Page 39 of Taste of Danger

“And if Elvine is caught, that guard will take what was promised then have her arrested.” Jax’s canines lengthened, as did his claws. “She’s with child, Damon, just like you! Casimir is a commander. He can kill any guard he comes up against. She can’t!”

“I’ll go.” Raidh stepped forward, unable and unwilling to stand by and let his best friend be killed. And she would be, as soon as her mytconiz was noticed and they discovered who she was mated to. “I know the land like the back of my hand. Plus, I can wield dark magic better than anyone in my realm.”

“Raidh, no.” Jaytee shook his head, a pained expression in his eyes. “Your father has probably reported that you’re mated to a shifter. You’ll be arrested and executed if you’re found.” Jaytee looked at Jax. “Brother, I swear I want her back too. She’s become like a little sister to me, but…fuck. We all want her back, but we’ll also be risking the lives of our mates.”

“I’ll protect my nephew with my life,” Casimir promised.

Damon clenched his jaw, hot, angry tears brimming in his eyes. “And if you’re killed? Then what? I raise our pup on my own, without his or her father? There’s no way I can do this without you, nékah. Don’t you even dare ask me to.”

“My mate won’t even have a chance to give birth to our pup if she’s killed!” Jax crossed the room and enveloped Arion in his arms, clinging to the vampire as he buried his face in Arion’s hair.

But Raidh couldn’t be angry with Elvine. She risked losing her parents if she didn’t return. And she’d been right. Jax and Arion wouldn’t have let her return, especially since she was now pregnant.

His dewdrop had already lost her siblings and was terrified of losing her mom and dad. That was why she protected those she loved so fiercely. Her overwhelming fear of losing those she cared about.

Elvine had been dealt an impossible situation, and if roles were reversed, if her parents had been his, Raidh was certain he would have done the same thing.

“My magic has been restored.” Casimir cupped Damon’s jaw. “My nephew and I will bring her back safely. I promise nothing will happen to me, nékah.”

Damon appeared torn. “You better bring your ass back to me, Casimir.”

Raidh turned to his mate. “No.” Jaytee shook his head. “I’m sorry, Jax, but I can’t let him go with Casimir. He already died once. Don’t you dare ask me to go through that pain again. I-I can’t.”

“My father is without magic, thanks to Panahasi,” Raidh reminded him. “I’ll place a protection spell over me and Casimir. And as soon as Elvine is close, I’ll place one over her, too.” He squeezed Jaytee’s hands, smiling at his mate. “Have faith in me. I can do this.”

Because his best friend would do no less for him.

Jaytee yanked Raidh into his arms, hugging him so tight Raidh feared the man would break his ribs. “Bring everyone back, Moonbeam, including yourself. If anything happens to you, I will take an entire army into your realm and wipe out everyone who… Just come back to me.”

Raidh knew letting him go was the hardest thing Jaytee ever had to do. But Elvine was just as important to Jax and Arion as Casimir was to Damon.

“I’m going too,” Jax argued.

“No, you can’t,” Raidh replied, even though it killed him to tell the man he couldn’t go. “We’re already risking everything. I’m not trying to sound dismissive of your abilities as a wolf shifter, Jax, but we can move faster and can wield magic. I’m sorry, but you’ll be a liability we can’t afford.”

Jax breathed heavily as Arion said, “Please, bring her back. I’m sorry for yelling at you, Raidh.”

Raidh wasn’t sure how to reply.

“Thank you for going after her.” Arion pulled from Jax’s arms and walked toward him, causing Raidh to take a step back. “I promise your smell doesn’t affect me,” Arion said, seeming upset that Raidh feared him. “Neither does Casimir’s. I’ve been starved so many times over the past decade, I’ve learned how to control my hunger.”

Fizzle sticks. The vampire was so small, like Raidh and Elvine, only a bit taller, and seemed sweet. Even though he still would never fully trust Arion, maybe Raidh could give Arion his friendship, and in return the vampire could help Raidh to take back his life. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know him. They were family, after all. Arion was also Raidh’s best friend’s mate.

And how freaking tragic was it that Arion had learned that ability through torture?

“Just don’t be upset if I’m still wary of you.”

Arion shrugged. “I don’t expect to be welcomed into this family after what I did to Casimir. I’m just glad no one is trying to hurt me anymore.”

“You’re a Frost, Arion,” Kalen said with conviction. “Don’t you ever doubt that, son.”

Raidh had never met someone, aside from Elvine, with a bigger heart than Kalen, and was aware of why he called everyone son. Raidh’s father had been the worst. And although Casimir was thousands of years old, he’d been taken from his family at a young age, and a part of him still yearned for a father figure in his life. The warrior deeply respected Kalen, and even though he’d never said it out loud, wanted the man’s approval.

And clearly Arion also needed a father figure in his life.

It was simply Kalen’s way of making the mates feel just as much a part of this family as his own children.

“We settled the matter,” Casimir added. “I’m no longer harboring any bad feelings toward you. You’re one of us, Arion.”

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