Bound To Moonlight (Sisters Of The Moon #2)

On the other hand, it suited his grim mood.

He could have gone straight to the hotel. Instead, he’d left Rannoch station, hefted his rucksack over his shoulder, and set off across the moor. He wasn’t expecting to find anything straight away. Hell, he wasn’t actually expecting to find anything ever—this was a waste of time—but after being in the crowded train, so close to so many people, he’d needed fresh air. These days, people made him uncomfortable, put him on edge, made him…hungry.

For a second, the mist burned off, the sun shone down and the whole world changed. Light sparkled off the water and the fresh green grass waved in the gentle breeze.

He caught a movement out of the corner of his eye and whirled around, searching the flat expanse. Nothing. But as he turned away, something shifted again at the edge of his vision.

Far in the distance, a shapeless black mass streaked across the moor. Connor squinted, trying to make out what it could be.

A wolf?

If it was, it was a huge one. But as he stared, the creature paused in its headlong dash and reared up on its hind legs. A pony, with a small figure clinging to its back. A pale face peered at him, but they were too far away to see clearly. Then they were off again.

“Hey, wait,” Connor called out with little expectation of being heard.

He swore loudly, shrugged off his rucksack, and dropped it to the grass. Then he took chase. It was wonderful to be moving. The strength flowed through his muscles. He felt alive, and for a brief time the heaviness of spirit dropped away as he leapt over tussocks of heather and the scent of crushed herbs rose up from under his feet.

Moving with inhuman speed, he was catching up quickly. The rider turned to look. A girl, and Connor could make out the horror on her features as she realized he was so close.

The black pony stopped abruptly, and they whirled around to face him. The girl held up a hand, palm facing him, and shook her head fiercely.

Connor came to a halt ten feet away.

“No,” she whispered, her voice hoarse as though from lack of use. “I can’t…you must go. Please.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.” Connor kept his tone soothing as he took a step closer.

“Not me. You.”

For a moment, he had no idea what she meant. Then she threw back her head and screamed. Pain flooded his mind. He tried to focus, but a red hot poker drilled into his head, molten metal seeping into his brain. His control slipped away and he fell to his knees. He tried to fight, but the agony was unbearable as though his brain boiled in his skull. He collapsed to all fours, his back spasmed, his head lifted, and he howled.

***

Beneath her, Dubh screamed in terror. The pony reared up, tossing Keira onto the ground, then sped away. Keira landed hard, rolled, and came up on her knees, still trying to control the outflow from her mind. But the power held her in a vice-like grip.

She dragged herself through the damp bracken, knowing that only distance could save him now.

How had he gotten so close?

This was her fault. She’d spied him across the moor and the ever present loneliness had welled up inside her. Without thinking, she’d nudged Dubh nearer, but she’d never meant to get close enough to harm him.

Just to look.

She was pathetic.

But he’d been so beautiful, and as she had gotten closer, she had sensed the waves of anger and pain crashing off him. She’d wanted to help him. Fool—she couldn’t help anyone, only cause pain.

She’d kept to a safe distance. Even so, she should have gone before he’d spotted her. But how could she have known he’d give chase, and that he’d be faster than anything she’d ever seen?

The howls cut-off abruptly, and the grip on her mind relaxed its fierce hold. She was on her feet and running in seconds. But something stopped her. A shiver in the air, like she'd never sensed before. She came to a halt as though some invisible force called to her. Turning slowly, she swallowed her fear. He couldn't be dead. Not this quickly.

A gasp escaped her throat.

He crouched on his hands and knees, his spine arched, head thrown back. As she watched, a change came over him and his form shimmered and shifted in the bright clear afternoon light. A moment later, he vanished, and a huge black wolf stood in his place. For long seconds, the animal stood, neck drooping toward the ground, his sides heaving.

He raised his head and dark eyes, flecked with gold, gazed toward her. He blinked a couple of times as though to clear his mind and stared at her some more. Then he took a step forward.

Keira had lost the ability to move. She stood, her feet fixed to the ground as the wolf padded across the distance between them. This couldn't be real. That was why she wasn’t running.