Page 120 of Taming His Vampire Mate

“Because the witch herself told me,” Godric said softly. “Once I knew Magnus was free, I went to see for myself. I prayed I was wrong.” He paused. “Magnus didn’t leave her alive afterward. Nor her descendants. The entire town was gone—he spared no one. But her spirit remained.”

Wait. Can Godric speak to the dead?

It wouldn’t surprise me,Thierry said through the bond, catching my thought.He has many gifts. When he was human, they drove him half-mad.

“That’s preposterous,” Nathaniel said, sounding shaken. “No vampire would risk exposure like that. They wouldn’t wipe out an entire town. Certainly nottwotowns.”

“No,” Thierry said dully. “Nathaniel, you don’t understand. He would. Magnus would. He’d think it amusing if mortals knew vampires existed. He’d want them afraid of him. He’d get off on the rush of power.”

“I cleaned up his mess,” Godric said gravely, nodding. “But yes. That is what we’re dealing with. That is what this spell unleashed.”

“I’ll help you,” Thierry said. “I’ll help you destroy him. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

Godric nodded. “We have no choice. He isn’t what he once was. His time in the tomb—I believe it drove him mad. The witch said he talked to himself. That he often made no sense. He frightened her.”

I opened my mouth, ready to tell Thierry that whatever he faced, I’d face it with him. But before I could, my phone rang.

Every pair of eyes turned toward me.

“Forgot to silence it,” I muttered, pulling it out. Lindsey. I gave Thierry a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

I hit end, sending the call to voicemail.

“So,” Ethan said slowly, “we need a game plan. I can break the protections on this guy—if I can get close enough. But first we need to find him.”

“No!” Nathaniel exclaimed, horrified. “That’s far too dangerous!”

“This is what my gifts are for,” Ethan replied calmly. “To undo magic used by terrible people. To shield others from consequences. My gifts are meant to right wrongs. You know that.”

“A small vial of your blood would work just as well,” Nathaniel snapped. “There is no way I’m letting you put yourself at risk—”

My phone rang again.

Lindsey. Again.

I frowned, finger hovering overend—until a cold feeling gr gripped me. Lindsey wouldn’t interrupt unless it was life-or-death.

“Answer it,” Thierry said softly, looking even paler than usual.

With every eye on me, I hitacceptand lifted the phone.

“It’s the bleeds,” Lindsey said without preamble. “They’ve started again. The monsters are back in Crescent Springs, Jeremy. And we need you.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE || THIERRY

“You broughthim?” Reed demanded, striding up to us along the idyllic street that looked like something out of one of the Hallmark holiday movies Simone always bullied me into watching each year—thousands of years old and she was still a sucker for happy endings.

His expression was wary, but memories—dozens of them, rapid-fire—swept through the bond. Reed and Jeremy hiding in the forest as boys. Jeremy as a teenager, confessing about his growing feelings for Ian. Reed, a bit older, telling him to stop being a jerk. Most recently: Reed holding Jeremy as he broke down at Ian’s funeral.

Sorry,Jeremy whispered.I didn’t mean to show you all of that.

No harm done,I replied.

But it was harder to hate Reed when his voice dropped to a harsh whisper and he gave me a dark look. “This place is swarming with vampires now!”

Jeremy blinked. “There are other vampires here?”

Reed glanced around, perhaps to make sure none of the handful of people nearby, browsing the too-cute shops and surprisingly upscale restaurants in Crescent Springs were paying attention to us. Apparently satisfied, he said, “His name’sAiden. He’s Lindsey’s friend. She has him at the ski lodge, but she’s been inviting him to the commune, if you can believe that. His human mate is with him.”