All Chapters of MARKED BY MOONLIGHT : Chapter 21 - Chapter 29

~ RONAN ~ I lead Lyra inside the elegant little cottage I use when I need time alone, relaxing slightly as I step into the space. I wait until she crosses the threshold before closing the door behind her. I can’t stop myself from assessing her movements or scenting the air for any hint of her emotions. She’s nervous. I can tell. She twirls slowly, her gaze sweeping over the connected living room and kitchen before roaming up toward the narrow staircase that leads to the bathroom nestled upstairs. The moment I saw this property, I knew I had to have it. It’s not extravagant, but it’s the perfect hideaway—one I only ever visit when I need to clear my head. Aside from Killan, no one else knows about it. Lyra lets out a soft sneeze and glances up at me, and I immediately wish I’d had time to come air out the place before now. Normally, I visit during the warmer months, keep the back door open to the porch, shift, and explore the twelve acres of peace and trees. But I've only been here

~ RONAN ~ My phone hums for the umpteenth time, but I ignore it. Lowering my head, I brush my lips over Lyra's and nearly lose control when she moans into my mouth, sagging against me. When she bites my bottom lip, all bets go off. My woman wants me, and nothing—nothing—is more important than her happiness. I'll make sure she has no reason to fear, no reason to worry, and certainly no reason to feel unsatisfied. I'll be the one to chase the nightmares away and flood her world with pleasure. The man she can lean on, no matter what. No one will ever harm her. If they try, I'll kill them. The brush of her fingers across my chest combined with the scent of her arousal nearly drops me to my knees. I yank her closer, my hands gripping her hips. A breeze from the nearby water sweeps past us, carrying her scent and merging it with the natural world, and I growl—consumed by the feel and taste of my mate. When her hand drifts down my

~ RONAN ~ "How on earth did Selene know you were going to go sneaking around their pack for information?" I bark, already beyond pissed. Killan rubs the back of his neck. "It seems Selene has something up her sleeve because she came looking for you at the tattoo parlor last night. And when I refused to tell her where you were, she subtly threatened us. I think she has spies watching because when I went to The Grit, Magnus’s men were already there. I managed to eavesdrop on a conversation that confirmed Selene was the informant before I was told to leave. Magnus spread the word that something was going down. It seems the wrong people got the message and sent our friend there," Killan points at the vampire, Jude, "to see what was what. I tried to call and warn you, but apparently, you were too busy to answer your goddamn phone." "So Magnus doesn’t know for sure yet?" I ask. Killan’s gaze briefly darts over to Lyra. "It seems like it. It also seems like the Crimson Court doesn’t

~ LYRA ~ Another knock interrupts the pack, this one sounding much closer, forcing me to put my questions about Cain on hold. Everyone’s attention shifts toward the hallway. One knock becomes two, then three. The back door to the building is right around the corner, and someone is pounding on it. “Ronan Bane,” an angry male voice bellows. “Get your ass out here. I want a word with you.” Ronan snarls, glaring at Killan. “What the fuck is he doing here?” To his credit, Killan looks uneasy. “With everything else going on, I forgot to tell you. Astrid also stopped by after Selene to inform me that her father would be visiting you. It seems she’s finally grown tired of waiting.” “Who are you talking about?” I ask, studying the reactions in the room. The mated couples have taken to whispering, and the single males look like they’re preparing for a fight. “That would be Edric Shade. A decent guy with a bitch of a daughter,” Killan answers when no one else does. “She’s tired of be

~ LYRA ~ Ronan spins around to face Killan. To my utter mortification, I realize that the entire pack has somehow shaken off Ronan’s Alpha command and followed me outside—which means they all saw what just happened between me and Astrid. Now they’re watching me with a mix of disapproval, concern… and a glimmer of what might be pride. “You are right. Edric isn’t stupid,” Ronan says as he lowers me to my feet. “He noticed the resemblance. I saw it in the way he looked at her.” I gasp when Ronan suddenly yanks me around, gripping my chin firmly and forcing my eyes to lock on his. “We’re going to have to talk about that temper of yours, baby. You just bit off more than you can chew.” The anger comes roaring back—but thankfully, it's not the murderous kind. I stare him down, ignoring the faint glow overtaking his irises. “Don’t give me that crap. I’m not something you get to command at will. And stop treating me like I’m fragile. I’m not a bull, Ronan—so quit trying to sell me shit.”