Red Moon Secrets (Deadly Beauties #3) Page 12

  Let's see—I hit my ex with a shot of power strong enough to knock him out, exposed my magic to humans, revealed silver-eyed proof I'm the creature-demon they all fear, and then I went so far as to turn into a night stalker and drink my boyfriend's blood. None of which I can remember. Yeah, Dad, I'm peachy.

  "I'm fine," I mumble, settling for the dishonest but easy answer.

  He sighs out heavily, as if that's the first time he's exhaled in ten years. "Good. I'm calling to tell you that your mother and I are going to Scotland. We've got a lead on some of the people who took her. We need to learn about the imposter. More importantly, we need to learn about everyone we're up against. This is a well-thought-out plan being run by someone who has spent years orchestrating such an elaborate feat. We'll have to dig deep to find answers."

  "Will the light and dark not flip out when they find out you've left your home?"

  He laughs, sounding condescending with each new chuckle. "Dear girl, I've left this home more times than I can count. I have plenty of ways to keep my affairs discreet and quiet. Besides, I have friends in very high places. I'm more worried about you. We want you to join us."

  I look to see Kane is staring at me intensely, waiting on my response. I have a feeling he'll go if I go. I'd want him to as well. It's too risky with me being this… thing. I won't put my parents in jeopardy. I can't believe I'm thinking of Drackus as a father right now. We still have fences to mend, but I don't want to see him dead.

  "I'm staying," I mutter vaguely, not wanting to add my own issues to their already full plate of drama.

  Kane walks over to me and pulls me closer just before Gage materializes in the room. Mom gets on the phone with me, and Kane withdraws so he and Gage can discuss cage making, proving the dark user was listening in to find out if I swayed my night stalker.

  Mom tells me she loves me and to call her if I need her—at least twenty times—and I hang up before turning to face the boys. "They're going to miss Thad's memorial. They need to leave now. They're worried their informant will be spooked if they wait too long," I say softly, my emotions choking up my voice just barely.

  I'm sure I'll bawl later, but right now, I have to keep it together so everyone doesn't lose focus on Thad's day by paying me attention that I don't want or deserve.

  "We'll start working on the cage," Deke says, looking to me. "Sierra and Amy will have to know why you're being caged up. They'll ask questions."

  My lips tighten into a thin line. I hate the smug smirk that will be on Amy's face when she learns about who or what I am.

  "I need coffee before discussing cages, Amy, and another red moon. This is ridiculous. How many more are going to be here this cycle?"

  Gage frowns, probably wishing he could wrap me up in his arms. "I don't know. Maybe...ten?"

  My mouth falls open. "What? Why?"

  "We don't know what's going on," Kane says. "I didn't think there would be more than five, but it's obvious this is a rough cycle. That's why I don't want to put you in a cage. There're just too many."

  He comes to brush his lips against mine, holding me to him as he does his best to free my mind from its burden.

  "This atmosphere is draining," Dice gripes as he comes in, swatting as if he's trying to keep the air away from him. "You guys have to quit being so fucking miserable. It's stealing all my energy. It took all my extra to heal last night."

  No one even acknowledges the unhelpful incubus. I still don't even know why he needed to heal. Something tells me I was involved, which is a little scary.

  He curses when no one gives a damn about his needs, and he returns to his room, leaving us alone with our solemn silence and coffee. Then, suddenly, an old Spice Girls song my mother used to love starts playing—loudly.

  Dice leaps back in, singing with the lyrics, while wearing his leather pants and no shirt. He points to Kane and runs his hand over Gage's chest.

  "Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want. So, tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I want a—"

  "Dice!" we all scold in unison, gripping our ears to offer them reprieve from the obnoxious music.

  He scowls at us when his attempt to lighten the mood fails, and he storms out, forcing all of us to stifle a grin.

  "He's so annoying," Gage groans.

  "Glad we agree on something," Kane mumbles, moving to sit down behind the bar as the music stops.

  I go to stand beside him as he flips through numerous scroll images on an iPad. He's reading about me—my kind.

  "Studying up?" I ask, trying not to sound as pathetic as I feel.

  "Of course I am. I want to prove to everyone you can control it."

  My eyes water as I tilt my head. He's so completely on my side that he thinks I could never be the monster so many of those others were. Without thinking, my lips press against his, startling him a little, but he draws me closer and onto his lap as he returns the spontaneous affection.

  Gage vaporizes from the room as I thank my night stalker with actions rather than words. Kane smiles against my lips, enjoying the little show I didn't mean to put on. A small tear drips out as it all becomes overwhelming, and his smile falls as he pulls back to wipe away the watery traitor.

  Before he can say anything, music starts blaring again, and we both roll our eyes as Dice comes around singing, "Killing me softly with his song."

  "Dice!" we both yell.

  He mutters something under his breath, possibly cursing us, but the music is too loud to hear whatever snarky remark he has. Kane shakes his head as Dice retreats back to his room once again.

  "Do we have to keep the incubus?" he asks.

  I smile softly, almost feeling a little better, and then a new song begins blaring. This time, I burst out laughing as Kane narrows his eyes at the annoying incubus returning, singing once more.

  "Ice Ice, baby... Ice Ice, baby... All right, stop. Collaborate and listen. Ice is back with my brand new invention..."

  As Dice continues singing, Kane groans, doing his best to stifle his own grin as Zee and Deke start singing along. When it gets back to the chorus, I can't help but join in on the fun.

  "Ice Ice, baby."

  Kane's eyebrow cocks up as he gives me a mischievous glare. "You, too?" he asks, daring me to take the bait.

  "Ice Ice, baby," I playfully sing, challenging him.

  He starts tickling me ferociously, making my body jerk and contort in hideous positions as my laughter bellows through the house. Deke and Zee both chuckle as I beg for mercy, but the smile on Kane's face is absolutely beautiful with its carefree tug.

  Dice has successfully broken the spell of misery for the time being, though we all know it's just a short reprieve. Dice and Zee dance as I scramble free from Kane. He starts chasing me, toying with me. There's no way I can outrun him, but I can't help but gush out more laughter as I give it a pathetic attempt. Gage pretends not to notice us when we clamber into the living room where he was trying to hide.

  Just before Kane catches me, I feel tingling sensations spread over my body, tugging me from the inside-out, and stealing my breath. I'm being vaporized, but I don't feel Gage's arms around me.

  I squeal when I materialize, only to see I'm surrounded by darkness and the smell of wood.

  "Alyssa!" Kane and Gage both yell in unison as the music cuts out.

  "Here!" I squeal, rapping fiercely on the wall I've somehow managed to become encased in. "Get me out!"

  A fist slams into the wall beside me, and then more is ripped free until the hole is large enough for me to scramble out of. Kane's arms are around me as he pulls me out completely, and I shake in his embrace, shocked and confused.

  "How did she do that?" he asks Gage who comes over to inspect my eyes.

  "I have no idea," he murmurs before examining my bleeding hand that I must have scratched when I was trapped inside the wall. He points to it as he says, "She's obviously still mortal. This is so fucked up."

  I slow my breathing as everyo
ne comes to gawk at me like some science-fiction monster. I shouldn't be able to vaporize. Not yet. Not until I'm immortal. How did I do it?

  Sierra and Amy walk in carrying loads of groceries. When they stumble into the deadly silence, their eyes fall to the men of their coven for answers.

  "We should get ready for the memorial," Kane says to me instead of answering their silent query.

  He kisses the top of my head as we head into the bedroom. It's just one more thing for me to worry about. This is getting more confusing and impossible by the minute.

  Chapter 10

  Ashes to Ashes

  Burying Thad's ashes wasn't an easy feat, considering it was the hardest I've ever cried. It's been three days, but it still weighs heavily on my mind.

  I pull out my earplugs, doing my best not to disturb the sweet night stalker who is tangled around me. We've slept twice in my cage now. My cage. Those two words were never anything I thought I'd hear, or say, or think.

  My life has become one big jumbled up pile of screwed-up.

  "Hey," Kane says, nuzzling my neck with his sweet face, the two of us barely fitting on the small cot. He too removes his spell-laced earplugs.

  I turn over, careful not to let myself tip over the edge, and I spiral around him, soaking in all of his incredible touch. "You don't have to sleep in here with me," I murmur, ignoring Sierra's snores from across the room.

  It's not easy to sleep with two snarling, roaring, furious lycans during a red moon. Thank God for earplugs.

  "I'm not letting you sleep in here alone. I don't know how Deke does it."

  Thinking back to the full mouth of fangs that clashed against the bars over and over, I can see how Deke lets her sleep in there alone.

  "You'll change your mind whenever I go Ms. Hyde again."

  Though I'm joking, the weight in my words betrays me and shows my true fear. Kane goes on, keeping his encouraging facade in place.

  "Well, Ms. Hyde happens to find me irresistible. And I think it's safe to say you don't change unless provoked somehow," he says, grinning while kissing against the line of my jaw.

  He's good at distracting me.

  "We don't know that. It's possible I've just been too tired to wig out."

  The door to the downstairs opens, and the smell of bacon, eggs, and biscuits wafts through the air, making me lick my lips.

  "Hungry?" Kane asks, smiling against my cheek.

  My stomach growls as if in response, and he snickers.

  "You two ready to come out?" Deke asks, making his way to Sierra and Amy's cage first.

  Sierra stretches, finally rousing from her sleep, but Amy is still naked and huddled in the far corner, sleeping silently. I've learned to ignore her, and since Kane has zero interest in her, I've also gotten over all hesitation I might have had about us. A lot can happen in a few days.

  "Here," Deke says, tossing the keys through the air.

  Using my magic, I guide them to us, and Kane snatches them out of the air. I happily climb off the terrible cot. It's not big enough for one person, so two people on it isn't ideal. But my cage was built quickly, and they didn't have enough materials on such short notice to make it any bigger.

  Kane's fingers thread with mine after he unlocks the door, and we head up, chuckling when my stomach rumbles again.

  Dice and Gage are arguing immortal politics when we step in. I have one thing on my mind and that's food—I swear I've never been so hungry.

  Kane makes a glass of his own breakfast, bypassing the solid food. I don't even shudder anymore when he turns up the thick red liquid.

  "Hungry?" Dice asks, amused as he eyes my heaping plate.

  I look down, frowning when I see it loaded with enough food to give a mortal a heart attack. Before I can defend my overflowing mound, the doorbell rings, announcing an unexpected visit.

  "I'll check it out," Gage says, walking out instead of vaporizing in case it's a curious human waiting in front of the glass door.

  I drown out everything as I begin eating, greedily gobbling down as much as my mouth can hold at once. The look of disgust on Dice's face doesn't even slow me down. Kane snickers at my side as he joins me behind the bar, and I grimace. This really can't be attractive.

  "Sorry," I mutter through a mouthful, sloppily wiping my mouth with a napkin.

  "You're hungry. Don't apologize. I think it's adorable."

  "That's gross," Dice grumbles, turning puce.

  Kane starts to defend me, but a breeze introduces a materializing Gage.

  "Need you to let someone in," he says, motioning toward the door.

  He looks worried, or possibly frightened. What now?

  "Who?"

  "Chaz."

  My eyes grow too wide for my face. Chaz? Here? Has something happened to Mom and Drackus?

  "Chaz can come in," I almost whisper, feeling the barrier of the protection spell expand to offer him admittance.

  He appears in the room, a trail of glittery dust flowing in around him. Bleach blond hair, soft blue eyes, and a familiar face make me smile. It's been so long since I've seen my best friend.

  "A fairy?" Dice snorts, laughing loudly before I can even speak.

  Chaz's eyes cut toward the sniggering incubus. "Do not call me a fairy. I'm a duster, damn it."

  Dice continues to laugh, and I stifle a grin. The fey world loves to tease male dusters about what the mortals once called them. Of course, unlike pixies, fairies—um—I mean dusters, are regular height. Chaz is at least 6'1.

  "Hey," I finally say, happy my words escape in an even tone.

  He turns back to me, but he doesn't return my smile. Shit. Mom's in trouble.

  "What happened? Where's Mom? Where's Drack—"

  "They're fine," he says, keeping his voice soft as he comes over to stand across from me.

  He keeps the bar between us, as though he feels safer that away. Oh no—he knows.

  "What's going on?" Kane asks, suddenly growing protective when he senses my tension.

  His arm snakes around my waist, drawing me closer, as his gaze grows expectant on the duster.

  "Something has come up. Alyssa is involved, and I'm trying to keep the councils from finding out. Her creatures are stirring. From now on, she stays locked up at night. Otherwise, I'll have to do something I really don't want to do."

  He really does know. Shit.

  His stern glare, set jaw, and tight expression don't appear to be the least bit friendly. This is a warning—one he considers an extended courtesy.

  "Who the fuck do you think you are?" Kane asks, well—growls.

  Chaz's smirk quirks up in a sideways position, but before he can answer, Gage sighs out hard.

  "You're part of the council."

  "He's their lapdog," Dice snarls, sniffing the air. "I can smell his tattle-tale stench. Stupid snitches."

  Chaz's glower returns to find the incubus, but before anything can be said, I answer.

  "He's an enforcer for the light council," I say, turning toward Kane. "When one of us steps out of line—"

  I can't even finish. To this day, I can't believe Chaz even took that position.

  "So you're going to what? Try to kill her?" Dice scoffs. "Good luck. In case you haven't noticed, there are a few entities in this room that have far more power than you."

  "You're not one of them," Chaz threatens.

  "I am," Gage mutters, his tone low and menacing as his eyes burn a dark promise.

  Chaz rolls his eyes, and Kane stands, worrying me. A night stalker as strong as Kane could shred through a duster with no problem.

  "Relax. I didn't come to kill the girl I've always loved like a sister. I'm here to warn her. I wouldn't harm a hair on her head. If she doesn't stay locked up here, I'll have to take her to one of our holding houses. I really don't want to. They're fucking creepy as hell, and they're all in the middle of vortexes that allow certain fey to sneak through the planes."

  He shivers dramatically, and I smile as tears fill up in
my eyes. It's sad that I'm thankful my friend didn't come to threaten my life.

  Kane and Gage both visibly relax, putting away their testosterone, and Dice swats at some of the glittery dust in the air.

  "What prompted this visit?" Gage asks, coming to stand closer to me, while keeping his eyes focused on the blond duster.

  All of the softness falls from Chaz's face, and a touch of sadness takes its place.

  "Alyssa's darker side is coming out to play—and yes, I know about the prophecy. My mother told me long ago. It's never given me any concern until now."

  Gage tilts his head, as does Kane, but I just stare numbly. What have I done that drew in Chaz's attention?

  "How did you know she was changing?" Dice asks, tiring of the suspense.

  Chaz turns his eyes on me, sighing heavily as he takes a seat.

  "A rape victim and five children."

  After three hours, the shock still hasn't lifted. I killed that cop. That means I turned into a lycan after I turned into a night stalker and knowingly fed on him in front of a human girl. Albeit, he was a serial rapist who deserved to be punished—but not by me, and not like that.

  Then I killed that woman who was abusing those children. I turned into a widow—a frigging widow. I ballooned her, fed from her, and sent those children to Chaz to be taken care of. Even my monster half knew I could trust him, but my sane half knows that it could come at a cost.

  If the light council finds out he's affiliated with a creature not allowed to exist—me—they'll punish him. Possibly condemn him to death. The dark won't get so much as a slap on the wrist. Their rules are more lax, usually.

  "Chaz, you can't be here," I croak out, inwardly cringing at how pitiful I sound.

  I will not fall apart. I will not cry. I have to be strong.

  "Um...yeah, I can," he says casually while offering a one-shoulder shrug.

  Kane lets me rest against him as he strums his fingers through my hair—an action I've come to find so soothing and comforting.

  "No, you can't. The light council could—"

  "Could try. Don't worry, Alyssa. I'm a big boy. As long as you stay locked up during the red moon, all will be fine."