Page 90 of Bitten

“I have another mate to claim.” He smiled, Caelian’s blood still on his lips. “I won’t be gone long. He’ll need to feed, as well—and you’ll make the best prize for him.”

* * * *

Back at the hotel…

Noah’s gaze took in the view. Cannon beaten all to hell and staked to the wall. Blood everywhere. Caelian gone.

One of the guards pulled the silver stake from Cannon’s shoulder so the EMTs could get to work on him. Cannon cried out in pain as he and the guard helped move the shifter to the gurney.

The EMTs went to work quickly.

Noah took the silver stake from his guard’s hand and eyed it. It looked familiar.

No. It can’t be.

After a quick check, the lead EMT lifted to look at Noah. “We need to get him in quick. Some of his broken bones are already starting to set incorrectly.”

“Two seconds,” Noah said before moving to the gurney. “Cannon? Cannon? Can you hear me?”

Cannon groaned.

“Who was it?” Noah asked. “Who did this to you?”

“Kane,” came the garbled response.

Kane? Noah looked at the silver stake again before he eyed Theis—who stood there with an eyebrow elevated.

Noah nodded to the EMTs before they rolled him out.

He turned to the other guard. “I need you two out here keeping watch. No one comes in unless I say they can.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Noah urged Theis inside the room.

“It doesn’t make sense. Why would he suddenly flip after twenty years of holding back the bloodlust?” Noah asked. “Something had to have happened. He’s a good man. I know it.”

“I’ve never thought he was right for the guard. He’s not made of the stuff we need. Tonight only proves that.”

Noah shook his head as he looked through the strewn items in the room. A knock came to the door. “Yes?”

The guard peeked his head in. “I found something in the hall.”

Noah walked closer and saw the small black gem in the guard’s hand. He took it, recognizing it as Kane’s. “Thank you,” he said to the guard.

The guard nodded before closing the door. Noah spun to face Theis and showed the gem.

“What is it?” Theis asked.

“Kane wore it,” Noah said. “I’d noticed it before. It’s always around his neck. I asked once, and he got real funny about it.”

Whatever this thing was, it was powerful. It was small, yet was heavy in the palm of his hand. He could feel the magic inside it. Just like he could feel the current of magic inside his mate.

And possibly had helped keep Kane’s bloodlust in check.

Pocketing it, Noah called into his contact at PD for an address on Kane. As soon as he got it, he gave a quick thanks and ended the call. “Let’s find him before he does any more damage tonight.”

A half hour later, they stood in front of an empty, burned out building.

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