Hunter's Moon... (Draven's Revenge)

By Heather Mar-Gerrison

“Mr Draven, sir.”
Draven looked up at the newest member of the team, Natalie and smiled. He had hired the young woman a couple of months ago, seeing something in her that hadn’t been obvious in the other candidates for the position – a strong sense of discretion and something more that he just couldn’t put his finger on. His PA was on holiday this week, having some kind of family emergency and Natalie was proving to be a worthy replacement, albeit temporarily. “Oh, good morning, Natalie; found anything interesting for me?”
She swallowed convulsively and suppressed a shudder. Mr Draven was a little intimidating to say the least and she wasn’t at all sure that his latest project for her was legal; still, that was his business, “Um, yes sir. Mr Riley Byrnes would seem to be now residing in a small town called Fernley. He’s been there for around six months now, he’s recently married a woman called Brie – her surname was already Byrnes, incidentally – although I haven’t been able to find if they’ve remarried or if it is simply by co-incidence that they share the same surname – records don’t seem to go back very far on any member of the family.”
Draven nodded. Well of course they didn’t – vampires couldn’t very well appear on records – they lived for too damned long...
So Riley was out of his prison and had already made his way back to Brie and the boys. Draven's blood boiled in his veins. He was not going to allow them to all live happily ever after. No way!
This is the third and final book in the Moon Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather Mar-Gerrison
• Release date: Jun 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311539830

Heather Mar-Gerrison

I love to write M/M romance and as a sucker for a HEA, you're guaranteed one in my books. #happyheatherafters

Book preview

Prologue

Mr Draven, sir.

Draven looked up at the newest member of the team, Natalie and smiled. He had hired the young woman a couple of months ago, seeing something in her that hadn’t been obvious in the other candidates for the position – a strong sense of discretion which was paramount when you were working for Draven Byrnes. His usual PA was on holiday this week, having some kind of family emergency and Natalie was proving to be a worthy replacement, albeit temporarily. Oh, good morning, Natalie; found anything interesting for me?

She swallowed convulsively and suppressed a shudder. Mr Draven was a little intimidating to say the least and she wasn’t at all sure that his latest project for her was legal; still, that was his business, Um, yes sir. She croaked. Clearing her throat she managed to speak without her voice wavering, Mr Riley Byrnes would seem to be residing in a small town called Fernley. He’s been there for around six months now, he’s recently married a woman called Brie – her surname was already Byrnes, incidentally – although I haven’t been able to find if they’ve remarried or if it is simply by co-incidence that they share the same surname – records don’t seem to go back very far on any member of the family.

Draven nodded. Well of course they didn’t – vampires couldn’t very well appear on records – they lived for too damned long…

She looked at him for the go ahead to keep talking. He nodded to her. She smiled nervously; as intimidating and downright creepy as he was at times, there was something about Mr Draven that was incredibly attractive. She guessed he was around ten years older than her and had sort of assumed that he was looking up a former lover, or worse – an ex-partner – when he’d asked her to investigate Brie and Riley Byrnes. Once she got started though, she began to doubt herself – because once she saw Jonah and Adam Byrnes, she couldn’t ignore the resemblance between them and Mr Draven… but if it was his family he was looking for, then he could only be an older brother of the three young men that lived with Brie Byrnes – because, seriously, the eldest was only a few years younger than him. She ended up with more questions of her own than answers for him.

She sighed, pushing all of her questions to the back of her mind – she was only his PA, after all, nothing more – and she’d be right back at her usual desk, with Pete and Jenny and the others by the end of the week.

She concentrated on her notes to stop herself from looking at him again. He has moved into her home by the looks of it – and there are three teenage boys living with them too. Their names are Jonah, Adam and Oscar Byrnes. There are a couple of photo’s in the envelope, she handed it to him across the huge glass desk that he was sat behind, – but having to take them at a distance, some of them are a little fuzzy. It was true that the photos were fuzzy – but she’d gotten a really good look at them all and had been amazed at the likeness of the two eldest boys to Mr Draven. It hadn’t even occurred to her for a few minutes to get photos, in her shock, and they’d moved away from her before she’d gathered her wits properly.

Draven felt the blood pounding in his ears as she rattled this information off at speed. Forcing himself to appear completely calm and relaxed he smiled at his employee. That’s excellent work, Natalie – can you leave your report on my desk – I should like to refer to it again.

Natalie nodded and placed her notes down alongside the envelope containing the photographs. As attractive a man as he was, she really didn’t like Mr Draven all that much and was counting down the hours when she could go back to the office and leave Julie, his usual PA, who’d been called away on a family matter, to it. Having a rather active imagination, and a penchant for reading books about all sorts of dark creatures of the night, she often likened him to the vampires in her books. It was his pale skin and dark hair – and those freakishly pale green eyes – although, she had to admit – if he really was a vampire, surely his eyes would be red…

Suppressing a shiver she backed out of his office and made her way back to her own office, leaving him with the report.

Draven turned away from his desk and looked out of the huge floor to ceiling window that gave him a fantastic view of the city. He had the envelope in his hand and was already reaching for the documents she had left.

He pulled the envelope open and scanned the photos within.

Playing happy families with my wife and kids, huh? he murmured as he perused the photos.

He came across one of Oscar and Riley and a feeling of such pure hatred coursed through him so violently he could barely focus. This means war, He snarled, bunching his hands into fists, I’ll find out who released that bastard from where he belonged and I’ll kill him myself…

Chapter 1 – Just the beginning….

Riley?

Riley looked up. A broad smile crossed his face as he saw who it was, Hey, Jonah, he said cheerfully, – what’s up dude?

Jonah frowned at he regarded his uncle, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but there’ve definitely been some strange faces in town recently – I don’t recognise them and they don’t look particularly friendly – you don’t think Draven might have got wind of you being released and sent down his heavies or anything, do you?

Riley sighed and shrugged his shoulders in a helpless gesture, Well, I guess he was going to find out sooner or later – we haven’t exactly been hiding. He looked at his nephew a little sheepishly.

Riley had been rescued from his prison at the gates of hell a couple of months before. His initial thought after being released was to find the love of his life, Brie.

He had found her within days of being released – and was all set to whisk her away to the other side of the world away from his crazed brother; but instead of agreeing to going into hiding as he had planned, she and her sons had persuaded him to stay a while instead. Of course he had gotten comfortable, enjoying their company far too much to worry about the impending danger and had asked her to marry him…

Brie turned to Riley with a look of absolute wonder on her face, Are you serious?

He nodded, an almost shy smile on his face, Well, of course you don’t have to… he trailed off looking mortified to have shown his feelings so soon. Brie smiled lovingly at him and put her finger to his lips, "Of course I’ll marry you, you silly fool – I love you – I have always loved you…"

They had married the previous month and they were all living together, enjoying the family life none of them had ever really had.

Jonah frowned and shook his head, He’s got no rights over Mum anymore – they were divorced years ago – but you know what he’s like. The man’s completely deranged.

Riley nodded looking concerned, "Hey, man – you don’t have to tell me about him being unhinged – fifteen years trapped in hell is kinda hard to forget about…"

Jonah grinned ruefully and shook his head in awe, "Yeah, I can’t actually imagine how you managed to survive it."

Riley shrugged; he flashed Jonah a grin that was so like his younger brother, Oscar’s, it was uncanny. Love is a powerful weapon, Jonah, Riley said, – I knew I loved Brie, I knew Draven only ever wanted her as a possession – well, in the end – I’m pretty sure he loved her to begin with...

Jonah nodded, Yeah, he agreed, I think he did – I do remember them having some good times – or at least I think I do.

Riley nodded, He desperately wanted her to be his soul-mate. He was kind of obsessed with it and I think the fact that she turned out to be mine was what really sent him over the edge.

Well, that made sense... Jonah sighed, I almost feel sorry for him.

Riley nodded, Funny you should say that – so do I. All he ever wanted was to find his soul-mate.

Jonah frowned, Why?

Riley sighed. "Your father was – is an excellent angel hunter. He wasn’t always the way he is now – once upon a time he was a lot like your brother Adam."

Jonah’s jaw dropped, Is that why Mum’s always comparing them to each other.

Riley smiled sadly and nodded, He was just a normal guy – with a heart of pure gold – and Brie fell for that charming, carefree guy.

Jonah frowned, So what the hell happened to him? he asked incredulously. Draven hadn’t been carefree or charming in all the years he’d known him.

Riley frowned and shrugged, Too many missions to find dark angels – and no soul-mate to balance out the evil.

Jonah’s frown deepened, Are you saying Adam could go the same way?

Riley shook his head and smiled, No, he said, Not now that he’s got his soul-mate. Whatever he turns out to be – and either one of you could turn out to be an angel hunter too – you’ll be okay because you’ve found your soul-mate. Even Draven can be saved from himself – he just needs to find his soul-mate – but I think he gave up on that dream a long time ago.

Jonah nodded, It’s a pity we can’t find her.

Riley nodded, He’d be a lot happier if he did. He agreed, He’d be grounded and content – just like you are with Leona, Adam is with Janey and I am with Brie.

So how come Draven’s never found his before? Jonah looked at his uncle puzzled, He’s a good looking guy.

Riley shrugged, He was never really all that outgoing as a young man. He said, I guess he fell in love with Brie – and hoped it was enough – but it wasn’t...

Shit, Jonah muttered, "And then you of all people came along and swiped her from under his nose."

Riley nodded, The cruellest twist of fate. He murmured.

"But then he did that to you as punishment – simply for finding your natural soul-mate. He shook his head, How the hell did you manage?"

Riley shrugged, It was my love for her that got me through. He said softly.

Jonah stared at him with his piercing green eyes, But how did you know she would wait for you? he asked.

I didn’t. Riley said simply. But I couldn’t switch off my feelings for her either, he shrugged, – and it all came good in the end.

Jonah nodded; he felt that he would very likely do the same over Leona, I guess, He said.

Riley studied him for a moment with a small frown creasing his forehead, You surely wouldn’t be having doubts about your relationship with young Leona, would you?

Jonah’s head snapped up and he stared at Riley, his scowl making him look dangerous, No! He said rather defensively.

Riley raised an eyebrow and leaned back slightly; Jonah was a powerful young man and not one to cross if you knew what was good for you... All right, Jonah – keep your hair on! he chuckled, I was only concerned for your happiness.

Jonah sighed and shook his head, Oh, God, I’m sorry, he groaned, dragging his hand through his hair, – it’s just with her still being in college – I don’t know what to do about university – should I go? Will she be okay with the distance thing?

Riley stroked his chin thoughtfully, You’re soul-mates. He said.

Uh-huh, Jonah nodded, We are.

Then what are you worried about? Riley was regarding him with mild amusement.

Jonah shrugged, You and Mum were separated for fifteen years, he blushed uncomfortably as he remembered the other men she had in her life while they were growing up, – it wasn’t always easy for her.

Riley nodded and sighed, I know she had other men, Jonah – but her heart belonged to me.

Jonah shook his head. Riley was one extraordinary man, I can’t deal with that, he said firmly, "it’s all