Blood Moon (Moon Books) by M.J. O'Shea Read Free Book Online Page A

right and wrong.”
    “Wait, so you think your family is going to kill you?”
    He nodded.
    “And you’ve been hiding from them at your parents’ house?”
    “Well it’s not like grandpa and the others visit very often. We’re not close. I haven’t even seen them since my parents’ funeral and it was raining that day so I don’t think they had any idea. I keep up appearances; still go on hunts and stuff. Besides, I didn’t care all that much about them finding out about me before.”
    I shoved at his chest. “You better care now!”
    He laughed and pulled me into his arms toppling us both backwards on my bed. “Of course I care now.” He smothered my face with little kisses, causing me to squirm and laugh. I started tickling him in retaliation, which in retrospect was probably a mistake. In seconds he had me pinned and was tickling and pinching me until I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
    “Truce!” I called.
    When we finally calmed down I looked at him seriously.
    “I still want you to come with me, you know. I don’t give a shit if it’s dangerous; I’m not losing you again.”
    “Are you sure?” He looked hesitant. I guessed he wasn’t a hundred percent convinced we were real yet either.
    “I’m totally sure. You do want to be with me, don’t you?”
    “How can you ask that? You know I do. I’ve wanted to be with you since we were kids.”
    “Me too.” I smirked at him then and snuggled up close. “Does that make you my boyfriend?” I fluttered my eyelashes.
    He grinned back. “Yep. You’re never getting rid of me.” Then he attacked my neck with his teasing kisses.
    * * * *
    An hour or so later we were lying together quietly. He had his arms around me and I was leaning on his chest. I couldn’t believe how comfortable and familiar it felt; like we’d never been away from each other, like we’d been a couple all along. I realized I had something I needed to say to him.
    “You know, Noah. Your family’s wrong. I’m not the only person who’s safe around you. I don’t care what you are; you’d never hurt a thing. I mean you’re still totally you, a big softie at heart.”
    He chuckled a little and then sighed. “They’d never believe you. They think all vampires aren’t to be trusted. I don’t know if my parents would’ve even seen what you see. If they’d survived, I’m not sure if I would have been given a chance to be myself before they killed me.”
    “Is it awful to say that I’m glad they’re dead then? I hated not seeing you, but just the idea of you being gone for good gives me heart palpitations.”
    He rubbed his nose against mine and gave me a slow kiss that had my heart pounding in a much more pleasant way. “Don’t worry I’m not going anywhere for a long time. A very long time.”
    Oh yeah. I’d forgotten that part.
    “So you’re really immortal?”
    “I’m not sure if it’s immortal or just extremely long lived. But yeah, for all intents and purposes I am. There are vampires around here that saw the revolutionary war.”
    “Are any of them like you? You know...nice?”
    Noah smiled. “Of course. Doesn’t it seem impossible that any sentient species would be all heartless killers?”
    “True.”
    “I wish I could help my family see that. They are judging every vampire based on the lawless few.”
    “Hey, what do you guys do for food? The nice vampires, I mean. Animal blood?”
    Noah made a disgusted face and gagged a little. “No, I tried it once out of curiosity. It was awful. We can still feed from humans without hurting them. There are places where you can find, uh, very willing snacks.”
    “But wouldn’t you turn them? I mean isn’t that how you get turned?”
    “I did get turned from a bite, but that hardly ever happens by accident. You know how some animals have venom that stuns their prey?” I nodded. “Well, we do too and it’s that venom that causes the turn to happen, like it did with me. I was lucky, though.