Page 25 of Dancing Moonbeam

Kalen’s eyebrows rose. “Mind telling me how you got so bloody retrieving your truck?”

“He can explain later,” Jaytee barked. “Ride my motorcycle. I’m driving.”

“Your head,” Jax said to Jaytee.

“I’m fine,” Jaytee snapped. Damon backed away as his twin lay Raidh gently on the backseat, got into the driver’s seat, then sped down the road in the truck.

“Actually, we should probably hurry home,” Damon said to his father and Jax. “I may have left a dead vampire on the living room floor.”

“They came to our house?” Jax growled.

Kalen’s expression darkened. “According to Jaytee, the vampire who attacked Raidh was hired to kill him.”

Damon cursed under his breath. “I didn’t check the house for more of them. I just wanted to get back here as fast as I could.”

The three of them sped toward their home, determined to get there in case Jaytee needed their help.

* * * *

Galamir sneered as the vampire approached him in the dark forest. He felt disgust and shame creeping into his bones as he was forced to bargain with such a vile creature.

But in the end, all Galamir wanted was his son’s death, even if it meant making a deal with the devil. The ancient vampire had ensured Raidh’s demise already, but a backup plan never hurt.

The vampire approached with a graceful yet terrifying gait, his muscles visibly rippling under his skin. As he drew even closer, the air became heavy with the scent of death and decay, a reminder of what Galamir was dealing with.

Vicino also had a brutal scar that started under his left eye and ran down his face, causing him to look even more menacing. But didn’t vampires heal by drinking blood?

Did he really care how Vicino had gotten it? No.

“Is it done?” Galamir asked, his voice laced with revulsion.

But even he couldn’t deny the frightening size of Vicino, the biggest goddamn thing he had ever encountered.

It repulsed Galamir that he had to tread carefully around the most powerful vampire he had ever met, but he knew better than to underestimate the ruthlessness within the dangerous creature.

Despite Galamir’s claims of mastery over dark magic, his skills were mediocre at best. That’s why he’d spent a millennium investing so much time and effort in his son, pushing so hard in hopes that Raidh would become the most powerful Unseelie of their kind.

But all of Galamir’s efforts had been in vain. Raidh had become a disgrace to the Shadowlace name, throwing away a talent that Galamir would kill for. He had refused to take his lessons seriously, which only fueled Galamir’s anger and disdain toward him.

“Your son is well protected,” Vicino said, rolling his massive shoulders as if they were weighed down by the burden of so many muscles. “Four wolf shifters slaughtered all six men I sent to kill your boy.”

So, Raidh had taken refuge among mutts. For some reason Galamir would never understand, his son was drawn to filth. Like that girl from the lower classes he’d grown close to. What was her name again? Ah yes, Elvine. “Where did you locate Raidh?”

The vampire’s deep, menacing chuckle echoed through the forest. “You only paid me to kill your son. If you want anything else from me, we can negotiate a price.”

“But you haven’t killed him yet,” Galamir ground out.

Vicino narrowed his eyes. “It will get done. You didn’t set a time frame, so you better calm down little fairy.”

Damn Raidh for causing this mess. Galamir couldn’t directly go after his son. He’d been there the day Panahasi had yanked away Novus’s powers. As mediocre as Galamir’s powers were, he didn’t want to face the demon leader if Panahasi found out he was behind Raidh’s death.

He had to make it look like a vampire attack. He also wanted to know where his son was so he could make sure the job was done. If Raidh hadn’t cast that damn concealment spell, he would already know the location.

Galamir ground his teeth together in frustration. He wouldn’t even be going through this if Raidh was already dead. “Fine. What is your price?”

The vampire’s eyes gleamed with malice. “The same amount you paid me to kill him.”

Galamir knew to tread lightly with the ancient vampire. Honestly, if Vicino screwed him over, what could Galamir really do? For the time being, he needed to play nice, though the thought of playing nice with the nasty vampire repulsed him.

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