City of Magic: The Complete Series by Helen Harper (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

‘Charlotte can have the south of the city,’ Monroe said loudly. ‘You can join her if you want to and I wish her the best of luck. I’m going to settle in the north. Anyone who wishes to join me there will have to prove themselves. They’ll have to toe the line.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘My line. I will, however, make a pledge that they will be kept as safe as I can manage. If all and sundry are bedding down with Charlotte, then no one’s safety will be guaranteed in the south.’

I watched as the still-busy werewolves paused for a moment and exchanged glances. They shrugged in unison, turned to Monroe and nodded. Jeez. At least he wasn’t forcing the other people out of the city straight away. Then I noticed the flash of vulnerability and pain in Monroe’s eyes, which was so brief I almost could have imagined it. He was grieving; he was in pain. In truth, he likely would be for some time yet. Max’s shenanigans and the closure of the city had given him something else to focus on – now he only had his own hurt to think about. He needed people around him just as much as I did. Monroe simply didn’t realise it yet.

The little group of humans drew closer, some of them starting to murmur to each other. I could tell from their expressions that most would side with me. Werewolves like Monroe might be pack animals, but humans were social creatures too. We needed each other.

‘So,’ I murmured to Monroe, ‘the lines are drawn.’

‘Apparently.’ He paused. ‘Look at me, Charlotte.’

I raised my eyes to his with some reluctance. ‘Your way isn’t wrong,’ I told him. ‘It’s different. I understand why you want to do this.’

‘Survival is the name of the game,’ he replied.

I nodded. ‘Exactly. We just have different definitions of the word.’

Sadness tugged down the corners of his mouth. ‘When you get into trouble with all your waifs and strays – and you will get into trouble – I won’t be at your beck and call. I won’t be able to come running whenever you need me.’

Something tightened deep inside my stomach. ‘I wouldn’t expect you to. Besides, it will be fine. We’ll work it out. And,’ I added, ‘when you need to talk or to yell or to have a good cry, I’ll be here. I will come running, even if you won’t.’

‘I don’t want that from you.’ A muscle ticked in his jaw and he suddenly refused to meet my gaze.

‘I know. But I’ll be here all the same. Not dying but surviving,’ I added pointedly. ‘Surviving successfully.’

‘I hope so,’ Monroe said seriously. ‘For your sake.’ His eyes flicked back to mine. ‘We should still arrange those fighting lessons,’ he muttered.

Yeah, I supposed we should. I shoved my hands into my pockets and nodded. ‘I have to go. The others will be waiting for me to come back.’

I raised my eyebrows at the huddle of people. Several of them stared back then peeled off, trudging towards me as if they had no choice. I glanced at Monroe one last time and gave him a small smile before I turned away.

‘For what it’s worth,’ he said behind me in a barely audible voice, ‘I’d never kick you out of the city. No matter what happens or what you are.’ He paused and spoke even more quietly. ‘Sunshine.’

I hesitated for a fraction of a second then I kept on moving. There were houses to allocate and supplies to sort out. We’d make this brave new world work for us no matter what happened. I wasn’t naïve enough to think that life was going to be easy but, magic or no magic, Manchester was worth it.

‘See you around, Monroe,’ I whispered.

This time, I didn’t wait for a reply.

BRITTLE MIDNIGHT

BOOK TWO

Prologue

The punch, when it came, broke his nose. Monroe heard the sickening crack almost before he felt the flash of pain. The onlookers didn’t bother to mask their shocked gasps. Whatever. They could think what they wanted. He ignored the spray of blood that splattered onto the ground in front of him and turned to face the young werewolf once again.

For all his swagger and bravado, Nero suddenly looked rather nonplussed. From the expression on his face, the last thing he’d expected was to land such a blow. Monroe bared his teeth. The boy’s alpha should be doing more to teach him to guard against displaying his emotions too obviously. But then again, Julian had always been something of a soft touch.

Monroe shook his head slightly, his dark-red curls damp with sweat. He could see with the easy clarity of experience that Nero’s left side was vulnerable. Not only did the kid hold himself stiffly, favouring that side as if bothered by an old injury, but he also had his fists lowered. A simple jab to his kidneys and he’d be floored. Then it would all be over.

Monroe let the kid hit him again, a teeth-knocking blow to the side of his head which was followed up by a sharp kick to his ribs. That was better. Nero was pressing his advantage. It was about time. As Monroe spun from the force of the first hit, more blood from his wounds arced out, spraying at least three of the watching crowd. One of them, an older-looking vampire, appeared delighted and used the tip of his finger to smear Monroe’s blood onto his tongue. He smacked his lips, ignoring the glares from the werewolves next to him.

Monroe ignored the lot of them. He wasn’t there for them. He pivoted onto his toes, exposing his right flank just enough for Nero to notice. The shock and dismay that the younger werewolf had displayed at managing to beat the older maestro was being replaced by the heady combination of bloodlust and power. This time he was going to go in for kill. Monroe was