Page 91 of Bitten

“We have no way of finding him,” Theis said. “Or Caelian. The elf might not have long, if he’s not already dead.”

Noah shook his head. “Caelian’s not dead.”

“How do you know?”

Noah sensed something had been up between Kane and Caelian… and Ralnur.

“We need to get to the castle. Fast!” Noah roared before jumping back into his SUV.

* * * *

Magic Drano…

Adriel stood waiting when Noah returned to the castle, having sensed the approach of strong magic. “What have you got with you?”

Noah frowned, turning to Theis before turning back. “What do you mean?”

“Magic! Strong magic. I can feel it all over you.”

Noah reached into his pocket before lifting a small black gem.

Adriel gasped, feeling the power. “A Carpathian Onyx,” Adriel whispered. He reached out to touch the magic within and felt it begin to drain his power. “It drains magic.”

“Kane wore it. I’ve seen it around his neck—it was left outside Caelian’s hotel room.”

“The bloodlust,” Adriel whispered. “That’s how he’s fought it all these years. And why I didn’t feel it before. It was happy feeding off his desire. Now it has no strong power to feed from, and it needs a new host.” Adriel still felt drawn to the thing, even knowing what it could do to him.

Adriel spied it, his mind racing.

“That’s why he went crazy. The gem must’ve fallen off and the bloodlust took him. Now we just need to find Kane and return it to him before he completely loses himself,” Noah said.

Adriel still eyed the gem, wanting it for himself. It cried out, needing power to feed from. He slowly turned to Noah. “Or we give it to my uncle. It could save him—and save me from the decision that lingers ahead.”

Noah looked to Eilam before staring back and Adriel. “What?”

“It would prevent Ralnur’s bloodlust—and take his powers—rendering him safe.”

“Kane is my friend. He needs this.”

“A friend? One who beat one of my guardsmen into a bloody pulp and stole my researcher.”

Noah lowered his head. “There has to be a reason. I trusted Kane… with that gem around his neck, I trusted him. Maybe he can be that man again. We just need to find him before it’s too late.”

Screams came from down the hall.

“And I think we just might have found him. Get to safety, my love,” Noah said before racing off.

Adriel wasn’t running and hiding from a fight. He followed behind his mate, ready for battle.

And unable to be too far from the gem in Noah’s hand.

* * * *

Mine…

Kane slammed the guard into the wall, his fist following soon after. Reaching for his stake, he snarled as he realized he’d left it inside Cannon.The thing was an extension of his own hand. Leaving it behind had been stupid.

The guard lifted a UV weapon and fired off a shot.

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