Encounters (The Elder Origins #3) by Bre Faucheux

Lyndon by his tunic collar and thrust him against the far wall with a thundering crack.
    “You could have killed him,” said Jamison, inches from Lyndon’s face. The force of his anger left Lyndon startled, only having ever seen Jamison in a calmed and controlled state.
    “I knew not how to. It was long after we came back to these lands that I realized it could be done. But by that time it was too late. Caspar moved onward without me.”
    Jamison threw him to the ground. The crush of his strength made the rocks inside the cavern quake.
    “Do you know the amount of blood that is on your hands?” he snarled.
    “Did you do this to these people?” Madison demanded, pointing to the villagers on the ground. There were clearly men, women and even children amongst them.
    “No, I came to warn you. There are more coming for you,” he uttered. Akecheta and Nayati stepped closer behind Jamison, ready to take Lyndon at any given moment at Jamison’s behest. “I also came to beg for your aid,” he continued.
    “You have no room to ask for aid from anyone,” said Akecheta .
    “There are other vampyrs in this region, Jamison,” said Nayati. “I heard them in the far region of the woods. They have been visiting the village by night. People are disappearing every day and the town is terrified. We must kill them.”
    “Are they beyond saving?” Jamison asked.
    “They are beyond anything. There are fewer people in this region for them to feed from and they are starving,” said Nayati.
    Lyndon stared at the ground.
    “You would not have anything to do with that, I dare say?” said Jamison, kneeling down to stare at Lyndon in his disgrace.
    Jamison extended his senses deep within Lyndon’s emotions, reading them to his best ability. He needed to see more. He grabbed for Lyndon’s wrist and took it in his hand forcefully, hoping the touch would give him what he needed . Lyndon couldn’t meet his eyes. His shame was profound without having to see inside him. This much Jamison was aware of instantly.
    Lyndon’s eyes eventually reached forth and met Jamison’s. There was contrition, but Lyndon’s resolve was absolute that he had done all that he could to stop it.
    “I was an honorable man, Jamison,” Lyndon said quietly. “I lead our expedition with pride and care for my crew and passengers. This you know. I followed Caspar only because he was worse in his thirst than I. I knew not how to stop him unless I followed in his stead. But he was too far gone.” He stumbled over his words, trying to choose them carefully. “He is smarter than me, Jamison,” he continued. “Try as I did, I could not trap him in any way I attempted. When he realized that his blood had caused the plague, it only made him more curious. He became obsessed with learning how to change others, poisoning all the waters he could find. By the time he knew that it was longer exposure to our blood that caused the change and the taking of blood to seal it, I had discovered the rayen. I tried to end all this. You know I did.”
    “Where is he now?” asked Jamison.
    “If I had known another option was available to me, I never would have followed him. But you must understand, I thought your sister and Jayden were like him and me. I had no idea you could control your impulses.”
    “We will give you what you want if you tell us where both of them are,” said Jamison.
    Madison took a step forward looking at her brother. She tried to delve into Jamison’s emotions, but to no avail. He was completely focused on entering Lyndon’s.
    “Where is he? Where is Jayden?” she said forcefully.
    “If you want to be healed of your thirst as we are, you must tell us where Caspar and Jayden are. Although I cannot promise that we won’t hold you accountable after the fact,” Jamison took Lyndon’s arm and slammed it down to the ground. Madison heard the bones in his wrist crack, and yet Lyndon didn’t utter a sound.
    “Understand, please, I thought it was