Shadow Of Moonlight.pdf

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Shadow of Moonlight

ISBN 9781419912481

Edited by Mary Moran.

Photography and cover art by Les Byerley.

Electronic book Publication September 2007

This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written

permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is

purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

S HADOW OF M OONLIGHT

Lena Matthews & Liz Andrews

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the

following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Barbie and Ken: Mattel, Inc.

Cliffs Notes: IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.

Domino’s Pizza: Domino’s Pizza PMC LLC LT

George of the Jungle : Ward Productions, Inc.

Hummer: General Motors Corporation

Metallica: Metallica

Wheaties: General Mills IP Holdings II

Chapter One

On nights such as these, so dark and crisp, Jace McClellan cursed the fates for the

path they’d laid before him. He was neither man nor beast, but an amalgamation of the

two. He was cursed with their strength but not with their ability to shift. And to him, a

curse it was. To be the anomaly within his own Pack, a brother in arms, but not where it

truly counted. He was Rakshasa , a seer for his clan, and tonight his gift called to him.

As Jace walked through the dark forest, the sound of a babbling brook grew louder

with every step. It was the only sound in the still of the night, the one constant that

beckoned to him, leading him to where the future lay. Normally his visions weren’t as

intense, but as Jace neared the clearing, he noticed a naked woman bathing in the water.

The water lapped at her firm brown thighs, showcasing her body in all its glory.

Although she was turned slightly from him, Jace would have recognized her anywhere.

Elizabeth Remington was unforgettable.

Even though he’d never seen her naked, he knew every curve and sinew of her

body. Elizabeth, or Remy to anyone who didn’t want to die a slow and painful death,

was tall and muscular, but altogether a woman with high, rounded breasts and a curvy

ass that evoked images in his mind of her kneeling before him as he pounded into her

from behind. Droplets beaded on her as she knelt and sluiced the water over her body,

being careful to keep her shoulder-length dark hair dry.

Jace sat on the grass, his back against a tree as he watched her. She looked like the

Venus de Milo, rising from the water, as if she were some ancient fertility goddess.

Remy stepped from the bank and knelt on the soft carpet of grass, staring at him but not

really seeing. Her dark war-weary eyes saw right through Jace as she stretched out

before him. Her body was riddled with scars and bruises, some fresh and some aged,

yet every one was a wound to his soul. Remy was a warrior, a Venator ,

second-in-command to their Pack leader, and she’d earned her title the same way she

earned her scars—by fighting.

Her strength and determination were just one of the many things he admired about

her, along with her dark, spankable ass, an ass, thanks to her new position in which she

faced away from him, was now within licking distance. Jace knew it was only a dream,

but his cock didn’t care—it hardened at the thought of Remy kneeling before him.

Stroking himself through the rough fabric of his denim, Jace pictured Remy reaching

out to release him and cupping his cock in her hands before enveloping it in her warm

mouth. Jace closed his eyes and imagined wrapping her hair in his hands as she licked

and sucked him until he was wild with wanting her.

The purpose for his dream long forgotten, Jace began to unfasten his jeans, wanting

to touch his flesh as he imagined it was Remy. The hand on his shoulder brought him to

a halt and he turned to see who dared to interrupt him.

“It’s not that kind of dream, nipote .”

“You have the worst fucking timing, Vlad.”

Vladimiro McClellan, Jace’s ancestor guide, frowned in annoyance. “You know I

dislike it when you shorten my name.”

“Yeah, yeah, as if I care.” Quickly refastening his jeans, Jace stood and ran a hand

through his hair. He glanced over at the image of Remy still kneeling and now brushing

her hair. Frustration burned in his gut knowing he would be unable to recapture this

dream without first finding out what premonition was in store for him. “What do you

want?”

“I wish you would be more appreciative of your gifts.” Sighing, the blond man

crossed his arms over his bare chest. With the same almond-shaped blue eyes, wavy

dirty-blond hair and muscular physique, the two of them could have been mistaken for

brothers instead of the great-grandfather and great-grandson they were.

Vladimiro, like Jace, had been cursed with the gift of sight, and it was he who

appeared whenever Jace had a vision. A watcher for the watcher.

“I am appreciative. It’s just damned inconvenient, you know.”

“Stop thinking with that head and start looking around you. There is more going on

here than you realize.”

As if he could possibly see anyone or anything else when Remy was present.

“Go on, nipote , see .” As if by Vladimiro’s words alone, the vision grew more vivid.

Almost as if someone or something had lifted a shrouded curtain and more of his

premonition came into light. Jace glanced around the clearing and saw a number of

wolves gathered around. Cutting his gaze back to Remy, she was now in her wolf form

as well, her sleek silvery gray coat shining in the moonlight. Remy stood between two

groups of wolves, an older Pack and a younger one led by Nico Cassamonti, the Pack

Benandanti , and his Elitario , his top security officers, as well as other important Pack

members. Into the clearing walked a human, a woman with long blonde hair and

penetrating blue eyes, who appeared frightened and very, very pregnant.

“Who is she?” Jace didn’t recognize the woman, but he realized there must be some

significance to her presence.

“Keep watching.” Jace should have known better than to ask Vladimiro any

questions. His ancestor was only a guide and never answered an obvious question.

Instead, Jace received all his premonitions in riddle form, which was very annoying. All

the symbolism was sometimes hard to decipher, making Jace wonder why the fates had

to be so fucking cryptic all the time.

The woman first walked toward the older group of wolves, who circled around her

as if she were prey. They howled and jumped at her, their claws reaching for the child

she carried within her. Crying, she covered her stomach and tried to keep the wolves at

bay—as clichéd as it sounded—but she was merely human. No match against any of

them. Turning toward Nico’s Pack, Jace realized there was a strange wolf in their circle

and the blonde woman kept trying to gain his attention, all to no avail. She looked

downhearted at the rejection.

Jace noticed the older wolves were taunting the blonde woman now, pushing her off

balance and pulling at her clothing. She looked scared and began to back away from

them, only to have them circle her again and again, cutting off her escape. During this

entire exchange, Remy continued to stand between the two groups of wolves, never

moving, just observing the action.

Finally Nico howled, calling Remy over to him and Jace could almost imagine them

speaking as they sniffed and nuzzled one another. Remy turned and headed for the

blonde woman, and for a moment, Jace believed she was going to attack the human as

well. But at the last moment Remy dragged her away from the group of older wolves,

pulling her into the circle formed by Nico and his Elitario .

There was a loud scream as the woman dropped to her knees and Nico’s Pack

gathered around her. Everyone except Remy, who stood at Nico’s back, ready to do

battle. The scream abruptly broke off but was replaced by a loud wail, seemingly from

an infant.

Annoyed, Jace turned to Vladimiro, who was watching him intently. “I get it. She’s

pregnant. Pregnant women give birth. See, I’m getting this dream reading down pat.”

“If you weren’t of my blood, I wouldn’t waste my time with you.”

“If I weren’t of your blood, I wouldn’t be seeing you,” Jace reminded him as he

turned back to the wolves. “You’re dead, remember?”

“I live on, young Wolf.”

“I’m not a Wolf.” The words were as bitter as Jace himself was. “I ask you again,

who is she?”

“It is something, nipote , you’ll have to figure out for yourself.”

Of course. “And the child?”

In an instant the clearing and the wolves were gone. The only thing left was the

woman and child, who were standing on a lawn-sized chessboard. The mother stood

with the child in her arms as Nico, now in human form and his wife Kimberly, walked

behind her and took their position as king and queen. Next came Remy, who at first

filled the spot as the knight to the king’s right then she slowly took a step forward so she

was even with the woman and child.

Confused, Jace stepped toward them as the older Pack of wolves once more came on

to the scene. They stayed clear of the board, but snapped at the heels of Nico and

Kimberly.

Undaunted by the angry wolves, Jace stepped onto the board and walked slowly

around the human pieces. They were all in specific spots, and with the exception of

Remy, no one had moved forward or backward, as if they were there for a reason. Nico,

the leader, was the king, his wife the queen and the woman and child…

It couldn’t really be so simple could it?

“The woman and child are pawns.”

“So astute.” Vladimiro moved next to Jace and gestured with his head toward Remy

who was looking straight ahead. “But they are not the only ones on the battle line.”

“Remy was in the knight’s position.”

“Yes.”

“But she didn’t move in an L shape. She stepped forward.” Jace frowned, his brows

furrowed as he concentrated on the scene before him. It didn’t make any sense. A knight

was unlike the king or queen. It could only move in one particular pattern. Circling her,

he studied her position carefully. “It isn’t right.”

“How so?”

“She shouldn’t be able to take this square.”

“And why not?”

“Because she’s a knight.”

“Is she?”

Jace looked up sharply into Vladimiro’s knowing gaze. “Isn’t she?”

“You tell me.”

Jace didn’t want to believe what his vision was showing him. His Remy was a

fighter, not someone to be used and discarded.

“You’re thinking with the wrong head again.”

“I’m not.”

“Then tell me what she is.”

“A pawn,” Jace bit out. He wanted to pull back the vile words even as they slipped

past his lips. “She’s merely a pawn.”

“Aren’t we all?” Vladimiro clasped Jace on the shoulder and turned him until they

were facing one another. The scene shimmered and vanished around them as the two

locked gazes. “Sixty-four squares, nipote , which one will you stand on?”

Jace sat straight up in bed, sweat dripping down his back from the intensity of his

vision.

“Fuck.” The visions often exhausted Jace, but this one was one of the most powerful

yet. If this were any indication, his gift was growing. Unfortunately it didn’t mean the

premonitions became any clearer. In fact, they were just as obscure as ever. Although

this dream only had one conclusion. Jace needed to contact Nico.

Glancing over at the clock on the bedside table, he noted it was four-thirty. Nico

certainly wouldn’t thank him for the early morning interruption. On the other hand, Jace

knew this message was one that couldn’t wait until working hours. Jace had no idea who

the blonde woman was, but she needed to be found. Her presence as a pawn on the

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