Free Moon Thrall by Donna Grant

endlessly.
    Skye had written an article on the Djinn recently. She described them to perfection, which meant she had seen one. That Djinn would want revenge.
    But the Djinn hated vampires. They would never lower themselves to align with them.
    Court realized he hadn’t answered Jacques. “Yes, I know what Skye does for a living. Tourists come to this city to see the supernatural.”
    “Ah, but she’s putting out the truth,” Anton said. “We can’t let that keep happening.”
    “So you want to kill her?”
    Jacques laughed. “We never said we wanted to kill her.”
    Court felt sick to his stomach. It was just as he’d imagined. They wanted to turn her, to make her one of them.
    “If she’s one of us, she won’t be writing any more articles,” Anton stated.
    Court saw two vampires slowly closing in on Skye from opposite ends of the bar. He tried to go to her, but Jacques put his hand on Court’s shoulder.
    “It’ll be done quickly,” the vampire said.
    Court jerked away from Jacques. “What you two are doing here gives me the right to kill you on the spot.”
    “You have no proof,” Anton said.
    Jacques rubbed his hands together. “But there was no way we wouldn’t show up once we learned she was returning.”
    Court’s vision turned red with rage. He shoved Jacques against the wall. “You’re dead, vampire.”
    “Good luck with that,” Jacques said and jerked his chin toward the bar.
    Court’s head swiveled toward Skye to see the two vampires nearly upon her. He could kill Jacques and Anton and hope that his brothers helped Skye, or he could go after Skye and find the vamps later.
    He chose the latter option.
    Court released Jacques and ran to Skye. Vampires came out of nowhere to block his path, shoving him and hitting him. His head was slammed into a table, and Court looked up through the blood dripping down his forehead and into his eyes.
    Skye was looking at him wide-eyed with terror. Then she pulled the dagger out of her pocket and slashed at the vampire nearest her.
    Court smiled when he heard the vampire scream in pain over the music. He fought against his attackers, his gaze constantly seeking Skye. One moment she was there, and the next she was fighting the vampires amid toppled tables and chairs.
    He was glad he had given Skye the weapon. It wouldn’t do much damage, but it was enough to keep the vampires at bay until he got to her.
    Court could no longer hold back his wolf. He shifted, shredding his clothes on a loud growl. With jaws snapping, he took bites out of several vampires, including Jacques before he broke free.
    Court leapt atop a table and launched himself through the air to land on a vampire who had lunged at Skye. He latched onto the vampire’s neck and clamped down hard, his teeth going through skin and muscle.
    The vamp screamed and spun around, trying to dislodge Court. It wasn’t until the door to the club was thrown open and his brothers walked in that Court released the vampire and landed beside Skye.

    ~

    Skye was startled beyond words when she saw Court change into a werewolf. First his eyes glowed an inhuman yellow, then a ferocious growl sounded from him. His bones popped out of joint and fur sprouted along his skin as his clothes were ripped and fell to the floor.
    It all happened in a matter of seconds, but it was burned into her memory for all eternity. She was so absorbed with watching Court that she forgot about her two attackers. They got too close. One tried to knock the knife from her hand, but she refused to be that weak.
    She fought against them, ducking and spinning to stay out of their reach. They were fast though, super fast. Many times they guessed what she would do and were there before she twisted away.
    Adrenaline kept her going, but she knew she wouldn’t last long at this rate. And then Court was there, his teeth around the neck of a vampire.
    Blood poured down the front of the vamp as Court clamped down harder. Skye slashed the vampire on