Page 23 of Dancing Moonbeam

It was inconceivable that a father could commit such a heinous act. Jaytee couldn’t imagine his loving and selfless dad ever betraying his family in such a way. Kalen would lay down his life for any of his sons, and they would do the same for him.

But as Jaytee glanced at the vampire standing before him, he knew it was true. This monster didn’t possess an ounce of love or compassion. He was gleeful of the betrayal.

“Don’t act so appalled.” The vampire sneered, taking a menacing step closer. “What did you expect? They are dark fairies, after all. They were born evil.”

The only thing standing between him and Raidh was this monstrous being.

Jaytee had to end the bastard. He could hear his mate’s shallow and ragged breathing, but he couldn’t risk making a move, risk taking his eyes off the enemy, until the threat was eliminated.

“All I want—”

“I don’t care what you want.” Jaytee clenched his teeth. “I will drop you where you stand,” he snarled, each word punctuated by a menacing step forward, “and then I will walk over your ravaged corpse to get to my mate. Fucking try me.”

Jaytee barreled forward, tackled the bloodsucker around the waist, and drove the son of a bitch’s head into another nearby oak tree. A loud crack echoed through the forest as the base of the oak tree snapped under the force of the impact, creating a large crack along its length.

Rage swirled inside Jaytee as he savagely rained down blow after blow, the force behind each strike fueled by his burning fury and the determination to pound Raidh’s blood out of the creature’s veins.

With a guttural snarl, Jaytee unsheathed his claws then sprang onto the vampire’s back and repeatedly drove his razor-sharp weapons into its neck and chest.

Swinging off the vampire, he plunged his fist into the guy’s chest and ripped out his still-beating heart. The vampire dropped lifeless to the ground.

“I told you I’d drop you where you stand and walk over your ravaged corpse,” Jaytee growled, tossing aside the heart in disgust.

Breathing heavily, he raced to where Raidh lay on the ground. The air was audibly knocked out of his lungs when he saw his mate’s shirt and neck were drenched in blood and he was struggling to breathe.

“No!” Jaytee dropped to his knees, screaming out in despair.

In a desperate attempt to save his mate, Jaytee crushed his lips against Raidh’s neck and began to frantically lick at the tear in his throat. With every ounce of strength, he willed his saliva to heal the gaping wound. They had only just begun to know each other.

This couldn’t be how it ended.

It just couldn’t.

But as the taste of Raidh’s blood filled his mouth, Jaytee fought against the haze that began clouding his mind. A low snarl erupted in his throat as he battled against the desire to consume the succulent liquid.

“Son? How bad?” His father’s worried voice pierced through the haze that clouded his mind, bringing him back to reality. As the fog cleared and Jaytee’s senses returned, he could still taste the tantalizing blood on his tongue, but it no longer held him in its grip.

He couldn’t answer right now. He needed to stop the bleeding.

“Get the first aid kit.” Kalen barked the order.

Within seconds, Jax was by his side. “Let me apply some pressure with gauze—”

Jaytee growled fiercely, his tongue lapping. He would lick until the goddamn thing fell off if he had to. Gauze wasn’t going to do shit for Raidh.

“Back off, Jax,” Kalen said in warning. “He’s not going to let us near Raidh. Let him do what he needs to.”

“We have to do something!” Damon said frantically. “I can’t just stand here and watch him die!”

“Then go get your truck,” Kalen said. “We’re gonna need a way to get Raidh home.”

Damon was the one most affected by Raidh’s scent, so why had Jaytee nearly lost it and his twin was over there freaking out instead?

The roar of Damon’s motorcycle echoed through the forest as the taste of blood grew fainter on Jaytee’s tongue. Relief flooded him when he pulled back and saw the bleeding had finally stopped.

But his mate was so pale. Jaytee had failed to keep him safe. Even though the bleeding had stopped, he wasn’t sure Raidh would make it. A hard, burning lump seared his throat. Please, please don’t take my mate from me.

“The back of your head,” Jax said. “It’s bleeding.”

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