Page 12 of Seduced By Moonlight

The gargoyles, much like daemons and dragons, were well-known, but their capabilities remained largely mysterious. There were rumors, though. Oh boy, were there rumors.

And the one that concerned Kayden the most was the gargoyles’ ability to turn someone into stone. The mere thought sent shivers down his spine, and this came from someone who had plenty of impressive abilities at his disposal as well.

Despite Kayden’s own formidable powers, the thought of facing these creatures left him feeling vulnerable and exposed, but he shook it off. Ward had sought him out and hired him for this job, for crying out loud. Still, he’d be glad when it was done.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Kayden said as he opened his truck door. “Are you riding with me, Mika?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all. Would you close the garage door for me?” Kayden asked as he went back into his garage.

“Sure.”

Kayden climbed behind the wheel and backed out. Mika expertly lowered the heavy door with a loud bang, then joined Kayden.

He observed the other members of his team had pulled over to make way for his large truck as it rolled down the long driveway. They’d done this song and dance plenty of times—the rest of the guys would fall in behind and follow him to their next client.

Kayden lived outside of San DeLain; his land was nestled between the territories of the dragons and gargoyles. Before purchasing the property, he’d consulted with both Hudson and Ward to ensure he had their approval.

His plot spanned five sprawling acres, but he’d developed only one, leaving the rest in its natural state. As he gazed out at the untamed landscape, a sense of peace and harmony washed over him.

This washisplace.

A lot of his crew had either bought on the border of the two territories or lived in San DeLain. His popularity stemmed from the fact that his crew consisted almost entirely of paranormal shifters—excluding werewolves, as the San DeLain packs disliked rogues—and magic users.

Then there were a few oddballs like him who had some sort of psychic power. His ability was both a blessing and a curse, as it often left him feeling isolated and misunderstood, but he’d learned to embrace his uniqueness.

He’d had to.

Interestingly, other paranormals did not classify people like Kayden as one of their own, but Kayden was not human either. His kind fell into the category of nonhuman, a label that only served to further emphasize their lack of acceptance among paranormal society.

Yeah, he had a chip on his shoulder about it. Many like him did.

The ironic thing was, paranormals sought out Kayden because hewasn’thuman. In those situations, they were more than willing to hire him and his crew of misfits.

And Kayden gladly took those jobs and charged an arm and a leg. Sometimes two arms, two legs, and a tail or a horn depending on how the client treated him in the initial consult.

Did he jack up his prices for people like that? You bet your sweet ass he did. And they gladly paid. Kayden made a damn good living, and he made sure his crew also benefited. He hadn’t run across that kind of bigotry with the dragons, though. And so far, he hadn’t picked up that vibe from the gargoyle king either, but time would tell.

Unlike other paranormals, who often lived in organized groups, Kayden preferred the solitary life. He relished the freedom to come and go as he pleased, without having to answer to anyone else. Yet, despite his independence, he still had a tight-knit group of employees whom he cherished like family.

“How long until we get there?”

Kayden checked his phone, then handed it to Mika. “Another thirty to forty-five minutes, if traffic is good. Speaking of which, text the gargoyle king and let him know we’re on our way.”

“Sure thing.” Mika swiftly tapped out a message. “And it’s sent.”

Kayden’s cell beeped a few minutes later.

“Wow. Quick response. He says he’s expecting us.” Mika handed the cell back.

“That’s good,” Kayden murmured, slipping his cell into his pocket.

He watched the road even as his mind wandered back to the potential dangers that could await them. It wasn’tjustthe gargoyle’s rumored powers that concerned him—it was the unknown dynamics of their society.

As they drove through the winding roads that carved through dense forests and over rolling hills, Kayden could almost feel the atmosphere change.

A mist rose from nowhere, shrouding the surroundings with an eerie veil as they passed through a ward. A familiar tingle raced across his skin as they crossed, a sensation like walking through a curtain of static electricity.

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