. Slade, I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

"Gabe, please," he corrected. "It's just dinner. No swords. Maybe a couple knives, but..." He shrugged.

Devonshire said something behind his back and he turned his ear to hear. While he wasn't looking she tried to slip her hand into her pocket before she realized she wasn't wearing jeans. She was still in her yoga pants and her hair was still piled on top of her head. She reached up to let it down. Gabe turned back at the same time and frowned ferociously at her. He took a step over the threshold of the house and the air around him stirred visibly. He was in her house. His presence pressed on her, exciting and arousing things she had spent the last four days trying to fight. She had officially lost.

"What have you done to your hand?" His eyes were angry, but when he took hold of her injured hand his grip was as gentle as if he was carrying a child.

"Oh."

Gabe ignored Cadence's soft exclamation of shock, but Luna knew better. He sniffed the air. "This is fresh. When did this happen?"

"My." Oh shit. Cadence was about to blow a gasket.

"Just a few minutes ago," she answered. "Elmo helped me wrap it up."

"GOD!"

Gabe winced.

Cadence grabbed Luna by her arm and pulled her from Gabe's grasp. He growled, but Cadence put a hand on his chest. From the corner of her eye, Luna saw him look at her hand, look at her, look back at her hand, and gently remove it.

"You have swords in my house!" the Latina girl screamed. "How dare you? You said you didn't have any here! Get out! Get out right now!"

"I'm not going anywhere." Luna shook her roommate's grip loose. "This is my house too."

"Not anymore it's not. Get out!"

"Serve me with an eviction notice if it's that serious, but until then I have every right to live here as you do."

"Where are they?" Cadence shoved her so hard that Gabe caught her against his chest. She was in Luna's room before she could push him away.

Cadence was under the bed when Luna came in so she went to her closet. Elmo hadn't locked the box and he hadn't put it back where it belonged. Luna flipped the lid open and pulled out the first sword her hand touched. Metal rang as the sheath came off and hit the floor.

Gabe came running with Devonshire and Elmo at his heels. They stopped in the door when they saw the unsheathed katana.

Cadence stared at the blade with terror written on her face. "Put that away." Her voice trembled and lacked conviction. "Get them out of my house." She was trying hard to be brave.

"My father gave me these." She swung the sword like it was an extension of her arm.

Luna crossed the room in two long strides. Gabe started for her, but she stopped him with the point of her sword aimed at his chest. "Back up." His hands went into the air, but it wasn't fear that made the muscles in his jaw work, it was annoyance. She shoved Cadence against the wall and let her blade rest on the hand that she had at the woman's neck. The anger that coursed through her blinded her to what she was doing.

"My father was all I had, Cadence, and he left me. These swords were the only thing he ever gave me in my life and you want me to get rid of them like some cheap heirloom? Are you fucking crazy?"

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't know."

"Of course you didn't. You never asked."

"Luna." Gabe's voice was most unwelcome. "Let Cadence go."

He needed to leave. He needed to go now because she was taking out her anger with him on the only people who had ever tolerated or cared about her. She backed away from Cadence and let the sword drop by her side.

"Put it away," Gabe commanded.

Luna looked at him, her defiance to his demands made her want to scream. She slid the katana back in its sheath and put it in its box. She hefted the box under her arm.

"If you come with me," Gabe began.

"I'm not going anywhere with you, Gabe."

She couldn't stand the hurt in his eyes so she looked to Elmo for help.

"You can stay with me," her friend nodded.

Gabe's eyes flashed. "You'll go with him, but you won't come with me?"

"I don't know you," she told him. The logic of those words caused him to step back, away from her.

"Luna." Elmo was already at the door chomping at the bit to get her out of this crazy situation. She followed him out and to his car. When she had her belt buckled and the box safely in her lap, she turned to him.

"What did I just do?"

*****

Gabe watched Cadence crumble to the floor in a sobbing heap. He looked to Devonshire for help, but the man seemed as lost as he felt.

"Cadence, are you okay?"

"No!" she moaned.

He knelt beside her and put his hand on her back. She threw herself against him. Her thin arms went around his neck and she cried into his shirt. He didn't know what to do. Did he put his arms around her or would she misconstrue it as a come-on? Did he pat her on the back? If this was Luna he'd cradle her to him and hold her until he felt like letting go.

Gabe finally decided to put his arms around her, but the sobs only grew louder.

"Okay." He stood and brought her up with him. "Look, I don't know how to be tender, but you're okay. Luna would never hurt you. She was just hurt and angry, and for some reason she hates me. Maybe she took it out on you, I don't know."

"You're right. You suck at this. What if she comes back?" She fisted slender hands on her hips.

"She probably won't come back until tomorrow. Elmo won't let her."

"You think I'll be safe?"

"I'm sure you'll be fine. I can leave Devonshire here if you want."

"You'd do that for me?"

He shrugged. "Yes."

"Why?"

That was a good question. "Luna cares about you. You're important to her."

"She just tried to kill me."

"No, she threatened you. It was unwarranted, but there's a big difference."

She digested that a moment. Gabe watched her eyes for any sign of comprehension and decided she might be a little stupid. "I think I'll be okay," she finally said. "If not, I'll give you a call." She winked. Yeah, she'd be fine.

"Good." He left and didn't leave his number.

### CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Gabe paced his office. His little Luna had a fiery streak in her. Her hatred for him was more immense than he'd imagined possible. Somehow he had to figure out why she hated him so much.

"Show me Luna," he said to his mobile phone. The screen flared to life. A blinding white light flashed and Luna's lovely face appeared. She was in a dark room lit by TV light. The wooden box that held her katanas sat across her lap. She stroked the smooth top. There was a distant look in her eyes. He wanted to know where her mind was. He wanted her in his arms.

"You okay?" Elmo spoke from somewhere.

"No. I almost slit my best friend's throat."

"No you didn't. She overreacted, you overreacted. Slade and I handled it."

Luna laughed. "Gabe handled it better than you did. I almost stabbed him through the heart."

Elmo was eerily quiet on that.

"Thanks for the support, Googs."

"Ew, Luna. Please. Listen. Give Cadence and yourself some time to cool off. Apologize in a few days. It'll be fine."

"I need to apologize to Gabe."

He smiled. He liked that she was thinking of him.

"Why?"

"Because I threatened him. Twice. Both times at the end of a sword." She laughed. "I'm the worst date ever."

"Memorable, though."

That was an understatement.

Luna punched Elmo in the thigh.

"Ow."

"You deserved it. You wouldn't drive me up there would you?"

"You think he'll let you in to see him?"

"Yes."

Elmo huffed. "You think he likes you that much?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Oh my god! Did you just ask me that? Are you jelly?"

Jelly? She'd said that the night of the party too.

"Yes. You know I am. I see how he affects you, the way you look at him. Why did you run from him at the party? His shirt was open, untucked. I'm not stupid, Luna." Uh oh. "You were with him. You were going to sleep with him until you found out who he was."

"Have you been talking to Cadence? Seriously."

"Why did you run?"

"Elmo, please."

"Answer me, Luna!"

"Because I have feelings for him and I don't want to. I was going to sleep with him. I would have. He played it so smooth, and I really can't blame him. If he hadn't finally let on who he was I would have let him do whatever he wanted to me."

"So much for being a good Catholic girl." There was no humor in his voice whatsoever.

Great. She was Catholic. That was going to make things more complicated.

Neither one of them spoke for a long time and Gabe was about to shut off the image when Elmo reached over and took the wooden box from her lap. He set it on the floor and took Luna by the hand. With a quick movement he had her laying across the sofa. He straddled her and trapped her hands above her head.

"Get off me."

"No."

"Elmo," she gasped. There was fear in her eyes.

The beast rolled under Gabe's skin. Luna was his. There was no tamping it back down. "DEVONSHIRE!"

"Luna, listen to me. Gabriel Slade is only going to hurt you. You see how cold and mean he is. If that's what you like I can be that, but I won't hurt you like he will."

Gabe watched them as the beast took over his body. He'd learned to keep control of his mind most of the time, but this was one of those times when he wouldn't be able to.

"Why are you so convinced he's going to hurt me?"

"Because I know his type. He doesn't know how to be kind or gentle. He's barely human."

Devonshire burst into the room and gasped at Gabe's transformation. It rarely happened like this anymore.

"What's happened?" He took the phone from Gabe and the image continued.

"Elmo, get off of me."

"I will, but you have to make a choice. If you want to go to him then I will take you, but make the choice carefully. If you choose him I'll have no choice but to stay away from you."

Luna was quiet for a long time. Gabe managed to keep quiet as the beast slowly took over. Fur prickled out from his skin and bones cracked and ground against each other as they rearranged, but he refused to howl and scream even though he was in immense pain. He wouldn't miss her answer. His back hunched and he dropped to all fours.

"Take me to him."

Elmo pulled away from Luna like he'd been hit. He picked up the wooden box and shoved it into her arms. Luna looked at him stricken but her mind was made up.

"I'll get the car." Elmo disappeared.

"She's coming here, sir. What would you like me to do?"

"I'm going to hunt." The beast hadn't taken over his mind after all. Luna's choice quelled it enough to think. "I'll be back by the time she gets here."

"I'll release the game, sir."

*****

Elmo refused to go farther than the end of the driveway. He let Luna out and sped away. There was a ring of dense woods that encased the outer wall of Gabe's property. The trees rustled in a peculiar way and she heard voices.

"-make it up to the house."

Luna looked to make sure Elmo was gone and detoured into the trees. Stupid, stupid, stupid! But she went anyway.

Why was she doing this? If there were people hiding in the woods she should just go tell Gabe. He could handle his own problems.

She left her box on the side of the drive after she retrieved one and ducked into the trees. She wasn't sure why she thought she'd need a sword against teenage pranksters, but she trusted her instincts.

"From the top of the dunes we can egg the villa."

Really? Egg the villa. What a deviously ridiculous plan. Luna stifled a snort and moved closer to the wall. As she neared it, she saw the heel of a shoe disappear through a gap big enough for a person to squeeze through. She followed, careful to stay unseen. Through the trees she saw a group of about six males ranging in age from late teens to mid-twenties. A group of Slade haters?

She watched them, waited for them to move before she followed at a distance. Something touched her leg and she looked down to see that it was only a branch. When she looked back up, the guys were gone. How could they disappear that fast?

Luna looked around, but didn't see the wolf creeping up on her until it growled. Only a few feet from her, there was no way she could run and make it. She brandished her sword, but the animal barely acknowledged it. Without taking her eyes off the wolf, Luna inched backward in hopes that she could put some space between them.

The wolf followed; there was intelligence in its eyes that Luna didn't understand.

Panic overtook her and Luna turned tail and ran. If she could get across the dunes and through the hidden door Gabe had shown her she'd be alright. Yeah right. She probably wouldn't even make it out of the woods. When Luna looked back the wolf was gone.

What. The. Fuck?

*****

Gabe sensed that Luna was close before he caught her scent. What was she doing out here and why did he catch the sharp tang of fear? It was sweet on the back of his tongue.

With his change was complete, Gabe cleaned the blood from his body with a bucket of water Devonshire had put out and was already slipping the black leather pants on. The old man appeared to be losing his mind some days.

Luna was close. Her fear touched every sensor in his body and put him on high alert. He scented the air. Wolves were nearby. On his property. Luna was inside the outer wall. If she'd come through the front gates he would have heard them.

The wolves were inside the wall too. Why were they here? Was it possible his thawing heart had alerted them? It still wasn't beating properly. It would be completely thawed by the next full moon and if she hadn't chosen to love him by the end of his cycle he would transform into the beast and never be a man again. He would have missed his chance to ascend back to his rightful place next to The General.

There wasn't time for that now though. Luna was in trouble. If they didn't want the curse broken, that meant The General needed help.

That thought stirred him and his sluggish heart thumped an extra beat.

Don't speed up now, he thought. I'm short on time as it is.

Luna was coming toward him from the east and fast. He dumped the bloody water from the bucket and moved to intercept her before she saw what was left of his latest kill.

Her terror reached a new level. It no longer tasted sweet on the back of his tongue. The bitterness of its depth made his mouth thick and the buck he'd just finished devouring moved in his stomach like it had come back to life.

He saw her, only for a moment. Her head popped up from behind a boulder, swiveled both ways and dropped back down. She should have seen him. He was in plain sight, but her eyes were wild and her features twisted with fear.

Gabe moved around the right side of the boulder. Luna was looking the opposite direction when she stood and ran directly into him. His arms went around her instinctively to protect. Luna screamed and fought him. Gabe tightened his arms around her.

"Sh. Luna, it's me. It's Gabe. You're safe."

"Gabe." She stilled and her eyes tilted up at him. Relief made the emerald orbs sparkle. "Oh my god." He winced. "There's something out there. It's chasing me."

"I know, little one. Come. You're safe now."

He kept one arm around her and led her towards the house through the woods. When they came to the dunes he reluctantly released her from his protective embrace so he could lead her by the hand. He had sure footing. She didn't. He lifted her down when they came to the mote and led her through the hidden door. They maneuvered the maze of the villa to the pool.

"Gabe." Luna pulled her hand from his and he turned to her.

"What's wrong, little one?" She stood with her back to the pool, her heels on the edge.

"I'm sorry."

"It's forgotten."

"No. I mean I'm sorry about everything. Pulling a sword on you... Twice."

"I told you it's forgotten."

"Why? What do you care? I'm no one to you."

But she was everything to him. "I care a great deal."

Luna frowned and took a step back. Her shoe slipped and she fell backward into the pool with an "Eep!" Her arms wind milled as she tried to catch herself, but to no avail.

Gabe dove in after her, leather pants and all.

Luna broke the surface before he did, but he wrapped his arms around her anyway.

"Gabe, I can swim."

"Humor me, please."

She heaved an exasperated sigh and let him guide her to the ladder. He followed her up and took her into the kitchen.

"Oh my." Mrs. Stone was in the kitchen cooking something that smelled delicious. "Are you alright?"

"I thought you were cooking." Luna shivered.

"I was going to cook for you, but you said you weren't coming."

"So you just didn't bother?"

He frowned at her. "Upstairs. You remember the way to my room."

She shot him a wary look and he understood her reticence. He felt the same way.

"Go. I'm coming."

She went without argument.

"Mrs. Stone, I don't know what's about to happen. Please set something out for her to eat and some hot tea. I will let you know if I need it brought up."

"Yes, Mr. Slade."

"Devonshire!"

He came around the corner, always just a shout away.

"Yes, sir."

"No interruptions unless I call for you."

"Yes, sir."

"Also, there are wolves inside the outer wall."

"How would you like them handled, Mr. Slade?"

Gabe stroked his chin. "Release the boars."

"All of them, sir?"

"Yes."

"Very good." He bowed and when he raised back up there was a twinkle in his eye. "Enjoy your shower, sir."

Mrs. Stone hid a snicker behind her apron.

"That's enough," Gabe warned, but he could take a little ribbing now and then.

Devonshire left and Mrs. Stone risked a peek at him. Gabe pointed a finger at her. "You're getting incorrigible in your old age, Mrs. Stone."

"Old age!" she sputtered. "Old age, he says! You'd better get upstairs before your lovely young lady thinks you've forgotten her." She swatted his backside with a wooden spoon.

"Yes, ma'am."

Gabe took the steps two at a time and burst through the closet door to find Luna huddled on the floor in the dark.

"Luna!" He gathered her dripping body to his. "What's wrong, my little one?" She sobbed against his shoulder like Cadence had done, but this time he knew exactly what to do. He stroked her wet hair and pressed his lips to the top of her head. She shivered against him.

Her tears broke small shards of ice from his heart. They traveled through his veins, freezing parts of his body as they went. He withstood the pain and focused all of his attention on the crying woman in his arms.

"I've lost everyone." Her voice barely squeaked out. "I have no one left."

"You have me, little one." Her sobs grew stronger. "I know I'm a little rough around the edges, but once you get to know me..." What was there to say? He wasn't a nice guy. He wasn't gentle or caring. But he cared for Luna. So much, in fact that he'd give everything up, even her, if it meant her happiness. He'd never been that selfless. Not even before he was cursed. He supposed that was part of the problem.

"Look at me." She looked up at him, her emerald eyes swimming in pools of salty tears. "First you steal from me, you threaten me at the end of a sword twice, then you break onto my property to take a swim. What am I going to do with you?"

He kissed her hair again. "Let's get you warmed up, okay? You'll feel better."

She nodded and shivered against him.

Gabe nudged her toward the bathroom. He stopped to turn on the shower so it could get warm. "Off," he told her and pointed to her t-shirt. He assumed it to be Elmo's. It might have to mysteriously disappear.

Luna lifted the shirt over her head and dropped it in the sink. She still had the tank top on underneath. "You're wet."

"Hm?" He looked down at his shirt. There was an outline where he'd held her. "Oh." Without thinking he unbuttoned it and pulled it off. He looked up to find her gaze fixated on his chest. They'd been here before. His blood raced below his belt and he had to look away.

"I won't do anything you don't want me to," he offered and tossed the shirt in the sink on top of hers.

"Leather?"

Gabe ticked up his top lip in a grimace. "Yeah. Devonshire's idea of a joke."

"Maybe you should start dressing yourself."

"They're going to be hell to get off, little viper."

"I can help with that."

Gabe froze. What was she saying? This was not a time to play, nor was it a good subject to joke about. They both knew how scalding the heat was between them. He looked up slowly. Her lips were pursed together. Another one of her sharp-tongued comments she'd not kept to herself.

"This would be a good time to curb that tongue of yours, Luna."

Her eyes widened. He watched her bite down on her pursed lips, then squench her eyes shut. He took one long stride and he was mere inches away from her. On their own accord, his hands skimmed her bare arms. Steam rose from the shower and began to fill the room. This was a bad situation gone mental. He tipped her chin up and tapped it with a finger when she wouldn't open her eyes.

"What were you going to say?" Luna shook her head emphatically, her eyes wide as the full moon. "Tell me," he demanded, then softer, "it's alright."

"You could curb it for me." Her voice was just a whisper, her pulse raced beneath his finger. He wanted to know the taste of her mouth. If he pressed his lips to hers, would she allow it?

Gabe closed his eyes against the thought and dropped his arms to his sides. He locked them behind his back and took one long step away from her. "Get in the shower. You can hand me your clothes from there."

Luna did as he commanded. She slid the shower door open and stepped inside. A moment later she handed him her sopping tank top and pants.

"Under clothes too. I'm going to take them to Mrs. Stone to be washed and dried."

She handed them over, her panties wrapped in the bra. He couldn't help but peek. The bright pink thong made him chuckle quietly.

"Don't peek!" she exclaimed a moment too late.

"Oh, I wouldn't dare."

"Gabe."

"Luna. I'll be back." He wrapped the drenched clothes in the shirts from the sink and left her alone in the bathroom.

*****

Luna sat on the floor of the shower and hugged her knees to her chest. Gabe confused her. When he was around he acted like her boyfriend, but when she'd given him a chance to get close just now he'd backed off. She had mixed feelings about him, the strongest being the ones that wanted to rip all of his clothes off. He was slowly wearing down her defenses against him with his persistence. He wasn't used to being told no and that was a problem, but most of the time she didn't want to tell him no. Even when she did manage to he would always regroup and rally. It was infuriating and frustrating and ferociously sexy.

And now he was gone. Just like that, he got her blood boiling and walked out "to have her clothes dried".

He was right about one thing, the warmth helped to calm her some. At least she could think with a rational mind. She knew Elmo was hurt. He'd been in love with her since they were children. Perhaps that was all his infatuation with her was, the leftover pining of what he thought she should have been.

Of course, what she'd done to Cadence was wrong.

Luna closed her eyes against the pain that etched its way across her heart. Cadence had never been anything more than a great friend. She might have been selfish and overindulgent, but she and Luna were like sisters. The pain gripped her chest until she couldn't breathe.

"Gabe!"

"What's wrong?"

The door slid open and he looked around like someone might have been in there with her. Had he gone and come back that quickly?

"I can't breathe."

He shut off the shower and handed her a towel. Like a gentleman, he turned his back until she was wrapped up in it.

"Okay."

Gabe turned back to her, cradled her in his arms, and carried her to his bed. The muscles in his jaw worked the whole time and she stared, mesmerized. Was he angry or turned on? Did he want her or did he just want to slap her? What did it mean when he did that? She had to know.

Luna brushed her fingers over his jaw. He turned burning blue eyes to her, but she still couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Why do you do that?"

"Can't you tell?"

Luna shook her head. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted. "On your knees," he said.

She lifted her legs so she was kneeling on the edge of the bed. They were eye to eye now.

"Luna, I'm having trouble keeping my hands off you."

She frowned. "Why?"

He gave her an exasperated look. "I want to make you mine. I want to take you in this bed, on the floor, in the shower every way you'll let me."

She kept stroking his jaw. He seemed to like it. The muscles were firm there. Maybe he chewed a lot of gum. His eyes smoldered as he nuzzled his nose against her lips, closed his eyes and breathed deep.

"I want you, Luna, but only if you want me." His eyes came open suddenly and he was only inches from her face. "If you agree to this I want it to be because you want it, not because you think you owe me or something stupid like that." He gripped her upper arms. The warmth of his hands sent spikes through her body. "When I start I won't stop until we're both satisfied, and it takes a lot to satisfy me. Do you understand?"

Luna nodded. Hot sex that lasted all night and possibly into the morning. What wasn't to understand?

He shook her gently. "I need to hear your words."

"I understand."

"And you agree? You want this for your own selfish reasons?"

She smiled. "Yes. For my own selfish reasons. Gabe."

"What?"

"Please kiss me."

He searched her eyes for a moment longer. "I will." What? "Give me a minute."

"For what?"

"Luna, trust me. You don't really know what you're getting yourself into here. I have to take...precautions."

Her eyes widened and her pulse raced. "Precautions? Are you going to devour me after we mate?"

Fire sparked in his already smoldering gaze. "Oh yes, Luna, my little one. I most definitely am going to devour you. Stay here. Do not move. Three minutes."

"Three minutes. I'm going to count."

He backed away then came back and took her hands in his. His eyes turned pleading. "Please, please don't change your mind. Don't run away from me again."

This room held the same taboo feelings for him as it did for her. "I won't run," she promised. She gave him a smile that she hoped was reassuring. "I'll be here, but if you're gone longer than three minutes you're shit out of luck."

Gabe searched her eyes once again, seemed to finally decide that she was joking and flashed that boyish grin that sent her nether regions to giggling like a school girl. He pressed a firm kiss to the back of her hand.

"Two minutes and fifty-nine seconds."

"Fifty-nine seconds. I'm counting." He hurried to the door. "Oh, Gabe." He turned back to her. "My sword box is out there by the side of the road and I dropped one in the woods."

"I'll send someone for them."

She waited until the door closed and leapt off the bed.

### CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Devonshire was waiting for him at the bottom of the front stairs. "Send someone to retrieve her sword box. It's on the side of the road outside the outer wall and one of her swords is in the woods somewhere."

"Yes, sir." He waited for more instructions.

"You know what to do if..." He couldn't go on. It had only happened once, but the memory was haunting.

"Absolutely, sir. I have men on standby."

"Good." He breathed a sigh of relief and clapped him on the shoulder. "Did the boars find anything?"

"Nothing, sir. I'm going to leave them out tonight."

"Yes. Good idea. Am I forgetting anything?"

"Protection?" Devonshire opened his palm to reveal three condoms.

Gabe grinned and snatched them. "Perfect."

"Will that be enough, sir?"

"Don't get cheeky."

"Never, sir."

"Wish me luck."

"Good luck."

Gabe bounded back up the stairs and threw the door open. Luna was not on the bed. He slammed the door and stepped farther into the room. She wasn't here.

"Luna!"

He went to the balcony. There was no way she could have jumped and made it. No way. He would have known if she'd tried to sneak out.

"I'm right here."

Gabe spun around and drank in the sight of her. She stood in the bathroom doorway in the light blue shirt he'd worn - and removed - at the party. The damn thing hung to her knees, but it was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen.

"You figure me for a jumper?"

He crossed the room in three long strides and scooped her up in his arms. "Nope." He tossed her on the bed and she squealed, but not as loud as when he dove on top of her. He rolled her on top of him, then back underneath him and raised himself up on his elbows. "I figure you for a screamer."

"You're wrong."

"Maybe. But by tomorrow I won't be."

She laughed, loud and carefree. She wasn't thinking about whatever reason she thought she had to hate him, she was just here with him and about to get naked.

"What precautions do you have to take?"

Gabe fought a shudder. "I can get a bit rough."

"How rough?"

"I hurt someone once. Not on purpose, but now I make sure that it will never happen again."

"So...they're listening."

"Devonshire is. Everyone else is gone." There was no need to alarm her by mentioning the men outside. Time to make his most recent dreams come true. "I believe you are supposed to help me off with these damned leather pants."

"I think they're sexy. I like the way they make your butt look."

"Hm, well, it's kind of hard to make love with them on."

"From the sounds of it you don't know how to make love."

"That's probably true. Hush now, woman, and undress me." He rolled her on top again and ordered, "Off."

Luna giggled and unbuttoned him, then wiggled the pants down his hips. "You're kind of good at this," he mused.

"You figured me for a virgin too?"

"I wasn't sure."

"The answer is no. And yes, it's been a while."

"Good." She pulled the trousers free and he watched her face as she got a good, long look.

"Oh."

"Yep. Your last chance to back out."

Luna shook her head. "No."

No more words. Gabe grabbed her by the hips and settled her on top of him. She gasped and leaned a hand on his chest to steady herself. "Okay?"

She nodded.

"It gets better." He hooked her around the waist and once more he was on top. "Dizzy yet?"

She looked up at him with desire written all over her face. Maybe she didn't quite know it yet, but she was in love with him. Loving him wasn't enough, though. She had to admit it on her own terms. It had to be her decision. She could still choose not to love him.

Gabe pressed deeper into her and watched her lips part and her eyes droop. To his surprise, she wrapped her legs around his waist and took his face in her hands.

"You haven't kissed me yet."

"Why, Miss Grace," he whispered against her lips. "You're quite right."

There was nothing gentle about Gabe. When their lips met it wasn't pretty or romantic. He pressed his lips to hers like he was trying to climb inside and fuck her from the inside out. It was more like oral fucking with tongues and she returned it like a woman destitute for oxygen. She reacted to him like he breathed life into her with his very touch. Her body responded to his every move and he lost all clarity. All reason went out the window and he took her the way he wanted. He didn't know if she could handle what he did to her body, but his conscious mind did not care.

Gabe drove into her body like the beast he was and miraculously, she begged for more. She was right when she said she wasn't as fragile as he thought she was, because if she was she would have been dead. Every time she cried out, every time she gasped his name it spurred him longer, harder, faster. He took her in the bed. He took her on the floor. To his surprise, she took him on the balcony. He'd never known a woman who could ride him the way she did. He'd put a pillow down for her knees, but by the time she was done there were holes through the fabric and the stuffing was coming out.

It was about midnight when he put her in the shower.

"Aren't you going to join me?"

"I'm out of condoms, little one."

"Still with the little one, huh? Haven't I proven myself yet?" She winked and his dick jumped. She giggled.

Gabe kissed her lips gently. The bottom one was swollen where he'd bitten down too hard. She'd bled for a little bit, not the least bit grossed out when he lapped up the blood. He might hear about it in the morning though.

"I'm going to get more condoms," he told her. "We used up the ones I had."

"You don't carry your own condoms either?"

"Devonshire carries them for me."

"Does he wipe your ass too?"

"He did once. Broke both arms."

"Let me guess, doing your own stunts?"

"You're cute."

"Don't be gone long."

"I'd be afraid to be gone too long. I don't want to give you a chance to analyze the things I've done to you and run."

"I'm a girl who plays with swords. It takes a little more than rough sex to scare me off."

"No, I just have to tell you who I really am and you tuck tail and run. Have I hurt you at all?"

"A few times, but I do my own stunts too."

He grinned, more than a little concerned about the few times he'd hurt her. "I'll check on your swords while I'm gone."

"Thank you."

Gabe left through the closet. The sword box was outside the main door to his room with three more condoms on top. He grinned. Devonshire was looking out for him. He pocketed the condoms and palmed the box. He went through the bedroom door and set the box on the dresser.

Luna blinked at him surprised when he pushed the shower door open.

"That was quick."

"My staff is well trained." Gabe disrobed and stepped into the shower behind her.

Luna closed the glass door and leaned back against him. "I'm going to tell Mrs. Stone you said that, see what she thinks about it."

"Mrs. Stone does what I tell her," he joked. "No ifs, ands, or buts about it." He pulled her close so her back was flush with his stomach. The hot water sprayed her face and his chest.

"Yeah right. She'd take you over her knee if she had to."

Gabe chuckled. "I bet you'd love to see that." He splayed his hand across her abdomen, unprepared for how tiny his large hands made her look. His fingers wandered between her legs.

"Stop." Luna pushed his hand away.

Gabe froze. "You're hurt. I've hurt you." He pushed her away to arms length.

"No." She tried to get close to him, but he kept her away.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what? That you pinched me once when you rolled on top of me? Or that you caught a tangle and ripped out some of my hair in your fervor to get at my neck? I shouldn't have said anything."

"That's it?" he asked, disbelieving.

"Yeah. That's it. If it was anything worse I would have told you."

She turned her back to him once again and he pulled her close, but he was wasn't quite sure he believed her.

"May I wash your hair?"

There was a smile in her voice when she said, "Sure."

Gabe filled his hands with shampoo and lathered it into her scalp. "What is your favorite color?"

"Blue." Luna swayed a little on her feet. He spread her legs with his knee so she'd have better balance. "The color of the shirt you wore to the party."

"Hm. Is that a recent development."

"No, actually, my dad had a shirt the same color. It was my favorite."

"So, I remind you of your dad." He chuckled.

"No. The shirt reminds me of my dad." He didn't miss the tightness in her voice. Next subject.

"How many men have you been with?"

Luna laughed. "Six."

"That was quick. When was your last one?"

"Three years ago. We broke up right before I moved in with Cadence."

"What happened?"

"Elmo scared him off."

"Damn. Well, you'll be glad to know that Elmo won't scare me off."

"Does anything scare you."

"Yes," He answered, maybe a little too quickly. "A great many things scare me, but never people. Except maybe you."

"Why me?" She was starting to lean back toward him. He righted her.

"That's complicated and it might scare you. I'm not ready to risk that yet."

"Oh, kay."

"Bend over."

"Ha! Yes, sir."

"I like it when you say that."

"I bet you do."

Gabe rinsed her hair, then dried her off and carried her to bed.

"You're going to have to stop that," she told him. "I'm going to get used to it."

He flashed a smile. "That's alright. Pull the covers down."

"Oh, we're getting in it."

"Yes." She pulled the covers down and he deposited her onto the mattress. Gabe slid in next to her and she straddled him. Luna handed him a condom. "I think maybe that's enough for now."

"Why? Are you satisfied?"

"No."

"Me either. You said we wouldn't stop until-"

"I know what I said. Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

She smiled at him sweetly and he didn't think he would ever get enough of her. "Can we just try something? If it doesn't work then we'll go to sleep."

Gabe cocked an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"

Luna took the square foil from him and expertly ripped it open and slid the rubber down his length...from behind her back. She rocked back and took him inside her. It was so smooth and seamless this time that it made both of them gasp. He moved beneath her, but she stopped him with a hand on his chest.

"Don't move," she ordered.

Not accustomed to taking orders from anyone, not even his little Luna, Gabe twitched again.

"Don't. Move."

She was serious. Gabe decided to let her have her little moment. She could pay for it later.

Luna began to rock slowly back and forth. She found a rhythm and stayed there. It was a far cry from the fever pitch at which they'd been operating all night, and it was driving him mad. He was not used to this slow and steady thing, but maybe he'd been missing out all these years. And it was a lot of years to be missing out on something like this.

Maybe it was just Luna.

"You on top now," she panted.

Gabe rolled her and picked up her rhythm. He watched her face, listened to her breathing. So this was what it was like to make love. He decided he liked it.

Luna moaned beneath him.

"Okay?" His voice was soft, tight. Oh shit. She nodded. "Luna."

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry." But he didn't have to be. They reached release at the same moment. He gasped as she moaned and he collapsed beside her.

"I didn't scream," she sighed and tucked herself under his arm.

"Nope. You were right." He pulled her against his side and closed his eyes. Finally. Satisfied.

### CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Sun streamed in through the open doors to the balcony. A cool breeze had kept them comfortable all night. Luna snuggled the covers up to her chin and turned to Gabe.

He wasn't there. She tried to sit up, but every muscle in her body ached down to the bone. If sex with him was like that every time she was going to be as buff as Schwarzenegger.

There was a soft rap on the door and Luna moaned as she tried to sit up.

"It's Devonshire, Miss Grace."

"Oh." She pulled the blankets back up and tucked them around her. "Come in?" Way to be confident.

Devonshire stepped into the room but didn't come any farther. "Good morning. Are you well? I've brought you some pain killers." He set them and a glass of water on the dresser.

"You do this often?"

He only smiled. "Is there anything you require?"

"New muscles?" she laughed. Even that hurt.

"I've heard that before. Mr. Slade will return shortly."

"He left?"

Devonshire nodded by way of a bow. "He went to get you something to wear."

"Himself?" Color her impressed.

"Yes, ma'am. He wanted me to assure you he would be back soon and you would have brunch."

"I can't eat until he comes back?" she pouted. "I'm hungry."

"He wanted to take brunch together."

"Is he cooking it?"

"No, ma'am, did he say he would?"

Luna shook her head. "Are you going to make him do it if he did?"

"Did he?"

"No."

Devonshire smiled at her. It was an accepting smile. He approved of their midnight romp.

"That will be all, Devonshire."

"Yes, sir."

The butler bowed and left the room.

Gabe came to her and dropped a package on the bench at the foot of the bed. There was something lighter about him today. Did she do that to him?

"Hello, how are you feeling?" Gabe kicked his shoes off and flopped onto the bed beside her.

"Sore. Hungry. Are you going to cook me breakfast?"

"No, but I'll cook you dinner. Will you stay with me?"

"Today? I don't have anywhere else to go."

"No." He took her hand and kissed it. "Stay with me." His eyes all but popped out of his head to do a song and dance of why she should say yes. "Don't say yes."

"Okay, then no."

"Don't say no either. Think about it and let me know." He pulled the brown wrapped package onto the bed and handed it to her. "I got you some clothes. I hoped I'd be back by the time you woke up. Were you awake long?"

"No."

"Do you want the pain pills?"

"Yes." She wanted them badly, but didn't want him to know how much she was hurting. Not yet. Luna unwrapped the package as he plodded across the room on bare feet. Inside was a set of clothes enough for one day - jeans, t-shirt, underwear, and a bathing suit. She held up the triangles and asked, "Are we going swimming?"

"If you want. I thought we'd have a proper swim. Last night was a bit impromptu."

"I like impromptu."

"So do I. I also like planning."

"So you can be in control."

"You were in control last night."

She tilted her head to the side so she could look at him a little better. "Is that bad?"

He shook his head and his hair fell loose. It was the first time she hadn't seen it tied or slicked back. Luna reach up and ran her fingers through it. The golden strands were as soft as she'd hoped they'd be.

"No. I don't have sex like that." His eyes closed as she touched his hair.

"Never?"

"It doesn't work."

"It did last night."

"That was different."

Huh? "How so?"

Gabe looked up at her like he'd said something he shouldn't have. "Here." He dropped the pills in her hand. "Take these." He handed her the water and she tossed back the two pills.

"How was last night different?"

He looked at her like she was stupid. "Because I was with you."

"But what's so different about me?"

She saw the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to tell her something, but he couldn't, or wouldn't.

"It's just different with you," he said firmly and pushed himself up. "Get dressed, little one. We'll go down to eat."

He kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

"Devonshire!" she heard him shout. It was a wonder Devonshire wasn't deaf.

Moving was difficult. Luna was stiff from laying in one position too long. She needed to stretch, but Gabe wanted her dressed. She laughed. Gabe could wait. She slipped down to the floor, unsure if she'd be able to get back up, and started stretching her sore body. It felt good and she took longer than she'd intended.

Gabe bounded in and stopped when he saw her on her back on the floor. "Did you fall?"

"No. I'm stretching."

"Oh. Are you sore?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." She pushed herself up to a sitting position on the first try. Progress! Gabe gave her a hand up and she slipped into the blue jeans. "How did you know my size?"

"I'm good at those sorts of things. Don't worry about it." He handed her the bra. It was a pale blue that nearly matched his shirt. "You don't want the panties?"

"You peeked."

"I did. Sorry. I couldn't help it."

"Cheater." He grinned that heart stopping grin.

"Hurry up and put your clothes on. I'm hungry too. I waited for you."

"Why did you apologize last night?" She'd hoped the change of gears would throw him a little, maybe trick him into giving something away. He was smarter than that, of course.

"I thought... I thought I might leave you behind."

"Leave me behind? Oh! You mean finish first. You apologized for that?"

He nodded slowly. "Told you I wouldn't leave you unsatisfied. I didn't want to break a promise."

"You more than satisfied."

"Good."

Luna slipped the shirt on. It was a little difficult because it was hard to raise her arms too high. Gabe helped get it past her shoulders and they went downstairs to the kitchen. Two heaping plates of food sat on the table.

"Who is supposed to eat that?"

"What? What's wrong with it?"

"There's too much. I won't eat all that." She turned to Mrs. Stone. "You cook like this for him all the time?"

"Breakfast, lunch, and dinner," she confirmed.

"And he looks like that?"

"He has a very high metabolism."

"He has a damn tapeworm. That's disgusting." She looked over at Gabe. He'd begun shoveling the food from the plate to his mouth. "Slow down."

Gabe stopped to look at her. "What?"

"No one is going to take it from you."

He looked from her to Mrs. Stone and used his other hand to rearrange the fork. He stabbed at some eggs and put them politely in his mouth. Gabe looked at her as if to say, "Ya happy?" and went about eating.

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Luna waited for Mrs. Stone to leave, but she kept bustling about the kitchen. Finally, she just decided to ask.

"You sucked the blood off my lip."

"Yep." She could tell he'd been expecting this line of questioning.

"Do you like blood?"

"That's a weird question, Luna."

"Do you have a weird answer?"

"Yeah. Do you want to get into that right now?"

"I don't guess so." She was quiet for a moment. "Are you a vampire?"

"Yes. And I sparkle in the sunlight."

She grinned. "That's funny."

"I don't normally go licking blood off women." His voice dropped and became growly. "It was on your lip and I wanted to kiss you. What was the other option?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" He still sounded angry.

"For asking."

"Why?"

"Because you're growling at me and all I did was ask you a question."

Gabe dropped his fork and sat back in his chair. Luna tried not to look at him, but that was a lost cause. He was staring at his hands in his lap.

"I'm sorry," he finally said. His voice was so soft that she thought for a moment that he might be crying. "I don't mean to growl." No, not crying, but he was upset.

"It's okay. Just don't do it again." It was the only thing she could think to say.

Gabe pushed his chair back and reached out to her. "Come here."

Luna frowned. "I'm not going to sit on your lap."

"I want to hold you."

It was that tender declaration that got her. Her heart melted completely and she knew there was no way to keep this man out any longer. Eventually he'd know her secret.

A dish shattered behind her.

"Oh dear."

Mrs. Stone stood in the middle of the kitchen floor, a gravy boat smashed at her feet.

"Mrs. Stone! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Ignore me. Oh goodness."

But she was crying. It wasn't a tear or two. They were pouring down her cheeks as she tried to pick up the shattered china.

Gabe stood and moved to help her, but she motioned him away. "You go...hold your girl!" The tears fell harder. "I've got this."

He knelt beside her, but she pushed him away. He looked to Luna for help, but all she could do was shrug.

"Devonshire!"

The old man came running.

"Oh no." He disappeared and came back with a broom.

Gabe pulled her back to the table and into his lap.

"Is she okay?"

Gabe shrugged. "I guess. She's never done that before that I know of. I'm sorry I get growly. I can't help it really."

"It's okay. I kind of like it in the right context."

"What is the right context?"

Luna shot a look over her shoulder. "Not here."

He grinned. "Alright. Finish eating. I have something to show you."

*****

Luna squeezed into what there was of the bikini and met Gabe outside the bedroom.

"You could have stayed. I mean, I know we didn't have hot and heavy sex all night or anything, but you don't have to be shy."

"Come, little viper tongue." She was getting used to his dragging her about by the arm. She thought it was more about him wanting to be close to her than forcing her to do what he wanted.

Gabe marched her past the pool and into the villa.

"I thought we were swimming."

He didn't answer. They wound through the maze and through a door on the other side.

"Oh, a hot tub!" Her aching body practically propelled her into the steaming water. She settled in with the water up to her chin.

Gabe started taking off clothes. The twinkle in his eyes said he liked that she couldn't tear her eyes away from him.

"I keep it locked and empty during parties."

"That's very selfish of you, Mr. Slade."

He grinned and dropped his pants. He was completely naked. Gabe climbed over the edge and joined her in the water.

"Good?"

She nodded. "I see why you don't want to share."

"I always swim naked."

"Quite the exhibitionist."

Gabe nuzzled her neck and his rough cheek set her skin tingling. "I want to try that gentle thing again."

Luna laughed and it was low and seductive. "I've made you a junkie."

"It's possible." He plucked the strings on her bikini bottom and it fell away to float in the water. "Will you be alright?"

"I'm pretty sure I can manage."

He nudged against her, and then he was inside. She was sore, but there was no resistance.

"Oh my god."

Gabe put a wet finger against her lips. "You're going to have to stop saying that."

"Saying what?"

"Taking God's name in vain."

She chuckled. "Yeah, my dad would have slapped me."

"Hang on."

Luna wrapped her arms around his neck.

### CHAPTER NINETEEN

Gabe tied his damp hair back and met Devonshire in the study.

"Successful evening, sir."

Gabe ignored the snarky comment. "Did the boars find anything?"

Devonshire shook his head. "No, sir. Will you be hunting today?"

"I should think not." He stroked his desk before he turned to Devonshire and confessed, "The wolves are after Luna."

Devonshire looked at him, shocked. "What do you mean?"

"They knew she'd be on the property. I don't know if they followed her, but," she wasn't safe around him. "They're coming for her. They're going to take her from me just like they did Belle." He couldn't abide the thought of losing her. After all this time, he couldn't lose her too.

"Cethin doesn't want the curse broken."

"Well, of course he doesn't. Is he the reason we're here in the first place?"

"I'm the reason we're here," Gabe said. "I disobeyed orders. You know that."

"You saved a child."

"I saved a child who was supposed to die."

"You were tricked."

Gabe sneered. "I wasn't tricked, Devonshire." His voice was cold and cruel like his heart, frozen by anger. "I did what I wanted because I thought I knew better."

"The General must have known that it wasn't all your fault or He wouldn't have cursed Cethin with you."

Gabe shook his head as another thought blossomed. "He gave me a second chance." He was as surprised to hear the words spoken as he was to realize them. He turned to Devonshire. Hope made his heart give an extra thump. "He gave me a second chance with Luna. Why?"

"Perhaps He has faith in you after all these years."

Faith? In Gabe's wretchedness? Not likely. "Maybe The General is in a hurry to bring me back for some reason."

"He has faith you will break the curse and return to Him."

He met Devonshire's gaze. If The General still had faith in him then Gabe might be able to find the strength to have faith in himself and in Luna too. She'd given in to her lust, but not her love for him. Lust was easy. There was really nothing to it. Love was the hard choice to make.

"What are you going to do?"

Gabe took a deep breath and sighed. His body sagged with exhaustion. When was the last time he'd felt this tired? His immortal body didn't wear out. He could keep going as long as he had to. That was the reason it took so much to satisfy him.

Not with Luna, though.

"I can't let the wolves get her this time. I'm going hunting."

"Have you forgotten, sir?"

"Forgotten what?" Gabe sighed. After so many years of life, there was probably much he'd forgotten.

"Your mortality."

Gabe blinked. He had forgotten. Now that his heart was thawing he was a whole man. He could die. All the times he'd hoped for death over the centuries, now he had the chance and it scared him shitless.

The air moved in the room where it shouldn't have and he scented the air. Shit!

*****

Luna covered her mouth with a hand to keep from gasping out loud. What she plainly heard from Gabe and Devonshire sounded like a bad fantasy novel. Maybe they were LARPers or something? Somehow, that didn't fit the Gabriel Slade profile. She turned to go back to the room and pulled up short.

Gabe stood behind her with his massive arms crossed over his beautiful chest. If his eyes hadn't been afire with his beastly temper she would have swooned. How did he get there so fast?

"How long have you been here?" he growled.

"I-"

"What did you hear?" His voice rose and dropped at the same time. Something came over him that scared the shit out of her. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the study.

"Gabe, you're hurting me."

He tossed her on the floor. She fell in a heap and burned her forearm on the carpet.

"Gabriel!" She'd never heard Devonshire use Gabe's first name before, but she didn't think it was a good thing.

"What did you hear?"

Gabe shouted and Luna cowered away.

"You're out of your mind," she said. "Both of you."

"Luna, this is very important!" He turned his back to her. Was he really that angry?

"Yeah, because if I know about your curse I have to die, right?"

He whirled around and frowned at her so viciously she though he was about to take a bite out of her.

"Why would I kill you? I... Ugh!" He whirled back around so he wouldn't have to look at her.

"You what?" Luna stood to her feet and inspected her injured arm. Small pinpricks of blood colored it, but it was nothing to worry about. "Why won't you look at me? Do I disgust you that much?"

"Disgust me?" Gabe came toward her so quickly on his graceful feet that she stumbled back, afraid he would bowl her over. He hooked an arm around her waist and mashed his lips against hers. She didn't think he'd forgotten about the bite he'd given her. He ground his groin against her. He was so aroused it was kind of twisted.

"Does that feel like I'm disgusted by you?"

"No." He let her go so suddenly that she stumbled. "Why are you cursed?"

"Because I wouldn't take orders."

She scoffed. "Go figure."

"Your viper tongue is not going to help this situation."

"No. It doesn't help any situations. What kind of orders wouldn't you take?"

"The General's."

His cryptic replies infuriated her more and she snapped, "And who is The General?"

Gabe speared her with a look that could kill and said, "God," so sincerely that she believed him.

"God. But that would mean..." He nodded once and dawning overwhelmed her. "Gabriel. Do you understand what you're telling me?"

"Better than you do, Luna."

"You were..." Her knees gave out and she fell to the floor.

Gabe was there in a quick second. He pulled her into his arms, but she pushed him away. He grabbed her burned arm and she whimpered. "Are you hurt?" He turned her arm so he could see. "I did this."

"The angel Gabriel." The words slipped out on a whisper. The muscles in his jaw worked furiously.

"Yes."

"You have to get away from me." She scrambled away. "I'm Catholic."

"Some Catholic," he mumbled.

Luna bumped into Devonshire's legs and looked up. "And who are you supposed to be?"

"Devonshire, ma'am."

"Yeah, I bet. What do I have to do with this?" she asked. "How am I supposed to break your curse and who is Belle?"

Gabe and Devonshire exchanged a look. She'd heard way more than she was supposed to and they didn't know what to do about it. Luna stood and defiantly crossed her arms over her chest. Gabe just stared.

"Belle was another woman I..." he struggled with the words, "I loved once."

"Once? How long ago was that?"

"A long time, Luna."

The way he said her name was almost pleading with her to understand. "What happened to her?"

"Wolves ripped her apart." He paused to see her reaction, but she refused to react even though it hurt and terrified her to know. No wonder he was so cold.

"And now they want to kill me so you can't break your curse." The gravity of the situation was suddenly, glaringly clear.

"I can't break my curse. It's not in my power to. Thousands of years I've walked the earth and I've not been able to break my curse." He reached out to touch her face, but dropped his arm down to his side without touching her. "Luna, I can't let them take you from me. I can't lose you. Not again. The one who would see me perish-"

"Perish?"

"The one who doesn't want the curse broken is not kind."

"Neither are you."

He laughed. "No, I never told you that I was."

That was true, sadly.

"Belle was killed because of me," he said as if she needed convincing. "She was killed because she could break my curse and because... Because I loved her."

He loved her. They'd spent one night together and he loved her? Was that even possible? Maybe when you'd live thousands of years you had a better concept of what love was.

"Can I go?" she asked.

"Go where?" the panic in Gabe's eyes was too much for her.

"Leave. I don't want to be here anymore. I don't want to stay."

"No." That beastly fury was back with a vengeance. "No, you cannot go."

"Gabriel," Devonshire said behind her.

"Shut up, Devonshire! She can't go!"

Luna fought a fury of her own that threatened to explode from her chest. "You can't keep me here."

"Watch me," he growled.

Luna didn't have a chance to get away. Gabe stalked across the room, scooped her up, and carried her out of the study parallel to the floor.

"Put me down!" She screamed all the way up the stairs. He passed his bedroom and tossed her in a room she hadn't seen yet.

"You'll stay here," he growled.

"No, I won't!"

"You'll do as I say."

"How am I supposed to break your curse if you don't even want it?" she screamed in his face. She tried to push past him, but he caught her and threw her on the bed.

"It's simple. Be selfish. Make decisions for yourself with no regard for me, just like Belle did."

"But I don't love you, Gabriel Slade!"

The fury that so changed him melted away. He winced and clutched at his chest like he was having a heart attack. Luna watched him struggle to breathe as the words she'd so carelessly slung at him broke his heart, but she wouldn't let the devastated look in his eyes move her. She wouldn't let the obvious sink in - that she'd broken him, just like she'd broken Elmo and Cadence because she didn't really care about anyone but herself. She couldn't allow herself to believe such things.

Gabe grabbed her by the arm and yanked her across the bed to press her hand against his chest.

"Do you feel that?" he asked, his voice a whisper.

"I don't feel a damn thing," she growled, wishing she sounded just as lethal as he could. But then, something thumped hard against her hand. Her eyes widened with shock.

"You make my heart beat, Luna."

Gabe staggered from the room and slammed the door, but panic didn't set in until Luna heard the lock catch. She slid off the bed and went to the door. She tried the knob but it wouldn't turn.

"Open the door!" she screamed. "Let me out!" She slammed her fists against it, but the damn thing wouldn't budge. Luna fell to the floor as her desperation fell on angry, heartbroken ears. She'd chanced knowing this man and got herself into the worst trouble of her life.

She hated Gabriel Slade.

She hated that those words weren't true.

*****

Everything that seemed to be falling into place had fallen apart. Yet, his heart continued to thaw and ice continued to run through his veins.

"No one opens this door without my permission," he told Devonshire and Mrs. Stone. The woman's face was gaunt and tragic, her eyes a mix of anger and sadness. "Am I understood?"

"Don't you think you're being a little unreasonable?" she asked.

"No!" he roared. The beast laughed in his head, taunting. It was so easy to make him overreact. The beast didn't seem to want the curse broken either. It rolled beneath his skin. Gabe fought with everything he had to keep it under control, but it never quite worked like that. "She stays in the room unless I let her out!"

Mrs. Stone nodded. Devonshire bowed. Gabe pushed past them and jumped over the balcony to the front room. He landed on his feet and shot out the front door.

The west wing was on the other side of the property and the only safe place he had. He wasn't ready for Luna to see the beast. She really would deny him then.

Gabe slammed through the doors of the tower and stumbled as his chest clenched. This pain had nothing to do with his heart thawing or the ice in his veins. Luna's admission that she didn't love him cut deeper than it should have. She truly was the one to break his curse and he'd ruined it all with his temper. His temper ruined everything good.

Gabe fell to his knees and howled with pain both physical and emotional. The beast devoured it and rolled furiously just beneath the skin. His arm hairs prickled as it tried to force its way through, but he fought it like he'd never fought before. He had to hold on; for himself, for Luna, and for The General, because if He had enough faith in His fallen Gabriel to send another one to break this fucking curse then Gabe had to trust that He could work even this screw-up out.

"I'm sorry." It was the first time he'd admitted his guilt since he was thrown out of heaven. It both killed and healed him. "I'm sorry." The ache in his chest grew until it suffocated him.

"I'm sorry!" he roared. Maybe this was all just a fluke. The General hadn't sent Luna after all. There was no hope for him. It was just a cruel and clever trick to get him out of the way.

"What are you doing?"

A brilliant white light flashed before him and a man in armor appeared in the midst of it. Gabe hung his head at the hallucination. He'd been visited once right after he was cast out, but never since then. Many hallucinations later he knew what they looked like.

"I spoke to you Gabriel of the Host of Heaven. Get off your knees and acknowledge me."

Gabe dragged himself to his feet, but he couldn't lift his heavy head nor his heart.

"Ugh, Gabriel, you pathetic thing. Catch."

His hallucinations never spoke to him this way. They always challenged his authority, never criticized him.

The ring of steel caught his ear and he looked up to see a sword flying towards him. He caught it in time block the second blade that swung to slice off his head.

"Michael?" he asked, his confusion clear.

"Hello, brother."

Michael spun away from him and brought the blade back down. Gabe blocked it once again and grinned.

"You were never better than me."

"Just as good, more like.

"Hardly. Why are you here in this form?" They brought their weapons down at the same time.

"The General felt this was the encouragement you needed. The affirmation that the Luna woman loves you. Your job is to get her to admit it."

"She can't be forced, Michael. You know that as well as I do."

"So don't force her. Woo her. I've been told to tell you to stop scaring her or you'll run out of time."

"I am a beast." Gabe shook his head. "Without feeling or tenderness, how am I supposed to woo a woman who already hates me?"

"Maybe she doesn't need tenderness. And you're not without feeling. Your heart almost broke moments ago when she lied to you about her feelings."

"Is that why you came?"

"He sent me."

"He did?"

"You are mortal now. You must be careful." Michael wandered away from him to look around at the memories he'd collected over the years. He stopped when he came to a picture of Belle. The image was one Gabriel had drawn from memory. He'd not wanted her vision to fade from his mind, but over the years he'd stopped coming here. This was the first time back in probably three.

"This woman was taken from you unfairly. He made sure Luna would have the strength to fight beside you if she chose."

"I can do nothing about her choice."

"You can." Michael turned to face him. "You can stop forcing her and start loving her. Love her as the man you are, not as the man you think you are nor as the angel you once were. Have you learned nothing in the time you've lived in this world? You are one of His creations. You love as He loves. So love her."

"And the beast? What do I do with it, because it is as much a part of me as the man is."

"Show yourself to her. Do whatever you want but your time is running out!"

"Don't you think I know that?" Gabe roared.

"Calm down, brother. I'm here to help you and I do not fear your beast."

"This is who I am!" Gabe let the full force of the animal within loose on his closest friend.

"Yes, I know." Michael tilted his head to the side as if listening to something far off in the distance.

"We will help you. Oh, Gabriel." Compassion made his face shine with bright white light. "He has so much faith in you, if only you could see what He does. Woo your woman. She's a feisty one."

"You have no idea."

"Oh, I have some. I will see you soon, but right now I must go."

"Wait." He knew it was a long shot, but he had to ask. "What is happening that He needs me so?"

Michael smiled. "When you find out you'll sound the war cry yourself."

He was gone in a flourish of light leaving Gabe in the growing darkness.

"Sir?"

"I'm fine, Devonshire. I'm not ready for her to see my beast yet, but I need her to accept what she knows."

"Yes, sir."

"Has she stopped crying?"

Devonshire didn't answer right away. "No."

Gabe shook his head. This was his doing. Now he had to undo it. "I'll be to the house soon."

"Yes, sir."

Gabe touched the edge of Belle's portrait and a plan began to form. He could do this. If everyone had faith in him but him, then there was only one answer. He needed to change.

### CHAPTER TWENTY

"What do you mean she's not coming?" Gabe thundered. Not again. Please, God not again!

He caught himself in the half-hearted prayer, then realized it wasn't as half-hearted as he thought. He hadn't prayed in so long, but things were changing now. Everything was changing.

"Luna!" Gabe bounded up the stairs but got impatient halfway up. He swung himself over the banister and onto the balcony. He slipped the key into her bedroom door and pushed inside. She was huddled on the bed in a ball. "Aren't you coming to dinner? I cooked." He held his voice steady.

"I'm not hungry."

"You haven't eaten since breakfast and you didn't eat anything then hardly."

"I said I'm not hungry."

Gabe clenched his fists at his sides to keep from shouting thoughts he didn't need to give voice to. "Luna, will you please come to dinner?" He sighed. "I'm sorry about earlier. Let me fix it."

"No!"

"Fine!" He exploded as the beast pushed to the surface, fed by his anger. He slammed the door and made sure to lock it. Devonshire was shaking his head, but he ignored him. Gabe stormed down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Is she coming?" Mrs. Stone asked.

"No. Let her starve." Of course, it was his beast talking and not Gabe, but the words were out. There was no taking them back.

"Gabriel!" she gasped. "You don't mean that."

"No, I don't, Mrs. Stone." He pierced her with a stare that she didn't deserve. "What would you have me do?"

"Let me take her something eat. You leave her alone for a while. She needs some space."

Gabe grit his teeth. "Fine. You take care of her, because she doesn't appreciate anything I do for her."

"I wouldn't either if you had me locked in a room."

Mrs. Stone turned away from him to fix a tray for Luna.

"I love her." It was strange to put those three words together in that order. They felt weird coming out of his mouth, but no less true.

Mrs. Stone looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I know. So let us help you so you don't screw up."

He huffed at her. "Help me, why?"

"Because we love you, Gabriel. We want this curse broken to. If not for you then for our own peace and quiet."

Gabe laughed bitterly and scrubbed a hand over his face and through his hair. "Tell me what I need to do. You can't screw it up any more than I will." He shook his head.

"That's my boy." Mrs. Stone smiled at him and lifted the tray. "It'll work out. I know it will. It has to. You've worked too hard to lose this time."

Gabe shook his head, but let the woman have her delusions. He took his phone from his pocket.

"Show me Luna."

The screen flared and showed her still huddled on the bed. The room was dark. It had no windows, only the one door and a bathroom. Mrs. Stone entered with the tray.

"What do you want now?" Luna shouted. She sat up and stopped. "Oh, Mrs. Stone. I'm sorry."

"Quite alright, dear. I've brought you some dinner in case you get hungry."

"I'll be okay. Maybe if I starve he'll let me go."

Mrs. Stone sat on the edge of the bed. "Oh, honey. Gabriel is a good man, he just doesn't know it."

"What good is being a good man if you can't be what you need to be when it counts?"

"He's worried about you. He wants to keep you safe."

"So he locks me away in his house? This is kidnapping. Please let me go. He doesn't ever have to know you helped me."

"Oh, he'd know sweetheart. And truth be told, you're safer here with him than out there."

"Do you know what happened to Belle?"

"Only what he's told me. It was before my time."

"Is it true about the curse?"

"I'm afraid so. He is who he says he is, so you know he has a good heart, though it needs a good thaw."

Gabe's heart rate spiked before he realized the comment really sounded like a metaphor.

"He needs a freaking transplant."

"Give him a chance, dear. You won't regret it."

"I already do. I hate him. I wish he was dead. Or I was."

Gabe crushed his phone to the table, cutting off the image and turning it to a pile of useless electronic pieces.

"I'll activate a new one for you, sir."

"Thank you, Devonshire. I'm going for a run."

"Shall I release the game?"

"No. I mean a real run. On the beach. As a man."

"Of course, sir. My confusion."

Gabe avoided Luna's room when he went upstairs to change, but he could still hear Mrs. Stone in there talking to her. He wished he could still see what they were saying.

"That's a horrible thing to want!"

Luna stared at her hands. Mrs. Stone was right, but she wasn't ready to admit it out loud.

"Gabriel cares for you very much."

"Yeah. That's obvious by the way he's squirreled me away from civilization."

"You'll see in time that he only does it because he cares about you. You never know. You might change him."

"I'm not worried about changing anyone. I just want to go home."

Thinking about home and Cadence reminded her that she no longer had a home. Cadence probably had the eviction papers by now. She would never see her friends again. They hated her anyway. Maybe she deserved to be locked away here.

"Mrs. Stone, I just want to go to sleep."

"Certainly, dear."

Mrs. Stone left and Luna curled up in a ball to cry herself to sleep.

*****

With it so dark, Luna had no idea what time it was when she woke up, but she had the strangest feeling she was being watched. Since there were no windows someone had to be in the room with her.

"Gabe?" she called out, her voice more on the trembling side than she'd have liked.

"Yes." His voice was gravelly and deep. He was right at the foot of the bed. Luna pulled her legs up and imagined him standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.

"It's not enough to lock me up in your house, you have to watch me sleep too?"

"I don't have to, but I like to."

That was far too romantic for the way she was feeling. "Don't think you're going to get me naked."

"Alright."

"You can see me in the dark? Is that some kind of fallen angel super power?"

"Something like that."

"Can't I just be alone?" It pissed her off that she didn't really want him to leave.

"If you like, but I don't want to be alone."

"Go order Devonshire around some. That ought to make you happy."

"I don't make him do anything he doesn't want to do. Devonshire is a good friend of mine. Has been for a very long time."

"That's great for you."

"I'm sorry, Luna. You have no idea how much."

"I don't care." Please, won't you just go away, she wanted to shout because the longer he stood there in the dark the more she wanted to see his face. And the softer his voice became the more she wanted to stroke the muscles that played across his jaw. Tears fell, unwelcome and she batted them away, glad for the darkness.

"I know." He paused. "Are you crying?"

"No," but her voice wavered and gave her away.

"Oh, Luna. I don't want you to cry." His hands were stroking her hair before she knew what was happening and for a moment she let him.

"Stop. Don't touch me."

"Why? Because you want me to?"

"No. I don't want you to touch me. Don't you get it? I don't want anything to do with you."

"I don't believe you, Luna. You can say all the hurtful things you want, but I'll never believe you. Do you want to know why?"

"Does it matter what I want?"

"Because you felt everything I felt last night and this morning. I gave you every chance to leave and you said no. You want me just as I want you."

"No."

"Yes you do."

"If you love me so much then let me leave. I can't be here with you and your curse."

"I'm a man, Luna. _That_ is my curse. To live alongside humanity away from Him. That's what He cursed me with. Being near me isn't going to ruin your chances at eternity if that's what you're worried about. You won't be struck from heaven by the hand of God. He put you here for a reason. He put you here for me, so I would know that there is a chance for me and my cursed body. He put you here to give me a chance."

She wished she could see his face now. She wanted to see the emotions in his eyes. "Why? How am I supposed to give you a chance? With my pretty face or my selfishness?"

"Ultimately, your selfishness will be my salvation."

"You're out of your mind, Gabriel Slade."

"Why do you hate me, Luna? Besides what happened today. You hated me before. That's why you ran when you found out who I was. Why?"

"You represent everything that I hate about the film industry," she lied. "You're selfish, arrogant, flashy. Stupid."

He scoffed. "You're lying. But I am those things, except for stupid. I am also mean, cruel, vicious, but you accepted those things about me. You will eventually forgive me for this morning and you'll accept my curse. What did I do to you that you cannot forgive?"

Luna shook her head. "Nothing. You didn't do anything to me."

"Oh, Luna. I know when you're lying. Another super power."

"If you know all of these things, why can't you see that I just want you to leave!"

"Because you don't."

"Fine." She gave up. "I don't want you to leave. I don't want you to go. I don't want to be angry." She let the truth rush from her. "I want you here in this bed with me right now."

He was on top of her a moment later. His lips found hers like he truly could see in the darkness. There was urgency in the kiss and in the way he stripped her clothes from her body. The way he touched her in all the right places made her moan, but it was so different from the night before. In her arousal, Luna forgot all about the soreness from the night before and gave herself up - body, mind, and soul.

Sometime later she fell asleep. In her subconscious she was aware of the whispered words, "I love you, Luna." She fell into a dream state with those words etched in her mind.

*****

Gabe didn't sleep. He listened to Luna's breathing, her snores, and the small sounds she made in her sleep. Before the sun came up he sneaked out of the room so he wouldn't wake her. As much good as last night did him, he did not want to be on the receiving end of whatever she cooked up to blame on him when she woke up.

He slipped outside and cut a long-stemmed red rose from one of the bushes and returned to the bedroom to leave it on the dresser. Hopefully, he was no longer on her hit list.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Luna woke to dim light and Gabe's eyes watching her once again.

"Good morning, Gabriel."

"Gabriel? What have I done now?"

She stretched and pulled the sheet around her naked body. "I don't know. I just wanted to call you by your full name."

"That's fine then. I just came up to check on you and see if you were awake."

"I am."

"Would you like to come down for breakfast?"

"Oh, I'm allowed out of my cage?"

"As long as you won't try to run."

Luna flopped back against the pillows. "I'm not going to run, Gabe. Where would I go? I've lost the only friends I had."

"You haven't lost anyone."

"I threatened Cadence with the edge of my sword."

"Yes, I was there, Luna. I saw. But she'll forgive you and so will Elmo. I'm not sure what happened there, but you can fix it."

"He left me because I chose you over him." Gabe gave a terse nod that was supposed to be firm, but fell surprisingly short. "Don't act like you're not happy."

"I don't want you to have to give up your life because of me."

"No? Then let me leave."

Gabe shook his head and for the first time, she thought maybe he didn't want to have her locked up here.

"I can't. It's not safe."

"Why are you so worried about my safety? Is it because if I die you're doomed to roam the world whatever whatever blah blah blah?"

"It's because I love you, you impossible woman!"

In the candlelight, shadows fell on his face in ways that made him look so old and she could see what time on the earth had done to him. She found she was accepting his story with remarkable ease, but there was more to it. There had to be. She could see it in his eyes.

"If you'll give me a moment to get dressed I'll meet you downstairs."

Gabe nodded. "You won't run."

"I won't run."

He took a step toward her. The tension it took for him to stop from crossing all the way to her shuddered through his body. "Please, Luna. Please don't run."

She shook her head and he left.

Luna slipped into her clothes and was escorted to the kitchen by none other than Devonshire. He deposited her into the kitchen where Gabe waited and left.

Gabe was reading the paper. How normal was that? She poured herself some orange juice and snagged a biscuit.

"So," she tried some casual table talk, "you're an angel."

"Fallen, but yes."

"You're a little older than 38."

"Yeah. A little bit. I can change my appearance to accommodate some age loss or gain as I need to."

"Another handy super power. I'm guessing that's why you were convinced you would hurt me when I challenged you."

"I'm willing to reconsider if you're interested." He skimmed his paper so nonchalant like he offered to fight women every day.

"Interested? I believe it would make my day."

"Finish eating and I will have it arranged."

Luna ate like she hadn't eaten in two days. Gabe took her back up to her room and brought her workout clothes so she could change. And then she waited. And waited.

Gabe came back about the time she'd given up on him.

"Sorry. Come." She stood. "I have a guest. An old friend of mine."

"Who?"

He didn't answer, but ushered her down the stairs. Michael stood in the front room.

"Michael? Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Is he one too?"

"Oh, I'm not fallen." He winked at her. "I want to watch you kick his ass. I might even join in. A little two on one action and we'll have him on his back in no time."

"Oh, I don't have any trouble getting him on his back."

Michael tossed his head back and laughed. Luna glanced up at Gabe who was trying hard not to smile. "She's certainly the woman for you, Gabriel. Let's begin shall we? I love a good fight."

Gabe took them down to the garage through the door he'd brought her into the house from during the party.

"Where are all of the cars?" She stood in the middle of an empty concrete room.

"I moved them. That's why it took so long."

"We need this much space?"

"No, but it's here if we so choose. Stop being so critical. Be mad at me, but don't be-"

"Gabriel."

Luna wanted to get defensive, but she was being bitchy. Of course, he had her locked in a room, so she had a right to be.

"I'll make you a deal."

Gabe's eyes smoldered with curiosity and amusement. "What's that, little one?"

Oh. She was little one again. Why did that make her so happy? Michael must have sensed her joy because he grinned seemingly in reaction to it.

"You unlock the door and I'll stop being a bitch. And give me a room with a window or something."

"You'll stay?"

"I'll stay. Promise. Cross my heart and all that."

"Well, then I'd like for you to stay with me in my room."

"Do I need to step away?" Michael asked.

"No," she said. "I'll stay with you. Not like I can really stay away from you with you stalking me and coming in my room while I sleep."

"Luna, I-"

"I know." She held up a hand to stop him. "You were just watching me sleep. I believe you."

"Why?"

"I would have done the same thing. There's nothing more beautiful than a man at sleep. You sleep with your eyes open, by the way."

"Do I?" His eyes danced with humor. Oh how she just wanted to go to him, wrap her arms around him and fall asleep on his chest.

"Why does your heart beat like that?" she blurted.

The muscles in his jaw started to work in that way that was now so familiar. "After Belle was killed it froze over. I gave up and became angry with God. I felt He had lied and betrayed me so He let my heart turn to ice. Now I know it was to suspend my life until He brought you to me. It stopped beating. Until I met you."

"No wonder you're so cold and mean all the time. You can't help it." She grinned at him. "Where are my swords." She was itching to have them in her hands again.

Gabe retrieved her box from a closet. She unlocked it with her key and removed both katanas.

"Those look ancient," Gabe said.

"They are. My father refurbished them for me and etched them with my symbol." She ran her finger over a swan with a moon set between her wings that matched the tattoo between her shoulder blades.

"They're lovely. Can you swing them as well as they deserve?"

Luna grinned. "Are you an angel?" She stepped back with her right foot and drew her right arm back so the flat part of the blade almost touched her ear. Her left she extended and pointed at Gabriel. "Where are yours? Can't have a sword fight without-"

Gabe produced two broadswords out of thin air. They sang through the air, crisscrossed in front of him, and he balanced himself. "It's been a long time, ladies," he said to the swords.

Luna grinned. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she attacked. Every rule her father had taught her went out the window for a split second. She attacked Gabriel out of rage and lust and excitement. She let her emotions drive her instead of her brain.

The sound of steel on steel rang through the air and she looked up into Gabriel's eyes. He was just as excited as she was.

"You're stronger than you look, little one."

"You're weaker than you look." Michael laughed from the sidelines and clapped his hands together. "He's enjoying this."

"He wants to see me get my ass kicked by a girl."

"He's just jelly."

Luna spun away and swung with her right. Gabe blocked her and trapped her blade.

"He's what?"

She twisted from his grip and swung with both swords, leading with her left. "Jelly. Cadie's stupid abbreviation for jealous." She swung both blades once, twice, three times. Gabe blocked each time.

"And what is he jealous of?"

"He's never been able to kick your ass."

Michael stepped up and said, "Alright. Impress me, the two of you."

Luna and Gabe shared a look. She knew what he was thinking.

"He's cocky."

"Always has been. That's why he's not better than me."

Michael revealed two scimitars the same way Gabe had revealed his.

"Nice," Luna said.

"I know. They've served me well."

It was Luna and Gabe against Michael. He fended them off with a sword each. Two swords to four. They wouldn't have been fair odds if she wasn't playing with two angels who'd been doing this kind of thing for thousands of years. Well, maybe Gabe hadn't been, but surely he practiced.

Luna lost one of her katanas when Michael flung it into the air and it landed somewhere behind her. Michael had her at the end of his sword.

"What do you do now?"

"Michael."

"I'm fine, Gabe," she said. "I'm good."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah. Watch."

She ducked beneath his blade and brought his elbow down on her shoulder. Michael cried out and dropped the blade, but she caught it, spun, and crisscrossed her katana and his scimitar at his throat.

"Oh, she's good," Michael said.

"I believe," she grinned, "you just got _your_ ass kicked by a girl. And a mortal one at that."

"I believe you're correct." Michael put his hands up on surrender. "I concede."

"Yeah, you bet your ass you do." She stepped back and dropped the blades away from his throat. "I just about had your head."

"Your father taught you well," Gabe said.

Her blood ran cold. "Yeah."

"You tense up when I mention your father. Why is that, Luna?"

She shook her head. Despite his dumbassery and locking her in a room, she was glad they were at least getting along. She was looking forward to sleeping next to him tonight, in his bed with the balcony wide open so a breeze could blow in. She wanted to be tucked up under his arm when she woke in the morning, the sound of his heart beating in her ear. If they weren't here now, that could all be a distant dream because she'd run, just like she'd run that night at the party. Luna retrieved her katana, keeping her back to him.

Gabe grabbed her arm and made her look at him. "Tell me," he ordered.

"Why not" won out. Why not just tell him? Get it over with so he could know her secret and they could go their separate ways. He could find someone else to break his curse, someone better than she.

"Luna. Talk to me, little one. What's wrong?"

"You're the reason my father is dead, Gabriel."

He pulled away from her like she'd hit him in the face. Luna turned and ran back up the stairs. At least now he knew the truth.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Gabe started to go after her, but Michael jumped in his path.

"Let her go. Give her some space."

Gabe shook his head. "She'll run."

"She's not going to run. Is she still in the house?" Gabe listened and scented the air. "She's upstairs with Mrs. Stone. Not in my bedroom."

"Where is she?" Michael's eyes held wonder at his abilities.

"Running water. In one of the spare bedrooms."

"So she's taking a bath. Leave her be. She's still here."

Gabe relaxed, though not completely. "What do you think she meant by that?"

"Did you ever meet her father?"

"I did. She was about ten then. He offered me a ride, but he was alive when he dropped me off. Unless..." Could they have known back then?

"Unless what?"

"You don't think the wolves got him. I told her what had happened to Belle."

"You think the wolves attacked her father fourteen years ago? Why? What would her father have to do with it?"

"I don't know. He raised her. He taught her. Maybe they thought taking him out of her life would weaken her.

Michael shrugged. "Go talk to her."

"You said to give her a moment."

"Yeah, so you could both calm down. You've calmed down, she's in a bath. It's hard to argue naked."

Gabe rolled his eyes. "You don't make sense."

"I just do what I'm told."

"He's guiding you?"

"I told you He wants you to succeed. Go to your woman. Fix things. Make love to her if she'll have you."

"He's suggesting this?" Somehow, Gabe didn't think so.

"No. This is all me."

Gabe chuckled. "Mrs. Stone should have something to eat in the kitchen."

"Sounds good. I hope, sincerely, that you have a wonderful evening."

Gabe jogged up the stairs. He found Luna stretched from corner to corner in the bathtub. Steam rose from the water.

"How did you know I was in here?"

He tapped the side of his nose. Tired of lying to her, he could use the truth as a joke. "I smelled you." He flashed the smile that always made her heart spike.

"You smelled me. Another super power?"

"Yeah. You smell good by the way."

"Thanks."

He sat on the closed toilet and folded his hands in his lap. "Talk to me, Luna. What happened?"

She closed her eyes and sank deeper into the water. "Dad was late. He called me from a pay phone after he dropped you off and told me all about it, but he had to go to the other side of town. He said he'd be home in twenty minutes and when dad said twenty minutes that was exactly what he meant."

Gabe watched her face carefully as she spoke. It hurt her to recall the past and dread grew in the pit of his stomach.

"I waited an hour before I started to panic. I stayed with Elmo and his mom in the afternoons after school until dad got home. We turned on the TV and there he was. A semi had-"

"Pushed him over the edge of the overpass," Gabe finished for her.

Luna gasped and sat up in the bathtub. "You knew?"

"Not until just now. Luna, I'm so sorry. You've blamed me all this time."

"I was ten. I needed someone to blame. I know it wasn't really your fault. While I was floating in here I kind of came to my senses. Downstairs I felt more stupid than angry."

"Who did you stay with after your father died?" He had a feeling he knew what this answer would be too.

"Elmo and his mom. He's not just 'Elmo in the friend zone'. He's like the brother I never had and, in some ways, the father I lost. I never got caught for stealing. I was pretty good at it by the time dad was gone. As soon as I was fifteen they took me to find a job."

"He's always been your protector. He should be." As much as Gabe hated to admit it, Elmo had every right to that position.

Luna started crying. Gabe knelt by the tub and took her in his arms.

"I lost them both, Gabe," she sobbed. "I don't have anyone else."

"Luna, you haven't lost anyone. We can go to the house and talk to Cadence tomorrow."

"I'll need to get some stuff if I'm going to stay."

He pulled away so he could see her eyes. "Are you really going to stay with me?"

Luna nodded. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I want to."

He didn't know what to say. He lifted her from the tub, heedless of the water and carried her down the hall to his room.

"Gabe!"

"No one is looking, little one." Gabe deposited her on the bed and said. "I'll be right back."

Luna giggled. "Maybe you should start keeping condoms in your nightstand like a normal guy."

"I'll do that."

Gabe took the front stairs and circled around the kitchen. He held out a hand to Devonshire who dropped three condoms in his hand. "Three more please."

"Do you mean to tell me you don't even carry your own condoms?" Michael asked. "What do you need six for?"

"Three for now, three for later."

Gabe marched back to the stairs.

The doorbell rang. Shit. "Devonshire!"

"On it, sir." The man was right behind him.

Gabe made it halfway up the stairs.

"Hello, cursed one."

Bloody hell! The raspy voice was older and more deteriorated than the last time he'd heard it, but there was no mistaking who stood at his door.

Gabe turned. The man spent too much time as a wolf. His face was covered in little tufts of hair, his body bent at an angle he would never recover from. The nails on his hands were yellow and cracked. When he smiled, sharp, jagged teeth sent chills up Gabe's spine.

"Why are you here?"

"You know why I am here."

When Gabe's blood turned to ice in his veins this time it had nothing to do with his frozen heart. He turned and shouted, "Luna!"

*****

Gabe's shout brought Luna off the bed and she clamored to find some clothes to put on. The jeans and t-shirt he'd bought her the day before were still on the bench at the foot of the bed. She threw them on as fast as she could.

Gabe burst through the door, panic and despair on his face. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm so sorry. I thought I was keeping you safe but he knew right where to find you. Luna, I'm so sorry."

"Who? Who found me? What's going on?"

Gabe tensed at the same moment Luna noticed the hunched man in the doorway. He was hideous. Evil seeped from his pores and she knew in that moment that Gabe was not the bad man here. This man was here for her.

"Luna, no matter what happens here, you run. Do you understand? Just run. I _will_ make sure you stay safe."

Luna nodded. The man stepped out of the shadows and his eyes shone like an animals.

"Luna, run!" Gabe shoved her toward the bathroom so hard that she almost lost her balance. She stumbled and caught herself. Luna ran through the bathroom and closet and out the back door. The man was there for a moment, and then he was gone. Gabe snatched him right off the ground and tossed him over the balcony.

"Gabe!"

He planted his hands on the gold railing and vaulted over so gracefully. Luna screamed and ran to the banister to look over in time to see Gabe land on his feet and stalk to the freakishly hairy man on the floor.

The man jumped up, but Devonshire was there to take hold of him. Before Gabe could get to him, three wolves stalked through the door. One of them leapt at Gabe and took him to the ground.

Two looked up and saw her. They bared their teeth and growled stalking towards the stairs. They were here for her. Luna had a second to make a decision. She would not end up like Belle and she would not leave Gabe alone.

Luna jumped into action. Mrs. Stone had placed her unsheathed swords on the dresser in Gabe's room. She ran back into the room to retrieve them. The weight of them in her hands was more than welcome. The wolves howled and the pain-filled screams of men and a woman ran through the air. She was too late. Luna ran back to the balcony and froze.

Below her, Mrs. Stone and Devonshire's body twisted at unnatural angles. The snap and crack of bones breaking as they howled in pain made her ears hurt and tears sprang to her eyes.

Gabe looked up at her, terror in his eyes as the windows exploded. Glass flew everywhere. It struck Gabe in the face, but he didn't flinch nor did he look away from her. His blue eyes resigned themselves to something she didn't understand and he shouted a war cry as six more wolves came through the broken windows.

Michael appeared, his scimitars flying. Growling to her right reminded Luna that two wolves were missing. She turned slowly so she could see the wolf stalking toward her. Where was the second one?

Luna glanced back long enough to confirm that it was coming up the stairs behind her. She was boxed in. Luna closed her eyes and balanced her weight. If she had to die, she would go down swinging.

The wolf advancing at her front leapt. Luna sliced her swords through the air. They cut through flesh and muscle and the animal howled in pain as it missed its mark and fell over the balcony. The second wolf howled behind her and she turned with her sword out in time to slice the wolf's head off. The head rolled spreading blood across the floor, but there wasn't as much as there should have been. The wolf's body, not quite caught on to the fact that it was dead, teetered, took a few more steps toward her, and toppled into a heap at her feet. Panting, Luna stared. She'd never killed anything before. That wasn't the purpose of the training her father had given her. But as she watched, the animal body changed. The fur disappeared and the bones restructured, the skin changed and flowed over the body until she was staring at the headless body of a man who was nothing but skin and bones.

Luna looked out over the banister. Where Mrs. Stone and Devonshire should have been now stood two great beasts of no type of animal Luna had ever seen. Gabe and Michael were fighting the wolves, but where they cut down one, two more seemed to pop up. Gabe roared in anger, a sound that quickly changed into something non-human. Her heart stopped beating and she watched in horror as his body contorted painfully. And then he began to change. Fur grew from his smooth, sweet skin. His face elongated into a snout with at least two rows of teeth on top and bottom. His back hunched and he dropped to all fours. He wasn't a wolf, but a nameless beast easily three times the size of his human self. This was it, the part of the curse he hadn't told her.

His gaze caught hers for a moment, before his teeth clamped down on a wolf's back and snapped its spine. The mangy animal whimpered, but only for a moment. Gabe tossed him against the wall and pounced on the next one. He ripped the animal's throat out, tossed it into the air, and let it fall into his mouth. He roared again, but this time, the wolves cowered and ran except for a brave few. With the help of Devonshire and Mrs. Stone, the last four or five were ripped to pieces.

Luna stared, afraid to move. Afraid to breathe. Gabe stalked toward the stairs. For a small part of a moment she thought he might be coming after her too, but then he spoke.

"Do you see the truth now?" His voice was thick and deep and so completely Gabe, but at the same time it was the beastly animal's. "Leave."

"What?"

"Get out!" he roared. "Go!"

Luna stood planted on the balcony. "I don't have anywhere to go," she whispered.

Gabe soared over Michael's head and landed on all fours on the steps. Two bounds brought him to the top and he growled, "I said go! You think I wanted you to see me like this? Get out! Get away from me! Go!" He roared one more time and if intimidation was what he was looking for, he succeeded. Fear settled in the pit of Luna's stomach and she ran down the back stairs and out of the house. She pushed through the front gates and continued down the main drive.

Wolves howled from the woods. Would they chase her? She had no other choice. She ran through the dunes.

Luna ducked and screamed when something flew over her head. Michael was there in a flash of white light and the wolf was dispatched as the others had been.

"Go," Michael said. "Devonshire is on his way with a car. I'll keep them from following you, just get somewhere safe."

Michael flashed out and he was gone. Luna continued, but at a jog this time. Her adrenaline rush was starting to wear off and the only thing she could think was why Gabe would send her away.

Halfway to the gates Luna lost the will to run any farther. She felt like she was going in the wrong direction, but there was no arguing with Gabe. Ever. Especially when he could rip her head off.

"Miss Grace."

She hadn't heard the car pull up. Luna slipped into the front seat of a vehicle she hadn't seen before and buckled in.

"Where do you want to go, Luna?" It was the first time Devonshire had used her first name and he said it so tenderly that the tears she'd held back spilled onto her cheeks.

"Take me home," she answered because there was really nowhere else to go.

"Are you alright?"

Luna looked at him. How could she possibly be alright?

"You're shivering."

"This is the real curse, isn't it?" she asked. "The beast."

"Yes."

"He doesn't want me to know about it. Why?"

"It is his shame. He was once the angel who ruled over the moon. Now the moon rules him."

"But I don't care."

"He does."

"Why don't the wolf men want the curse broken?" She had a right to know since she was apparently the key to breaking it and they wanted her dead.

"That The General sent a second chance at breaking the curse means He needs Gabriel with Him. Something is coming that He needs him for."

"Devonshire, you'll be honest with me, right? Even if Gabe doesn't want you to be?"

"I will try my best to be honest and honor his wishes."

"If his curse was broken, he would go back to heaven wouldn't he? We wouldn't be able to be together because he's an angel and I'm human."

"Yes."

"And how do I break the curse?"

"I can't tell you that. Nothing can sway you. You just have do what comes naturally and pray it's enough."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"It does, but I know what I'm talking about." He actually chuckled, but Luna didn't find it very funny.

"I don't want to leave." Despite his horrible attitude problem and control issues she wanted to stay.

"That's a step in the right direction, but we honor his wishes. Understand?"

She nodded even though she didn't really. "Can you tell me about Belle?"

"She was about your age, but very weak. She was attacked by wolves. We thought it was an accident that happened on her way to visit Gabriel, but we know differently now."

"They stopped the curse from being broken. How long ago was that?"

Devonshire chanced a quick smile at her and she knew he wasn't going to answer. "I'm sorry, Miss Grace. I was already old when Gabriel found me. I have trouble remembering. You can ask him sometime."

"Will I see him again?"

"I hope so. How else will you break the curse?"

That wasn't exactly reassuring.

Devonshire dropped her at her house. She unlocked the front door, surprised Cadence hadn't changed the locks.

"Luna?" Cadence came out of her room and rushed her. "Oh my god. Elmo told me he dropped you at Gabriel's. We haven't heard anything from you in days! Are you okay? Luna?"

The relief of Cadence's acceptance back into the house combined with her despair at leaving Gabe was too much. Luna's knees gave out and she crumpled to the floor. The tears streamed down her face and soaked Cadence's shirt. Her best friend held her while she cried.

*****

Eight men lay dead in his home and the front parlor was destroyed.

"Show me Luna." His cell phone flared to life and his heart did an instant double beat in his chest. Her sorrow was so palpable that even through the image he could taste it on the back of his tongue. She was mourning him and she didn't even know it. How terribly depressing would it be for her to love him and never admit it?

She curled up into a ball on her bed. Cadence lay on a pallet next to her on the floor.

He needed her. On a night like tonight he needed her next to him - to know she was safe and to comfort him.

"What do you want to do?" Michael came into the study.

Gabe hadn't changed back. Sometimes it was easier to stay as the beast. It helped to hide the human emotions that threatened to kill his sanity. Like tonight.

"Keep your eye on her at all times. No harm is to come to her. If it does I will hold you personally responsible."

"You know I wouldn't let anything happen to her."

"Promise me."

"Of course, I promise."

"Then go."

Michael left without another word.

"Devonshire!"

"Sir."

"Is she safe?"

"I made sure she was in the house, yes. There were no wolves around when I dropped her off."

"Good. Leave me. I want to be alone."

"Yes, sir."

Gabe cried with Luna all night. His howls would be heard through the city, but he didn't care. If Luna cried then he cried, and if the curse was never lifted, if he reverted to the beast and stayed that way for the rest of eternity, he would suffer that fate. Because knowing Luna and the thawing of his heart was the most painful thing he'd ever felt and he never wanted to lose that.

When Luna finally stopped crying in her sleep in the wee hours of the morning, just before the sun came up, he watched her. She was all there was left.

*****

Cadence was staring at her when Luna finally woke up late in the afternoon of the next day.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?"

Luna turned over to avoid her gaze. "He sent me away."

"Why? What happened?" When Luna didn't answer right away, Cadence pressed. "Talk to me, Luna. Please."

"There are some men after him. He didn't do anything wrong, but they came after me to hurt him."

Cadence was quiet for a long moment. Luna imagined her seething over the fact that men might come for her, so she was shocked when her first words were, "I guess it's a good thing you have your swords then."

Luna turned and frowned. "What?"

"Well, you can protect us. I'm sorry about the other day. I overreacted."

"So did I." Luna threw her arms around her friend's neck. "I wasn't trying to kill you, I swear."

"Do you love him?"

Luna pulled away and frowned. Cadence laughed.

"Listen, if it's meant to be then it will work. In the three years I've known you, you haven't met anyone who makes you so angry or makes you smile or cry so much." She shrugged. "In my opinion, that's the kind of relationship that works."

Luna didn't get a chance to answer because the doorbell rang. She pushed herself out of bed and practically ran to the door. Maybe she had misunderstood. Maybe he'd only sent her away for the night. When she threw the door open she expected to see his face. Instead, Michael stood there. He was dressed in black from head to toe - tee, trench coat, slacks, and boots. The only pop of color were his Gabriel-esque blue eyes and a deep red rose that he handed to her.

"From Gabriel," he told her. Luna took it and held it to her nose.

Michael reached for Cadence and she folded herself into his arms. "I was sent to wave the flag of truce."

"Maybe now isn't a good time," Cadence told him.

"He can stay." Luna turned away.

"What happened?" Cadence really never gave up.

"I'll tell you all about it."

### CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Two and a half weeks later, Luna had finally got the flow back in her normal routine, except that when Michael wasn't sitting in the house flirting with Cadence he was outside, invisible, making sure the wolves stayed away. She liked having him around since it was the only piece of Gabe she got to keep close.

Cadence had the Michael version of the fight and had no idea that Michael was only around so much to keep an eye on Luna. She was thoroughly charmed by his dark-but-distant relationship style. With him around so much more, she really thought things were going somewhere with him.

This evening he sat on the sofa nursing a beer.

"Is it okay for you to be drinking that?" Luna asked. Cadence was in the shower after a day spent teaching yoga.

"Yeah. I'm good."

Luna untied her shoes and kicked them off. She flopped onto the sofa next to him and dropped her head back. "I miss him."

"You say that every day."

"It doesn't go away."

"Do you want to go see him?"

"Does he want to see me?"

"No."

"Does he at least _want_ to see me, but _won't_?"

"I think you know the answer to that question, Loony Tunes." That was what he'd taken to calling her so Cadence would think he just found her quack-ish and immature. He took a big gulp of his beer.

"I've been meaning to ask you. Will you come by the studio and give a lesson?"

"I'd love to."

"Great. Because I told them you'd come tomorrow."

Michael stopped with the beer halfway to his lips and stared at her. Luna stared right back, not the least bit deterred by his attempt at intimidation.

"How long have you been planning this?"

"A week. I kept forgetting."

"In that case, I will teach a lesson on the condition that you be my demonstration partner."

"Okay."

"Okay? That was far too quick. What aren't you telling me."

Luna winced. It was impossible to keep things from an angel. "I kind of told them you were Michael the Archangel."

"You didn't."

"I thought it was funny. They did too. They're kids, Michael."

"So this is an acting gig as well. You're going to have to pay me."

"Alright." She stood.

"Where are you going?"

"To my room. I'm tired."

"You're going to sleep earlier and earlier, Luna."

"You would too if you cried half the night. I know you pretend like you don't notice and that's sweet of you, but let's not lie to ourselves. The earlier I go to bed the more sleep I could potentially get."

"Gabriel will come around, Lulu." Cadence came out of the back room towel-drying her hair. "If you love him, and he loves you, it'll work out." Then she shrugged, and said, "If not, there's always Elmo." She winked.

"Do you love him?" Michael asked, his eyes strangely hopeful.

"I didn't say that." Luna went to her room and closed the door on her friends, and that lingering thought.

*****

Tapping on her window woke Luna near midnight. It was a common occurrence lately. She lifted the window to let Michael in. He twirled a red rose between his fingers.

"From Gabe." Luna let him know she didn't believe him. "I promise. I went to see him and got my backside chewed out for leaving you unprotected." He handed her the rose. "Trust me when I say he misses you as much as you miss him. Can we stop moping now?"

"I'm not moping. I'm depressed. There's a difference." Luna let her voice rise just a little too high.

"Just want you to know," he whispered, "I caught scent of the wolves near the outer wall of his property, but nothing too heavy. Does it bother you to know?"

"No. I'd rather be aware. Thanks Michael. Can you be here about eight tomorrow? I think Cadence said something about cooking breakfast and it might be a good idea to come since you're going to be with me all day. You how she gets jealous."

Michael grinned and it was so much like Gabe's that Luna gasped.

"Oh yeah," he teased. "So jelly."

She smiled. "Michael."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Do angels have relations? Like brothers or cousins or something?"

"No. Gabe and I aren't related, but you could say we're cut from the same cloth. He will always be like a brother." He tapped her chin with his finger. "That's why I'm making sure you stay safe. I'll see you in the morning. Cadence is coming."

He disappeared and closed the window as Luna tucked herself under her covers and hid the rose under the edge of the bed opposite the door.

Cadence peeked in and stared for a moment. "Must have been dreaming," she said softly and closed the door.

If the wolves were on the move again, what did that mean? They'd left her alone for weeks, not so much as a scent of them being around and now here they were. Or there they were. Was Gabe safe? He could clearly hold his own, man and beast. She wished she could go check on him.

Luna got up and stuck the rose in the vase with the others he'd given her. Cadence had hung up the purple dress that she'd carelessly left lying on the floor. The first few days home from Gabe's all Luna did was clean her room. She scrubbed the bathroom down and bleached the sink to get rid of the blood stains. There were several spots on the carpet that she'd scrubbed too. They had white carpet, so she'd bleached that as well. There was still a bite in the air from it.

She climbed back into bed and, as was the custom every night, she thought about Gabe's bed with him in it. It always started with her thinking about how much she wanted to be tucked under his arm and ended with her breathing heavy, remembering that first night and all the things they'd done.

Luna jumped this time when Michael tapped on the window. Two visits in one night couldn't signify good things.

She opened the window and he stuck his head in. "Hey. Calm night. I'm bored. Are you sleeping?"

"No, but if I was?"

"Too late now, isn't it? You're already awake."

"You know, you're almost as bad as Gabe."

"Thank you! I'm working on being just as bad. Minus the curse, of course."

"Of course." That wouldn't do at all. "I'm going to lay down though, if you don't mind."

"Not at all. Get comfortable, Lulu."

"Oh my...goodness." Michael grinned. "Don't call me that. I don't know why she did. I guess it's punishment for almost killing her the other day."

"You weren't going to kill her. Incidentally, she of course never got eviction papers. She doesn't even know where to go to get them."

Luna laughed quietly. "That's a relief. She's such a ditz sometimes."

"She said you're like a sister to her. She was just mad and wanted to scare you into getting rid of the swords. They scare her."

"Because she doesn't understand them the way my father taught me to understand them."

Lamenting howls in the distance drifted through the window. The desperation of the howls sent a cold chill down Luna's spine. That first night home that was all she heard. "That's Gabe," she said.

"Yeah." Michael slipped out of the window for a moment. She saw him in profile looking that direction. Did they communicate that way? When he came back in the window he said, "Go to sleep, little Luna. I'm here. You're safe."

She settled her head against the pillow and closed her eyes. She knew how Gabe felt, or at least mostly. She was just as desperate to get back to him as she knew he was to get back to her.

*****

Gabe crouched in the shadows at the edge of the property and watched Michael. He was leaning in Luna's window. Gabe wasn't sure how he felt about that, but at least she was safe.

Michael stood up and turned in his direction. A moment later he closed the window and crossed the yard like a shadow on the wind.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "You're supposed to be guarding your own perimeter. I've got the one here."

"Yes, you're doing a slam-bang job. I just wanted to see her."

"You can't."

Gabe growled low and stepped out of the shadows. He wasn't fully transformed and he knew how shocking his appearance could be when he was half man, half beast.

"Who the hell do you think you are to tell me I can't see her?" He tried to calm down, but it was even harder with the beast in half-control than when it possessed him mind and body. "I just want to watch her sleep."

"She's not asleep," Michael told him. "She doesn't sleep much at all. I woke her earlier to give her the rose, but I wouldn't have done that if she hadn't gone to bed so early."

"She doesn't sleep?"

"No. She cries."

"Why didn't you tell me this?" Gabe fought to keep his moans quiet and transitioned fully into himself. He went to the window and started to open it.

"Gabriel." Michael stopped him.

"I just want to hold her." He didn't sleep anymore either. Watching her on his phone had lost its charm.

There must have been the same desperation in his eyes that he heard in his own voice. Michael stepped aside and let Gabe climb into Luna's bedroom.

He stared at her sleeping form curled on her side, her hair hiding most of her face. He reached out and pushed it away so he could see her. She turned to him and looked him full in the eyes.

"Gabe?"

"Sh." He touched a finger to her lips. "Sleep now, my little one." He went around the little bed and slipped in under the covers behind her. The frame bowed under his added weight and he chuckled.

"Are you really here or am I dreaming?"

"I'm not sure myself," he said honestly. "Does it matter?"

"No. Will you be here when I wake up?"

"No. Michael will wake me before sun up, but don't be sad."

Luna snuggled against him and a moment later her rhythmic breathing had his eyes drooping too.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Luna had coffee and breakfast ready when Cadence woke up.

"I was going to do that," she said, still half asleep. "I see my pep talk did you some good. Did you finally get some sleep?"

"Yeah," Luna chuckled. "Your pep talk is just what I needed, Kaykay."

"Yeah, okay. I get it. No more Lulu." Cadence sat at the kitchen table. "You're really okay, Luna?"

"Yeah." She smiled her brightest smile. The high would only last the day, she knew, and she still wasn't sure if Gabe had been real or a dream, but it was enough. She'd slept, really slept for the first time since she'd been home and she felt good.

The doorbell rang, but there was really no need. Michael had his own key now too.

"Good morning ladies," he grinned at them. "I found this on your doorstep this morning. It looks so hungry. I thought I'd bring it in for breakfast. Can we keep it, please?"

Elmo stepped in off the front porch. Luna almost dropped the pan of scrambled eggs she was holding.

"Hey, Cadence. Luna. Glad to see you're alright."

She nodded and realized she was mad at him. Whether she had a right to be or not, she was mad. Luna turned away and dumped the eggs in a bowl, then set them on the table for Cadence to help her plate.

"We're out of eggs," she said. "You'll have to make do with bacon."

"That's fine."

Luna watched them from the corner of her eye. Why was he here now? He hadn't wanted to bother with her when she needed him. Why now? Why today?

Michael sidled over and snagged a piece of bacon from the stove top. "Gabe wants him here," he whispered, then loud enough for the others to hear, "Hey, Loony Tunes, what time is that lesson I'm supposed to be teaching today?"

"In a few hours."

"He's teaching you a lesson?" Cadence asked.

"I'm teaching a lesson at the studio," he told her.

"Mind if I come watch?" Elmo asked.

Luna shrugged.

"Great!" Sometimes Michael's enthusiasm for everything grated on Luna's nerves. "You'll get to see me school Luna."

"As if you could." She had a thought that made her giggle.

"What's so funny?" Cadence asked.

She looked her in the eye and said, "You don't want swords in the house." Saying it out loud made her laugh harder.

"Why is that funny?"

Luna looked at Michael and said it again. "She doesn't want swords in the house!" Wherever he and Gabe kept their weapons there were definitely two scimitars in the house.

Michael got it and grinned, but he shrugged it off by saying, "I think she's really gone loony tunes."

Luna laughed until her sides hurt and Elmo had to rescue the bacon before it burned.

Half an hour later, Cadence had decided to skip work to watch the lesson. Luna hopped in the Lamborghini Gabe had gifted her with the day after she left. She cranked the engine and the radio.

Elmo knocked on her window and she rolled it down.

"Can I ride with you?" he asked.

She didn't want him to, but she wasn't going to be petty. She unlocked the doors and he slid in.

"I know you're mad at me."

"Should I not be?"

"You can be mad at me if you want. I'm mad at you."

"Why? I've never given you any reason to think something would happen between us. It's been the opposite our whole lives. How can you justify being mad at me because I found someone...I want to be with."

They both knew what she was going to say, but she couldn't bring herself to saying the words.

"Look. I know what you always told me, I just hoped you didn't mean it."

"I'm sorry, Elmo. I never meant to hurt you. I thought... I don't know what I thought. I thought you'd give it up eventually."

"You really care about Slade?"

"Yes. I do really care about Gabe."

"If he cares about you, why haven't you seen him in two and a half weeks?"

"Really? Does Cadence ever shut up?"

"No."

"We're just...cooling off." She wasn't good at making things up.

"Okay, I guess. If you really want to be with him then I'll honor that."

"Thank you." She turned down a street and Michael and Cadence followed in the car behind. "You do know that I'm going to get my ass handed to me today, right?"

"What you? Is he that good?"

"Oh yeah. He's good. I got lucky the last time I fought with him."

"Well, give him hell anyway."

Luna laughed. Oh, if he only knew what he was talking about.

Despite her attempts, they were late to the studio. Twelve kids and their parents stood around waiting for them.

"Good morning!" she called cheerily. "As promised, I brought you the Archangel Michael for a lesson today."

"Hello!"

Michael charmed the kids and their parents just as he'd done Cadence.

"Are you and Luna gonna fight?" one of the youngest asked.

Michael's responding grin made Luna shake her head.

"I do believe that could be arranged." He turned to her. "What say you, human?"

Luna laughed. "Well, I seem to have lost my swords."

Michael held up a finger. "I can solve that problem." He motioned to Elmo who unexpectedly held the wooden box that housed her katanas. Michael unsheathed her swords and handed them to her with a bow.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

In attempts to please the children, Luna spun the swords samurai style and dropped into her favorite stance. The kids cheered and the parents clapped.

Michael turned, having retrieved his scimitars from somewhere while no one was looking. He dropped down to one knee and bowed his head. Was he praying? As she thought it, Michael looked up at her, a gleam in his eye. He spun on that one knee and came up with his scimitars flying.

Luna blocked every advance, but he drove her back, almost to the far wall. "You're going to make me look bad."

"Nah." Michael twisted to come at her from the left.

She ducked his swords and put her back to the room again. Michael chased her and leapt into the air. Luna ducked him and swung while his back was turned. But the angel must have had eyes in the back of his head. His swords came over his head and were there to block her and his back was still to her.

"You're cheating."

"You're the heavenly host."

Luna looked up and froze. Gabe was there, hands in his pockets, t-shirt stretched too tight over his muscled chest. His hair was loose and his eyes were muted with an emotion that could only be described contrite.

Luna's feet went out from under her and she landed on her back with Michael's scimitar pointed at her throat. "You're distracted. I wonder why."

She made a face at him and let him pull her to her feet.

"Ladies and gentlemen, and little ones, my good friend Gabriel Slade."

Every mother in the room gasped. Michael handed off his scimitars and Gabe took his place.

"Hello, little one."

Luna shook her. "I'm so fucking mad at you." She kept her voice low so the kids wouldn't hear.

"I know." He flashed that damn grin and everything melted.

"Stop that, you egotistical, controlling, jerk."

Gabe laughed. "All of that, huh? You jelly?"

"Of what?" Luna dropped her right foot back and raised her swords. "Don't be alarmed," she said for the audience. "If it seems like Gabriel and I are settling a domestic dispute...we are." The parents laughed. "He's going to have to learn a lesson or two." That she said for Gabe's benefit only.

"That so?" He nodded and his eyes sparked. "Please. Teach me."

Done with the banter, Luna attacked swinging each blade in turn so Gabe had to constantly defend each side of his body and didn't have a chance to strike back. She drove him back much the same way Michael had done to her, but he managed to cross his swords and throw her arms wide. She kept hold of her katanas and dropped back to regroup.

"Not bad," Gabe said. "But can you hold your own with just one of those?"

"Michael!" Michael hurried over and she handed him one of her swords.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep." Luna switched her sword to her right hand and balanced herself. "Gabriel thinks he's hot stuff," she said the children and their parents. "I think I can prove him wrong."

Gabe's smile was disarming and his intent was clear. He was going to charm his way to a win. Good luck with that, Gabriel Slade, she thought.

Gabe attacked, but she could tell he was holding back. Unlike Michael, he didn't want to make her look bad in front of the students. Luna parried every thrust expertly and countered every swing. Finally, Gabe thrust and Luna jumped out of the way. She grabbed his arm and twisted his wrist so the weapon fell from his hand. He pulled her in with the same arm in an attempt to put his blade to her throat. She put her blade up to stop him and disarmed him of that sword too.

Luna spun out of his grasp. "On your knees."

Gabe dropped to his knees, but his eyes smoldered with trouble. She tried not to look, but something low inside her tightened. She pulled her sword back until the point was an inch from his throat.

"I concede."

The parents and children cheered.

She smiled and dropped a quick kiss on his lips before she stepped back. "I'm still mad at you."

The lesson lasted forty-five agonizing minutes. She couldn't keep her eyes from wandering over to Gabe who was always staring at her.

When the lesson was over she went straight to him and put her arms around him. He held her back and they stood there a moment.

"Were you really there last night?" she finally asked.

"Yes, little one."

"That was more exciting than I expected," she heard Cadence tell Michael.

"You'll have to learn. I can teach you."

Luna took a deep breath. "What are you doing tonight?" She hoped he wouldn't turn her down.

"I'm having company."

"Oh." She couldn't hide her disappointment.

Gabe chuckled. "I haven't had guests in a while. I thought you could bring your friends."

Luna grinned crookedly at him. "Are you saying you want to have a dinner party?"

"Yeah. Something like that. You game?"

"Oh, Cadence will be ecstatic. Watch this. Cadie!"

"What's up?" Cadence sidled over.

"You want to go to Gabe's house for dinner tonight?"

"Oh my god!" Cadence squealed. Gabe and Michael winced. "Sorry," she said to Michael. "Are you serious?"

"I am," Gabe said. "Elmo is invited too. Michael, you'll have to stay outside and eat with the dog."

"You don't have a dog," Michael said.

"Then I guess you'll be eating by yourself."

While the two of them had a little man fight, Luna turned to find Elmo about to leave. She ran after him and caught him just outside the building.

"You're coming to dinner, right?" she asked.

"You'd rather be with your boyfriend," he said. "You don't want me there."

"Oh my god. Stop being so sensitive. If you don't want to come, don't come, but don't try to put me on a guilt trip."

Elmo smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You're right. Yeah, I'll come to dinner. I'll meet you there. I'm pretty busy today."

"Alright. See you there then." She watched him walk away, his head down. Since he'd ridden in with her she had no idea where he was going. Gabe met her on the sidewalk.

"Is he alright?"

"Yeah. He's accepting the truth."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Are you done for the day? Do you want to come to the house with me?"

"Luna and I have to go shopping," Cadence said from behind them. Luna jumped.

"I have to take Cadence shopping."

Gabe put his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. It felt so good to be in his arms again.

"Okay. I'll see you tonight then." He kissed her lips like he didn't want to leave. When he pulled back he turned away fast and got into his darkly tinted Mercedes. She could no longer see his face.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Gabe got in his car and sped away. He hoped she wouldn't think he was mad at her, but he couldn't stand to have her see him cry. Tonight was the full moon, his last chance. If she didn't love him by now then it was already too late.

Devonshire met him at the front door and put the car away for him. Mrs. Stone was in the kitchen.

"We're having company tonight, Mrs. Stone."

"Are we? Will Luna be back?"

"Yes. And her friends Cadence and Elmo. Michael will be here also."

"Wonderful. I love cooking for a group of people."

"Cooking for me is like cooking for a group of people." He flashed her a rueful smile.

"How are things with your Luna?" Mrs. Stone started pulling things out of the refrigerator. It was only late morning.

"I don't know. I think she loves me, but she doesn't know it."

"Well, that's not bad."

"She's going to have to figure it out real soon." Gabe snagged a carrot. Vegetables weren't his favorite. The beast made it so he preferred red meat, the more rare the better. Mrs. Stone insisted, though, so he ate them.

"Tonight is the full moon," she mused.

"I'll have a week after tonight. I was hoping..." He dropped the leftover half of carrot on the counter. "I was hoping not to go through the change again."

"I know." She patted his cheek motherly and smiled at him. "But at least you know you won't stay changed for a week. You'll have a chance before your time is up."

Gabe sighed. "Thank you for putting up with me and my beastly appetite, Mrs. Stone. You'll never know how I appreciate you."

"Just break your curse, Gabriel. That's all the appreciation I need. I want you happy and whole so you can make Luna happy."

"Stop being motherly," he said with a smile.

"Can't help it. That's why I'm here. To mother you." She chuckled. "Get out of my kitchen so I can start cooking."

"Mrs. Stone, it's not even noon yet."

"You want them to eat properly?" He nodded. "Then leave me to my business."

He kissed the older woman on the cheek.

"Gabe." He turned in the doorway. "You've change since you met her."

He put a hand over his heart. "She broke my heart," he said with a soft smile.

"It shows."

"Mr. Slade." Devonshire entered the kitchen. "Michael is here, sir."

"Thank you, Devonshire."

Michael was waiting in the front parlor for him. "Good job with the cleanup."

Gabe nodded. "Do you have news?"

"I'm worried. I caught the scent of wolves around your perimeter last night. It may not be a good idea to have her here right now. Not with what happened before."

"And where am I to have her?" Gabe almost shouted. His emotions were getting harder to keep in check. "As far away from me as possible so she can't break the curse?"

"Distance makes no difference as long as she admits her love for you. I thought, perhaps you could take her to the castle. Take them all. Keep them safe. It's fortified and you found the wolf that was in sheep's clothing, if you don't mind the cliché. It may be better for everyone involved. You still have seven days."

He was right. Gabe hated that. "What if there are more?"

"Sniff them out."

"And if I don't change back like I did last time? How am I supposed to get to Austria as the beast?"

Michael shrugged. "Swim?"

Gabe growled. His sarcasm was not welcome.

"We can ship you."

"That's enough, Michael." With the full moon only hours away, his voice was becoming more animalistic.

"Don't order me around like you do Devonshire and Mrs. Stone."

"You sound like Luna."

Michael spread his arms wide. "Your call, but I have a bad feeling, Gabe."

"What is He telling you?"

"He's not _telling_ me anything, but something is coming and it's not good. You need to get her somewhere safe."

"When she breaks my curse, what am I going to have to do?"

Michael sighed. "You're going to have to fight, Gabriel. Hard. For her and for humanity."

"Is it the end?"

"It could be. I can't tell you anything else."

Gabe nodded.

"That was a surprise, seeing Gabe today."

"Yeah," Luna agreed.

"You didn't know he was going to be there?" Cadence was impressed. "What do you think of these?"

"They fit you nicely."

"Yeah." She twisted again to see her butt from another angle. "I'm just not sure if they're suitable to visit Gabriel Slade in his home for a dinner party."

"I've been in his home naked, Cadie. I'm sure they'll be fine."

Cadence turned to her, eyes wide. "Naked? You slept with him? OMG! You slept with Gabriel Slade!"

"Sh!" Luna looked around.

"Oh my god! What was he like?" Cadence sat on the bench next to her.

"Great. Rough."

"Too rough?"

"No. It was good. Really good."

"I am so jelly! You slept with Gabriel Slade! Do you know how many women want to be you?!"

"Do you know how many women have been me?" She tried not to think about it herself.

"Yeah, but I'm sure it's different with you. I think he really likes you. I know you like him."

How many women had thought the same thing? She knew he loved her, but couldn't help wondering if it was real or if it was about the curse.

"What's wrong? You're making that face you do when you're thinking really hard about a good thing that you're about to ruin."

"I'm not going to ruin anything."

"What are you going to wear tonight? It has to be fantastic."

"Why? He's seen me naked, remember?"

"Yeah, but he hasn't seen you in two weeks. Oh I know! I have the perfect thing."

Luna nodded. Yep, this was going to be a fun evening.

*****

Luna and Cadence arrived around five. Gabe sent Devonshire to pick them up.

"Elmo said he will be a little late," Luna told him.

"That's fine. Wine?" She smiled at him. "What?"

"I've never seen you entertain before."

"I entertained you. At the party."

"No," she shook her head. "You tested me to see if I was going to turn into a gushing, thieving fan girl."

"One out of three isn't bad." Cadence's face popped up over Luna's shoulder.

Luna turned and punched the other girl in the stomach playfully.

"Careful," Cadence said. "You don't want him to think you're violent."

"Oh, I'm sure he can handle her girly punches." Michael walked in from the library. Cadence went to him and wrapped her long, thin arms around his neck. He hugged and kissed her, but the dynamic coming from the two of them was so different. While Cadence was the gushing girlfriend, Michael kept his distance. He was only there to protect Luna. He did what he had to do, but didn't let any attachments form.

"She hits pretty hard," Cadence joked.

"You're just soft."

Hor's d'oeuvres were served while they waited. Gabe watched her eat, interact, laugh. Everything about her enchanted him. Having her so close in his home again sent the blood burning through his veins. He needed her. He'd take her on the dinner table with everyone watching if it came to it.

Luna moved around the room, filling in spaces where he was too busy watching her to be a good host. She was comfortable here and she belonged. Her gaze met his and her eyes burned with desire and need.

Yes. He must have her wrapped around him right this very second. It would be quick. She was in a mini skirt. All he had to do was unzip.

Gabe crossed the room and took her by the hand. "Come." He didn't give her any room to argue. "Devonshire, entertain them."

He led her through the library into the study and closed the double doors.

"Gabe." Her voice was breathy.

He took her by the hips and lifted her onto the desk, then wedged his hips between her knees and said, "You'll have to be quiet."

"Can't wait till dinner? What about-"

There was a soft rap on the door and a square foil slipped underneath.

Luna took his face in her hands and pulled him in for a kiss. When their lips met electricity sparked between them and the beast cowered within him.

Gabe pulled away. Even the beast knew of Luna's love. Everyone but she. Luna's eyes shone green as the new growth of spring. Her face glowed like the horizon at sunrise. He could hear her heart racing, taste her pulse in the back of his mind. All she had to do was say the words.

A growl gurgled up from deep inside him where the beast resided and he breathed it out against her tender lips. Luna's breath hitched.

The door opened.

"Dinner's ready." Mrs. Stone's sweet voice held a hint of disapproval.

"Knock!" Gabe roared, heedless of who might hear.

Mrs. Stone tapped the door three times. "You have guests, Mr. Slade, and Guglielmo has arrived."

Gabriel turned unfriendly eyes to her, but all she did was blink and smile sweetly. He deflated.

"We're coming." He looked into Luna's eyes and willed her to say the words before the moon called him into service. "It's not funny, Luna. Stop laughing." They both looked down at his suddenly tight pants. He adjusted himself. "Dinner, milady?"

She hummed with her lips pressed to his neck. Every hair on his body stood on end. "I was ready for something else."

"Dinner first, my little one."

"Am I yours, Gabe?"

"Yes, my love. Always."

"Don't send me away again. Please. I don't care."

Gabe leaned his forehead against her shoulder so she wouldn't see how frustrated he was. She didn't care whether he was beast or man. So close, he thought. Just say the words, Luna.

"Come." He lifted her down to her feet. "We must join the others for now."

He took her hand, how he loved the feel of her hand in his. So small and soft. To never know her touch again would beak his human heart and he made up his mind right then and there. Her safety was more important than breaking his curse.

Gabe's heart seized in his chest and he stumbled. He caught himself on the door and clutched at his heart.

"Gabe?" Luna's voice held a hint of panic. "What's wrong?"

Hot blood thundered through his veins. Any ice left in his system melted instantly. His heart hitched occasionally, but there was no longer any hesitation.

He was still here, still human. His heart had thawed completely now and he was still here with Luna.

"Gabe, answer me!" Her pitch rose another notch.

"Mr. Slade, do you require assistance?" Devonshire came out of nowhere to ask.

"No," he grunted and straightened. "I'm fine." Gabe swayed a little on his feet. Michael was there now. They made eye contact and the angel nodded.

Gabe grinned. "Dinner!" he thundered. "Let's eat!"

Luna was staring at him like the beast's head sat on his human shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head, but the look remained. He laughed, kissed her hand, and joined the others.

Cadence and Elmo blinked at him the same way Luna had.

"Is there something wrong with my face?" Had he left his fly down? He didn't remember getting far enough to unzip, but he checked.

"No. You just...look different," Luna tried to explain. "Happy?" She shot a look to Michael for help.

"Angelic." Michael's grin said he was joking, but his eyes held a different story.

"Yep. That's me. Angel baby face." He led them into the dining room. Devonshire directed everyone to the proper seats, but Gabe kept Luna tucked close to him

"I have an announcement to make." Gabe stood as wine was being poured. All eyes were on him. "I've decided to take a trip to Austria and I'd like you all to join me." Cadence squealed and clapped her hands together.

"OMG! The next _WillSpy_ movie!" Did she really just say OMG? "Everyone's going to be so jelly!"

He felt Luna shaking beside him. She had her glass to her lips, trying to hide her giggle.

"I may be able to squeeze you into a scene or two."

Cadence was beside herself with glee. She bounced in her seat and squealed at the top of her lungs.

Luna was looking at him like he'd just told her mother he'd wash the dishes.

"We'll leave in the morning if that's okay with everyone." To Luna he whispered, "I'd tell her about the jet, but I don't think I can handle anymore screaming tonight."

Luna's eyes became hooded and she whispered back, "Well, that's just too bad."

Gabe blinked and sat quickly to hide his sudden hard-on. So she wanted to play that game, huh? He could play too. He waited until the meal came out to open his napkin in his lap and picked up his fork.

"Oh no." Gabe let the utensil slip from his fingers. "I'll get it, Devonshire," he said when the man moved to help him. He pushed his chair back and slipped under the table. He had to be quick so no one would suspect. Gabe nuzzled her legs apart with his nose and licked from her knee to her thigh, as far as the table cloth would allow.

Luna tensed. He could smell her arousal and it sent his blood burning to the lower half of his body. Gabe climbed out from under the table.

"Little bugger went farther under than I thought." He settled in his chair and let Devonshire swap out his fork for a clean one. Luna had her head down.

"This looks great," she said. "I'll have to tell Mrs. Stone what a wonderful job she did."

"Bullshit." Michael appeared to sneeze at the other end of the table where he sat next Cadence. His "girlfriend" turned offended eyes to him.

"Why would you say that? You're so rude. Old people are the best cooks!"

Gabe snorted and the wine he was sipping almost came out his nose.

"Cadence!" Luna and Elmo said at the same time.

"What? Oh, I didn't mean it like that!"

"It's alright," Gabe said. "I've called her worse. By accident." They were looking at him now. "She's been around a while." Nope, that was no good either. "She's a tough old bird. Yeah, okay. New subject."

"Wow." Luna grinned at him. "You're flustered."

"So are you. Your cheeks are flushed."

"I wonder why."

The corner of his mouth hitched up. "Hm."

The meal progressed. With his impeccable sense of smell he kept Luna's scent even over the smell of the food. Her arousal made it impossible for him to relax. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Luna wasn't playing along anymore either.

About halfway through, Luna looked at him with glassy eyes. She blinked, grinned lazily, and leaned across him to pick something off his plate. She used one hand to steady herself on his thigh. Warmth seeped into his pants leg, and then her fingers were traveling down towards the place where his pants bulged.

Gabe looked down at his plate as she picked up a piece of meat with her fork and stuck it in her mouth.

"Luna!" Luna jumped when Cadence called her name, but she had the good sense not to move. "Are you drunk?"

"Yeah."

"She doesn't handle red wine very well," Cadence told him. "You need to know that for future reference."

"Thank you. I will take that under advisement. Luna?"

"What?"

"Stop now." She'd been caressing him. He didn't think she even realized. She grinned up at him.

"If I don't?"

"I'll have to do something about it," he let his voice drop real low. "I'm not opposed to people watching."

Luna giggled. "Oh."

She pulled her hand away and went back to her own plate. If the others knew what was going on they didn't say anything.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Luna wasn't sure how the evening progressed into a drinking game. Red wine made her memory splotchy.

Gabe slammed back a shot of Jagermeister and Luna gaped. "You really embraced your expellment."

He positioned himself so there was no room between them and bumped her hips with his lightly. "Had to entertain myself somehow." He nodded to the stairs. "I want to show you something. Upstairs. In my bedroom."

"Oh goody! We'll be right back!" Luna tossed back her lemon drop and made a beeline for the front steps. She jogged up them and beat Gabe to the bedroom. He was there a second later and had the door locked and the key palmed. "Did you get-"

He held up a foil wrapper. "Everyone knows, by the way. I wasn't subtle."

"You? Subtle? When have you ever been?"

Gabe pinned her against the wall with his hips and trapped her with an arm on each side of her head. "It's going to be quick. Got it?"

Luna nodded so he knew she was very much looking forward to it. Gabe pushed her skirt up and her panties down. There was a distinctive _rip_ and he held them up triumphantly, shredded and frayed. Luna made quick work of his belt and zipper, and he was free.

Gabe's hands settled on her hips, his fingers dug in. He lifted her and swiftly settled himself within her. She took him all at once and let out one long moan.

"Quiet, little one," he said.

"Little is not exactly the word I was thinking of."

"Thank you. Around me."

Luna wrapped her legs and arms around him. He pumped his hips against her as he took her against the wall. Her friends were downstairs, aware of what was happening here, and that only added to the excitement. Luna bit into his shoulder to keep from crying out and he moaned softly.

It was indeed quick. They were both only partially satisfied when they were done.

"I needed you," he said against her hair as they waited for their hearts to settle.

"I needed you too."

"I will take care of you more thoroughly later tonight. You have no choice in the matter. You're staying with me."

"Are you going to lock me up?" she joked.

"Tie you up maybe."

"Oh. How kinky."

He licked across her lips and she bit at his tongue. "That pales in comparison to some of the things..." His face clouded.

"I'm sorry," she said, afraid she'd dredged up a horrible memory.

"It's not your fault. Come. Let's get you cleaned up."

"You ripped my underwear."

"Yeah. You'll need to be careful who you flash." He winked at her.

Luna cleaned up in the bathroom sink and borrowed a brush to fix her hair. Her cheeks were flushed, but there was nothing she could do about that really.

They went back downstairs. Cadence was grinning from ear to ear. Michael sat coolly next to her like he didn't really care.

On the other side of the room, as far away from everyone as he could be, Elmo sat slumped in a chair with his arms folded over his chest. He wouldn't look at anyone, not even Cadence. His face was a practice in emotionlessness.

Gabe took a seat and pulled her onto his lap.

"I'm going to go." Elmo stood. "Do you want to come with me, Cadence?"

"Aren't we staying a little longer?" she asked Michael.

Gabe and Michael shared a look. "No, I think Luna and Gabe need a little more than a quickie."

Luna felt her cheeks flush.

"Ugh." Elmo marched out of the room. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Oops."

Luna knew she should go after Elmo, but in her semi-drunken, post-coital state she didn't think it was a good idea. Nor did she really want to.

"Alright, well, I guess we're riding with Elmo." Cadence gave Luna a hug. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll send Devonshire to pick you up at six o'clock."

"Ugh. You'll have to deal with my hangover hair."

Gabe thought that was funny, but Luna shot him a look. "You don't want to deal with hangover hair. It's not what it sounds like."

"A little warning then?"

"Nope. You get to be as blindsided by it as I was."

"That's not very nice."

"You get used to it."

Gabe laughed and threw her over his shoulder.

"Oh my god! Gabe!"

He smacked her ass and she squealed. "What did I tell you about saying that?"

"Sorry."

"I'm going to have to do something about that mouth of yours. To the hot tub!"

*****

Michael found them two hours later in the hot tub. Gabe had made sure Luna got her clothes back on and he'd put on a pair of swimming trunks. He hated wearing swimming trunks.

"Do you know what time it is?" Michael asked and looked up at the sky.

Gabe followed his gaze. The full moon hung overhead in a sky speckled with diamonds.

He hadn't changed. Was his curse broken? No, because he still felt the beast inside, but it was restless. Weak.

"Luna, I'll be right back."

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing." He kissed her lips hard. "Absolutely nothing."

"I'm getting sleepy," she said. "I'll meet you in your room?"

"Nope. Our room now. From now on."

She grinned. Gabe lifted her over the side of the hot tub and Michael tossed her a towel. He left her there with him and went in search of Devonshire. He and Mrs. Stone were in the library.

"What's happening?" Mrs. Stone looked like she didn't know whether to be confused or excited.

"I don't know. The curse isn't broken. It's like it's been half broken or something. My heart is thawed completely, yet I haven't turned into the beast nor is he gone."

"You made a selfless choice." Gabe turned to Michael. "Luna is in the shower." Gabe frowned at him. "She told me to tell you that she was going to get in the shower and to hurry up."

Gabe nodded. "I'm going to have to run tonight. Even though I haven't changed, if I don't the beast will get restless and I may change when I don't want to."

"Then go tell her."

Devonshire could be infuriatingly practical sometimes.

"I should." Of course, if he walked in on her in the shower he might not make it out of the house tonight and he needed to hunt if he was going to be on a plane all day.

"Yes. You should."

Gabe bounded up the steps and hesitated at the bedroom door. Whatever happened, he told himself, he couldn't get in with her. He had to hunt.

He opened the door and crossed into the bathroom. "Luna?"

"Yep. Get in."

"I can't."

The door slid open and she poked her head out. "Why not?"

"I have to go." He winced. That wasn't right. "I have to go hunt."

Luna frowned. "Hunt? Hunt what?"

"As the beast, Luna. I have to go satisfy him before I can...come satisfy you. And myself."

"Oh. You mean you have to get growly." He smiled. "Yeah. I have to get growly." He gave her a peck on the lips. "Normally the full moon triggers my change and I stay the beast for a week. Seven days exactly, down to the minute."

"But you didn't change this time. Why not?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I can sense Michael now. It's more than my animalistic sense of smell. It's...different."

"More like an angel? Has your curse broken?"

Oh, how he wished. "No. The beast is still here. I have to go, Luna. The longer I stand here with you the harder it is for me to leave."

Luna smiled at him, then it was gone. She slammed the shower door and said, "Get out! Go! You think I want you to see me like this?"

Gabe chuckled. "Yeah, okay. I get it. I'll be back and we'll talk."

"Alright. Kisses!"

"What?"

"Kisses. It's another Cadence-ism. Stupid. She doesn't use it much anymore thankfully."

"I'll be back, Luna. If you don't wait up for me I will give you the wakeup call of your dreams."

"That sounds...kinky."

"You've no idea."

He left then before he could come up with an excuse to stay.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Luna found herself unsure and frightened. In Gabe's absence it was easy to begin questioning things. As soon as the curse was broken she was sure she'd never see him again. He probably hadn't given that much thought. All he was worried about was breaking the damn curse, but she had to think about herself. He'd told her that being selfish would break it. Well, being selfish was going to break her.

She stepped out of the shower and toweled off. Luna dug through his closet to find something to put on. When she found something that suited her, she slipped it on and laid down.

Howls woke her. She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep or what time it was, but the howling was angry and pained.

Luna leapt out of the bed. Outside the door she peered over the balcony. She couldn't see anyone, but she heard voices and growls coming from the library.

Mrs. Stone screamed.

Luna raced down the stairs into the library. Gabe was in beast form. She'd forgotten how massive he really was. Unlike the other day, he wasn't speaking, but howling. Mrs. Stone was against the wall holding her heart. Devonshire attended her.

Gabe favored his right front paw.

He saw her. His eyes took her in wearing the same blue shirt from the party. They went from pained to curious to angry. He growled, leapt at her and roared. She got the impression he was being as ferocious as he could be. He didn't want her here, but she didn't care if he was a giant beast with blood staining his fur. Actually, that was a little disconcerting, but she ignored it. Luna stood her ground and waited for him to stop.

She held out her hand to him. He looked at it like he didn't understand. He wasn't as much himself as the other night, but the beast knew her. She saw recognition in its eyes.

"Give me." Gabe growled. She could tell the difference between him and the beast. "Gabriel Slade, give me your paw." Was paw even the right word? It was as big as her head!

The great beast that was Gabe regarded her and gingerly placed his paw in her hand. It was heavy and covered with thick fur. She saw what was causing him so much pain. There was a rusty nail halfway embedded in the largest pad. She ran her hand lightly over his foot - hand? - and stared into his eyes. Gabe stared back and she saw some of him return to the beast's eyes. They were two separated entities who fed off each other's thoughts and emotions, locked in the same body for thousands of years.

Luna took hold of the nail and yanked before Gabe could react. He jerked his paw away and roared at her. His breath was hot and thick with the stench of blood she hoped wasn't human. She took a step back and he followed.

"Stay." The word was marred by thick teeth and the beast's throaty growl, but there was no mistaking it. It was a request, not a command this time. "Don't leave me."

Luna shook her head and reached up to touch his furry face. He jerked away at first, but stopped. Luna stroked the fur on his face and he pressed into her hand.

His body jerked and Gabe's howl was more human than animal. He contorted and she heard bones crack as they repositioned themselves. The fur began to thin out all over his body and was replaced by his sun-tanned skin. His howls turned to grunts of pain and his cries brought tears to her eyes.

"Don't cry," Gabe grunted. "Please, Luna." He held his hand against his maimed body. Blood dripped from it and down his stomach.

"You're hurting," she sobbed.

His smile was beautiful. "Does that bother you?"

She couldn't make herself say yes. "I hope you've had your shots." She held the nail out to him.

Gabe took it and stumbled into her. Luna was barely able to support his weight. "Devonshire," she grunted. "Help."

Before Devonshire got to them Luna's knees crumbled beneath Gabe's weight and they fell to the floor. His bloody body pinned her and she gasped. "Gabe. Can't breathe."

Gabe pushed himself off her and rolled to the floor. "Are you calling me fat?"

"How can you joke right now? This isn't funny."

"It's not the worst I've suffered."

"But it's the worst I've seen you suffer." His eyes clouded and Luna knew that wasn't the truth. "You need a bath."

"Only if you'll bathe me."

Luna grinned. "It would be my pleasure. Devonshire."

Devonshire bent and said in her ear, "Taking lessons, Miss Grace?" His eyes sparkled with humor.

"Sorry," she whispered.

"No need." He threw Gabe's arm across his shoulders and lifted him like he weighed nothing at all. Gabe's feet fairly dragged across the floor. Luna stayed close behind and followed them to the guest bedroom.

"If you'll put him in the tub I'll take it from there."

Gabe pushed Devonshire away. In the process of trying to lift his leg over the side of the bathtub he lost his balance and tumbled in. He landed on his backside with a grin. "Got it."

Luna shook her head. "Thank you, Devonshire."

"No problem, Miss Grace."

She turned on the bathwater and played with the temperature until Gabe said it was okay.

"Are you okay? Really?"

Gabe touched her face with his good hand. "As long as you're here I'm fine."

"You sent me away."

"Yes, I did, but not because I don't want you with me."

"Then why, Gabe? You didn't even give me a chance."

He closed his eyes and sighed. "If you knew how many times I've given people a chance and been disappointed you wouldn't ask me that question."

"I'm sorry. I know your memories are probably hard to handle as there are so many of them. I just," she paused to think. "I don't like being treated like everyone else who has let you down. I haven't let you down have I?"

"Never, my little one."

"Then don't treat me like it. You hurt me."

"I'm sorry." He pulled her close for a kiss, but she pushed away from him. The hurt in his eyes killed her.

"Don't," she told him. "I can handle a were-beasty, but if I wanted to be one I'd go lick a deer."

Gabe chuckled and winced like it hurt. "Don't mind it," he told her when she looked at him concerned. "I heal quickly, though..."

"What?"

"My heart is melted. I am a man now. But I heal quickly after the change. I'll be ready to fulfill my promise to you in an hour or so."

That made her smile. "I was wrong," she confessed. "My count was off."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I told you I'd been with six men, but I wasn't thinking. I've dated six men. I've been with two besides you. One was very experimental."

"Explain very."

"Extremely. Strangely, he's the one Elmo ran off, so you can see what a pain in the ass he was."

The bathtub was full. Luna turned off the water and started rubbing the blood from Gabe's chest and stomach. There was enough that she was going to have to drain the tub and refill it.

Gabe watched her the whole time, not what she was doing with her hands, but her face. She avoided his gaze. It made her nervous the way his intense eyes bore through her.

"When your curse is broken," she stuttered, "what happens then?"

He was quiet for a long time. She looked to see what he was thinking and he caught her gaze with his royal blue eyes.

"I honestly don't know."

"Why do you love me, Gabriel? Is it because I can break this curse for you? What if I wasn't the one to break the curse? Would you still love me?"

"The one to break the curse is the one I love. It's that simple. You are the one because I love you. I chose you. That's all there is to it. So, to answer your question, I love you because I wanted to. And because you made me."

"How on earth did I make you?"

"Those damned red boots."

She laughed. "They're Cadence's. She let me borrow them for the party. Tonight was fun, by the way. Until Elmo left. Then it was fun again."

"Have you talked to him?"

"No."

"Are you going to?"

"Eventually. I'll probably be forced to on the plane tomorrow. He'll make it hell for everyone."

Gabe shook with his laughter and didn't wince this time.

"You're getting better."

"I feel stronger."

"I'm going to have to drain the tub."

"Go right ahead." Luna pulled the stopper at the bottom of the tub and began running clean water. "Get naked."

"Gabe, I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm fine." He started unbuttoning the shirt. "I like you in this shirt."

His eyes burned. "Then maybe I should keep it on."

"Off," he commanded.

Luna pulled it over her head without unbuttoning. Gabe had been holding back. With a burst of energy she didn't realize he had, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the tub and onto him. She gasped.

"Gabe."

"Hm. That's what I like to hear."

"You cheated." Her voice was a mere breath in his ear.

"Yeah, just a little. I like how wide your eyes get when I take you by surprise. I like it when they dilate. It's cute."

"You're a freak."

"I'm a beast." His voice held no remorse for that fact this time. "It's what I do."

He shifted beneath her and in her and she moaned softly against his neck.

"You don't have to be quiet anymore, love. Just Devonshire and Mrs. Stone now."

"No precautions this time?"

Gabe reached outside the tub and held up a square foil. He winked at her. "I can be discreet when I want to be."

"I meant the other ones."

"No, little one. You've tamed the beast." He gyrated against her again.

"Not too much I hope." She barely got the words out. He practically purred with amusement and lust. "You like that too much."

"I want you speechless."

"I thought you wanted me to scream."

He put his hands under her arms and gripped her shoulders. When he thrust into her he held her still so he went deeper. Luna moaned.

"You're thinking too much. I want to turn your brain into mush."

"Uhh," she said.

"There you go."

He repeated the movement, held her in place while he fucked her senseless. Luna cried out, the pleasure of it taking her mind away to a place where there was no curse, no beast, no wolves hunting her. There were no angels or demons or Elmo trying ruin everything out of his selfishness. There was just Luna and Gabe and this bathtub in a world all their own. No one could touch them. No beast would bother them. They could live and fuck and have a life.

Luna let herself believe that the world in her head existed because the alternative was to know that once she figured out what to do and the curse was broken she would lose Gabe forever.

Gabe pulled her head up with a fist full of hair and looked deep into her eyes. "Where are you, Luna? Are you here with me?"

"With you," was all she could breathe out.

"Little Luna, have I scrambled your brain?" She tried to smile at him. "I think that's a yes."

Luna let him take her body and mind to levels she'd never before experienced. When he finally brought her past the brink of ecstasy she no longer knew which way was up or down.

*****

Gabe held Luna against his chest. The tub had overflowed onto the tiles and Devonshire and Mrs. Stone were at the door to make sure they were alright. Luna's panting was satisfying. His own chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. Post change he was really the most vigorous and tonight was no exception.

"Luna," he said softly. She grunted. "We need to get to bed, little one. Early day...today."

She grunted again and he chuckled. "Up." He stood with her in his arms. There was a dull pain in his right hand as he gripped her, but he forgot it as he carefully lifted her out of the tub. No time to dry off or get covered up. He pressed her against him and carried her from the bathroom.

"Oh my." Mrs. Stone and Devonshire turned away long enough for him to step into the bedroom.

He didn't bother with drying her off. He set her on her feet so he could get the covers down. Her knees were like Jell-O so he kept one arm around her waist while he used the other hand to unmake the bed. Then, he lifted her onto the mattress. When they were both settled, he whispered, "Sleep now, my little Luna. Morning comes quickly."

### CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Cadence wasn't answering her phone, so Luna left a message.

"Hey," she croaked. "Gabe wants me to ask you to bring those red boots I borrowed for the party. He says pretty please with a cherry on top." Gabe raised an eye brow at her from across the room. "And he says your hair is like a flock of goats, your cheeks like pomegranates."

"I said no such thing."

"It's the Bible, Gabe. You ought to know that." She giggled at his exasperated look. "See you soon, Cadie."

She hung up and Gabe swooped her up and tossed her on the bed. She laughed and winced at the same time.

"You alright?" he asked. "Did I hurt you?"

"Just awkwardly sore. I'm going to be walking bow-legged." Gabe smiled and ran his lips over her throat. "You'd better stop that."

"Or what?"

"Or we'll never make it to Austria."

"It's my plane. We'll go anywhere I want to go whenever I say we go."

"Well aren't you mister always-in-control."

"Unabashedly."

There was a knock on the door. Gabe pushed himself up and stalked towards the sound.

"Who is it?" Luna called. He turned to look at her.

"Mrs. Stone, dear. I have breakfast ready. I wasn't sure if Mr. Slade wanted to eat now or wait for the others."

"Eat now!" Luna yelled before Gabe could decide. "We'll be right down."

Gabe was still staring at her. "When did you start giving my staff orders?"

"Why not? This is _our_ room now. Might as well be _our_ staff too." She winked. "Is that a problem?"

"It's...incredibly sexy, Luna, and a little disconcerting. It's just been me and them for so long. Takes getting used to is all. Get dressed."

"In what?" Gabe went to the dresser and produced a new pair of jeans and a lovely blouse. "Cute. You sure are good at shopping for women's clothes. No panties?"

"No ma'am. You can wear your own bra. That's all you'll need."

She laughed. "Fine." Luna slipped into the clothes and was about to leave the room, but a look in Gabe's eye stopped her. "What?"

He shrugged his bare round shoulders. "Go ahead if you can get past me."

Luna grinned. So they were going to play a sexually ramped up game of tag. "Bring it."

Gabe maneuvered his body so he blocked the doorway. Luna pressed her lips together to keep from laughing and ran through the bathroom and the closet. It wasn't until she burst through the back door and ran right into Gabe's arms that she realized that was a mistake. He growled in her ear and sent chills through her body.

Luna squealed when her feet left the ground. Gabe bit her earlobe.

"You guys need to get a room."

Cadence, Elmo, and Michael walked through the front door.

"Breakfast is in the kitchen," Luna laughed down at them from the balcony. "We're on our way."

Elmo and Michael went for the food, but Cadence just stared, rooted in place.

"I think she's broken," Gabe said as they descended the stairs together.

"She's drooling, Gabe. You don't have a shirt on."

"Oh." He looked down at his bare chest like he'd forgotten. "Did my hotness short circuit her brain?"

"Probably. Cadie?" Luna snapped her fingers in the other woman's face. "Yup. She'll be fine."

Gabe just grinned. He stood directly in front of Cadence and made his pecs jump. Her eyes widened and Luna thought they might pop out of her face.

"Stop," she told him and tugged on his arm. "She's about to pass the fuck out. Breakfast. Kitchen. Now, Slade!"

Gabe's chest shook as he laughed silently to himself. "I want to see if her brain explodes."

"Gabe." Luna laughed in spite of herself. Cadence would probably be mad at her though.

"If I do it again will her brain melt and ooze out her ears?"

"Ask her to lick you and see what happens."

Luna turned to find Elmo in the doorway. His expression was priceless and she laughed so hard she couldn't breathe.

"Sorry about last night." That he directed at Gabe who waved him off.

"It's fine. I understand. What would happen if..." He started to unbuckle his belt.

Cadence looked down, made a choking sound, and fell out on the floor unconscious.

Gabe looked from her limp body to Luna. "You weren't joking."

"No."

"That's never happened before."

Tears of laughter streamed down her cheeks. Even Elmo was chuckling. Gabe knelt on the floor beside Cadence and tried to revive her.

"What are you doing to my girlfriend?" Michael walked in eating a bagel, but when he saw Cadence he sobered. "What happened?"

"Gabe flaunted his hotness and made her brain explode." Somehow, saying it out loud made it even funnier.

"Wow." Michael just shook his head at them and went back to the kitchen.

"Where am I?"

Cadence's soft voice made Luna turn. "You're in Gabe's house. You passed out. Are you okay?"

"I passed out? I...oh."

Gabe helped her to her feet and asked, "Are you alright? I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd really pass out."

"That's okay." Cadence grinned. "You owe me."

"Ha!" Luna covered her mouth quickly. "I mean...oh bummer. She got you."

Gabe scowled, but the humor in his eyes gave him away. "Come on. Time to eat. We need to leave soon."

Breakfast was quick. With Gabe rushing them to hurry, Luna finally just had Mrs. Stone pack them some food in a cooler so they could take it with them.

Cadence was as impressed by the jet as she was Gabe's chest. She squealed in delight as he began an in-flight movie and had them served wine and snacks.

"Want to join the mile high club?" Gabe asked halfway through the flight.

Luna blinked at him. "That has to be the sweetest thing any man has ever said to me, but no. I think I'm going to behave myself until we get to Austria."

"Behave? Where's the fun in that?"

She kissed his cheek. "Isn't that what got you in trouble the first time? Not behaving?"

"No, I did exactly what I was told not to do. And it wasn't the first time I got into trouble."

"Oh, that's comforting." She lowered her voice and said, "My boyfriend is God's rebel child."

Gabe wiped all emotion from his face. Oh shit. She was in trouble. "Who said anything about boyfriend?"

"Uh, you did. You said I was yours, remember?"

"Yes, I said you were mine, but I didn't say I was your boyfriend."

What? "Oh." She couldn't tell if he was serious and that scared her. If he wasn't her boyfriend...what was he?

Gabe wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her close. "I'm kidding," he whispered against her neck. "I'll be anything you want me to be."

"Then I want you to be a donkey," she said, angry now. "Because you are the biggest ass I've ever met."

"Aw, Luna." She tried to break his grip on her, but he had a tight hold. "Don't be angry. I was only joking."

"It wasn't funny."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Come here."

Luna struggled to get away. Even though she didn't really want him to let her go, he eventually stopped fighting her.

"I'm going to go talk to the captain," he said. "I'll be back."

Luna snuggled into the sofa they were sitting on. She settled a throw pillow under her head and fell asleep.

*****

Luna woke in Gabe's arms with him staring down into her face. When had he moved her? It didn't really matter.

"We're here, little one." Luna sat up and smoothed her hair. "Are you still mad?" She shook her head. "Good."

They piled off the jet and into a car. Luna would have liked to see the scenery, but she fell asleep leaning against Gabe with him stroking her hair. When he woke her again they were driving through a small village.

People in ragged, worn clothing lined the streets. Their faces were thin, with dark circles under their eyes. Gabe stared along with the rest of them.

"This isn't right," he said under his breath.

Michael said something to him in another language and Gabe replied in kind.

"How many languages do you speak," she said.

"I speak them all."

"Oh." Of course he did. He was a fallen angel. He would have to know another language or two. "What did he say?"

"Later, little one." He kissed her forehead and put his arm around her.

The road wound up the hill where the castle sat on top.

"It's been mine for centuries," he said softly. "I've had to falsify the papers several times so it looked like it changed hands."

"OMG," Cadence said softly.

"When we get there you'll be taken to your rooms so you can freshen up, then we'll meet the cast for dinner. Please don't pass out again, Cadence."

"Well, don't do another striptease and I'll be okay."

"Yeah. Save those for me."

"Sure thing."

Devonshire pulled the car up to the front of the castle. The staff was lined up outside waiting for them.

"Really?" Luna asked.

Gabe shrugged and pulled her close as they got out of the car. "They've been with me a long time too."

Luna nodded.

Gabe shouted something in German, then said, "These are my friends. You will treat them the same way you treat me."

"Oh no," Luna joked. "Don't tell them that. I don't want snakes under my pillow."

The closest man to her covered his chuckle with a cough. Gabe shot him a mean look. The man was older with kind eyes. How did Gabe have so many nice people working for him when he was such an ass?

Luna patted the man's arm, sure she probably wasn't supposed to touch him. "Don't mind him," she said. "He's just a teddy bear. Melted heart and all." The whole of them gasped.

"Luna, don't undermine me in front of my staff." His command lacked its usual conviction.

She looked at him defiantly. "Or what?" she mouthed.

Gabe quirked an eyebrow and scooped her up into his arms. "Or I'll bite you."

"What, again?"

The line of staff parted for them and Gabe carried her up the steps into the front hall.

Inside the castle was beautifully decorated. On the outside it looked so manly, but upon deeper inspection it had a woman's touch, even though there were all manner of animal heads mounted on the walls.

"Cute."

"To the bedroom." Gabe threw her over his shoulder and marched down a long hall. Luna propped her chin on her hand and rested her elbow in the middle of his back.

"Is this really necessary?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"So I can grab your arse in public." Gabe's hand moved from her thighs to her butt and he squeezed it a few times.

"You know, when you get back to what you used to be you're going to have to watch that dirty mouth of yours."

"When I get back to what I used to be?" he laughed.

"I didn't know if it was safe to say out loud."

"When that day comes I will do what I have to do."

Luna's heart sank. It was her fault for bringing it up, but somehow his admission of doing what he had to do crushed her. The selfish choice would be to refuse to break his curse so she could stay with him forever. Whatever kept Devonshire and Mrs. Stone from dying could keep her alive too. Problem solved.

"Mr. Slade. Finally, you're here. We have a small problem," a woman announced. She wasn't dressed in the uniform, so she must have been with the film crew.

Gabe set her on her feet. "What problem?" he asked.

"You should come see for yourself."

Gabe turned to her and frowned. "Take Luna to my room." To Luna he said, "I'll be there shortly."

Luna grabbed his hand as unprecedented panic seized her. "I want to stay with you."

Gabe frowned at her. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "I just want to stay with you."

"Alright. This could be messy, though."

She gave him an indignant look. "I cleaned blood off your body last night."

He smiled. "Where are we going?" Gabe asked.

"Lisa's green room."

"Lisa? Lisa Monroe?"

Gabe glanced at her. "Ah, there's my fan girl. Yeah, come on. Let's go meet Lisa Monroe." There was a bitter lilt to his voice.

Lisa Monroe was the current co-star for the latest _WillSpy_ movie. Due to her previous political stance on not funding Gabe's movies, she'd never seen a single one of the eight.

Lisa's green room was damn near on the other side of the castle. They had to take an elevator up a few floors, then wound their way through hallways for at least fifteen minutes.

"You like mazes. Why?"

"They're fun. I like to watch people get lost."

"That's just mean."

"Look who you're talking to. Don't think that just because my heart is no longer frozen that I'm suddenly a saint."

"Aren't you supposed to be?"

"Fallen. Remember?"

How could she forget?

Gabe pushed the door open. All activity in the room ceased and everyone turned to look. Their gazes swept over her, uninterested, but she didn't miss the look of fear that settled in everyone's eyes.

Lisa was still screaming. Gabe's presence didn't seem to phase her one bit. She screamed profanities until she turned and saw him standing there.

"Gabriel," she said with authority, "either you fire these idiots or I quit!"

"Oh really?"

"You don't believe me? Out of my way!"

Gabe stood his ground and the hard, frozen-hearted man she'd met a month ago suddenly returned. "Lisa, if you quit you won't ever work in Hollywood again."

"How dare you!"

Gabe shrugged and raised an eyebrow. He stepped to the side and crossed his arms over his chest. "Go if you don't believe me."

Lisa stared at him like she was ready to march out, but she didn't move.

"That's what I thought. Now, let them fix whatever needs fixing and get back to the set."

She huffed and crossed her own arms. That was when she pretended to notice Luna for the first time. "Who are you?" she sneered.

"Luna."

"What a stupid name."

Wow. She had a fan girl crush on this bitch? "Gabe seems to like it."

"Gabe?" Lisa turned to look at him.

"Yeah, ya jelly?" Did she really say that just now?

But that was exactly what was wrong with her. Jealousy filled Lisa's eyes and it wasn't the kind of jealousy you got when you found out the man you liked was seeing someone else. It was the kind of jealousy that said they'd been together at one point. Oh hell no! Yeah, this was definitely messy.

"Jelly? Who is this idiot, Gabe?"

"Gabriel," he corrected her with the look he gave Devonshire and Mrs. Stone. "She is my fiancé."

Whoa. How did they go from boyfriend/girlfriend to engaged in a few hours?

Luna turned slowly to him, but he wasn't looking at her. He was staring Lisa down like one of them was going to explode any second and Luna knew it wasn't going to be Gabe.

"Fiancé, huh? Why doesn't she know about it?"

Luna snorted. "Good question."

"Hadn't got there yet, but I wanted you to know how serious it is and if you cause problems you will be off this film in a heartbeat."

"We're a week from wrap, Gabe...riel."

"Do I look like I care? When has that ever stopped me from firing someone?" Lisa didn't have an answer for that and Luna was glad. "Now that you've ruined the greatest proposal known to history, get back to work, or pack your things and be gone in ten."

"I'll see you at dinner," Lisa said, her spirit effectively broken. "Sorry."

Gabe turned and left. Luna had to jog to keep up with his long, quick strides that left her in the dust.

"Gabe." He didn't stop or acknowledge her. "Gabe, stop!"

She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him to a stop. He turned his head and growled at her. His blue eyes flashed beastly blue.

"Oh. I'm not talking to Gabe am I? Alright. Fine. When you calm down we'll talk about this. Jerk." She stomped away, hoping that if she couldn't at least find her way back to the front hall she could find someone to take her to her room. And wouldn't it just piss in his cheerios for him to find she'd requested her own room. Possibly right next to his.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Gabe scrubbed a hand down his face and growled again. What a fucking mess! He threw his fist into the wall and came away with a hole and bloody knuckles. Those would take longer to heal unless he went hunting tonight. He liked hunting here. The game was really wild, not the caged animals he and Devonshire kept on the property at home.

He took a deep breath and let it out heavy.

"Everything okay?" Lisa asked from behind him.

Gabe closed his eyes, now frantic to push his beast back. "Lisa, you're supposed to be on set."

"I have a few minutes."

He knew she still held a candle for him. Lisa circled him and came into his line of sight. He'd never had feelings for her. She was just as all the others had been, except for Belle - a pastime. His beast didn't like Luna, though. It knew that she was meant to be its end and it wanted to fight her. The beast laughed inside him and became aroused. With no option but to feel what his beast was feeling, Gabe's body reacted.

"Lisa," Gabe grit his teeth and clenched his fists to his sides. She noticed of course.

"Wow. You're really tense, Gabriel. Does she not do it for you?"

More than you ever did, he thought, but the words wouldn't come out. The beast trapped them in his throat and he swallowed them.

"She does look a little fragile. You need someone who knows how to handle you." Lisa touched his arm. He was repulsed, but the beast purred. She smiled. "You're shaking. You missed me didn't you?"

"Lisa." He choked on the words again.

"Sh," she said. "I'll take care of you."

*****

Luna stopped walking and put her face in her hands. Gabe was clearly angry. She wasn't sure if she should have stayed or not, but she felt bad about leaving. She turned and started back to him. She could at least be there for him even if his beast had taken over momentarily and he couldn't talk to her without growling. She liked the growling anyway.

She retraced her steps back toward the green room. There was no one else in the hallway.

Luna rounded a corner and stopped, momentarily confused. Gabe had suddenly grown a long, silky blonde beard. She frowned. No, that was Lisa Monroe's hair. As she watched, Lisa reached up and stroked Gabe's face. What. The. Fuck? Luna was moving before she realized it. Gabe saw her and froze, eyes wide. His body twitched with tension she knew was caused by the beast being so close to the surface.

Lisa's hand locked behind Gabe's neck to pull him into a kiss. Gabe stiffened and pulled away from her.

Luna moved in on silent feet and took a handful of Lisa's hair in both hands. With as much strength as she had, she threw the woman to the floor. "I hope you have good makeup artists," she said to Gabe.

"What?"

Her fist made introductions to Lisa's eye, chin, and stomach. When Luna was satisfied with the woman's cries of pain she turned on Gabe.

"I can be a beast too," she growled. Before she realized what she was doing, Luna let her fist fly one last time and caught him in the jaw.

They stared at each other for a moment, shock on both their faces. Had she really just done that?

"Luna?"

She spun on her heel and tromped off in search of someone, anyone really, who could show her where her room was supposed to be.

*****

Gabe reached down to help Lisa to her feet. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Godammit!" Lisa hissed. "That bitch hits like a freight train!"

Gabe backed Lisa to the wall and pinned her there with a firm hand on her shoulder. "If I ever hear you refer to her with that term again..." She nodded. She was afraid of him now. Well...good. Kind of. "Still think she's fragile?" he asked, softening some.

Lisa shook her head.

"For the last time," he told her. "To work. Now."

"Okay."

Gabe released her and she scurried off to her green room. She was going to have a couple of nice shiners. His makeup artists weren't that good. They might have to extend production.

Shit. He had to find Luna.

That task proved easier than he'd expected. She was talking to one of his staff in the middle of a hallway that led in the opposite direction of the rooms.

"Luna." She didn't even turn to acknowledge him. "I'll take it from here," he told the young man.

"No," Luna said. "He's taking me to my room."

"It's my room and I can take you there."

"So, at home it's our room, but here it's your room." She refused to look at him. Instead she speared the boy with a dangerous look that made him swallow hard. "Please, Gabe. Shut up!"

The boy's eyes widened. Gabe crossed his arms over his chest and ground his teeth. He nodded, because the kid wouldn't do anything without his permission.

The young man nodded behind them and motioned for Luna to follow. Gabe stayed right next to her, matching her short but determined strides.

"How long are you going to ignore me, Luna?"

She didn't say anything, but stepped up her pace to get away from him.

"My legs are longer and I'm not going to let this go."

She whirled at him and the beast forced him back a step. She'd earned a point or two from it for hitting him so hard. He involuntarily rubbed the sore spot on his jaw. Triumph lit her face for a second.

"Gabriel Slade." Luna's voice was only a whisper as she forced the words out. Her lip quivered and the tears came.

"Oh no. No, Luna. Don't cry." Gabe wrapped his arms around her before she could push him away, but she tried.

"No," she howled. "Get away from me!"

Gabe held fast until she calmed and sobbed against his chest. "I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say. "I'm sorry." He nodded to the kid, who was shuffling uncomfortably back and forth from one foot to the other, and dismissed him. He tilted Luna's tear stained face up and said, "Come on. Let's go talk."

He guided her to the room by the hand and let her look around while he locked the door. No interruptions until this was over.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"I didn't think about it."

"You didn't think about telling me that your ex was the lead in your latest movie and that she may come on to you because she's a woman and we do stupid stuff like that to mark our territory?"

"No." Damn it. She was mad.

"Are you stupid as well as cursed?" she shouted, then looked around.

"No one will hear. Listen, I've never had a girlfriend before, Luna. With the exception of Belle... And I knew her less time than I've spent with you. It didn't occur to me that this would be a problem. I just didn't think. I'm sorry. Nothing happened."

The beast rolled and stretched, making itself comfortable. Gabe winced as pain shot up his spine.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt? I didn't hit you that hard."

He chuckled and touched his jaw. "You hit me hard enough, but it takes more than that to hurt me. The beast is...bored." What an understatement.

"Does he need entertainment?"

Gabe would have loved to imagine there was something sexual behind that comment, but all he got was annoyance.

"No, but he enjoys hurting me when he's bored," he fired back with just as much irritation. Maybe more.

"Oh. I just want to lay down, Gabe. I'm tired."

He nodded. "Alright. I can join you if you want."

"Can you keep your hands to yourself?"

"Probably. Not."

Luna shook her head. "I just want to rest."

He nodded, hurt beyond belief. "Alright." He unlocked the door and tossed her the key. She missed and it dropped on the floor. Gabe gave her his back and left the room.

*****

The high one could have sung praises, but that was beneath him. The cursed one had his woman here just like he'd foreseen. Not only that, he'd brought another of the host with him. It couldn't have been more perfect. The high one called his men to him and waited for them to assemble.

"We will strike the cursed one down. His heart has thawed, but the girl has yet to break his curse."

"How will we do this?"

The high one looked over his men. They were all so weary, even the young ones, the new ones. First thing after the cursed one was dead they would all find new strength and youth.

"I will take out the cursed one myself," he told them. "I don't care who else is killed or how as long as everyone stays out of my way. When the cursed one dies, we will be reborn."

The wolves howled their excitement. Yes, it was time to

start taking care of his men.

### CHAPTER THIRTY

Luna took special care with the way she dressed for dinner. Gabe hadn't come back to the room, so she showered and dressed in a pair of black skinnies, the new blouse he'd bought for her and the red boots he loved so much. She left her hair down, but threw on enough make up to make her eyes look like jewels set in her face. There was an escort outside the door.

The dining hall had been returned to what she assumed was its original form. Two long wooden tables ran down the middle of it. She entered from the end and spotted Gabe immediately. He sat at the far end in a throne of sorts. He'd changed clothes into a pair of leather pants and a blousy black shirt. His eyes were lined in black as well. It was a dark look and it matched the moody emotion in his eyes. His chin rested on his fist on the arm of the chair.

Luna crossed the room with purpose, heedless of how everyone was staring. She went to him and sat across his lap. His free hand went loosely around her waist. She knocked his arm from under him with her knee and rested her right leg on the arm of the chair.

"I wore your boots." He smiled, but it was half-hearted. "You look sexy. Why did you change?"

"They needed me for a shoot later. I'm going to be a pirate. Since you damaged my leading lady we have to shoot some other scenes for now."

"Sorry."

"No, you're not."

"Gabe, what happened isn't okay."

"I get it, Luna."

"Don't get snippy with me. I'm trying to talk to you."

He leaned his head back against the chair and looked at her. "It's not something that I wanted to happen or that I even expected. I told you-"

"Yeah, I know. No girlfriends. But we've never talked about girlfriends or exes. Or previous sexual relationships. I'm a girl. When another girl touches my man/boyfriend/possibly-fiancé-soon I see red. How would you have reacted if the situation was reversed with me and Elmo?"

Gabe's eyes flashed. "Worse."

"Problem solved." She bent and kissed him on the lips. It was meant to be a peck, but it turned into something more. She sensed fear in him and desperation. Luna tried to calm those fears and kiss them away.

"Get a fucking room!" someone shouted and everyone erupted in laughter and cheers.

"They're not used to me displaying affection. Period."

"You're a warm blooded man now," she smiled. "They'll have to get used to it."

"I'm going to need you later," he sighed.

"That so?"

"Oh," he winked, "you thought I meant... No, I mean for a scene, my sexy swashbuckling curse-breaker."

Luna gawked. "You mean I get to sword fight in one of your movies? I'm gonna be famous!"

"If you want to be, then I can make it happen."

"I don't care about fame, Gabe."

"I know." He lifted her and stood. "Everyone, this is Luna. She's my girlfriend."

He was grinning ear to ear. Luna thought it was cute. Everyone else appeared dumbfounded and at a loss for words.

"She will be treated with respect and if I find out otherwise, you'll wish you'd never worked for me. Clear?" There was the Gabriel Slade everyone knew how to respond to. There was a chorus of exaggerated "Yes, sir's".

"Eat. When you're done I'm going to send you to get made up. You're going to be fighting me tonight."

"Hm. Déjà vu."

He kissed her hand and smacked her butt to send her on her way. Luna found a vacant seat and plopped down right across from Lisa. The other woman glowered at her. Luna just smiled.

"How's the eye?" she asked.

"Fine," came the curt reply.

"I heard you're gonna have to postpone some filming. Sorry about that, but I have some advice that should help you out."

"Oh really? What's that?"

"Touch Gabe again and I'll cut your hands off." Luna gave her the biggest smile her face could stretch to. "Kay?" Lisa's look turned deadly. "Aw, what's wrong? Ya jelly?"

"Luna! Stop messing with her!" Cadence sat next to her with a huff. "I swear. You already gave the woman a black eye. Leave her alone. Sorry about her." Cadence shook her head and helped her plate with some food. "She doesn't know how to be nice."

"You'll have to excuse Loony Tunes," Michael said with a wink. Luna rolled her eyes. "She's a little off."

"Ya think?" Lisa's attitude changed completely now that she thought she had some new comers to commiserate with. "She punched Gabriel in the face."

Cadence looked at her shocked, then burst into laughter. "No you didn't! Oh my god! Sorry, Michael. What did he do?"

"Chased after her like a damn puppy," Lisa went on. "I've never seen him act so submissive. It's disgusting."

"Submissive?" Luna was the one laughing now. "Yeah, right. Gabe submissive. Can you see it?"

"Not in a million years," Cadence answered.

"I hear you're going to be a star, Luna."

Now that Lisa saw that no one was going to be on her side she stood and left with a huff.

"Yeah, something like that. I get to fight Gabe again."

"He told me. According to the script, you win."

"Damn right I win."

Dinner was so much fun. Luna and Cadence met the other cast. She never saw Elmo, but figured he was off sleeping. When they were done eating, Luna and Cadence were shown to a green room of their own. Gabe had their names on the door. Cadence squealed and gave Luna a huge hug. She had to admit. It was pretty awesome.

"I'll see you ladies on set," Michael said. He gave Cadence a polite kiss on the lips and walked away.

There were two women already there, the smiles plastered on their faces said they'd been plotting.

"OMG!" Cadence exclaimed. "So jelly. Can you count the flavors?"

Luna smiled. "Grape for sure."

"Not even grape, like, strawberry."

"Definitely." For the first time since they'd known each other, Luna didn't think Cadence's little -ism was so stupid.

"What's jelly?" A woman motioned Luna into a chair in front of a mirror and Cadence took the other.

"This room is just so cute!" Cadence was so full of shit. Luna kept her giggles tamped down, but only just.

"Jelly," Luna's lady tried. "So how did you manage to snag Mr. Slade?"

How did she know that was coming? She propped one of her feet up on the table and said, "My boots."

"My boots, actually, and you're welcome."

"Thank you for letting me borrow your shoes and meet the most amazing man I've ever met."

"What's he like?" the other woman asked.

"Oh, he's just so sweet and caring and attentive." It was all true, but the kind of sweet and caring she was talking about was not the same kind the women were thinking. Cadence sniggered next to her.

"Really? Mr. Slade? I think you've mistaken him with someone else."

"Oh no," she gushed. "Gabe is just the nicest man in the world. It's hard to believe someone didn't snag him up before I came along." She was lying now.

The women fell silent, but the looks they kept shooting each other were so funny that Luna had to look away from the mirror.

Cadence's hair was piled on top of her head in a fancy coif. It was thick and long enough that they didn't have to use any of the extensions they had out. Luna's was left down and made to look a little stringy.

"Am I supposed to be a pirate or something?"

"Yeah. You're going to have a sword fight with Mr. Slade's character."

Luna picked up a strand of fake hair and slapped Cadence in the face with it.

"Ew."

"Tell me about Michael. How are things with you two?"

She knew how things were. Once this whole thing was over, Michael was going to have to leave. Luna knew Cadence well enough to know that she was falling for him and it would tear her apart. She didn't know what kind of story Michael would come up with, but there was nothing that could possibly keep it from hurting.

"I don't know. Sometimes I think he likes me and sometimes it's like he's keeping his distance. You know, we've been together a month and a half and we haven't had sex."

She did know that. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No. It's just...it's not normal."

"At least you know he respects you."

"Honey," one of the hair women said, "the only thing a man respects is wide open legs. You get that man in bed and make sure he's satisfied."

"Yeah, I mean, I'm pretty good with men. I don't think that would work. Honestly, I think if I pushed it he'd leave."

"What's wrong with him? He's an idiot if he doesn't want a pretty thing like you."

"It's not that he doesn't want me, I don't think. It's just... I don't know. He's..."

"Religious."

"He is?" Cadence went wide-eyed.

Luna raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think he hates it when you say 'oh my god'? Gabe is the same way. I got my ass smacked for that today."

Cadence laughed. "Thanks for sharing."

"You're welcome."

### CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

The scene Luna had choreographed took place on half a boat. Cadence's part was to stand to the side and gasp as the others fought. Gabe looked so sexy with his dark guyliner and golden hair tied back at the nape of his neck. And she liked the leather pants. It was hard to focus on anything but his sexiness and he looked like he was having the same problem. The fact that he wouldn't look at anything else kind of gave it away.

She looked pretty great herself. She had her own pair of leather pants in a dark brown and a white shirt that billowed a bit in the breeze that came off the lake where they were filming. She had one speaking line which she was sure she could manage.

"Alright now," Michael said in her ear. "Aim for the heart, but don't hit him." Luna laughed. "You've got this. Fight him like you always have and you'll be fine."

"I'm not worried." The only thing they'd really needed to show her was how to pretend stab him.

"I am a little. He is too. You don't see that look in his eyes?"

"Yeah, I see it." But it wasn't worry she saw in his eyes. It was fire. Flames flickered in his eyes and set her body burning. She wasn't sure she was going to make it through this.

"Quiet on set! Mark."

When action was called, Luna leapt down from the platform she was on and onto the deck. She maneuvered through the people on the deck as was choreographed and hit her mark. Gabe hit his at the same time. They crossed blades and that was all. Luna stared up into his blue eyes. They were the bluest she'd seen them yet and they burned with thoughts of what he wanted to do to her.

"What happened?" There was a smile in his voice, but his eyes stayed ablaze. Calm, in control Gabriel Slade.

"You're going to have to stop that if you want this to work."

"Stop what?" the corner of his mouth quirked up this time.

"You know good and well what. Stop smoldering."

"Am I smoldering? I hadn't realized." He wiped the smile off his face, but didn't extinguish heat in his eyes.

"What happened?" the director called.

"She forgot what she was supposed to do," Gabe called, but his eyes never left hers.

"He distracted me," Luna added.

"Is this going to be a problem?" Gabe finally looked up at the director and gave him a hostile look. "Right. Reset. This is why I hate working with newbies."

Luna went back to her platform. This time, when action was called she did exactly what she was supposed to. She dropped to the deck, weaved through the throng of people, and hit her mark with Gabe. They crossed blades. He had his actor face on, in character. Whatever you wanted to called it.

"Did they send a woman to do a man's job?" he sneered.

Luna reacted with a series of thrusts. A moment later she disarmed him and kicked him to the deck.

Now her one line. "Die, motherfucker." She stabbed him. The blade went between his arm and side. Gabe made a gurgling sound and fell dead.

"Cut! That was...great. I think we got it in one!"

"You're a natural," Gabe said from the deck. A mischievous glint sparked in his eye.

Luna's knee buckled and she fell. Before she could hit the deck, however, Gabe wrapped his arms around her and pulled her under him.

"Oh man," he teased. "That was close. You almost fell. Good thing I was here to save your life."

"Gabriel Slade, you're making me out to be a truth teller. You may have some tabloids to deal with tomorrow. Our hair ladies were very questioning."

"Do you know how long I've been fighting tabloids? They don't mess with me much, though."

"No, I don't imagine they would. Can you let me up now?"

"Have I embarrassed you? You're blushing." His tone was pitiless.

"A little. I'm afraid you'll have to make it up to me later."

"My pleasure, little one." Gabe stood and helped her up. "It's okay everyone. She just tripped, that's all, but I saved her life. She's fine."

Luna rolled her eyes. Everyone was staring. She didn't think anyone would get used to this new, thawed out Gabriel.

"You can go to the room," he said. "I think I'm done with you."

"Oh gee. Thanks."

"I'll have someone take you up. I'll be there in a little bit." He leaned in and she thought he was going to kiss her, but he whispered in her ear, "I'm going to have to hunt tonight. I've been struggling with the moon since dark hit."

"That's why you're smoldering," she deduced.

"Am I still? Must be. Go. I'll see you in a few minutes."

Luna was glad he didn't smack her ass this time. In front of Mrs. Stone and Devonshire was bad enough. All of these people didn't need to see that.

Luna was escorted back to their room and she took another shower to wash off the makeup and get the gunk out of her hair. Gabe came in a few minutes later and got in with her. His hands found her skin and his lips found her neck.

"Damn," she whispered. "Something on your mind?"

As if in answer his dick jumped against her leg. She chuckled. Luna took hold of it and guided it inside her. Gabe grasped her thigh and lifted her leg around his hip.

"You," he commanded.

Luna pushed him a few inches away. She braced her hands on the wall and lifted her other leg so she was wrapped around him. She watched him as she started to work her hips.

He watched her, his eyes hot with lust and love and wonder. Luna worked him with her hips until she came around him. Gabe wrapped his arms around her and carried her out of the shower. He set her on the counter and beat his hips against her until she came again. And he kept going. When she reached her third climax Gabe came with her. He pressed his forehead against hers and grunted.

"Luna, you kill me."

She hummed. "You seem quite alive to me."

He laughed. "You made me this way. Please don't be mad."

"What have you done?" She hoped her tone was stern.

"I have to go. I'm having trouble controlling myself. The beast, it's...restless."

She heard the undertones of strain in his voice. "Go," she said. She lifted his face to look in his eyes. The beast was there just under the surface. "It doesn't like me does it?"

Gabe wiped the emotion from his face. Was it that serious?

"Why do you say that?"

"It's looking at me and I can tell."

"No, Luna. You mean it has to die."

"But it hasn't yet."

"No, but it will." He placed a reassuring hand on her cheek. If only he knew how little it helped.

Gabe pulled out of her and stepped away. Luna gasped.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Luna shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Get dressed so you can go get undressed and turn into the beasty."

Gabe winced and tried to smile at the same time. "Oh, it hates that."

"What? Beasty? Must have compensation issues."

Gabe's body contorted and he bit back a roar. He panted and shook his head. "Don't."

"I'm sorry." Luna slipped off the counter and went to him. She took his face in her hands and kissed him. "Go. Hurry." She gave him a little shove and handed him a towel. He draped it back over her head. Luna wrapped it around herself and sat on the bed while he threw on some clothes and disappeared through the door. Only then did she let herself panic.

They hadn't used a condom and she wasn't on birth control.

*****

Gabe met Devonshire at the back door of the kitchen.

"Be careful, Mr. Slade." Gabe questioned him with his eyes. "Wolves, sir."

Gabe nodded. "I'll make sure I'm clear of the village before I let the beast out." The beast understood him. They were going to hunt wolves, so it was content to wait a little longer. Finally something more challenging than the tame game they were used to.

"Very good. And Miss Grace? Does she require anything?"

"Nothing that I know of. You could check on her if you think she needs it."

"Have a good hunt."

"Thanks, Devonshire." He clapped the man on the shoulder and left, keeping to the shadows so watching eyes wouldn't see.

### CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The high one rejoiced in his depravity. He called his wolves to him and they came.

"The village," he told them. They needed no other prompting. His wolves raced into the village. For months they'd been picking the villagers off one by one in the dark of night. This time, they raced in together and began to slaughter them mercilessly.

The high one stalked into the village. Women and children screamed, ran past him. Men threatened him with fire. The high one grinned, but to them it looked like baring his teeth.

A pretty woman screamed. Instead of running she huddled against a building. Oh, she was perfect for his plans. The high one pounced.

The screams were coming from the direction that they scented the wolves had gone. The beast was ready for a real fight. No more of this caged shit. They ran as one to the edge of the village. There was a small, untended field that he had to cross. They crouched low to stay hidden and crawled across.

Pain shot through their hind leg as teeth clamped around the foot. No, not teeth, a trap. They shook their leg, but it wouldn't come free. There was no choice but to leave it. They ignored the pain best they could and limped across the rest of the field. At the edge was the body of a woman, ripped apart. Her stomach lay open and empty. For a moment he saw Belle's body torn and desecrated, but her face melted into Luna's and Gabe almost lost control.

The beast roared with Gabe's pain. They'd both loved Belle. Even the beast couldn't deny Belle's beauty and kind heart. Luna was no different, only stronger and able to defend herself. The beast conceded, accepted that Luna was theirs, and turned to find the fiend who'd done this.

His roar brought a throng of terrified villagers. They thought he'd done this. The beast roared in protest, but only scared the villagers more. They couldn't understand. Gabe tried to reason, but the beast was taking over. He had to get back to the castle.

Out of nowhere, a wolf jumped on Gabe's back. He roared in pain when it bit into his flesh. Another clamped its teeth onto his right forearm. They shook off the one on their arm, but not before it took a hunk of flesh with it. With a hard twist, they threw the one on their back and limped back across the field. They had to get back to the castle. They needed Luna.

*****

Luna woke with a start.

"Miss Grace, wake up."

"What is it, Devonshire?" His voice was pitched high and in the dim light cast by the bathroom light she'd left on for Gabe, she could see fear etched across his face.

"It's Gabriel."

Luna leapt out of the bed. She didn't care that she was only in Gabe's shirt and her underwear. She threw on some pants and followed Devonshire through the castle at a run. He took her outside to stables she hadn't seen when they came in.

Gabe's beast was huddled in the corner of a stall. There was so much blood pouring from a hole in his front leg. It took all Luna had to keep from throwing up.

"Gabe?"

The beast answered with a grunt. Was it acknowledging her?

"Beast. I'm coming in." She took a step into the stall. "I don't know what to do," she said to Devonshire without looking at him.

"I don't either."

Luna took another step into the stall. She was worried the beast wouldn't allow her to come too close. There was nothing she could do to help him. Slowly she made her way across the dirt and hay and knelt beside the beast.

"There's a trap on his leg."

"Shit." She'd never heard Devonshire swear. Not a good sign.

"Help me, Devonshire." Luna took hold of the rusty hunter's trap and pulled with all her strength. The damn thing wouldn't budge until Devonshire took it and pulled. The beast yanked its leg away and moaned with relief.

Luna crawled across the now bloody hay and settled herself against the beast's chest. "Please don't eat me," she whispered.

The beast blew in her hair. Luna looked into its eyes. The look it gave her was different than a few hours ago in the bathroom. It was thanking her. "Gabe," she whispered, "I'm here." She stroked the beast's fur and listened to its heart thunder in its chest.

*****

Michael's note had said to meet him outside on the front steps. When Cadence got there he was nowhere to be found, so she waited.

"Hi."

A timid voice caught her attention. Cadence turned to see one of Gabe's staff behind her.

"Hello," she said. "I'm waiting for my boyfriend."

"Oh, he's not coming."

She blinked. "Why not?"

"Because I left that note for you. I didn't think you'd come if I asked and I'm not supposed to fraternize with the guests."

"Oh, well I'm not with the cast. Not technically."

"I know, but Mr. Slade can be..." He acted like he didn't want to finish the sentence.

"Yeah. He can be, but he's different now I think. I didn't know him before but I saw some things. He's really changed since he met Luna."

"We've all noticed. Do you want to go for a walk or something?"

"Sure."

*****

Gabe groaned and rolled. The first thing he realized was how cold he was and just how uncomfortable it was to have hay stuck in his arse crack. His hand tangled in hair and he pulled it away. Luna's hair was twined through his fingers.

"No!" he gasped and looked down into dead green eyes. "No! Luna!"

"Gabe, I'm right here." Her eyes blinked. Not dead.

"Oh god, Luna. Oh, thank God!" He crushed her to his chest, ignoring the pain in his right arm.

"Gabe." Luna's hands splayed over his body. Up and down they went. It took a moment for him to realize she was checking for cuts and broken bones. It took another moment to realize she was shaking with sobs in his arms.

"Oh, Luna. It's okay. It's me. I'm here and I'm fine."

Luna pushed him away and struck him in the chest several times in a row. "How could you be so stupid!" she almost screamed. "Do you have any idea how you scared me?"

"Do you have any idea how you scared me?" Gabe countered. "When I woke with you next to me all I could see was... I thought you were dead. How long have you been here?"

"You don't remember?" she asked, and she sounded little hurt. "I've been here all night. Devonshire came to get me. He was as scared as I was. We didn't think you were going to make it. I took the trap off your leg."

"I remember that, actually. More the relief of it." He looked down at his ankle. It was facing the wrong way. "Fuck!"

"What?" Luna pulled away from him like she'd hurt him, then followed his gaze down. "Oh my god. Gabe. Your foot!"

"Luna, watch your mouth."

"Uh, you just said it, Gabriel."

"I wasn't taking His name in vain," he said. "I was calling on Him in my time of need."

"You're so full of shit."

Tears had etched lines through the dirt on her face and he didn't think she'd ever looked more beautiful than she did now - dirty, covered in his blood, her green eyes shining from the tears.

"That's not a problem."

"What? How is that not a problem? Your foot is on backwards."

"It's not quite backwards."

"Gabriel Slade. Let me see your arm."

Gabe stretched his arm out to her and wished he hadn't. A chunk was literally missing. "Shit."

"Oh. My." She caught herself before she said it again. "No, Gabe. No. This is not okay." She pushed him onto his back

"Shit!" The exclamation was out before he could stop himself.

"What's wrong with your back?" Luna's voice was lethal and she enunciated each word like he was hard of hearing.

"I got scratched."

"Let me see it."

Gabe turned and let her see his back.

"No. I can't handle this. Nope."

When he looked up she was walking away.

"Luna, come back! Don't leave me here naked!"

"Why don't you skin that beast of yours and make a coat?"

Gabe was surprised to feel the beast laugh. "You think that's funny do you?" The beast answered with a huff. "Luna! I can't run after you!"

"Good. Hobble." Her reply was distant as she walked away.

"Sir."

Gabe smiled. "Good morning, Devonshire."

"Good to see you well, sir."

"I hear you were worried about me."

"Me? No. Never."

"In the future, Luna does not need-"

"Sir, I won't call her in unless I think she needs to be there."

Gabe nodded. "Fair enough." He took the floor length trench Devonshire handed him and put it on. "We have a small problem," he said and nodded to his foot.

"Oh. Do you want to fix it now or upstairs?"

"Get me to the room and fix it there."

"Very well, sir."

Devonshire helped him hobble through the castle and to his room. Luna was already there, storming around trying to find clothes.

"This shirt is ruined, Gabriel."

Gabe scoffed. "Gabriel, she says. Oh, man. Devonshire, just put me on the bed."

"What are you going to do?"

He didn't answer. He let Devonshire sit him on the edge of the bed.

"How do you want to do this?" the older man answered.

"Just do it."

"Do what?" Luna demanded.

Devonshire shrugged, grabbed hold of Gabe's ankle and twisted it around. Gabe screamed with his pain and Luna joined him.

"Oh my god."

Gabe called her to him and she came. She trembled in his arms and started crying all over again. "I'm fine," he told her. "Just had to break it so we can put it back on straight."

"Gabe, you suck."

"Yes, I know. Never had a complaint yet, either." She punched him in the ribs and he laughed. "Stop it. No foreplay in front of the help."

Devonshire snorted rudely. "Help."

"Sorry, Devonshire. Way to ruin the mood."

"What mood?" Luna asked. "I'm not going to touch you. You can do it yourself."

"You can watch."

She rolled her eyes at him. Gabe gave her the grin that melted everyone, but she stared at him stony-faced.

"Thaw woman! Thank you, Devonshire. That will be all."

"Yes, sir."

Devonshire left.

"Luna, come here, please."

"No. I'm more mad than I was when you sent me away."

"Why? What did I do?" He hoped he hadn't hurt her or...worse.

"You almost died, you idiot. If I'm angry I won't start crying again."

"Come here, Luna." He let his authority drip into his tone. "I'm not going to tell you again."

"I'm not a child," she said meekly.

"I'm not treating you like a child, I'm getting frustrated with you because we both had a rough night and I want you in my arms. I'm in pain, Luna. Let me hold you."

She ran into his arms and when she bumped every wound he had he bit his lips together and refused to complain. She was warm and solid and as the memories of the night began to filter back through he held her tighter. The smell of her hair and the feel of her skin helped to ground him and keep the beast from rising to the surface. Somehow it had found peace with her overnight.

"Your shirt is ruined," she sobbed against his shoulder.

"I can buy a new one. I'll buy three new ones and you can keep one in each room. When we get home you're moving in."

"What happened to that proposal?" she asked.

"The beasty ruined that last night." He shifted on the bed and something pointy poked him in the ass. He stuck his hand in the pocket of the jacket and came up with the diamond ring he'd bought for her a month ago. He owed Devonshire a raise.

"Luna." He held her away and held the diamond up. "Do you want something fancy or do you want the ring?"

"I want it!" she said.

"Shall I get on one knee?"

"Will you be able to get back up?"

Gabe laughed. "If not, then we can lay on the floor." He slipped off the bed and down to one knee.

"Luna Grace," he began, "Oh wait." He threw off the jacket and grinned. "Better." Luna giggled. "Luna Grace, I'm sorry I'm such a beast, but I love you. Marry me and the world will be yours."

"I don't need the world. Just you. Yes, I'll marry you."

Gabe slipped the ring on her finger and she grinned. "Gabe."

"Yes, love."

"I have to go tell, Cadence."

"Of course, you do."

"I'll be right back."

"I'll be right here. You might want to change that shirt first."

"Oh. Right." He watched Luna strip out of the shirt and throw on some jeans and one of his huge t-shirts. "Be right back."

Gabe pushed himself back up to the bed and laid back. He'd wait for her to come back to get in the shower.

*****

Luna bounded down the hall to Cadence's room and banged on the door. "Cadence!" she called. "Cadence, wake up!"

No one answered the door. Luna waited a minute before she knocked again.

A door down the hall opened and Lisa stuck her black eye out for a peek. "She left really early. Just after sun up. Can you shut up now?"

"Where did she go?"

"How am I supposed to know?" She slammed her door and disappeared.

Luna trotted back down the hall to her room. Gabe was stretched out naked on the bed. When she opened the door he grinned at her and said, "Shower?"

### CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

The ballroom scene was set in the banquet hall, a different room entirely from the dining hall, Luna learned. Luna's character from the pirate ship was to dance with her sexy pirate. It was supposed to be the scene where she learned who he was. Once they'd showered and rested, Gabe spent the day teaching her to dance. He was really very good and graceful on his feet. With her training in footwork for balance she picked it up quickly.

She'd been allowed to keep her ring on because it fit into the lavishness of the scene. Every now and then she would look down as the three rows of staggered vertical diamonds sparkled in the light. Three more diamonds flanked them in a triangular pattern on each side, surrounded by silver loops. Gabe wouldn't let her take it off anyway.

Luna hadn't heard from Cadence all day. At first, she just thought her friend was exploring, but when Michael approached her an hour ago asking if she'd seen her, she became worried.

Gabe stood in front of her and bowed neatly at the waist. "Milady." He took her hand and kissed the backs of her fingers, setting the diamonds in the ring to sparkling. "Shall we take our marks?"

Luna followed him across the floor. "Have you heard anything about Cadence?"

"Not yet. I have several people out looking for her. I'm sure she's fine."

It was the uncertainty that bothered her.

"We'll shoot the entrances later," Gabe told her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I want to get the dances done though. They've been stressing me."

"Poor thing."

"Everyone on their marks."

Luna smiled at him. "Gabe..."

"Yes?" His eyes cleared, suddenly bright blue like the other day.

"Action!"

The words she wanted to say were lost when the music and chatter started, but the look in Gabe's eyes said he was looking forward to hearing them.

"I keep spying you around," Gabe started his lines.

The cameras were so close, Luna was worried they might bump into them, but they'd practiced this with people posing as cameras and once they were started she felt her confidence rise.

"Each time I approached you, suddenly you were gone." The words slipped off his tongue so eloquently and Luna was reminded of how old he really was.

"I am a woman of enterprise, sir. I don't have time to stand around."

"Indeed, ma'am."

Gabe swept her around the room past the other actors saying their lines. Any time she caught a glimpse of Lisa she was sending sharp looks her way.

"Cut! Lisa, you missed your cue."

"Sorry."

"I don't have time for this, Monroe."

"I said sorry!"

"Get it this time. Everyone to your marks! Don't let the newbie show you up."

Luna smiled.

"Don't get cocky," Gabe warned.

"I'm not."

But this time, Luna was the one who missed her cue.

They spent most of the night trying to get the scene just right. A little after one they took a break.

Gabe took her by the hand to the side of the room and sat in a chair positioned there for the scene. He pulled her onto his lap and rubbed his nose against her neck.

"Stop that."

"Nope."

"Gabe, please."

"Why?"

"Because I want you to take me to bed and we can't right now."

"I'm the boss. I can do anything I want. If I choose to shut down shooting for the night-"

"You'd waste a lot of money."

"Yeah. That's true, but you're worth it."

Luna smiled. "Gabe."

"Hm."

"I-" She faltered this time. "I'm worried about Cadence."

He narrowed his eyes and contemplated her. "Devonshire!"

She smiled. Even when Gabe was working, the man wasn't far away. He came across the floor like he owned the place. People moved out of his way.

"Yes, sir?"

"I need my cell phone please."

Devonshire bowed, and retrieved the phone from his pocket. Gabe took it.

"Thank you." To Luna, Gabe said, "I'll show you a little trick. Show me Cadence."

The phone's screen flashed bright in her eyes and she had to turn away. When she looked back, the screen was dark. "I don't see anything. You use that to spy on me?"

"It usually works. Devonshire, did..."

The screen moved and they realized why they couldn't see anything. The image was outside. It was dark, but as the image moved, the moonlight fell on the prone form of a body lying dead on the ground.

"Oh my god. Gabe," she gasped.

"Wrap it up!" Gabe shouted.

"But I haven't got-" the director tried to protest.

"I fucking said wrap it up. Devonshire, with me."

"What about me." She ran to keep up as Gabe's long-legged stride carried them out of the room.

"You're staying here."

"I most certainly am not!"

Gabe spun on her and gave her his most stern glare. "You're staying here because I won't let anything happen to you." He looked up. "Michael. Keep everyone here. No one leaves the hall, understood?"

"What's happened? Is it Cadence?"

Gabe nodded. "To the room, Luna. Wait for me there."

Luna went to the room, but she didn't wait. She threw off the encumbering dress and tossed on some jeans and a t-shirt and her jogging shoes. Then she was out the door to find Gabe.

"Where are you going?"

Luna turned at Michael's voice as she made it to the front hall. "Where are you going? You're supposed to keep everyone in the banquet hall."

"I put someone else on it. Come on."

Instead of stopping her, Michael led her out of the castle and across the yard into the woods. They didn't have far to go before they stumbled upon the small clearing where Gabe and Devonshire were bent over.

"I told you both to stay inside." Gabe's voice growled, furious.

"I know what you _told_ me to do," she retorted.

Gabe moved so quickly that he was only a blur. He appeared before her, eyes blazing. "You aren't safe out here."

"She is my best friend, Gabriel." She was mad.

His eyes softened some. "You don't want to see this, Luna."

"I need to know what happened." She prayed the gore was minimal, but knew that it wouldn't be pretty.

Gabe took her hand and stepped aside. Cadence's throat was missing. Her spinal column stared up at her through the bloody mess. Luna's knees gave way and her stomach churned. Tears burned in her eyes. "No." The weak whimper that came out failed to convey the pain she felt. Why did they take her? She was nothing to them, nothing to Gabe. It didn't make sense.

The world spun around her and she thought she would be sick.

"Luna." Gabe's arms went around her and his body blocked her view of the carnage once again. "Luna, my love. I'm so sorry."

Luna cried into his chest. Her best friend was gone, murdered. "Why did they do this?" she asked.

"I don't know, little one. I wish I did."

She wanted her swords. She channeled her pain, turned it into anger, and pushed Gabe away. The tears stopped as fury ran through her veins.

A blur of motion swept in front of her and Gabe was gone. She heard his grunt of pain, then Michael's and Devonshire's. Low growls reached her ears as a blinding white light flashed before her. She turned away and shielded her eyes.

A whimper of pain. A shout. She didn't know what was going on.

Luna opened her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Elmo's voice held a rich quality she'd never heard before. "Elmo?"

He stood before her, glowing, Machaira swords in each hand. He didn't have wings, but his soft brown eyes were so full of light that there was no mistaking what he was.

"I'm sorry, Luna. I couldn't tell you."

"You're an angel." Her disbelief was palpable.

He nodded. "Yours."

Hers. Her protector. He was her guardian angel. How fucking unbelievable.

"Well, now that we all know what we are." The man who'd brought the wolves to Gabe's house three weeks ago sauntered into the clearing. He tilted his head to the side and smiled. "You are the one to break the curse," he hissed. "I cannot let that happen."

Gabe threw the wolf on his chest across the clearing and moved to attack, but three more of the mangy creatures boxed him in.

"Move and I will kill your love."

"You're going to kill me anyway," she said.

"That's true, but it will be more fun if you just play along. After all, you're already here."

The lilt in his voice made Luna sick. They were here because he'd brought them here. Cadence's dead body was the bait to bring them all together. Pain and fury boiled inside her until she couldn't hold it back. She snatched the Machairas from Elmo and leapt at the man who'd taken her best friend's life, but she attacked out of emotion and it was her undoing.

A wolf sailed through the air to intercept her, knocking her to the side. She hit her head on the frozen ground next to Cadence's body.

"Luna!" Gabe and Elmo called her name in unison, their voices harmonizing. It kept her from falling unconscious, but pain ripped through her head.

"All you have to do is admit your love for him, and it's over," the wolfman said. "I can't have that."

"But I do-"

"No!" He cut her off. "The curse won't be broken this night," he growled.

Luna rolled over, her body aching. She reached out to Gabe. His eyes, now pinpoints of blue light, flashed as she caught his gaze. The wolfman laughed.

"Yes. That's it. Turn into the beast you so hate. I won't allow you to ascend to The General. You die tonight!"

Gabe howled. It was an eerie sound coming from his fully human body. As he began to change, Luna looked around for Elmo's lost sword. It was several feet away half buried in snow. Something whistled past her and a sword stuck in the ground an inch from her hand. Elmo's second. She used the handle to pull herself halfway up as Elmo materialized in a flash of light next to the other sword.

The sound of feet tramping through the woods caught her ear.

"There are others coming," Elmo said.

Gabe howled again, but this time he was accompanied by the snap of bones. His cries filled with pain and were joined by Devonshire. Michael threw the wolf that pinned him as he flashed bright and white.

"Get up, Luna," Michael ordered. "Come stand behind me."

Luna managed to push herself up and stumbled over to Michael. More growls sounded behind her and she turned around in terror.

"It's okay." Michael's voice was calm. "They're Gabriel's."

Gabe was fully changed now, but wolves and humans appeared on the other side of the clearing. One moment there was dead calm as wolves and beasts breathed heavy in the snow. The humans stared, frightened and far too thin. They held makeshift weapons that were straight out of a black and white monster hunting film.

The next moment it was a free for all. Luna ended up smashed between Elmo and Michael as beasts and humans attacked each other. Michael and Elmo slowly edged her closer to the edge of the clearing, away from the fighting. Away from Gabe.

She watched as everything happened in slow motion. Gabe threw a wolf trying to eat through his back to his spine. Two of the townspeople attacked him with wooden clubs that did little more than annoy him. Gabe's beast reared up and roared, but when he did, a scraggly looking man pulled a dagger from his shirt and pierced Gabe through the heart.

"Gabe!" Luna screamed. She wiggled from between her two guards. Elmo's arms went around her but she shoved him away. There were so many wolves between her and Gabe. She swung her sword and lopped the head off one. Another leaped at her and she cut it down too. She barely saw them, they didn't even register on her radar. All she knew was she needed to get to Gabe and there were things in her way. She leapt over bodies and cut down wolves until she was at Gabe's side. He was on his back. Blood poured from the wound and his nostrils flared with the effort to keep breathing.

"Gabe. Come back. Change. Come back to me."

"Luna!" Michael and Elmo shouted her name.

Luna turned and ran her sword through a wolf. She skewered him midair.

"No more!" she screamed. "I will kill you all!" What was left of the people and the wolves and angels stopped and stared at her. "I will kill you all." She dropped back to her knees beside Gabe as Michael and Elmo stepped up behind her, protecting.

"Luna." Her name on the beast's lips in Gabe's voice broke her.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Stop her!" the head wolf shouted, but no one moved to do it. "Don't let her break the spell!"

"The words, Luna. You have to say the words."

"That's it?" She almost laughed. "That's all I have to do?" Was it that easy? "I love you, Gabriel. Please don't leave me. Please don't..." The beast sighed and his hand fell limp. His fur shifted and for a moment she though he was breathing. Then the fur disappeared. It left the beast's body from head to toe and transformed back into Gabriel, the man, as she held him. There was a smile on his lips. A happy, contented smile, but no life. His blue eyes were closed and no blood pumped through his veins. "No."

He was gone. The man she loved was gone. Her admission was the words that ushered him into his death.

"Luna, get back."

"No."

Michael took hold of her and started pulling her away. "Luna, you've got to move."

"No!" She screamed and fought him, but he was far too strong

"Look!"

Luna looked up at Michael, then to Gabe's glowing body. He was glowing. His body was outlined in white and he looked like he was floating. She scrambled away as light beams came from the sky and men manifested in them. They wore black pants and white shirts with black trench coats over top.

Gabe's eyes came open, the blue of them so bright that they blinded her momentarily, but she couldn't look away.

"Gabe," she gasped. He took a breath and the glaring wound in the middle of his chest sealed itself shut. Gabe stood to his feet and looked around. When his eyes landed on her he smiled and it was so angelic that it broke her heart. She began to weep again.

"Luna." He stepped to her and placed a hand on her cheek. "You broke my curse."

She smiled, leaned her face into his hand. It was so warm. She took a step back, out of his reach. Gabe frowned.

"I see you now," she whispered. "I could never ask you to be something you're not and you're not human. You never were. I know that now."

"Are you leaving me?" His voice left him with only a whisper.

"No," she shook her head and gave a sad smile. "You're leaving me. You have to. I'm sorry. I broke your curse and He restored you to your place. The wolves are going to try to destroy the world. You have to save it for us."

Gabe frowned at her, then looked to Michael. Who gave him some kind of acknowledgement.

"I love you." Gabe gave her a hard look. "Thank you, Luna." Light surrounded him and he dissipated into it.

Luna dropped to her knees and sobbed. Was that what it felt like to be selfish?

### CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Luna woke in her bed and stared out the window to the bright sunshine.

"We can't find the wolf leader, Luna."

Elmo's voice brought fresh tears to her eyes. She'd begged him to stay with her, just in case the wolfman tried to come for her, but there was no reason, was there? Gabe was gone.

"Why are you still here?" she asked. "Why didn't He take you too?"

"I don't know. Maybe you still need protecting."

Luna turned over so she could look her friend in the face. "Everyone's gone, Elmo."

He gave her a sad smile. "Not everyone," he assured her. "I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere."

She sobbed into the pillow and didn't protest when Elmo slid into the bed behind her. She was so cold.

"Luna, we're going to be okay." She heard the pain in his voice and remembered they'd both lost Cadence. She let him hold her because it was what she needed most in that moment. She couldn't be alone. Not now.

She loved Gabriel Slade and now he was gone. She was alone.

### An Excerpt from Beast Anew

### Chapter one

Gabriel slammed his fist through the wall of the shit hole hotel room he'd been stuck in for the last week.

"Calm down," Michael said from the other side of the room. He was looking out the window keeping watch for God only knew what.

"How in...heaven and earth can you tell me to calm down?" Gabriel growled, wishing he could use stronger language. "It's been a week since Luna confessed her love for me. One whole week since she broke the curse. I thought being forced to change into that beast once a month was the real curse, but this... This is worse. Without Luna, I'm helpless." He slammed his fist through the wall again, making a fourth hole. "I want to see Him!"

"If you don't stop," Michael said, his voice calm, "the only thing you're going to see is the inside of a jail cell. The manager is coming now as it is."

Gabe wiped all emotion from his face and put his swords away, unsure of when he'd actually called them forth to manifest. Without looking he fixed the wall and settled against the edge of the desk, though he was anything but relaxed. He was coiled tight with pent up aggression and frustration, ready to spring without warning.

Michael had been a friend before the fall, a friend during, and now he was the only one who really understood what Gabe was going through. Well, with the exception of The General who didn't want to give him audience.

"You'll see Luna again," Michael said on his way to the door. "But you won't get an audience with The General any time soon." He pulled the door open as the manager, a fat slob with greasy hair, lifted his meaty fist to knock.

"I have complaints of loud noises and shouting coming from this room."

Gabe's grief wound its way through his chest and squeezed his heart. He had little left but the anger and pain of losing Luna after working so hard to win her over. How was this fair? He was _supposed_ to love her. How could that be taken away from him?

"We're sorry. We'll try to keep the noise down." Michael shot Gabe a fiery glance and Gabe nodded his acquiescence.

"Alright. Any more, though, and I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"We understand."

Michael closed the door before the man was obviously ready to go. The knock that was interrupted moments ago sounded now. Michael pulled the door open again and gave an irritated, impatient glare.

"When did your friend get here?" the manager asked, unphased.

"He was with me when I checked in."

"No, I don't think he was."

"Yes. He was."

Michael and the manager stared each other down until the manager gave in and nodded. "Must have been with you when you checked in. Keep the noise down."

"Yes sir."

The manager walked away scratching his dirty hair. Michael closed the door, set the locks in place and closed the blinds as the room burst with white light. Three beams shot from the ceiling to the floor and three of the Host of Heaven materialized within them.

"Captain," one of them said, his eyes trained on Gabe. "We are here to receive our orders."

Gabe scrubbed his face with a hand. His stubble had grown into a full beard and mustache in the last few days. His shoulder-length blonde hair was tied back but needed a good scrub and combing before he started to look like the manager.

"I don't even know what the problem is yet," he growled.

The angel looked to Michael. "He hasn't been apprised of the situation?"

"He's mourning. He needed some time."

Gabe nodded thankfully to Michael. Time was obviously something they couldn't afford, but his friend - his brother - knew how badly he needed it.

"He's had all the time in the world," the new angel said. "Now is the time for war." He turned to Gabriel. "Haven't you had enough time in the last millennia?"

Gabe growled and clenched his fists. For the first time in two thousand years, he missed the beast he used to be. It struck fear into the hearts of all, even warriors of the Host of Heaven. Not even Michael-

"Enough," Michael intervened, a staying hand on Gabe's chest. "You have no idea what he's been through in these last days. He is ready to lead. He needed time to adjust."

Adjust was a word the angel seemed to understand, though it was a crude understatement. Gabe stood his ground. Emotion seeped from his pores like a human, but he wasn't human anymore. Once again, his heart had stopped beating. He no longer needed it to sustain life. He was an angel.

"Well, is he adjusted yet?"

No mercy. He would receive none from these men. His men. His only job was to lead them in the war that could mean the end of mankind.

Michael started to speak, but Gabriel stopped him. "As adjusted as one can be. Tell me of the danger we face."

"Cethin, the high one, plans to unleash the spirits of the dead upon the world, just as it is foretold will happen in The Judgment."

Gabe nodded. "Do we know how he plans to do this?"

The angels shook their heads.

With a deep breath, Gabe cleared his mind and his heart. Alright, he thought. If You won't grant me audience, show me what I need to do.

Someone screamed. Gabe's chest tightened painfully. Since his heart didn't beat, he knew it couldn't be a heart attack. He hadn't felt the urging in two thousand years. It left an aching gap in his chest that slowly filled with molten lava.

The men, his men once again, were looking to him expectantly. Wasn't this what he'd strived toward for so many years? Wasn't this where he wanted to be? Yes, two thousand years ago - fuck that, three months ago - this was his sole purpose for living, to be in this position again. But today, the only position he wanted to be in was laying next to Luna and watching her sleep.

There wasn't time for that though. His chest throbbed like there was a beast within him trying to escape and he knew all about how that felt. The men's expectant faces, the urging, this was his new purpose.

"With me," he ordered, his gruff voice giving no room to argue.

They were in the next room a split second later. It took another second to assess the situation. There was a woman in her underclothes with her back pressed the wall. She screamed again when they appeared. He could feel the fear rolling off her. A man stood between her and the door.

"I don't need the Host of Heaven." The man spoke and his voice was high and low at the same time, English and Austrian.

"Who has possessed you?" Gabe demanded. At the word 'possessed' the woman looked at him, her eyes wide.

"Who or what I am is of no concern to you. What you should ask is why I am here." It turned to look at him. Its neck swiveled in a non-human way and its eyes were black as the darkest night.

"Why are you here? What is your name?" Gabe let all of his power and authority drip into his voice. It dropped an octave and vibrated through the room. The woman blinked at him.

The possessed man turn its body to face the direction it was looking. "We will be the ruination of this world until we have the child. When they child is in our possession we will feed from it until we can bring forth the pestilence upon this world. We will rule mankind until the darkening of the sun."

Gabe nodded. "Michael, get the woman."

"Yes, sir."

"Who is this child?" Gabe asked, but the creature within the man's body only cackled. "What do you need it for? Why is it so special?" He motioned the other host to join Michael in protecting the woman. They appeared around her, forming a hedge of protection.

"We want its blood."

The creature lunged at Gabe, sending him flying backward into the wall with its force and speed. Gabe pushed it away and called his swords forth.

"You cannot save the child," it taunted. "You will not save the child. We will reign victorious."

"Who sent you?" Gabe growled.

"The high one." The creature lunged at him again.

"Gabriel, don't!" Michael shouted just before Gabe skewered it.

At the last moment he let his swords go and they dissipated into thin air. Gabe was tackled again. Sharp nails dug into the flesh of his back as it latched onto him. Razor sharp teeth sank into his neck. Gabe roared with anger and pain. He tried to push the creature away, but it had a tight hold on him. Its claws dug deeper into his back.

Gabe called forth the Light and sent it into the creature with one short burst. It screeched. Its claws ripped the flesh and fabric from Gabe's back as it sailed across the room and against the far wall. Gabe pushed himself up from where he'd fallen on his face.

Michael stood over the creature where it writhed and moaned on the floor.

"Are you going to finish it?" Gabe teetered on his feet and fell to the edge of the bed, woozy.

"It is still human, Gabriel." Michael looked at him with concern. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know." Gabe touched his neck. His fingers came a away smeared with blood and a thick black, oily substance. "Damn."

"You've been poisoned," Michael said unnecessarily.

Gabe groaned. Or was it a growl? He couldn't tell. His vision darkened and his hearing blinked in and out.

"Can..urn it off?"

Urn it off? Gabe tried to think, but he couldn't seem to get the right thoughts. The poison burned through his system and his body went rigid.

"What is this? What's going on here?"

Was that the manager? Something _thumped_. Oh, it was his body hitting the floor. His head slumped against the worn carpet. He tried to blink the blackness out of his eyes.

"Burn it off!" Michael was in his face screaming.

Gabe reached for The Light again, but he couldn't manage to touch it like he had earlier. "Can't," he gasped.

"Gabriel Slade," Michael growled, "you have to."

"Growling at me?" Gabe frowned. He tried to sit up, tried to look up at his friend, but the blackness began to swallow him. He couldn't fight it anymore. Maybe he was still more human than he'd thought.

Or maybe he was just weak. It had been a long time since he'd had to fight the poison. When was the last time? Oh yeah, two thousand years ago before he fell.

Gabriel slammed into the tree, taking it with him as he flew backward through the woods. His momentum dragged him half a mile through the air before he finally came to a halt flat on his back with a blue spruce between him and the ground. He groaned and rolled to his feet, stretching and popping his spine to work out the kinks.

"Don't fall asleep on me now, Gabriel. I was just starting to have some fun." Cethin was one of the most beautiful dark angels. His rich, chocolate brown hair hung past his shoulders making his grey-blue eyes all the more intense.

Gabriel manifested his swords as Michael appeared beside him.

"Heard you could use some help." Michael grinned and his own swords were in his hands.

"I had it, actually, but you're welcome to join in the fun and games."

Michael chuckled.

"No fair calling in help." Cethin raised his hand parallel to the ground and several more angels rose up from the dirt and leaves. "That ought to even the odds," he said with a sly smile.

"I count twenty," Michael said confidently.

"By my count, eighteen." Gabe crisscrossed his swords, anxious.

Michael shrugged. "I was rounding up. Divide and conquer? Or do you want to team up and take them out one-by-one?"

"Let's get this over with. I've been in this wretched place for days."

"Divide and conquer it is then."

Just like every human had a guardian angel, or a protector, every angel had their nemesis. Gabriel and Cethin were friends until Cethin chose to follow the dark one into hell. Now they fought each other every chance they got.

Gabriel crossed blades with one of Cethin's dark followers. He was a weak one and easily dispatched. Across from him, Michael took on two others.

Gabriel swung at a dark one that he thought he could easily get rid of, but at the last minute, it turned and blocked his blade. It snarled and Gabriel growled back. Something flickered in the creature's eyes, some leftover shred of humanity. Though its body was mutilated and badly burned, bent at strange angles, there was still life there.

"Michael!" he shouted. "They're human! Possessed humans!" He backed off and right into the arms of another. The possessed creature hissed. Black ooze coated Gabriel's skin where it touched him and three rows of razor sharp teeth ripped into his shoulder.

Gabriel cried out in pain, pushing The Light from his body. "We have to go!" he shouted, but his heavenly body was now tainted. He was stuck on earth until The General saw fit to let him back in.

Michael rushed to his side. "I've got you brother," he said, taking the head of the creature that sought to devour him. Light wrapped around them both, taking them away.

Gabe came to, clawing at some unseen force.

"Gabriel." Michael's familiar voice pulled him back into the room where they were. The others were gone. The woman sat in the corner crying while the possessed man's body lay in an unmoving heap against the far wall where Gabe had sent it. Michael stared down at him with concerned eyes. "Are you well?"

He shook his head, but attempted to push himself to his feet. His neck burned like fire. The wound still oozed. He could feel it running into what was left of his shirt.

"The manager heard the scream and came to make sure everything was alright," Michael explained. "Imagine his surprise to find you bleeding and oozing all over his hotel room."

Michael's voice hinted at humor, but Gabe wasn't in the mood. He looked up at the angry, yet frightened man. "What should we do with him?"

Michael chuckled. "I suppose we could grind his bones to make our bread."

The manager squeaked.

"What's your name?" Gabe asked.

"Albin," the man answered. "I won't tell anyone what happened. I... I..."

"Calm down." Gabe tried to sound reassuring, but he just came across more growly than before. "We're angels, not killers. That man was possessed by a demon. Do you know who he was?"

Albin shook his head. "He rented a room from me last week. That's all I know."

Gabe stumbled a little on his feet. "And the woman?"

"My wife."

Oh. "Do you have a baby? Is your wife pregnant?"

Again, Albin shook his head. "No. We have no children."

Gabe frowned. "Alright. Go to your wife."

Albin rushed across the room and took his wife in his arms.

"What are you thinking?" Michael put his back to the sobbing couple.

"We need to find out who this child is and why it's so important."

Michael chuckled. "It always comes down to a child, doesn't it? I'll see what I can find out. What are you going to do?"

"Assemble the host and let them know of our mission."

They nodded to each other and left the cramped little room. Gabe took the possessed man's body with him.

### ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tyffani Clark Kemp might be the quietest person in the room, but that just means she's probably the biggest freak too. She is a multi-genre author with a gift for the written word and a desire to help all Indies reach their full potential. In 2012, she and her best friend Kimberly Fudge started SideStreet Cookie Publishing for authors who want to remain independent, but don't have the time or the knowledge to do it all themselves. From the age of eleven she dedicated her life to writing and making sure she was good at her craft. Now, she passes that knowledge on to others. Her friends would describe her as determined and giving. She may be quite, but she always has a story to tell.

www.tyffanickemp.com

<http://www.facebook.com/withoutrulesseries>

www.sidestreetcookiepublishing.com

Other Books by Tyffani Clark Kemp

LeKrista Scott, Vampire Hunted Series

Scorned

Hunted

Conquered

The Beasty Series

Beast Within

Beast Anew

The Shaggy Maggie Band Series

Shaggy Maggie

The Without Rules Series

The Man Without Rules

The Red Wife

The Power Couple

The Vyberdex Chronicles

Blood and Shattered Glass

Anthologies and Short Stories

For Christmas' Sake: Nice Edition

For Christmas' Sake: Naughty Edition

Rehab is For Witches: A Diary Full of Names

