Page 57 of Seduced By Moonlight

Ward blinked at Kayden, and his wings fluttered slightly as they folded up on his back. “Oh. I apologize. I didn’t ask you to meet me for that. No, everything is perfect. I love what you suggested and don’t want to change a thing.”

Kayden ran a hand through his hair. “Then what’s going on? I feel like I’m about to be scolded, but damned if I can figure out why. We couldn’t have done anything wrong. I mean, we haven’t been here long enough todosomething wrong.”

“I’m making a mess of this. Again, I apologize. You and your crew have done nothing. The plans are perfect. I asked you to meet because I wanted to explain what happened last night.”

Kayden perked up. It really was not his business, but he was slowly driving himself insane, wanting to know. “There’s something wrong, isn’t there?”

“I’m afraid so, and since you are in my territory, I should appraise you of the situation.”

Kayden’s interest suddenly went in another direction. “Is my crew in danger?”

“I knew that would be your first worry. You know, you have traits of an alpha.”

“Yeah, no. I’m no leader.”

“Oh? Do you not consider the people who work for you yours?”

Kayden wasn’t getting into his found family and his feelings for them. “I’m very protective of my people, yes. So what’s going on, Ward?”

Ward leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight. “While driving home from a meeting in San DeLain last night, an eighteen-wheeler veered across the median on the interstate and attempted to collide with my vehicle head-on. Instead, it ended up sideswiping us. They didn’t target the other SUV with me.”

Kayden recoiled sharply in his chair, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Oh my god, are you serious? Are you okay? You look okay!”

He scanned Ward’s face for any signs of injury, which was dumb, because Ward was a paranormal. Any wound would’ve healed quickly. His mind raced back to the moment he’d glimpsed Ward on the television screen earlier. He’d basically looked fine then too, just pissed.

Ward cringed. “You saw me on—great.”

“I did. But the camera didn’t stay on you long.”

Ward let out a relieved sigh. “Well, I guess that’s a blessing.”

“So, some random big rig tried to run you over?” Kayden asked. Even he could hear the disbelief in his voice. “Is that what you’re telling me? I get the feeling it wasn’t an accident.”

“Yes, someone tried to hit us. But no, I don’t think the driver intentionally did it. In fact, from the quick glimpse I got of him, I don’t think he was aware of what was happening at all.”

“Um, there is a hidden meaning in that, but I’m not getting it,” Kayden admitted as he attempted to unravel the layers of the message.

“I understand. Listen, I have something important to tell you, and once I do, you’ll be able to decide whether you want to stay on this job. You asked if your team is at risk. The answer is, I’m not sure.”

Kayden shifted uneasily, torn between curiosity and apprehension. His grip on the arms of his chair tightened as he sat on the edge of his seat. “I need you to explain that.”

“I know.”

Kayden listened, partly captivated but mostly horrified, as Ward spun a chilling tale of black magic, witches, and a sinister plot involving an attempted ritual sacrifice. He shivered. There was danger, and his crew was in the middle of it.

Ward finished speaking finally.

Kayden stared at him, the words hanging in the air between them. “Let me get this straight. Four witches tried to sacrifice someone in your territory about a week ago.”

“Yes.”

“And the individual those witches attempted to sacrifice was actually a witch who somehow transported herself here from another realm?”

“Yes.”

“And the hunters promptly kidnapped that witch, then did experiments on her. Because of that, she ended up with this Power of Three thingy.”

“Yes.”

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