Page 51 of Seduced By Moonlight

He finally managed to cast a spell so the damn SUV wouldn’t explode in a blazing fireball since it was too late to stop them from tipping over.

When they finally came to a stop upside down on the opposite side of the interstate near a wooded area, silence abruptly drowned out all other noises for Ward.

His mind spun, yet his first coherent thought was of his clan. Scarlett was swearing violently, and Tank was snarling as he ripped out the crumpled dashboard that pinned him.

“Are you both okay?” Ward demanded.

“Yes!”

“Fuck. Yes, but we got company coming,” Tank growled.

Ward could hear shouts and running footsteps approaching their wrecked vehicle—potential enemies? Panicked witnesses? Or the rest of his council? Were they also attacked? Or were they forced to watch the attack on Ward’s SUV? Ward couldn’t get that blank look of the human out of his mind. Something was wrong there.

Still, Ward’s instincts urged him to defend his clan. They weren’t safe yet, not by far, but they also couldn’t allow the humans to see them in their stone type form, which Ward had insisted they shift into.

Gargoyles possessed three distinct forms. In one, they appeared entirely human, indistinguishable from ordinary people. Their natural form, however, revealed their true essence, a majestic blend of mythical and earthly features.

The third form was a captivating fusion of human and stone, where they retained their human shape, but their skin transformed, turning nearly as impenetrable as granite. The subtle patterns and textures of weathered rock detailed that form.

“Ward! Tank! Scarlett!”

“That’s Emmett,” Tank said.

“He’s not calling me by my title, so shift back to human, just to be safe. Cast a spell to look beat up too since there are apparently humans close by. And dammit, the human police are going to get involved in this too,” Ward said as he changed back.

His mood was as black as the night now.

Who attacked them? The hunters or the witches? Because he was sure that was exactly what that was—an attack.

THE POLICE finally arrived, their red and blue lights snaking through the shadows. The night took on a surreal, pulsing life of its own.

Ward watched as uniformed officers leaped out of their vehicles, their movements crisp and decisive under the glare of the swirling lights. Ward and his council waited, acting the part of the distressed accident victims, as the police approached.

Scarlett had a few smeared lines of blood—fake, but convincing—across her forehead. Tank had improvised a limp, leaning heavily on Ward for support.

“Everyone all right here?” one officer asked, his expression a mixture of concern and professional detachment. “We received reports of a vehicle flipping multiple times.”

“We’re alive,” Ward replied. “Thanks to his quick reactions.” He patted Tank on the shoulder, reinforcing the illusion that they were merely lucky survivors.

The police officer nodded and took out his notebook. “I’m going to need your names and details about what happened.”

As they spoke, Ward couldn’t ignore the vacant look in the truck driver’s eyes. It was not merely shock or fear; it was something far more disconnected.

An icy shiver trailed down Ward’s spine as he contemplated whether their assailant could have been under some magical or supernatural influence.

After giving their statements, paramedics allowed them to sit in an ambulance for a checkup. The paramedics busied themselves around them, offering comfort and assessing their injuries, all pretend but necessary for appearances.

Naturally, they declined to visit the hospital. Emmett and the other members of Ward’s council also talked to the police. Eventually, they were allowed to leave.

Once they were a safe distance from the accident site and the prying eyes of law enforcement, Ward called each of the leaders and warned them about the attack on him.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN –KAYDEN

KAYDEN OPENED his eyes. He stretched his arms above his head, feeling the satisfying pull in his muscles, and then tossed the crumpled sheet aside.

Tonight marked the official start of work on Ward’s castle, and anticipation bubbled within him. Yes, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on Ward’s castle—ha, ha—but he also looked forward to seeing the gargoyle himself.

Kayden and his team were prepared to proceed. Ward had examined and approved the samples that Kayden had sent not long after he and Ward had last spoken.

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