Page 50 of Dancing Moonbeam

“I am Raidh’s uncle.” Casimir placed a palm over his chest and gave a slight bow. “I haven’t seen my nephew since he was a nyliché …for reasons.”

“A what?” Jaytee looked the warrior over. The fae was only two inches shorter than Panahasi. The Unseelie was built like a warrior, muscular, with eyes a shade darker than Jaytee’s.

“Child,” Casimir clarified.

“He knew to come because of me.” Elvine still had tears clinging to her thick lashes.

When Jaytee glanced down at her, his pain thrummed harder in his soul. Although she and Raidh didn’t share a lot of the same features, they shared enough to make his pain beat harder in his soul.

And fuck if looking at her didn’t hurt down to his very foundation.

“There might be a way to save Raidh,” Casimir said, grabbing everyone’s attention.

“How?” Jaytee asked desperately.

Casimir’s cerulean-blue eyes burst with anger. “Raidh’s death broke the curse.”

Jaytee growled.

The fae held up his hand. “Let me finish before you accuse me of stating the obvious.” His gaze wandered to Damon’s wolf, something strange flaring in his eyes, before he pulled his attention back to Jaytee. “Because my nephew’s life was ended by the kiss of death, his soul is imprisoned in the dark fae realm. He remains suspended in unconsciousness for all eternity. His mind will never experience dreams or even be aware of his own existence.

“But if we can guide his soul back to his body…” Panahasi surmised, talking more to himself than to anyone else.

“Then we’re taking his body to the Unseelie realm,” Jaytee snapped, hope gripping his heart and easing some of the anguish.

“Go get my dewdrop back!” Elvine clenched her tiny fists and snarled.

“I was heading there anyway to deal with Galamir,” Panahasi said.

Not even death can separate me from you. I’m coming for you, Moonbeam.

Chapter Thirteen

A deep unease settled in Raidh’s gut as hazy, fragmented memories kept drifting toward the edges of his mind. But every time he tried to focus on them, they spiraled down into the dark depths.

For some reason, a heavy ache weighed on his heart, as if it had been shattered into a million pieces, yet no tears would come to ease the pain.

Where am I? Why is it so dark?

As panic began to set in, a blinding glare grew in his mind, piercing through the fog that had suddenly formed around him. When it cleared, Raidh found himself in a serene meadow bursting with vibrant colors.

But strangely, he couldn’t see his own body. It was as if he were observing through someone else’s eyes.

The sun shined down from a cloudless blue sky, bathing everything in a warm glow. The gentle breeze whispered through the blades of grass, while majestic trees rustled their leaves and branches creaked with each gust of wind.

Nature was alive and breathing, tickling Raidh’s nose with the sweet fragrance of little purple flowers and a hint of pine. As he laughed, a magnificent wolf came into view, as if emerging from the depths of a dream. Its regal form moved slowly, radiating so much sorrow it stirred a deep ache inside Raidh.

Then the large wolf stopped and lifted its head, letting out a mournful howl, its anguish and grief palpable as the heartbreaking sound echoed through the meadow. Raidh longed to comfort it, to ease its suffering, but when he tried to reach out for it, his arms were unresponsive.

Again and again he tried, but each time he failed.

Frustration and torment seized him as he struggled to make contact with the wolf. Somehow Raidh knew the wolf’s heart, soul, and very existence belonged solely to him, and it hungered for him with an intense longing.

I’m here, baby! Come to me, Jaytee!

He knew its name, felt the unbreakable connection to it, but no matter how hard he fought or struggled against the invisible barrier, the wolf remained just beyond his reach.

Please, come to me! I’m right here! Raidh begged and pleaded, but the wolf wouldn’t acknowledge his presence, its haunting blue eyes locked on something in the distance.

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