When Vadim had returned from prowling around the Crossing to find that Psych had lost Miriella, he had been so furious he couldn’t even put it to words. Was it the same white-hot rage that his sire had felt, making him chase after the painted Boss with the intent to kill him? If not to that level, it was certainly close. The young stallion had hurried after the Inlet Queen, hoping to catch her before she scurried the palomino mare off into her icy clutches, but it was no use. Even when he did find Parvati, the seasoned mare had taught him a lesson in fighting with nothing but anger. It made him sloppy, and he had lost horribly.


Now, stewing in hurt pride and fermented anger, Vadim waited to spot Psych alone in the shadows of the safest place he should ever be. In his own home. Like a snake curled beneath a pillow, Vadim was more than ready to strike. It was only the ringing sound of another challenge that interrupted the tall stallion from his dark thoughts. Briefly halting his plotting and planning for revenge (since he was absolutely sure that Psych had tossed the battle for Miriella to scorn him), Vadim watched in surprise as the striped man from Salem called out his name and was answered by Jigsaw. Although he had not seen him lingering around, he hadn’t been actively looking for Jigsaw either. But it somehow eased his current anger to watch his Lagoon brother fight for his freedom, and win. The younger stallion was certainly proving his valor and training.


When silence gripped the Lagoon again, leaving Vadim to sink into his thoughts, he wondered if Psych would even show himself? Did he in fact know what danger awaited him, instead of being ignorant as Vadim had thought? It seemed he hadn’t given the old codger enough credit. He needed to up his game.