Page 16 of Bitten

“I would think that you would want to keep our king safe.”

Kane met Noah’s stare. The alleged prophecy slipped through his mind. He couldn’t recall it word for word… but supposedly, if the king surrendered, Midnight would fall. As a guardsman, he’d have the means to help prevent that—if the prophecy was true. He had his doubts, though. “Of course I wish to protect the king.” In a roundabout way.

“Then you’ll get to your training,” Noah said, nodding his desire to see Kane’s agreement. “And you’ll help me ensure he remains safe tomorrow night.”

“I’m already on my way,” Kane murmured, forcing a smile to his lips.

“Good. After the ball, Eilam and I plan to take the king to his private realm for a day or two, so you can focus on the investigation then.”

“A honeymoon?” Kane asked, lifting his brow.

A slight smile came to Noah’s lips. “You might call it that.” He laughed, shaking his head. “Trust me. We’ll need it.”

“Things that bad?”

Noah frowned. “We have a mate who’s used to getting his way. At everything. Add in the concerns over this event, dealing with Eilam’s family, as well as trying to navigate a new life in the castle—” He paused and inhaled a deep breath. “It’s just overwhelming.” Noah dragged a hand through his hair. “And you didn’t need to hear me complain.”

“I’m a good listener,” Kane murmured. Many people seemed to let their guard down around him and tell him things they likely shouldn’t. He wasn’t sure if it was part of the vampire within him or the amulet around his neck—whatever it was, it sure as hell had helped him on the job.

“You are,” Noah agreed, giving him a pat on the shoulder. “And knowing one more trusted man is there to watch over the event—and the city in our absence—will help me make it through this damned thing.” Noah shivered. “A thousand guests with less than a week to prepare. It’s been a nightmare to plan.”

Kane’s eyes widened. “Well, he is a warlock. I would assume the king could snap his fingers and get anything he willed.”

“Unfortunately, that’s true.”

Kane smiled slightly, sensing things were a bit bumpier for the two King’s Consorts and their warlock king than Noah was letting on. But if anyone could handle a moody monarch, it was Noah. He’d proven himself a strong leader and a capable fighter. The fact he would now lead the King’s Guard was the only other reason he’d agree to taking on the role.

“I need to get back to Eilam. I snuck out on him as he was preparing to entertain his family. If I don’t get back soon, he’ll murder me,” Noah said. “Check in with Theis when you get to the castle. He’ll be running the guard until after I return.”

“Let me just wrap up a few things here and I’ll be on my way.”

Noah eyed him, one brow rising.

“No more than ten minutes. I promise.”

“Ten minutes. No more than.” Noah nodded before heading out. He paused and turned to face Kane. “Oh, by the way—I forgot to ask if you’d heard the news?”

“What news?” Kane asked, turning.

“About Ralnur—the king’s uncle—he’s turned. And that needs to stay under wraps. The taskforce and the king’s guardsmen know, but no one else. We need to figure out how that plays into this whole thing.”

“Got it.” Kane paused, trying not to show any emotion. “Ralnur was bitten hundreds of times. Makes sense he’d likely turn.”

Noah shook his head. “No… he was cleared when he first got into the hospital. The healers said he wasn’t changed. Something happened to him inside the hospital.”

Kane remained quiet.

Noah sighed. “The king was sure the enchantment would’ve prevented it, so we’re not sure how it happened.”

Kane frowned. He’d researched vampires, but he didn’t know all that much about witches. They kept to themselves for the most part. Even the ones who broke the law had to be taken in by those with witch blood in the PD. “The enchantment?”

“All those of witch blood get some kind of spell placed on them when they’re born. It kills the vampire virus as it enters the bloodstream. Somehow, a vampire was strong enough to change him regardless of that spell. We think we got a bit of a glimpse in the camera feed.”

Kane remained still, wondering if he’d just been caught. He’d used the witch’s old spell to hide him from the camera… but his grasp on magic was loose at best. Maybe they’d seen him after all.

Was this Noah preparing to pounce? He stiffened some, yet didn’t want to appear guilty. “If that enchantment saved him once, why didn’t it save him again?”

“That we don’t know. Was it a strong magic that caused it? A strong vampire? Or had the other bites weakened him and the enchantment so much that another bite took hold? There are more questions than answers. But we might have a key player out there who’s stronger than we know—and the sooner we know who he or she is, the better. Be on the lookout for anything that might clue us in,” Noah said before turning to leave.

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