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

Search Party

WARNING- SOME MATURE CONTENT AHEAD

CASPIAN

"Son, this is really getting old."

"Where is she?" Caspian shouted, the tang of blood sharp on his tongue as his fang lengthened and pierced his lip.

Nerida didn't respond, turning her attention back to her lover, a large male from the Elephant Clan. She straddled his hips and began to rock against him. Leaning forward, she put her palms flat on the man's chest, and quickened her pace, her cheeks flushing as she neared the pinnacle she sought. For his part, the selkie beneath her didn't appear fazed by the appearance of another man. His hands tightened around her hips as he bucked upward, filling the room with the lewd smacking of flesh against flesh.

What Caspian was about to do was considered the height of rudeness in the selkie culture. If you stumbled upon a mating couple-something that happened quite often- you either joined in or departed without speaking. But until he got what he wanted, his mother was going to have to do without.

Reaching forward, he snatched her by the hair and pulled her off the bed. She screeched, her fingers clawing at his hands as he dragged her to the carpet in front of her fireplace. He released her, and she hopped to her feet, her own fangs bared and her fists balled. The flush spreading across her nude form had nothing to do with lust.

"How dare you?" she screamed and panic stirred within Caspian as the reality of his actions sank in. She could have him publicly whipped for something like this. Or worse, she could punish him privately, using the methods she favored during his childhood.

Behind him, he heard a satisfied grunt, and he looked over his shoulder to see the man had finished what his mother could not. With a sick smile, he bent over and snagged a towel from the floor. Tossing it to the man, he turned back to his mother and smirked.

"Looks like he was going to finish without you anyways."

Nerida's reaction was not what Caspian anticipated. She turned her anger on the man cleaning himself up. "You couldn't wait just a few more minutes?"

"He didn't look like he was joining us, and this fight didn't look like it was going to be quick," was the man's reply. He stood, stretching, completely unashamed of his nudity or his now limp appendage. "You can find me later. I'm sure you can rouse the party again. You always manage to. Besides, my mate will be home, and she's always happiest when another woman is involved."

Nerida dismissed him with a wave of her hand and a snarl. "I'll not be rousing anything you selfish ass. Be gone from my sight."

The man bowed and strutted towards the door. When his hand went to the doorknob, Caspian's mother called out once more.

"But do tell your wife I'd like to see her later."

When the door slammed shut, Caspian braced for the attack he was sure to come. There was no way Nerida would allow him to escape without facing the consequences of his actions, but instead, the woman covered herself and poured a glass of wine.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"I want an answer to my question. I've been told Meribella was last seen two days ago coming out of your rooms. She's not been seen since. Do you know how difficult it's been convincing Valencia we haven't harmed her grandchild?"

Downing her glass, Nerida poured another. "I don't know why you think I had anything to do with her disappearance. As you said, she was seen leaving my rooms."

Caspian grabbed his mother around the throat and slammed her against the wall. His skin tingled, eager to unleash the deadly venom all males of his kind possessed. "Do not play with me mother. I am not one of your whores."