Moon Cursed (Book 2 in The Star and Her Moon Series)

Bodyguards

RAFF

Most of the cuts on Meribella's legs had healed and were nothing more than pink stripes against her tan skin, but a few had been deep enough to require bandaging until they closed up. But every single one of them, regardless of how deep or shallow, made Raff's insides burn.

"That should take care of the worst of them," he said, leaning back and dropping the gauze and tape back into the first aid kit.

"I like this look on you," she said, gesturing at him.

His plaid shirt was unbuttoned and the cuffs were rolled up to his elbows. His dark hair, normally carefully styled hung loose in his eyes, and as he scrubbed his hand across his face, he could feel the heavy stubble on his chin.

"You like messy?" he joked, helping her to a standing position. He'd rushed her to their room the moment they got home, and he'd refused to allow her to explain anything until she was patched up.

"Sexily disheveled," she amended, placing a kiss on his cheek and wrinkling her nose. "The beard is good to look at- not so much to touch."

He rolled his eyes at her but the goofy grin on his lips ruined the effect as he opened the door and ushered her into the living room. Dorea was resting in the recliner, her eyes closed and hands on her belly as she rocked. Thorne was wrapped in a comforter, and Lincoln hovered at her side. But besides a tightness around her eyes, the little witch looked fine.

"B," Thorne said, perking up as she spied her friend. "Are you okay?"

With Raff's assistance, Meribella limped to the empty sofa and plopped onto the cushions with a sigh. "I'm okay. Just sore, really. Am I allowed to explain what happened now?" She batted her thick lashes up at him, making it clear she found his behavior silly.

"Go ah-" Banging on the front door stopped him. "Hold that thought."

He jogged to the bottom of the stairs, pausing when a familiar scent struck him. It was similar to Meribella's salty essence, but there was something heavier, more masculine in the smell where hers was soft and floral. It stirred up foggy images of a dark room filled with beeping machines. Bracing himself, he opened the door.

"Raff, you're looking well."

"Caspian." Raff couldn't stop the growl that surrounded the selkie's name. The man had never done anything worse than spend too much time around Meribella shirtless, and he'd helped her save Thorne's life. But he didn't like the man.

"Is Meribella here?" the selkie asked, his lips pinched.

"You know she is."

"May I see her?"

They stared at one another for several minutes until Raff stepped to the side to let the other man enter. He didn't see it as giving in. He knew if he didn't allow Caspian in now, he'd just wait to speak to Meribella until she was alone. At least this way, Raff could be present.

Following him up the stairs, he reached the top just in time to see Meribella's face as Caspian came into view. Her turquoise eyes hardened and her chin lifted in a way he was all too familiar with. She was displeased to see the selkie.

Humming a happy little tune, he stepped around the hulking blonde and sat beside his woman. Drawing her against his chest, he waved at Caspian. "You've seen her. Did you need something else?"

"Who is this?" Dorea was sitting up straight, her eyes curious as they traced over the new man in the room.

"Mom, this is Caspian. The selkie who was looking for Kai."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Caspian said, crossing the room and extending his hand. A cold glint flashed in his eyes when they landed on the gentle swell of her stomach. "Congratulations are in order?"

"Something like that," she replied, pulling her hand free from his and rubbing it on her thigh as though she'd touched something unpleasant.

"What brings you here?" Meribella demanded, her body rigid against Raff's. "I thought I made it clear you shouldn't bother returning again."

The Alpha peered down at the woman pressed against him, wishing he could see her face. She'd told him little of Caspian's last visit- only that he'd brought the potion to her. Why would that breed such hostility in her voice?

Caspian blanched at her tone and looked down as he spoke. "My men and I were hunting a pod of Telchines who have been terrorizing our people for some time now. We followed them here. I smelled your blood in the water and felt your power behind the tsunami. We wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Telchines?" Lincoln asked.

"Shape shifting water demons," Thorne supplied, swinging her gaze to Meribella. "What exactly happened out there?"

"I was swimming with mother, and these monsters attacked me. They wouldn't stop, and I started to drown..." Raff couldn't stop the curse that ripped from his lips. "But as I started to fade, I felt the same power that brought Thorne back. I managed to get to the surface, but they followed. I didn't know the power I released would cause the tsunami."

"You're far more than we could've ever imagine." Caspian's words were reverent, a fever burning in his eyes.

"So what you're saying is you drove those monsters here? You almost cost Thorne and Meribella their lives?" Lincoln hissed. His Beta's mind had traveled down the same path, and Raff could tell the moment Caspian realized he had pissed off two very powerful werewolves.

Swallowing hard, the selkie shook his head. "No, we were far out at sea when the demons suddenly turned towards this coast. We had them going in the opposite direction, but it was like they were possessed. We couldn't understand what changed, but now I fear someone was controlling them. Someone sent them after you."

Meribella dropped her head back and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why on earth would water demons come after me? They've never bothered me before."

"Word of your power must be spreading."

"Word spreads when people open their mouths. Who have you been telling?"

"No one. I promise, Meribella. You can trust me on this, but power like yours doesn't need

anyone to say anything. It can be felt. This won't be the last attack I'm afraid."

Raff wanted to act like a caveman and lock her in the room, but he settled for tightening his arms around her slender frame. "Thank you for the warning," he began, "We will make sure that she's well looked after from here on out."

Caspian glared. "With all due respect, you can't do anything about the water- unless wolves are suddenly aquatic."

"There are sea wolves, actually," Meribella replied, cutting her eyes over to Lincoln. They smirked at one another, an inside joke Raff would be demanding to know about later.

"Well, unless they're equipped to fight underwater, they're useless. I'd like to station some of my men here for the time being. You and your mother are members of a very powerful clan, and as such, you should have an honor guard."

"Where was this honor guard twenty, thirty, forty years ago?" Dorea snapped. "You only offer it now because my daughter is valuable."

"I cannot change the past," Caspian responded, looking genuinely contrite. "I can only do what's right now. Please, at least allow me to offer you this service until we can figure out who sent the Telchines after you."

Raff didn't want to say yes. To him, it was like admitting he wasn't strong enough to keep the woman he loved safe, but he knew Caspian was right. In the water, he was useless, and he could never forbid her to go into the ocean.

"It's Meribella's call. She handled herself pretty well today, but I'd prefer not to have a need for the first aid kit again."

"Fine," she said. "But it's only in the water. I don't want to find them tailing me up here."

Caspian sagged with relief. "You won't regret this. I promise."