Moon Bound
In the contemporary world, magic holds no sway.
But appearances can be deceiving.
Old gods remain, old ways continue and creatures of myth live among us.
If you know where to look…
Steven Castiglione
knows the price that comes with being magical. Hunted for his abilities, he’s changed his name and given up his ties to everyone he loves, including the beautiful Arabella. He must constantly fight the seductive nature of the dark power inside of him or risk exposing himself to the evil
Malandante
who will stop at nothing to have him.
Arabella Luporeale
is comfortable straddling the line between the magical world of wolf shifters she grew up in and the non-magical world where she works. But she still yearns for the soul mate who hid himself away three years ago. It’s time to get him back. And she’ll do whatever it takes - even if it means Steven must give in to the darkness...
Moon Bound
Stephanie Julian
Published by Stephanie Julian
Copyright 2012. Stephanie Julian.
Cover by Judi Fennell
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All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.
Author’s Note
MOON BOUND is Book Two in the Darkly Enchanted series. Like the first book, SPELL BOUND, it is part of the Etruscan Magic series of books. These also include the Magical Seduction,
Lucani
Lovers and Forgotten Goddesses series.
MOON BOUND takes place after the events in SPELL BOUND.
Glossary
Aitás – Underworld
Arus
– magical power inherent in the races of Etruscan descent
Attonitum – looks like a cross between a revolver and an inoculation gun and would be useless in the hand of an
eteri
, a regular human. The iron grip warms to the touch, while the quartz crystal concentration chamber pulses with a pale pink light. The solid copper barrel focuses the magic.
Blood Bound – An ancient tradition tying two souls and their fates together for all eternity by mingling blood during sex.
Boschetta
– a group of thirteen
streghe
Enu
– humans of magical Etruscan descent
Eteri
– Etruscan for foreigner, used to describe regular humans
Fata
– mythical beings of magical Etruscan descent such as
folletti
(fairies) and
linchetti
(night elves)
Goddess Gift – magical abilities including but not restricted to scrying, healing, far-seeing, affinities to herbs and crystals
Grigorio
– a male born with enhanced senses and strength and an affinity to metal; in ancient times, the
grigori
were warrior priests and guardians of the Etruscan race; they were thought to have died out
Involuti
– Founding gods of the Etruscans, those from whom all other Etruscan deities are descended
Lucani
– Etruscan werewolves; they form the Etruscan army, based on the ancient Roman Legion
Priestesses of Menrva’s – originally a group of thirteen unmarried women who pledged their lives to the Etruscan Menrva, Goddess of Wisdom, and kept safe her most sacred gift to the Etruscans, the twelve Nails of the Ages; through the centuries, they handed down their duties to their nearest living female relatives
Strega
– (plural
streghe
) Female of Etruscan descent endowed with Goddess Gifts
Stregone
– Male of Etruscan descent endowed with Goddess Gifts
Salvanelli
– one of the races of the Etruscan Fata, thought to be extinct
Versipellis
– literally “skin shifter,” shapeshifters including Etruscan
lucani
, Norse
berkserkir
(bears) and French
loup garou
(wolves)
Chapter One
She ran, blood pounding in her ears, lungs straining, at their limit.
The rough sound of his breath pushed her to go faster. The huge trunks of pine and oak trees provided cover…just not enough, considering his sense of smell. But she was fast and she had a head start.
She’d veered off the path immediately, her bare feet cut and bleeding from the forest underbrush. She needed a place to hide, somewhere he couldn’t find her.
A slim beam of pale gold sunlight caught the tip of a nearby pine. Midsummer air in the southeastern Pennsylvania forest smelled of heat, heavy and wet.
Spotting a large trunk ahead, she pulled in close, stopped to catch her breath and listen, eliminating noises one by one—birds singing in the branches, deer rustling in the brush, the sound of cars on the nearest highway at least ten miles away.
She didn’t hear him. She’d run while he’d been turned, gaining the advantage. If he caught her…
No, she couldn’t think about that. She had to get back to the house, had to—
The grey wolf jumped out from behind her, sharp teeth bared, awful growling echoing in her ears. Unable to help herself, she screamed, the high-pitched screech reverberating through the trees. Turning, she ran, though she knew she couldn’t outrun him.
Sure enough, his jaws clamped around her ankle, careful not to break the skin but not letting go, either. Scrambling backward, she grabbed a broken branch and raised it above her head.
With a snarl, the beast released her and backed away, hazel eyes narrowed, watching her. Then he lifted his snout and howled in pain as his body began to contort. Her eyes widened as his limbs lengthened, the fur rippled and disappeared as the wolf transformed into a chestnut-haired teen boy.
“That was
cheating
, Cole.” She threw the stick at her older brother, though not close enough to hit him, and followed it with his backpack. She’d stolen it from his hiding place in the woods, intending to stash it somewhere as a gag. But he’d caught her and the chase had been on. “You’re not allowed to change. That’s not fair.”
Panting as he pulled on his jeans, the lanky seventeen-year-old stood, stretching the kinks out of his back.
“And you know Dad’ll tell you everything’s fair in love and war, brat.” Cole smiled the smart-ass grin that never failed to get him out of trouble. “You didn’t know I was there, did you?”
She hadn’t, but she wasn’t about to admit it. She stuck out her tongue at him instead. “And Dad’ll tell you not to use me as prey.”
Cole snorted. “Oh, come on. You’re almost fifteen. It’s not like you don’t know how to take care of yourself.”
With a huff, she turned away to walk back to the house. “Then why do you and Cal still treat me like a kid?”
“ ’Cause we’re your older brothers. That’s what we’re supposed to do.” He fell into step beside her. “You’ll have your change soon, brat. Girls usually have their first change before they’re fifteen. Soon, you’ll be—”
Cole cut off and Bella turned to find her brother frozen, hazel eyes wide, nostrils flared as he scented the air. “Cole? What’s wrong?”
He lifted a hand to silence her and his eyes narrowed. “Gunsmoke. Blood.”
It wasn’t hunting season. Goosebumps broke out over her skin. “Where?”
“
Shit
. Home.”
Cole took off like a shot, Bella on his heels, fear close behind.
Her brother pulled ahead and lost her in seconds. She ran flat out, concentrating on breathing as she tried to catch up to Cole. A half mile from the house, she heard her brother cry out, something in his voice she’d never heard before—fear.
She ran faster.
She’d almost caught up to Cole when she saw a flash of tanned skin through the trees.
“Cole. Bella. Stop!”
Her oldest brother, Cal, leaped out of the bushes in front of her and grabbed her around the waist, taking her off her feet. Cole stopped and turned frightened eyes on their brother.
“Take Bella into the forest and hide,” Cal snapped at Cole. “I’ll go to the house.”
“Where’s Mom and Dad?” she asked.
Cal shook his head, not meeting her gaze. “Take her, hide her.” He growled the words. “Now. Right now.”
She didn’t understand. Why did Cal want her to hide? Where were her parents?
“Let me go, Cal.” She started to struggle, but she couldn’t break away from his strong arms. With a snarl, Cole grabbed her, threw her over his shoulder and took off.
“No! Cole, let go! What’s going on?”
“Quiet!” was all Cole said, his tone a nearly silent hiss, dread pouring from him in waves. She shut up and held on.
He ran flat out and she tried not to let her stomach revolt from hanging upside down as she thumped along on his shoulder.
She didn’t know how long they ran, but when he stopped, gasping for air, she saw the mound of the cold cellar hidden in the deep woods. He practically threw her on the ground then fell to tear at the leaves and brush hiding the door.
Sensing Cole’s fear and urgency, terror began to build in her chest, nearly choking her.
“What’s happening?” She tried to keep the whimper out of her voice but didn’t succeed.
Cole wouldn’t look at her, just shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
“Are you going to the house?”
“Yes.”
“Why can’t I come with you?”
Cole shook his head again and this time he did meet her eyes. “You need to stay here. Don’t leave until one of us comes for you.”
She could barely force the words out of her mouth. “What if no one comes?”
“Someone will come.” With a grunt, he pulled the old wooden door away to reveal the high-tech steel beneath. Keying in the access code, he flipped the hatch open.
She could barely breathe out the words. “Don’t leave me, Cole.”
“I have to. Cal needs me.”
No way was she going in that dark hole by herself. “Then take me with—”
Cole slashed a hand through the air. “You can’t protect yourself yet. We can’t look out for you and deal with…whatever’s going on. Get in, Bella. Now.”
Her teenage brother’s face hardened and she had a glimpse of the man he’d become.
She went into the shelter.
* * *
Bella sat on the cool earth floor, the lantern in the corner providing enough light to see the entire space, which wasn’t much more than three solid concrete walls and ceiling, the dirt floor and that cold steel door.
The batteries in the clock on the wall had corroded so she had no idea what time it was. She had enough fresh batteries for the lantern to last a few days, but she wouldn’t wait that long. She
couldn’t
wait that long.
She had to get out of here. Soon. Her skin tingled, like bugs had crawled under it, and her stomach hurt, though she didn’t feel sick. She realized she was panting and took a deep breath—in through her nose and out through her mouth like her dad had taught her. She couldn’t afford to let the fear to overtake her.
But, Blessed Goddess, her skin
itched
.
She tried to keep her mind off what was going on outside by singing songs, playing tic-tac-toe on the floor.
But after what seemed like forever, she settled into a corner, arms wrapped around her legs, and watched the door for any sign of movement, ears straining for the slightest sound.
She willed the door to open, prayed to the Great Goddess Uni for her mom to step through and wrap her in her arms, to tell her everything was okay.
Nothing happened.
What was going on out there?
The first intense pain took her by surprise, making her legs twitch as if she’d been hit by an electric shock. She screamed and grabbed her calves, felt the muscles contort like rubber bands being manipulated by a two-year-old.
No, no, no. Goddess, please, not now.
The second agonizing jolt made it perfectly clear the Goddess wasn’t going to answer her prayer.
It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Alone. Afraid. Her mother was supposed to be here, helping her through this first time. Her dad needed to teach her how to run on four legs.
She howled, the sound a guttural cry of agony as her shoulders and backbone began their transformation. Cartilage twisted and bones reshaped, making her body hunch.