Page 52 of Beyond Fate

“T-Threat,” Damon gasped out, struggling to form coherent words.

“Excuse me,” an unfamiliar voice interrupted, causing Jax to snarl in response as Jaytee moved protectively over their dad.

Forcing his head to turn despite the dizziness and disorientation, Damon caught sight of the looming threat at their back.

Chapter Fifteen

This…was not a threat. Damon frowned when he saw a short, scrawny male wearing tattered jeans, a faded black shirt over a long-sleeved one, and scuffed-up tennis shoes. No, he most certainly wasn’t a threat. He seemed more malnourished than menacing. His sunken features made his already large green eyes look even bigger, and his arms were as thin as spaghetti noodles.

The stranger held up his hands in a peaceful gesture. “I can help him.” He pointed to Damon. “Or rather, I can tell you what he needs.” He tapped his ear. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. But I promise I wasn’t trying to be nosy!” His already large eyes widened even more. “I swear.”

Now he sounded like Mason. Not the squeaky voice. The nosy and overhearing part. The guy seemed twitchy and kept glancing over his shoulder, scanning the surrounding woods.

“Who are you?” Jaytee demanded as he sniffed the air. “Other than a vampire.”

The stranger hesitated before stammering out his name. “A-Arion.”

Damon’s eyes widened in disbelief as Casimir flew right at Arion, driving the small vampire into the wall with such force bricks crumbled and dust filled the air. “You set me up to be slaughtered. I’m going to kill you!”

Jax snarled ferociously as he sprang up from beside Damon, leaping onto Casimir’s back with all the force of an enraged predator. But Casimir was too strong and refused to let go of the vampire, squeezing tightly around his neck.

Was it possible for a vampire to die of asphyxiation?

“What the hell are you doing?” Damon shouted as he struggled to get up from the ground, his body still weak and uncooperative. “Why are you attacking my mate, Jax?”

Raidh and Elvine landed, staring wide-eyed at Casimir. Raidh quickly shoved Elvine behind him, positioning himself protectively in front of her before both of them took a cautious step back.

Jaytee cursed under his breath and leaped to his feet, trying to pry the vampire out of Casimir’s tight grip. “You’re attacking his mate!”

Who was Jaytee talking about? If he was referring to Damon, then his twin would have said his name. Oh God! Was the emaciated vampire Jax’s mate? This was a huge problem if Casimir was accusing the small vampire of setting him up for a slaughter.

Worse, if Casimir hurt Jax’s mate… Panic rose in Damon’s chest as he realized the magnitude of the situation.

“Casimir,” Damon groaned. “Help.” It was the only way he could think to get his warrior off of Jax’s mate, but he wasn’t totally using a tactic. He really did need his fae.

In an instant, Casimir let go of Arion and charged toward Damon. “Did he hurt you, nékah?” His words were laced with concern and possessiveness as he splayed his hand over Damon’s stomach.

Damon had never seen him look so panicked. “No, he didn’t touch me.”

“He was only trying to help.” Jax’s lip curled into a snarl, his canines and claws bared in a defensive stance as he stood protectively in front of Arion. His blue eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Casimir. “Keep your goddamn hands off of him!”

“I was just going to tell you, the guy on the ground needs to feed from his mate. The baby is hungry and needs its father’s blood. It won’t be satisfied with anyone else’s.” He looked over his shoulder but turned back around and stared directly at Casimir with fear in his green eyes. “Get your wounded out of here. They’re coming. I came to warn you, but I was pancaked into the wall before I could get more than my name out of my mouth.”

Casimir’s lip curled as his gaze swept over Arion.

Jax snarled as if daring Casimir to come any closer.

“Things are not always what they seem, fae,” Arion stated, glancing between Jax and Elvine before he took off at inhuman speed, too fast for Jax to follow.

Jax spun around, scanning the woods, then cursed when he must have come to the same realization.

“Elouan is approaching.” Casimir’s gaze darted around cautiously. “We need to leave.”

Damon knew the only reason his mate would abandon a fight with his enemy closing in was because he didn’t want any of them to get hurt.

“My dad needs to shift,” Jaytee argued. “He’s too weak to ride out of here.”

Damon noticed Elvine staring strangely at Jax, as if she had never seen him before, and then she furrowed her brows. Could it be possible Jax had two mates? Both Arion and Elvine? That was a dangerous combination. Like you have room to talk.

---