Wicked Rage of the Moon: Book Three of the Airendell Chronicles by Audra Hart

his time with you two.  He called you little sister, did you know that?”
    “Yes, that is what he called me for years.  I called him my brother.  In that incarnation, we even looked enough alike to be mistaken for siblings.  I was born a petite Mexican girl in that life time,” Morna says with a chuckle.
    “Montoya said that you were lovely on the outside, but truly beautiful on the inside.  Montoya would have laid his life down for you.”  Rodrigo says sadly, obviously thinking about the way his brother died at the hands of a vampire army in Mexico during the southern vampire wars.  “He told me that you nearly died protecting him from a grizzly bear that had been infected by a vampire.  He was in awe of your skill as a warrior.  I suspect your skills supersede that incarnation now.”
    Morna chuckles, “Perhaps.”  She turns her head toward the tent flap and says, “Our refreshments are here.”  Surt enters and serves everyone present, except for Luca who has taken a position in a chair near his wife, and is watching the Stone Breaker carefully. 
    Surt hands the large glass of blood to Morna and sets her frosty coke in a can, and an empty saucer on the coffee table before her.  “Madam, may I get anything else for you?  Would you like some food?”
    Morna smiles and indicates the glass in her hands.  “Surt, this is all I need for now.  Thank you.  Please go get some rest.  We will not require anything else tonight.”  Surt smiles fondly at Morna and nods before exiting the tent. 
    Morna erects a buffer spell and turns to face Rodrigo.  She smiles at him and then indicates the tall glass in her hand.  “Does this offend you, Stone Breaker?”
    “No madam.  I know you need the sustenance.  I also know you would never kill a human for that sustenance,” Rodrigo says quietly.
    “Rodrigo, I tore the throat out of my enemy this very morning in the realm of Mars, the Roman god of war.”  Morna says honestly, with more than a little twinge of guilt over her viciousness against the witch.
    “But, you did not feed on the vile witch.  I would be able to sense it if you had.  Morna, I can sense every being whose life you ever ended, in all your incarnations.  Killing imprints on the soul.  I have rare abilities.”  Rodrigo says honestly.  “You have never enjoyed killing any sentient being.  You may be exhilarated by battle, but you don’t relish in taking life.  You feel shame that you need the blood to sustain you, and that is a waste of your energy and emotion.  There is no reason for you to feel shame over this.”
    Morna carefully evaluates the man sitting before her.  “Rodrigo, I sense that you are a good man, but you have a very, very dark side.  You have murdered in rage, and relished in the taking of life.  It tortures you that you have done it, and I think you are seeking my help to stop.  I just can’t imagine how it is that I might be able to help.”  Morna drains her glass and sets it on the table.  She covers it with the saucer that Surt brought for that purpose.  She smiles that her staff is so closely in tune with her habits in such a short time.
    Rodrigo tears his eyes away from Morna’s lovely face and looks at Lucian and chuckles softly.  “Lord Lucian, forgive my interference, but I have to tell her.  You know that she would want to know.” 
    Rodrigo leans forward and whispers in Morna’s ear so quietly that only Morna and Luca can hear; “Morna do you realize how hotly your mate’s passion burns for you when he watches you drink blood?  His nature craves to kiss you deeply and taste the blood on your lips, and find the overwhelming ecstasy your body gives him.”  Rodrigo pulls back and chuckles softly because of the bright blush that colors her cheeks.
    Morna looks at Lucian questioningly; he nods slightly to acknowledge the truth of Rodrigo’s words.  The fire rages in her body and it momentarily takes all of her concentration to bank