Page 19 of Seduced by Moonlight (Gargoyles of San DeLain #1)

THIS WASN’T his bed.

That was the first thought Kayden had before he even opened his eyes. The aroma surrounding him, a mix of herbs and lemon, was nothing like the familiar scent of his bedroom. It was nice, but not what he was used to smelling.

“You’re okay, Kayden. You’re at Ward’s castle in the infirmary. Can you open your eyes for me? Here, let me turn the light down for you.”

Why was he at Ward’s castle? The last thing he recalled was him and his team leaving after he’d terminated his contract with Ward because of….

Because of an attack against Ward.

Kayden and his crew were the victims of an attack. Oh gods, his crew. His eyes snapped open, and he stared up at a beautiful woman with dark hair and eyes.

Her cheekbones suggested Native American heritage. And that scent? It unmistakably indicated a magic user. Damn. A magic user.

“Hey, there. My name is Dr. Celine Tayen. I’m a member of Ward’s clan, and judging by your surprised expression, I’m betting you realize I’m a magic user. However, I’m not associated with the witches who attacked you, Kayden. You’re safe.”

Kayden’s gaze narrowed slightly, processing this influx of information. His head felt fuzzy and cotton filled. And his throat hurt. It felt like he’d swallowed glass.

At least he knew now who had done all that yelling last night. Him, apparently. Slowly, he nodded, still wary of the stranger who had somehow been taking care of him.

“My team…? Are they okay?”

“Yes, they’re fine.”

“What about Lance?”

“Shifted, which healed a lot of the damage, but I’m going to check on him and Mika next.”

“Yes, good.”

“Lance’s rooming with Mika. Once I’ve looked in on them, Matt is the next person I need to see. I’ll definitely check on everyone. Tank got them all here in time,” Celine reassured him.

“Huh?”

“Daylight was coming. It’s actually morning now.”

“Ah. Right. Gargoyles.” Kayden suddenly remembered the witch Ward had turned to stone.

An icy shiver threatened to creep up his spine as he fought to suppress it. The memory was vivid, the witch’s features frozen in time, her expression locked in terror. Then Ward had ordered her to be destroyed. It looked as if the rumors about that ability were indeed accurate.

“Yup. You were all brought here after the attack. It’s been a rough night, but you’re safe now, and that’s what matters.”

Kayden’s mind raced back to the attack, fragments of memory flashing before him—the clash of magic, the screams, the fear for his team. And Ward… Ward had come for them. Come for him.

“What happened? And how did I end up back here?” Kayden asked, looking around the room.

“From my understanding, the witches took advantage of you leaving and launched an attack on the wards as you passed through. I assume they were attempting to break them open.”

“Why are they wanting on Ward’s territory so badly?”

“That’s something you need to discuss with Ward. Anyway, you’re here because you fainted, most likely from exhaustion. At least I heard that’s what Mika insinuated. I’ll be honest with you. I’m not very knowledgeable about telekinesis and the people who possess that ability.”

“That’s not surprising.”

“But I do know about concussions, and you had a pretty bad one. I healed that, but you’ll still probably feel a little off, a little headachy. I mean, that brain of yours got shook up pretty good.”

His head throbbed suddenly—like just thinking about it made it suddenly hurt. It was also a reminder of the chaos that had unfolded earlier.

He touched the spot on his head where he recalled bleeding. There was a bandage in place. With a sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair and then shivered. That sparked a memory, like someone else had also done that to him here recently, and he’d liked it.

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had a concussion, but thank you. I appreciate you healing me. You didn’t have to do that.” The tension that had stiffened his muscles dissipated at the news of his team being safe. And wow, he was sure sore.

“I actually did, or I would’ve had a very unhappy gargoyle on my hands.”

Kayden had no idea what she meant by that.

“Anyway, give me about an hour to check on everybody and then I’ll be back. I’ll take you, and anyone else who’s hungry, to our kitchen. In the meantime, rest, please?” Celine pointed to another door. “That’s the attached bathroom.”

“Got it, and I will. Again, thank you.”

As Celine left the room, Kayden stared up at the sterile ceiling tiles overhead—which certainly weren’t providing answers or solace—but it allowed him a momentary reprieve from having to decide anything immediately.

Outside his room, life at Ward’s castle moved on steadily, which kind of surprised him. For some reason, he just assumed everything came to a screeching halt during the day while the gargoyles were stone. Which was idiotic.

He knew perfectly well this was a working castle, so obviously somebody had to work it, right? Some of the clan members were other types of paranormals. Plus, Ward had human members here too.

Gradually, Kayden pushed himself up to a standing position, feeling the coolness of the floor beneath his feet. As he steadied himself, relieved that the room remained stable and didn’t spin nauseatingly around him, he began his careful journey to the bathroom.

He reeked of sweat, blood, and magic.

Wincing as he caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror, Kayden couldn’t help but pause. He was pale and his eyes looked shadowed, haunted almost.

He leaned closer to the mirror, inspecting the dark circles. Someone had tried to clean the blood off him, but the sharp, metallic scent still clung stubbornly to him.

With a grimace, he used the bathroom. After he was done, he turned on the faucet and let the cold water pour over his hands before splashing it onto his face.

The shock of it was refreshing, momentarily clearing some of the fog that had settled in his brain. Cupping his hands, he drank as much as he could. God, that was good.

Kayden patted his face dry with a towel hanging loosely on the rack beside him and then studied himself for another moment in the mirror.

He wanted to take a shower, but since he didn’t want to put the dirty clothes back on, he waited. Instead, he lay back down on the gurney to wait for Celine to return.

He’d just close his eyes for a minute. But the chaos of his memories disrupted any possibility of peace. The deafening echoes of magical energy blasts, the sharp cries of pain from his teammates, and the sulfurous smell of dark spells lingered hauntingly in his mind.

He tried to push those thoughts away, focusing instead on the rhythmic sound of his own breathing and the faint murmurs of activity outside his door.

Sleep, however, remained elusive. His mind relentlessly replayed the events just before the blackout, trying to piece together everything that happened.

The ambush had been sudden and violent. He knew who. Now he needed to know why. The questions gnawed at him, demanding answers he didn’t yet have.

A gentle knock at the door snapped him out of his reverie.

Celine peeked in. “Hey,” she said, stepping inside. “You look better. How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been pulled through a keyhole sideways.” Kayden managed a weak smile. “But better than earlier.”

“That’s good to hear. I brought clothes if you want to shower.”

“Oh God, do I. Thanks. Give me, like, fifteen minutes.”

“No rush.”

Kayden showered and changed into borrowed clothes that fit pretty well, then rejoined Celine.

“Ready to join the others for some food? You need to eat something.”

Kayden’s stomach churned at the thought. He really needed to eat, though. He’d used a lot of power earlier.

“Clothes were provided to Matt, Lance, and Mika too, so they could shower.”

“Oh good. Thanks.” Kayden followed her out of the room and down several winding corridors of Ward’s castle.

They arrived at a large communal dining area, where several faces turned toward him. Some he recognized. Others were unfamiliar, yet they nodded to him.

Someone handed him a plate filled with simple yet hearty fare—bread, some slices of cheese and cured meats, and a steaming bowl of soup. He sat next to Mika, Lance across from him.

“Are you okay?”

“Do you feel all right?” Kayden snorted as his and Lance’s questions overlapped each other. “I’m fine. Just exhaustion and a concussion, which Celine healed.”

“I’m good too. I wrenched my shoulder. That was the worst of it, outside of some bruises, which all disappeared as soon as I shifted. Eating will help with the rest of it.”

“Thank God.” Kayden looked at Mika. “Are you okay too?”

“Just some bumps and bruises. You and Lance got the worst of it. Matt’s fine as well.”

“That was going to be my next question.” Kayden then spoke to the rest of his crew at the table with him, checking in with them.

Celine sat down across from Kayden. “I checked on everybody, like I said. Only your vehicle and Matt’s made it through, so you guys took the hardest hit.”

“Thank you,” Kayden said, taking a bite of the homemade bread.

As they ate, the conversation gradually dwindled until it faded away completely. Soothing silence, the kind that wrapped around you like a warm blanket, enveloped the room.

The soft clinking of utensils against plates or the muffled sound of laughter from a distant corner occasionally interrupted the quiet.

Kayden’s mind, however, refused to settle. He turned his attention to the surrounding faces, noticing the mix of concern and determination in their expressions.

“All right,” Lance said once everyone had slowed down eating. “We can’t just sit on it forever. We need to talk about what happened last night. Kayden?”

A collective heaviness settled over the group, and nods of agreement came slowly.

“As you guys know, for safety reasons, Ward and I canceled the contract last night because he was having trouble with a coven of witches,” Kayden said. “That should’ve been the end of it, but unfortunately, it wasn’t.”

Kayden recounted Lance’s encounter with the high priestess and how the three of them unexpectedly encountered her again afterward.

“Somehow, she figured out we—meaning my crew and I—were involved with the gargoyles. I don’t think she was specifically targeting us last night as we left. At least, not from what I’ve been told,” Kayden said.

Celine nodded. “I didn’t have enough time to really talk to Ward or any of the other gargoyles because daylight was approaching, but from my understanding, they would’ve attacked anybody who went through the wards. It just happened to be you guys.”

“Why?” Lance asked.

“Because the wards thin out to allow vehicles through. Attacking at that point is actually rather smart because the ward is weakened and—”

“No, I mean, why are these witches attacking you guys?” Lance asked.

“That’s something you need to ask Ward,” Celine said. “It’s not my place to say.”

“Well, it’s certainly someone’s place to say since we got caught up in the aftermath,” Lance snapped.

“While I agree with you, we won’t be taking our frustrations out on Celine, Lance,” Kayden said. “She’s done nothing but be helpful to all of us. She’s not responsible for this, and Ward, honestly, isn’t either. That high priestess is.”

“Shit.” Lance scrubbed his hands over his face. Then he dropped them and looked at Celine. “I apologize, Celine. That was out of line. I’m just… rattled.”

“Apology accepted. Believe it or not, I actually understand your feelings. Since we’re discussing this, I’ll point out that you all should remain here until nightfall too.”

Lance groaned.

“She has a point,” Mika said. “Last time we tried to leave Ward’s territory, it didn’t work out so great.”

Kayden gazed intently at Celine for a few long moments before he finally shrugged his shoulders with a resigned sigh. “I’ll have a word with my guys. But if they decide to go, I won’t stand in their way. I would hope that no one else here would try to prevent them, either.”

“No one will stop anyone from leaving. But I have to stress, again, it would be safer for all of you to say here. At least until you talk to Ward,” Celine said. “Especially you three.”

“Why us?” Lance asked immediately.

“Because Mariana seems to be focused on you three in particular,” Celine said.

“Shiiiiit.” Lance glared at the hunk of bread he’d just torn off before eating it.

Kayden agreed.

“It seems everyone has finished eating, so clan members will clear out so you guys can talk,” Celine said. “I’ll be back in an hour. Or, how about this? I’ll give you my cell phone number and you can call me when you’re done discussing the situation.”

“That sounds good. Thank you.” Kayden took his cell phone out, then added Celine to his contacts. “I’ll call you before anybody does anything, okay?”

“Thank you.”

After she left, Kayden’s crew moved closer together.

“You guys heard what she had to say. Thoughts?”

Mika leaned back in his chair. “Honestly, I think staying makes the most sense. We’re not equipped to handle a coven of witches. Most of us are shifters, not magic users, and the humans are even more vulnerable.”

Lance nodded. “I hate the idea of sitting tight—feels too much like hiding. But Mika’s right. We’re out of our depth here.”

“But this really has nothing to do with us—it’s between the witches and the gargoyles,” a crew member said.

Several people agreed.

Another crew member said, “I feel that if we stay here, we will definitely be caught in the middle, just like earlier. And I don’t want that.”

“Exactly,” someone else said.

“Unless they plan on forcibly making us stay, I’m leaving,” another person said.

It didn’t take long to see the crew wanted out of there immediately. Kayden had a feeling it was going to go that way.

He sent Celine a quick text, and when she returned to the table, he told her what his crew had decided, including Matt. She wasn’t happy, but she escorted them to their vehicles, and they left.

Kayden rubbed his temples. His head still ached some.

“You were in the infirmary earlier so I could monitor you, but I think you can have your own room. You do look as if you need to lie down, though,” Celine said when she returned.

“I wouldn’t mind shutting my eyes for a bit. What about you guys?”

“They’re welcome to use any of the facilities here—the tennis court, the pool, the game room—”

“Game room?” Lance perked up, as did Mika.

Celine waved down another clan member. “Would you show our guests to the game room? I’ll escort you, Kayden, to your room.”

“I’ll text everybody once I’m up,” Kayden said. “See you guys shortly.”