Page 10 of Seduced By Moonlight

Ward heard the worry, though, as she spoke.

“It’s barely dark outside,” Tank complained. “How is it you’ve already managed to find trouble?”

“There’s no rest for the wicked, right?” Several groans met Ward’s joke, then he got serious. “There’s been a new development.”

He explained the unexpected arrival of Rihanna on his land, her involvement in a black magic ritual, and the revelation of her hybrid nature.

“She possesses immense power,” Ward emphasized. “A kind of magic I’ve never encountered before, even in my four hundred years.”

The reaction was mixed—curiosity tinged with suspicion.

“She’s definitely a double-edged sword,” Ward continued. “Her abilities are unknown. She also desperately needed help, thenandnow. I simply cannot turn a blind eye to someone in distress who was all but sacrificed on my lands.”

Tank groaned. “Dammit, Ward, what is it with you and strays?”

Ward ignored that. “But it’s not just about her being a potential asset. It’s about preventing a possible threat too. I must also consider the risk she may pose if left unchecked.”

“We trust your judgement,” Luna said. “But remember, Ward, the balance of power is delicate. Introducing an unknown factor could tip it dangerously, especially since sheisan unknown.”

“I’m aware,” Ward acknowledged, staring at each person in the mirror. “That’s why I’m contacting you. You need to be aware of what has happened, but I also want your thoughts and advice.”

“We need more information about her origins—her realm’s culture, politics… even folklore might give us insight,” suggested Emmett.

“Agreed,” Ward replied. “But I don’t see how we’re going to manage that.”

“’Cause, you know, it’s another realm,” Tank added helpfully. “You caught that, right, Emmett?”

Emmett flipped Tank off, and Tank returned the gesture with both hands.

“Coffee,” Ward muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I need coffee. What I was going to say was since that isn’t possible, I’ll arrange for Celine to speak with Rihanna after she’s rested—ask her questions and see what Rihanna will share with us.”

“And we have no way to verify anything she tells us,” Emmett pointed out.

“True. But lies breed lies, and they eventually trip people up,” Ward said.

“So we see if her story changes over time,” Emmett said.

“Yes,” Ward said. “And if we could get ahold of the hunters’ notes on Rihanna, that would be very helpful too.”

“What are the odds Rihanna would know the facility she was being held at? I mean, it’s not like she’s from this realm. Landmarks and city names won’t be familiar to her,” Scarlett said.

“That is a problem,” Emmett agreed.

“Hudson and Kage have their hackers going through reams of data retrieved from the hunters.I’ll ask both of them to be on the lookout for any information about Rihanna,” Ward said.

“We might get lucky and find something if we got our hands on that,” Tank said.

“She’s a magic user, you said. And she’s powerful. Is she as powerful as you?” Joel asked. “Because if she is, that’s troublesome.”

“Is she as powerful as I am?” Ward’s gaze roamed over his friends’ reflections in the mirror. He’d wondered that too. “Possibly. A battle between us would likely be evenly matched.”

Tank frowned.

“And I understand why you’d find that worrisome, but keep in mind that in a battle, it wouldn’t bejustme. You five are nearly as strong as me.”

“Nearly is not the same as, though,” Luna added.

“True, but don’t forget about our elders,” Scarlett chimed in. “They may be grumpy, but they hold immense power.”

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