Page 68 of Seduced By Moonlight

Blood trickled slowly from the gash on Kayden’s head, as though it was clotting. Ward knew that head injuries often bled profusely, yet the sight of Kayden’s blood stirred something primal within him.

A darker instinct urged Ward to hide Kayden in a cave and keep watch at the entrance, ensuring no one got near him. And Kayden would probably toss his ass clear across the country if he did such a thing.

Tank must’ve called ahead because as soon as Ward arrived at the castle, Celine met them in the grand hall, her face etched with lines of concern. She guided them to the infirmary, her calmness helping to soothe the more beastly part of Ward.

“Let me look at him,” she whispered. “Put him on the gurney.”

When he had Kayden settled, Celine ran her hands right above Kayden’s body. They glowed faintly with a golden light as she probed for damage. She sucked in her breath when she got to his head.

Ward watched, helpless and tense, as Celine worked her healing magic. Minutes stretched into what seemed like hours.

Finally, Celine stepped back and sighed. “It’s not as serious as it looks,” Celine said quietly.

She left long enough to get a basin of shimmering liquid that she used to clean Kayden’s face and neck.

“Thank the gods above and below,” Ward said. He didn’t mention how his fingers itched to be the one cleaning Kayden.

“But it is serious enough, Ward. He’s exhausted. He had a pretty severe concussion. It took a lot to stabilize him.”

“He’s going to be okay, right?” Ward wouldn’t accept anything else.

“Yes, he will be. Are you okay too?”

“I’m fine. Are you sure he’s okay?”

Celine met Ward’s gaze. “He will be, but he needs rest and time. The brain is a tricky organ. And also? I don’t know a lot about his kind of ability, but he has all the symptoms of exhaustion.”

Ward balled his hands into fists at his sides. Rage and frustration bore down on him like a physical weight. Kayden had to take on those witches by himself. He’d handled it, but… but Ward should’ve been there to help.

Which was just ridiculous because Ward had no clue they would launch an attack, let alone use Kayden and his team exiting the wards as a tactic to infiltrate.

Marianna’s escape gnawed at him like an insistent itch he couldn’t scratch. It was the second time she’d slipped through his fingers. There had to be a way to prevent her from conjuring that damn portal and vanishing. The thought of her disappearing again left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I would really like to keep him here overnight. You need to go soon too. It’s almost your rest time,” Celine said, touching his forearm briefly.

“Well, he can’t very well say no right now, now can he? And I won’t have a choice about resting either.” Ward glanced at the window. He could literally feel the sun getting ready to rise.

“I know. Thank the goddess you got him back quickly. Tank also called me on my way up here. They’re back, along with Kayden’s crew. He talked everybody into staying here for the day.”

“That’s good. That’s good to know.”

“The housekeeper is getting everyone settled. It’s okay, Ward. I’ll keep an eye on Kayden myself.”

“Thank you, Celine. I appreciate you.”

Taking a deep breath, he moved nearer to the gurney where Kayden lay. With a tender touch, he delicately ran his fingers through Kayden’s hair, feeling the strands slip between his fingers like threads of fine silk. Except where there was blood. That made him want to roar.

Kayden leaned into the gentle caress, his cheek pressing softly against Ward’s palm, and in that tender moment, an overwhelming certainty washed over him—he was completely and utterly captivated.

And he shouldn’t be touching Kayden without permission, so he stopped even though it hurt him.

He hurried from the room and headed for the stairwell that led to the castle’s rooftop. The witches had delivered a major blow tonight, forcing him to reveal the one power all paranormals dreaded—the power to turn someone into stone.

How would Kayden react now that he had confirmation of that ability?

Right before the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, Ward arrived at his favorite spot. The horizon glowed softly, and as the sun’s rays gently caressed the landscape, a profound stillness overcame him.

In that tranquil moment, his body hardened and shifted, transforming into unyielding stone.

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