Crimson Moon by Carol Lynne Read Free Book Online

see if he’s available,” Allister answered before going off in search of King Kildare.
    While they waited, Neo walked around the reception room with his hands clasped behind his back. “Quite a place,” he commented, staring at the gilded columns.
    Ramiro smiled. Neo’s vineyard home was vastly different from Ian’s over-the-top decorating style. “Yeah, it’s not for everyone, but I think it makes Ian happy.”
    “Well that’s the most important thing, I guess.” Neo span around when an alarm sounded.
    “Ian,” Ramiro yelled, before dashing up the winding staircase. In the hallway, just outside Ian’s bedroom, Allister was bent over, a pile of vomit at his feet. “Where are the guards?”
    Allister pointed towards the open door. “Dead.”
    Ramiro glanced over his shoulder at Neo before proceeding into the room. He stopped just inside the doorway, sickened by the scene in front of him. No wonder Allister was currently emptying the contents of his stomach.
    The nude bodies of the two vampires assigned to guard the King’s door were arranged on the bed. “This is all wrong,” he mumbled. “Ian didn’t fuck vampires.” He knew he was the exception, but his past relationship with Ian wasn’t in question. Besides, Ian had never fucked him.
    Neo pointed to the two heads positioned on the mantel. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
    Ramiro glanced at the faces of two of his best guards, Rodrick and Warden. He couldn’t help but feel he’d let his men down. His gaze zeroed in on the hooks that had once held the case containing the sword.
    Ramiro ventured farther into the room. Other than the headless bodies on the bed, there were no other signs of a struggle. What the hell are you up to, Ian? Had the King been taken, or had Ian been the one responsible for the guards’ death?
    Neo must have been thinking the same thing. “How’d Ian act the last time you saw him?”
    “Protective of the sword. I don’t think he appreciated being asked about it.” Once again, Ramiro chose not to tell Neo about Ian’s desire to be fucked. “He seemed adamant the sword wasn’t Morwyn’s though. What do you know about Faelan ?”
    Neo chuckled. “What does anyone know about Faelan ?” He shook his head. “He’s like the Phantom of The Realm. I’ve heard about him since I was a child, but only his name.”
    “What about Zeus? Could he tell us anything?”
    “No. Now whether he really doesn’t know anything about Faelan or just refuses to tell me I don’t know, but I did ask.”
    It didn’t make sense to Ramiro. If Faelan had the ability to remove himself from books and paintings, did he also fade memories of himself from the minds of Blessed Creatures? Ramiro turned from the fireplace and headed towards the hallway. He addressed the guards who had gathered. “King Kildare’s missing.”
    “How?” one of the guards asked. “The ward should’ve stopped anyone trying to get past it without authorisation.”
    “Exactly,” Ramiro mumbled. Did he dare voice his concern that Ian had killed the two vampires and disappeared with the sword? No, better to wait until he knew more. “I’ll handle the King’s disappearance. Until we find him, there’s no need to guard the palace as we have been.” Ramiro turned to address Neo, “My men are at your disposal if you need them.”
    “Thank you, I just might,” Neo answered.
    After giving orders for the removal of the two bodies, Ramiro followed Neo back to The Realm palace.
    “Any ideas?” Neo asked on the way.
    “My gut tells me it had to either be someone more powerful than Ian’s ward or Ian himself.”
    “My thoughts exactly. So, that begs the question—who has the ability to get through Ian’s ward?” Neo led Ramiro towards the library.
    “ Faelan or Morwyn , take your pick.” The possible motive chilled Ramiro to the bone.
    “Why not just take the sword? What would they need Ian for?” Neo pushed the button that revealed the hidden