Page 73 of Seduced By Moonlight

But the need to roam the forest wasn’t what was riding him hard. It was the need and eagerness to see Kayden. More than eager, it was an urgency.

As the sun rose, there hadn’t been enough time to assess Kayden’s injuries, and the lack of knowledge had bothered Ward. The long hours spent under the sun’s curse were always torturous when there was unfinished business, especially when it was personal.

Ward descended the stairs, his steps quick with anxiety. He maneuvered through the winding corridors, making his way to the infirmary where he’d last seen Kayden.

As soon as he walked inside, Celine shook her head. “He’s not here. I put him in the blue room.”

“Thank you.” Turning, he started back out the door.

“Ward? You should know that most of Kayden’s crew left this morning,” Celine added. “They weren’t comfortable staying here.”

Ward turned away from the door. “That’s unfortunate. And where did you say you put Kayden?”

“Blue room.”

A wave of relief washed over Ward. Kayden was there. He hadn’t left. A gentle, warm fluttering began in his belly, like the soft rustle of butterfly wings. Kayden wasthere. Close by too. In his castle. He’d be sleeping in Ward’s castle. He found he liked the thought.

“Mika and Lance are here too. But Matt left. He was the second truck through the ward that was attacked.”

“Where are the rest staying?”

“They’re all on the same floor. I put Lance in what I call the forest room. Mika is in the room with the armoire.”

“Got it. How are Lance and Mika?”

“Lance had bumps and bruises. Shifting solved a lot of his problems. Mika was just shaky,” Celine said.

“That’s good.”

“Kayden was the worst—the concussion was pretty severe, but like I said, I healed that. He’s still a little headachy. Last I saw, he was resting in his room.”

“Thank you. I’m going to check on him.” Ward hurried out of the infirmary.

Was it his imagination or did it seem as if the hallways were endless? Each turn reminded him of the distance between them. The anticipation built with each step.

It was a mixture of concern and that eagerness he’d felt when he woke to be near Kayden again. Ward’s pulse quickened. It was an unfamiliar sensation, this blend of protective instinct and personal attachment.

Finally, he arrived at the blue room. He hesitated at the door, hand poised above the handle. Busting in there would probably not win him any popularity points. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he knocked softly.

There was no response, so he tried again.

Finally, the third time he knocked, he heard a soft groan and finally the sound of feet hitting the floor. Damn. It sounded as if he’d woken Kayden up. A few seconds later, the door opened.

“Hey,” Ward said. “Sorry I woke you. May I come in? I’d like to speak to you.”

Kayden moved out of the way. “Sure, come on in. Just keep in mind I just got up. As long as you’re not expecting me to make decisions right this second, I’m good,” he joked.

“I understand.” Ward stepped into the room. There was a little seating area, an attached bath, and a large window that overlooked the mountains.

It was called the blue room because everything in it was some shade of blue, from the delicate sky hues of the bedspread to the deep ocean tones of the draperies. The colors were soothing, thoughtfully put together to provide comfort and a sense of calm.

Ward sat, observing Kayden for a moment as he closed the door behind him. He looked better than Ward had anticipated, though there was still a paleness to his skin that spoke of his recent ordeal. That was bothersome, considering how tanned Kayden normally appeared. That plus the bandage near his hairline concerned Ward.

“How are you feeling?” Ward asked.

“Better.” Kayden ran his hand through his messy hair. He grunted when he hit the bandage. “Shit. Forgot that was there. Ah, let me use the restroom before we get started. And man, I’d kill for some caffeine.”

That was something Ward could absolutely help with. “Hey, Kayden? There are toiletries under the bathroom sink.”

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