Page 99 of Seduced By Moonlight

“I can and I do,” Ward said coldly, towering over the elder.

“You are… confused!” Graymore beseeched. “He has lured you into believing this somehow. Used magic on you, I bet, to make you believe this.”

“Did that throw scramble your marbles?” Lance queried. “Kayden’stelekinesispower isn’t magic based, unlike yours. He can’t make anyone fall in love with him, you overgrown paperweight.”

“Jesus.” Kayden glared at Lance.

“Scrambled your marbles?” Tank asked.

“Work with me here, my dude.”

“Do not speak to me, you… you… shifter! Ward, consider this before you make a grave mistake!”

“Do not presume to know my mind!” Ward’s anger surged again. “You speak as if I do not understand my heart. I know very well what I am doing.”

“I demand that you kick them out!”

Lance growled again, low and menacing. Turning, Ward saw Tank loom protectively in front of Lance while Scarlett stood in front of Mika. He was proud to see his trusted advisors protecting Kayden’s friends. Kayden stood next to Ward, as a mate should.

“The only one in jeopardy of being kicked out is you, Elder.”

Graymore’s face paled. “This is madness.”

Ward heard Kayden’s rapid breathing, and he noticed that his hands also shook. Ward held his hand out to Kayden, who immediately took it.

More composed now, Ward addressed the others in the room. “Understand me right now. Kayden is my mate.”

“He’s making it official,” Lance murmured under his breath.

Scarlett nudged him sharply. “Shh. Primo moment here.”

“We have decided, though, to get to know one another,” Ward announced to everyone assembled. “We will not be bonding immediately. But make no mistake, that does not mean it will not happen.”

Ward stared Graymore down until the elder finally turned away and started to leave.

“Elder Graymore?”

Graymore looked over his shoulder at Ward.

“If you threaten my mate or his friends again, prepare for worse than splintered doors. This is your last warning. Heed me on this.”

Elder Graymore nodded as he hurried away. Joel stared at Ward for a second before following his father.

“Shit. If that’s what you guys do for excitement, I may need a vacation from my vacation,” Lance muttered.

“We need to talk,” Kayden said. “I have questions you need to answer.”

Ward could only imagine after what Kayden had heard.

“Let’s take a walk.” Some fresh air would probably do them both good.

Ward led Kayden out of the suffocating dining room, where every eye had been on them, and into the woods near the castle. The sudden silence away from the tension was almost deafening.

“I may have jumped the gun in announcing you’re my mate,” Ward admitted. He glanced at Kayden, totally expecting to see anger or disbelief.

Instead, Kayden was grinning. “You think?”

Ward stopped abruptly, his wings flexing behind him, a faint shadow against the moonlight. “You are not upset?”

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