Electric Moon (22 page)

Without a word, he left the bed. She instantly felt bereft. Before
she could gather her wits to protest, he disappeared out the door. Raven fell
back against the mattress and sighed.

Then his reaction hit her.

A kiss goodbye.

He thought this would be his last chance, so he took and
savored what she normally wouldn’t have offered.

He was so convinced that he wasn’t going to survive, her
heart turned heavy with dread. She rolled out of bed and shivered, vowing to
make sure he didn’t slip out of her hold this time.

 Chapter Twenty-two

DAY BEFORE THE
FULL MOON: TAGGERT’S DAY

R
aven
fingered the necklace, the stone a warm presence under her shirt. Today was her
last date. Her last day of freedom before the conclave. A part of her wondered
if it would also be her last day with Taggert if she wasn’t able to gain alpha
status.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed into the kitchen. Only to
find she’d been stood up for the third day in a row. She refused to feel
disappointment at not finding Taggert waiting for her. She hadn’t realized how
accustomed she was to having him near.

“Have you seen Taggert?”

Aaron shoveled a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. He shook
his head, then tipped back and spoke around his food. “Hasn’t come down yet.”

Something was wrong.

Taggert always woke early. He’d been looking forward to his date.
He wouldn’t be late.

She took the stairs two at a time then veered down the
hallway toward his room. She knocked but received no response. Concern grew
into alarm. Shoving open the door, she scanned the room.

What she saw stopped her cold. The room was bare, stripped
of everything but the furniture, as if he had no intention of staying. A bubble
of pain rose in her chest at the thought of him deserting her. Her hand tightened
on the knob as if, by her will alone, she could force him to choose her.

She backed out of the room, hurt tightening her throat. He
was hers. She refused to let him just walk out of her life without confronting
him.

She turned to find Jase standing in the hall waiting for
her. She licked her lips, her heart beating a little too fast. Could he already
be gone? “Have you seen Taggert? We were supposed to meet.”

Jase pointed down the hall. “He’s with the boys ordering
some items.”

Raven slowly released her breath, but the fear of losing
Taggert wouldn’t be dismissed so easily. When Jase didn’t move or say anything
more, Raven pushed away her concern and focused on him.

He appeared preoccupied, his complexion sallow, not the
intent soldier from the night before. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re giving us too much.”

Raven didn’t understand. “Explain.”

“We’re rogues. The bottom rung. We’re not allowed to own possessions.
If a bigger shifter comes along, they will claim everything. None of us are
strong enough to protest without getting killed.”

She hadn’t known the situation was so stark. “What would you
suggest?”

That seemed to stump him. He rubbed his chin, the movement
lifting his shirt. Massive black and putrid green bruises covered his torso.

The decision was easy. “Order what you need. Use this time
to decide what type of future you want. Being a rogue is not the only option for
you.”

Raven nodded toward his injuries, not willing to believe one
of her people laid a finger on him. “Tell me who hurt you.”

Jase clutched his ribs then immediately dropped his arm.
“It’s nothing.”

“Let me help.”

He lifted his chin, pride keeping him quiet. “Then let me
earn my keep. Give me something to do.”

She understood the need to feel useful. If she assigned him
a job, they could keep watch, find out who’s beating on him and take care of
it. “Go to London. He’ll teach you how to fight. You’ll be paired and added to
the rosters to do nightly rounds of the grounds.”

Jase straightened, not expecting to be selected for
something so important as their safety. “Thank you.”

Raven snorted. “You haven’t met London yet.”

Taggert hurried down the hallway in their direction, the
slightly harried expression relaxing when he saw her. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Not at all. You were busy.” Like a sliver burrowing under
her skin, it bothered her that he’d made a place for himself in her life when
he had no intention of staying.

Raven gestured toward his room. “Do you mind if we talk?”

His face smoothed out until all emotions vanished. “Of
course.”

He entered first, his presence a stark contrast to the
abandoned room.

“Do you want to be here?”

His head snapped up, tracking her as she stopped by the
window. “Yes.”

“I don’t understand. When Durant decided to move into the
house, he remodeled two rooms without a by your leave. Yet, you haven’t done
anything to claim yours.”

“I’m waiting until after the full moon.” His hair was pulled
back and tied at the base of his skull. The sunlight filtered through the
window, highlighting the natural streaks that tempted her to run her fingers
through the strands. All the passiveness melted in his eyes, the sharp hope
there painful to witness. And she realized he was allowing her to see it. 

It took her a few seconds to understand what he was saying
without words. He wanted back into her room. Heat filled her face. “Oh.”

Pack slept together, usually in twos or threes, touch an
important element to their culture. It bound them together. It could be used as
a sign of favor or a punishment.

It was nothing special.

But it didn’t feel that way to her.

Sensing her unease, he gave a sudden smile. “Why don’t we
head downstairs?”

Glad for the reprieve, Raven accepted his overture. They
walked into the hall together, the silence awkward. She hadn’t gone two steps
when Taggert slipped his hand into hers. Surprised by the move, she nearly
tripped over her own feet.

“I read up on what humans do on dates.”

Raven gave a half smile, a queer little turn in her stomach
leaving her feeling half a step out of sync. “Holding hands.”

“Did I do it wrong?”

His question caught her off guard, made her realize how
little life he had outside of being a slave. “Not wrong. Just unexpected. What
do shifters do on dates?”

“Hunt. Run. Have sex.” Taggert shrugged. “Humans go on dates
to search for their mate. Most shifters have their mates chosen for them. Since
you wanted to get to know us more...”

“Right.” They resumed walking, his shoulder’s brushing hers.
“So where are we heading?”

Taggert tugged on her hand, pulling her toward the kitchen.
“Food first. You’ve lost weight. You need to eat more or your power will start
cannibalizing those closest to you. Shifters are similar in a way.”

She learned about her power the hard way, but the shifter
thing was new. “So if I don’t eat enough—”

“Our animal grows more aggressive, the need to hunt more
insistent.” They entered the kitchen, and Taggert hauled her toward the fridge.

He removed a large amount of food, either handing it to her
or placing it on the cupboard. “What are we making?”

“A quick breakfast.”

Raven rubbed her mouth to smother a smile. “Quick?”

There was a slight hitch in his movements before he caught
onto her teasing. “Wash these.”

She automatically grabbed the vegetables. Peppers she didn’t
remember being in there yesterday. “You purchased these for today.”

He didn’t even bother to turn around as he cracked eggs.
“Wash.”

The preparations went faster than expected, Taggert’s efficiency
sexy to watch. “Who taught you how to cook?”

“My father.”

The water drained down the sink as she stood staring at him.

He pointed the whisk at her. “Wash.”

When she did as told, he pulled out a few pans and tossed in
some butter and spices. “Did you think I was born without one?”

The amusement made her wince. “Of course not. But you’re a
rogue. I thought that...” She didn’t know what she’d thought.

“He wanted better for me. Made me promise that when he died
that I would try to gain pack status.”

That meant five years ago Taggert was left on his own as a
teenager, pledging himself as a slave to just survive. She turned off the water,
and he handed her a knife.

“Thin slices.”

She didn’t take it, studying him instead, marveling at the
courage it took for him to just survive.

“The sharp, pointy end goes down.”

Rolling her eyes, Raven did as told and prepped the peppers
and onions. “What was your childhood like?”

“Good.” He expertly lifted a pan and tossed the contents.
“He wasn’t able to shift either, so we lived as humans.”

But that didn’t make sense. Why would they turn their back
on the life they’d built just to be marked rogues? “What happened?”

“Humans found out. I was in school. There was an incident.”
He heated more butter in another pan. “I was small for my age. I was defending
myself, but it didn’t matter. I broke a kid’s arm. It was reported and those
type of claims are investigated. When the pack found out that we were living in
their territory, they gave us an ultimatum. Leave or die.”

Taggert poured the eggs into the skillet. A small sizzle
filled the room. “We packed up what we could in a few hours, but it was never
the same. Dad had never recovered. This town was our last stop. He had some good
memories here. A few months later, he died.”

She was glad that his father had fought to give him a normal
childhood. “And you applied for pack status by becoming a slave.”

“I knew I would never be anyone. I’m not strong enough to
challenge and win, so my Dad trained me early on what someone like me could
expect.” He nodded like it was no big deal. “Veggies.”

She silently handed over the cutting board with all the rows
lined up in a sloppy pile. He deftly dropped them into the pan and closed the
omelets. Then glanced at her from the corner of his eyes to gage the danger level
before speaking, still not used to addressing anyone directly.

“Ask.”

“You could have left me.” At her blank look, he continued.
“At the slave auction, you could have left me at any time. You didn’t. You
understood.”

When he didn’t continue, Raven busied herself by washing the
knife she’d used, hating the small tremor in her fingers.

“Who hurt you so badly you’d foolishly risk yourself for a
nobody?”

“Stop.” She dropped the knife and shut off the water. “You
are somebody to me.”

Taggert didn’t flinch, didn’t move away from her anger as
had had in the past. He didn’t fear her wrath. She wasn’t sure she was grateful
or not. “You’re aware of where I grew up. The labs are not a place for a child,
let alone a girl.

“The smallest act of kindness is worse than the experiments
and needles. It gives you hope. After a while, hope dies and you know not to
expect anything.”

He began to set silverware on the table. The sharp spices
and rich buttery smell had her mouthwatering. “At the club, you still had
hope.”

Taggert carefully crafted the food on the plates then served
them. “Only until I saw you standing there as if waiting for me. I smelled it
on you and...hoped.” He pulled out a chair for her. “Sit and eat before things
get cold. Afterward, I’ll show you how to scent smells.”

“Your gift.” Raven watched as he ducked his head, but a
small smile played on his lips, pleased by the attention.

* * *

“We’re being followed.”

“I know.” Raven didn’t bother to turn. The two teen rogues
weren’t very good at being covert. “Did you want me to send them back?”

Raven could tell he was torn, his knuckles whiting on the
basket he carried. This was supposed to be their date, but he ultimately shook
his head. “Let them stay. It’s something they need to learn as well.”

Raven trailed him as he led her across the back lawn. “So
when did you guys decide to use the dates to train me?”

Taggert gave her a half look, gauging her response. “Not
really training. The conclave is tomorrow.” His voice was stiff. “There are
things you need to learn sooner rather than later.”

She suspected it had been his idea. He was a master at
working behind the scenes to get what he wanted. She couldn’t be mad at him for
all the trouble he went through to keep her safe. Raven slipped her hand into
the crook of his elbow. “Thank you.”