Blood Moon (Moons of the Wolf Series Book 1) by Samantha Clarke Page B

Goldenborough has come back?”  Malcolm demanded after a moment.
    “No, sir,” Kyle began, “I’m telling you they haven’t gone anywhere and the brood we’ve been following found them and took out their brood master and his mistress.”
    “The brood that we have been tracking has a particularly cruel brood mistress.  She mutilated her mate for reasons that we are unaware of.  She was an…uh…courtesan when she was turned in the early seventeen-hundreds.  I’ve done extensive research on her, as much as I could anyway.  Her name is Anastasia Cortaux.  At the time of her reported “disappearance” she was twenty-two and she had a five-year-old daughter, who went missing the same time as she did.  The accepted story behind her disappearance was that Anastasia’s lover, and the father of her child, killed Anastasia in a jealous rage and went back to Italy with the child.  However, my brother and I believe that Anastasia raised her daughter, whose name is Bianca, and may have turned her,” Maia said, expanding on Kyle’s statement.
    Malcolm sighed after a few moments of silence, “I must make some calls…”  He mumbled.  He then looked at Kyle and Maia, “In regards to you two…”  He paused, “You can take refuge in our territory.  For now.  Colin,” He continued, turning in his seat to face him, “You are to house them until we can figure this mess out.”
    Colon nodded, clearly unhappy with the result of the meeting, “As you wish, sir.”
    Malcolm turned back to Kyle, “Young man, do you believe this brood is dangerous and poses and immediate threat to this region?”
    “I do, sir.  I believe that they’re extremely dangerous,” was Kyle’s response.
    Malcolm sighed, “Very well.  You’re all dismissed.”
     

 
    CHAPTER 8
     
    Samantha carried a tray with chips and soda on it up the stairs to her bedroom.  Kedar sat on her bed, staring out her window at her back yard.  She placed the tray down on the bed beside him and she sat down.  She opened the bag of chips and held it out to him.  He took it from her and popped a chip into his mouth, still staring out the window.
    “So,” He turned towards her, “I’m glad that I could see you again,” He said with a soft smile on his face.
    Samantha smiled back at him, “Me too, me too.”  She responded, equally as soft.
    Kedar popped another chip into his mouth, “What do you do in your free time?”  He asked, sounding genuinely interested.
    Samantha reached over and took a chip out of the bag, “I like to draw and paint and listen to music,” She responded, continuing to smile at him.
    “You paint?  That’s really cool.  Do you have any of your work?  You know, that you would be able to show me, anyway?”
    Samantha nodded quickly, enthused that someone was showing an interest in her hobby, “Yeah, I do.  In my basement.  My aunt made me a little art studio down there.”
    “Would you be willing to bring me down there and letting me see some of it?”  Kedar asked, raising his eyebrow.
    “Of course!  Follow me…”  Samantha grabbed Kedar’s hand and led him downstairs to the basement.  Adjacent from the stairs was an alcove with hanging lights and tarps on the ground, an easel in the middle of the room.
    “My art studio is right there…”  Samantha said, pointing.  She pulled Kedar forward and around the corner with her, “And there’s where I keep all of my finished work,” Samantha continued, pointing to a separate room.
    “Well, lead the way, Madame,” Kedar instructed, squeezing Samantha’s hand gently.
    Samantha led him into the room and pulled a stool out from the corner.  She showed him numerous paintings; a few landscapes, several paintings of wolves, one of her mother, and another of Riley and Alex.  She smiled proudly as she showed them off enthusiastically.
    “Wow…these are all so good…” Kedar murmured softly.
    Samantha beamed, feeling heat rushing to her cheeks, “Thank