Kiss of Moonlight (Lucani Lovers Book 1) Read online

  KISS OF MOONLIGHT

  STEPHANIE JULIAN

  Stephanie Julian

  Published by Stephanie Julian

  Copyright 2016. Stephanie Julian.

  Previously published 2009.

  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 person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to a legitimate bookseller to purchase your own copy.

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at [email protected].

  All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.

  Glossary

  Arus: magical power inherent in the Fata and Enu, races of Etruscan descent

  Boschetta: Etruscan coven, traditionally comprised of thirteen streghe

  Candela: Etruscan sprite, tiny magical beings with wings and a certain glow about them

  Eteri (pl. eteri): Etruscan for foreigner, used to describe regular humans

  Enu: humans of magical Etruscan descent

  Fata: elemental beings of magical Etruscan descent

  Folletta (pl. folletti): Etruscan female fairy

  Linchetto (pl. linchetti): Etruscan night elf

  Malandante: Descended from the Etruscans but born with a bent toward evil, with a taste for power and wealth

  Praenuntio: Goddess Gift of foresight

  Salbinelli: Etruscan satyr

  Strega (pl. streghe): Etruscan witch

  Versipellis (pl. versipelli): literally “skin shifter”—shapeshifters including Etruscan Lucani (wolves), Norse Berkserkir (bears) and French loup garou (wolves)

  Chapter One

  “So, Dad, did you notice someone moved into the Johnson place?”

  Kyle Rossini pulled his head out from under the hood of the ’68 Cougar and caught his daughter’s bright aquamarine gaze. “And you would know this how?”

  Taking a closer look, he noted Cat’s windblown strawberry-gold hair and her pristine shorts and tank top.

  He sighed. “Damn it, Cat. You’re not supposed to be out that far. Your mom’ll have my head if something happens.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She rolled her eyes at him and his blood pressure skyrocketed. “Mom’s more worried about you right now.”

  . “Tell your mom to worry about her mate.”

  “Daddy Dan’s worried about you too.”

  Stifling another sigh, Kyle wiped his hands on the rag hanging from the waistband of his filthy jeans and leaned against the fender to stare at his daughter.

  Catene Rossini Ferrante stared back with all the wide-eyed innocence a fifteen-year-old girl could muster. And damn if she didn’t pull it off. Then again, he was somewhat prejudiced.

  The baby she’d been had stolen his heart the moment her mother had put her in his arms and told him he was her father. Which turned out to be only half true. His best friend Danilo Ferrante had an equal shot at that title.

  Good thing he and Dan were strong enough friends to weather the resulting years. And when Dan and Margie had decided to set up house shortly after Cat’s birth, Kyle had thrown them a party. And finally admitted, if only to himself, that he was relieved to see Margie settled with a man who loved her the way she deserved.

  But Cat would always be his daughter. And Dan and Margie had never contested his claim to the little girl’s heart. Hell, Cat had three parents who loved her more than anything in the world. What was wrong with that?

  However, it also meant Kyle had three people invested in his well-being.

  Shaking his head, he tried to steer the conversation back on track. “Answer my first question. What were you doing all the way out there?”

  Cat shrugged with all the grace of her beautiful mother and lifted herself onto the workbench in Kyle’s cluttered garage. “Running. I lost track of where I was.”

  Kyle shook his head. “Yeah, not buying that, little girl. Damn it, what if someone had seen you? Or worse.”

  Cat rolled those pretty eyes again. “Please. No one saw me. There’s no one out here. You live in the middle of nowhere and you trained me too well to get caught.”

  He wasn’t falling prey to her flattery. “Except you said there’s someone in the old Johnson place.”

  Cat’s mouth screwed up in a grimace. “Well, yeah. But she’s young. And sad. And really scared, Dad.”

  Kyle frowned. “What do you mean, scared?”

  “Just what I said.” Cat huffed. “She’s scared. She’s so scared I could smell it from the tree line. I think you should go over there and make sure she’s okay.”

  His frown turned into a scowl. “What? Why the hell would I do that?”

  Cat bit her lip, her eyes widening just a little. “Because I’m worried about her.”

  “You just saw the woman to— Damn it, Cat. How long has she been there and how long have you been checking in on her?”

  His daughter tried for innocence. And fell short by about a hundred miles this time. His expression must have warned her he wasn’t falling for it and her mouth twisted as she huffed.

  “Well, if you’d get out of this house more, you’d know she moved in a week ago. But you’ve had your nose stuck in this old heap. Daddy says you’re in avoidance mode. Daddy says you’re blowing him off and he won’t be able to cover your a— ah, butt for much longer. He said Cole’s starting to ask questions.”

  Shit, that was even worse than Dan and Margie worrying about him. “And just how long have you been eavesdropping on your parents’ conversations?”

  Cat held his gaze steady. “We were talking at dinner last week. I told you, they’re worried. And I am, too.”

  Vaffanculo. That was the last thing in the world he wanted. Reaching for her, he tugged a strand of gorgeous red hair, remembering how much lighter it had been when she’d been a baby. When it had been so much easier to keep her in the dark. Safe. Protected.

  “I’m a big boy, Cat. You don’t have to worry about me. There’s nothing wrong.”

  Unless you counted the fact that he’d nearly died six months ago. But that was to be expected when you were a soldier, especially one with his unique talents.

  He’d been solo on that assignment to deliver a message for Cole, as he had been since Dan had taken another position several years ago. No one from his cohort, not even the tribuni had known what he was up to.

  So when he’d been injured, he’d had no one to drag him out. He’d almost died before he’d gotten to Doc.

  “Dad, I’m not an idiot.” Cat was going for a gold medal in teenage disgust eye rolling. “I know something happened last winter, something you don’t want to talk about. And that’s okay. There are gonna be things I’m not gonna wanna talk about either sometimes. But you just seem so…out of touch lately. And I know it has something to do with what happened.”

  Well, shit. How the hell had she figured that out? Only he and Cole, the lucani king, had known why Kyle had delivered that message. And why he’d been shot for it.

  What had he let slip? And what did she really know? It couldn’t be much because if she’d known how close to death he’d been…

  He covered his concern with a smile and completely ignored the question in her eyes. “When did you get too big for your britches?”

  “Oh please.” There went the eyes again. “What are britches, anyway? I’m fifteen, Dad. Not a baby anymore. I understand much more than you think. And I’m stronger t
han you realize.”

  Yeah, she was. But she would always be his baby first and foremost and therefore his to protect. He nodded, smart enough to know not to talk down to her. “Sweet—”

  She cut him off with one forefinger in the air. “So, are you going to check on her or what?”

  Tenacious should’ve been Cat’s middle name. Time to change tactics. “Why are you so insistent I check on some eteri we don’t even know?” Cat blinked and Kyle had his answer. “Damn, Cat. You talked to her, didn’t you?”

  Her long-suffering sigh sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

  Sonuvabitch.

  The urge to lock Cat in her room nearly choked him. What if this woman had been sent to find him? To hurt him? The people he dealt with would have no qualms about using his little girl as a bargaining chip. Which was why Cat only stayed with him for short periods of time. He hated that he couldn’t have her more of the time. And that he worried about her even more when she stayed here.

  He took every precaution to safeguard this house and these grounds in eastern Berks County on the outskirts of the lucani den. The wards were air-tight around his ten acres, including the open field surrounding the house and the small forest to the west that connected with the lucani lands. No one got through without his knowledge. He allowed Cat the run of the forest but he’d laid down the law about going beyond the tree line outside of the wards.

  That tree line bordered the Johnson property.

  “No, Dad. I didn’t talk to her. She talked to me. And look,” she held her arms out in front of her, her eyes wide in mock amazement, “I’m still here. You know, someday I’m going to move out into the big, bad world. Oh the horror. And I’ll actually talk to strange eteri every day.”

  He’d never admit it to Cat, or anyone else, but that was his worst nightmare—his daughter alone in the outside world, no longer under his watchful eye or living with Dan and Margie.

  The outside world was encroaching too fast. And for descendants of the magical Etruscans like Kyle and his daughter, who controlled an ancient and powerful magic, that world would chase them down with Uzis then strap them to tables and torture them until they gave up their secrets.

  Still, he knew from experience that forbidding Cat to do something was a sure way for her to want it. Which was why he gave her the run of the forest during the day. At night, she was only allowed to go out with him. Or with Tivr, if the Lord of the Silver Light was around. He’d been around a lot more often than not lately.

  Kyle reached deep for his patience. “Cat, we’ve talked about this—”

  “And I’ve talked to Mom.” Her expression was dead serious and her tone steady. “She agrees with me. You’re too strict.” Cat’s nose wrinkled. “Well, she didn’t actually say it in those words but that’s what she meant. Besides, I’m not stupid, Dad.” She drew that last word out to something like three syllables and he caught himself before he rolled his own eyes. “I checked her out before I approached her. She’s got no magic. She’s just so lonely. And so scared.”

  And that’s what had drawn Cat to this woman. Cat had Margie’s pure heart. Margie couldn’t pass a stray on the street, human and animal, without a smile, a pat on the head and the offer of a hot meal and a safe place to sleep.

  As a strega, an Etruscan witch, Margie’s Goddess Gift gave her an affinity with plants and herbs, anything that grew in the ground. She was freaking Mother Nature but she had the same touch with people.

  And so did their daughter.

  “Cat…”

  “Dad, please. Would you check in on her? Please?”

  His baby girl batted those blue eyes at him and his heart melted.

  And Cat’s smile spread from ear to ear.

  “Thank you so much.” Cat threw thin arms around his neck and gave him an increasingly rare hug, which he returned before she could get away. “I’m just so worried about her.”

  He released Cat as soon as she started to pull away, not wanting to hold her too tight. Never wanting to let her go.

  He sighed. “What’s her name?”

  “Tamra.” She clapped her hands in front of her. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  Tinia’s teat, why did he feel like he’d just agreed to surrender to the enemy? It wasn’t like a female eteri could do much damage to him.

  “Alright, baby. I’ll check on her tonight.”

  * * * * *

  Tamra McMillan heard the faint scratch of claws on wood and opened the front door, expecting to see the adorable half-grown black dog that’d been haunting her porch the past three days.

  She’d made some rice and ground beef for dinner for herself and she’d saved some for the dog, figuring she’d be hungry. She always seemed hungry.

  But what she saw on her porch, glazed in silver by the almost-full moon, was a full-grown wolf.

  Oh shit. Shit, shit. Shit. Didn’t you learn your lesson?

  Drawing in a deep breath, Tam froze. The animal sat at the bottom of the two steps that led onto the rickety little porch of the house built by her great-grandfather. It didn’t growl or bare its teeth. It just sat there and stared at her.

  As if waiting for her to come out. Or let it in.

  No way in hell.

  Okay, maybe it wasn’t a wolf. Maybe it was someone’s pet. She’d never actually seen a wolf and she didn’t have a lot of experience with wild animals. Unless they were of the human variety.

  Before she realized she’d done it, she rolled her shoulder. Her clavicle had healed well, the doctor said, and it didn’t hurt much anymore. Her leg… That might never be the same, the doctor had told her. The bastard had ripped the muscles when he—

  No.

  She blocked the image through sheer force of will and focused again on the dog. At least, that’s what she hoped it was. And she had no idea why she knew it was male. There was just something in the way he looked at her.

  Yeah, like he wants to eat you.

  Except he didn’t move. His head turned to the side as he regarded her. He was a beautiful animal, his beautiful black fur sleek and shiny, his eyes a bright topaz. And he was big. At least a hundred pounds.

  Had to be a shepherd. She didn’t think there were any wolves in this area of the states anymore.

  Maybe he was the younger dog’s father. He definitely had the same shiny black coat.

  “Hey, boy. Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”

  The dog cocked his head to the other side, as if contemplating her offer. She took that as a yes. She’d already portioned off some of her dinner for the puppy and Tamra really wasn’t that hungry. If the puppy showed up later, she’d give up her meal.

  Of course, if she lost any more weight, her clothes weren’t going to fit and she didn’t want to have to buy new ones. That would require a trip to the mall.

  All those people rushing around. Too many people to see them all clearly.

  She shuddered. She’d force herself to eat something a little later.

  It only took her a minute to get the food from the tiny fridge and return. The dog had stayed exactly where he was.

  Stepping out onto the porch, Tam drew in a deep breath of humid, late-August air. God, it smelled so much better out here than it did in Philly, which shouldn’t have been surprising. But for a confirmed city girl, it was. She’d never thought she’d find a cabin in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania comforting.

  Setting the bowl on the edge of the porch, she stepped away, watching as he looked at her then at the bowl then at her again.

  He seemed to smile before he rose and walked up the two sagging stairs to the porch. After sniffing at the bowl for a few seconds, he made short work of the food then turned around and sat back down on the ground.

  She smiled, happy to see someone enjoy a meal. “Guess you were hungry, huh? Are you lost, big guy?” She looked at his neck for tags but didn’t see a collar. “Did someone abandon you and the puppy out here? Probably better off without them if they did. Lots of sick
people in the world, buddy.”

  She knew that for a fact.

  After her attack, her doctor had set her up with a psychiatrist who specialized in her particular trauma. Tam hadn’t wanted to talk to anyone. Not then. It’d been too close, too soon. She’d felt dirty.

  The psychiatrist had helped. A little.

  But she still felt dirty sometimes, usually after the dreams.

  So she’d wanted to get out, get away. Leave it all behind and start fresh. Somewhere no one knew her. Somewhere people didn’t look at her with guilt and sorrow and avid curiosity. Somewhere she could be alone to work through her issues. Somewhere John Ray Scott would never find her. Even though the police and his doctors swore he’d never wake from the coma. Or be released from prison for years if he did.

  For the past six months, she’d bounced from town to town in New York and New Jersey. Something she’d sworn she’d never do after the life she and her mom had lived.

  But she couldn’t seem to settle.

  She’d worked the kitchens or waitressed in diners and bars for money under the table. But with the economy the way it was, even those jobs were hard to come by lately.

  And if she took a real job, one where she had to fill out papers, she’d have to find somewhere permanent to live. And she didn’t want anyone to be able to find her. Even though she didn’t know anyone who would be looking. Her parents were gone, her grandparents couldn’t care less about her and she had no friends.

  It also meant she’d had no one to talk to. And after her first few days here, she’d discovered she finally needed to talk to someone. She’d considered moving back to Philly but just the thought made her nauseous.

  Then the puppy had shown up, all gangly limbs and doggy smile. And she’d found herself baring her soul to a little bundle of black fur. It’d been easier than talking to a human. And, Tam thought, much more cathartic. The dog didn’t ask questions.

  After her nightmare last night, she’d been waiting for the puppy, because Tam had wanted to talk about it. Needed to talk. As if talking about it would finally banish the last of the shadows.