Moonglow by Kristen Callihan

to wear it, the beast won’t bother.”
    “You understand scents,” he said. “You have to know it doesn’t work that way. I could smell that perfume on you the other night, even after your bath. You might cease to use it, have your maids clean your clothing, or order new garments. But it will take time for the scent to fully leave your person, at least to the level at which a
were
would no longer detect it. Time in which this beast might come for you.”
    He had said as much to Archer and Miranda after the autopsy. They hadn’t been pleased.
    Neither was Daisy. She drew herself up and away from him. “Then I’ll go to Miranda and Archer.”
    He caught her hand again. “You’ll be staying with me,” he all but growled.
    “You? Don’t be absurd.”
    Miranda had said the same thing. Rather, she’d said, “Over my dead body.” Which was, unfortunately, a possibility given the speed and strength of a mad werewolf. The only way he’d been able to convince Miranda of his plan was to point out that the
were
was likely carrying a contagious disease, something Miranda, for all her firepower, had no defense against. After that, Archer had been adamantly in favor of Ian taking care of Daisy’s safety. Smart man.
    Daisy, however, did not appear as convinced. “Why on earth do you think you can protect me?”
    And here was the moment he had dreaded. For she was going to run. And he would chase her.
    Ian tightened his grip on her hand, securing her to him. “Because, luv, he is the darkest version of my future.”

Chapter Six

    H is words hung between them as Daisy’s gaze darted over his face, trying to understand. “Your future?”
    The last human he’d willingly revealed his true self to had been Archer. Of course, Archer hadn’t been precisely normal himself, which made it easier. But if Ian was to properly guard Daisy, she needed to know the truth. Even so, the words were hard to utter.
    “The same sort of beast resides inside me.” On a silent sigh, he let his inner wolf show through his eyes, knowing she would see the inhumanness and the way they now appeared utterly lupine.
    He was prepared when she reared back. “Calm down,” he said as she yanked at her hand. Her chair screeched as he hauled her close.
    A few men glanced their way, and Ian gave them a sharp look of warning before leaning into Daisy. “Hold, lass,” he whispered.
    Her breath blew hot and scented with fear against his face. “You… you’re a werewolf,” she hissed. Daisy’spulse beat a wild tattoo against his fingertips. He fought the urge to stroke it.
    “No,” he said in a low tone. “But I could become one.”
    “Am I to understand the difference?”
    “There is a great difference. And I’ll tell you if you can calm yourself.”
    The tang of human sweat and beer was thick in the air. He could hear her heart pounding within her breast. But she stopped struggling. For that he was grateful. When her pulse slowed, he looked her over. “Are you calm then?”
    She glared but nodded shortly.
    “You won’t run?”
    Daisy made a noise. “Just get on with it, Northrup.”
    Lovely woman. He moved closer so that only she could hear him. “What you have to understand is that a lycan—”
    “Lycan? What is that?”
    “If you’d let me get a word in—”
    “It is a pertinent question.”
    One. Two. Three. He opened his eyes and focused on the little furrow between her brows.
    “Lycan is the name we use. It hails from the Greek lycos, which means ‘wolf,’ and the myth of Lycaon, the Arcadian king who served Zeus the flesh of man disguised as a roast. An angered Zeus turned him into a wolf as retribution.”
    “How very gruesome,” Daisy murmured with a moue of disgust.
    He couldn’t contain the smile that tugged at his lips. “Quite.”
    “But why not simply call yourselves werewolves?” she asked, folding her arms on the table to provide a lovely bed for her breasts.
    No. Do not look.
    “Because there is a