Page 23 of Touched By Moonlight

Of course I knew what it was, but hearing it from Grayson made it more real. I cocked my head and looked interested while fighting to control my shakinghands.

I could handle a dark Fionn Fae. Any of them. But Kallan was different. This waspersonal.

“Why did it come here?” I kept my voice neutral. Right now I needed information. All I couldget.

For a moment in the harsh gleam of the sodium lights Grayson’s expression looked speculative. Then he waved ahand.

“Kallan has a personal hard on for me. We tangled a while back. Youokay?”

Whoa, this was news. I stared at Grayson. “You tangled with that thing?When?”

Grayson rolled his shoulders, as if preparing to fight. “We crossed paths last summer. I was trying to rescue a bear cub stuck in aculvert.”

“And? Where?” Details, I needed details. My palms started sweating in the leathergloves.

The alpha cracked his knuckles. “Near Colorado Springs. Was touring the state on my bike and saw the cub. Could tell a storm was coming and the cub couldn’t get out. Flash floods, youknow.”

I knew them well. “So how did you meet thisKallan?”

“Rain,” he said briefly. “He made it pour, trying to drown the cub. He’s a realbastard.”

Sensing there was much more to that story, I pressed further. “Tell memore.”

“Not here. I will tell you more when I can be assured you are safe. Get your stuff and let’s go,Sienna.”

Staying here now that Kallan knew where I worked put the club out of reach. The club money had enabled me to save for a trip to California and a chance to renew my weary spirit. Moving from city to city had taxedme.

But if I stayed, I risked the lives of those at Crossroads and I had vowed no more innocents would die because of me. Besides, I had grown to like these shifters at theclub.

So much for friendship. Cross that off my list, along withCalifornia.

Outside, Grayson steered me toward the Dumpster. Moonlight glinted off three shiny bikes parked nearby. Realizing what he intended, I shook myhead.

“I’m good. Thanks, but I can manage getting home on myown.”

“You’re not going anywhere in that junkyard reject. Your car couldn’t accelerate past atortoise.”

“Hey, don’t mock my vehicle. It holds togetherwell.”

He gave me a cynical look. “With glue? You’re coming with us,Sienna.”

Grayson didn’t want to drive me home. He was too worried about me being alone in my ancient sedan. It was touching to know hecared.

Even though he was better off not caring. Because when people cared about me, they eventually found out how much magick I had. Then they got greedy and ready to hurtme.

In the end, they paid with their owndestruction.

“It’s got four good tires and I had a tune-up only lastweek.”

“If that Fae is still around, you’d be better off pedaling abicycle.”

I adjusted the backpack over one shoulder. “If that Fae is still around, I’m a fastrunner.”

Faster than you can imagine, alpha.But I didn’t dare confide that little fact to Grayson. What I really wanted was to cross examine Grayson, the only other living creature who had tangled with Kallan and lived to talk aboutit.

If Grayson had a means for defeating him, there was hope. I could not kill Kallan. But maybe Grayson could and end my runningdays.

And then he cupped my chin, running his thumb over my skin, making me realize how dangerous it was to draw close to this wolf. Grayson threatened to lower all my barriers that kept men away, and kept my secrets intact. I shivered from the contact and sheer need for sex. Add all the years of sex my healthy young body had gone without, and it was like Grayson had opened a faucet and all my desire pouredout.