Red Moon Secrets (Deadly Beauties #3) Read online

  Kane sighs out heavily. He's argued about the possibility the red moon isn't changing me, but no one will agree to let me stay out of the cage—not even me. I'm locking myself away to keep the rest of the world safe.

  "How did you come across the girl the cop abused?" Zee asks.

  "I had to hunt her down. It took some magic to even learn she existed, but I returned to the scene of the crime, saw the aura stain of fear behind the bushes. I knew she had seen something very terrifying. Then I had to use magic to get her to talk. She was on Alyssa's side."

  "I have to be somewhere," Gage says while looking at his phone, interrupting the details I don't really want to hear. "I'll be back."

  He hasn't said much to anyone today. As he walks away, Kane pulls me from the couch, wrapping his arms around me. He leads me to the kitchen, and I collapse to a barstool.

  "We'll sort it out, Alyssa. Are you okay?" he asks, grimacing.

  It's a terrible question, but I can't break right now. If I let the weight of what I've done fully settle, I'll crumble, crack, and be of no use to anyone.

  "I'll be fine," I mumble. "We need to—"

  "I'm not a fucking fairy!" Chaz blares from the living room, forcing Kane to choke on a laugh.

  At least the feud Dice has struck up is a distraction from our drama.

  "Fairy," Dice sings, following Chaz into the den where we are.

  Chaz's face is red, almost crimson. No duster likes to be called a fairy, and Dice revels in driving someone mad.

  "Call me a fairy one. More. Time," Chaz threatens, seething.

  Dice smirks, a challenge in his eyes, and says, "Fair—"

  His word is cut short and ends with a cat's meow. His eyes widen as a devilish grin spreads across Chaz's lips. A few flakes of glitter have gathered on Dice's lips, promising Chaz just used his duster magic.

  Another meow bellows free in panic, and Dice clutches his throat, gasping as the sound continues in the place of his words.

  "I like him," Kane says through his laughter, motioning toward Chaz.

  Chaz smirks as he turns away from the crying cat—er, I mean Dice.

  "Never thought I'd hear a night stalker say that."

  I breathe out in relief, grateful for Chaz being here. With so many dark being my only allies, I was starting to wonder if any light beings were on the good side. It's a twisted world we live in.

  Chapter 11

  Gage

  My hands actually hurt from wringing them so much. I hate being around that fucking night stalker who can't keep his hands off my girl. I'm sick of this. I need my proof, and this had better be it.

  "It's about time you showed up," the dark voice charms from the distance.

  "This had better not be a waste of my time," I growl, looking toward the shadows in search of my mother.

  "I told you I'd find it," she says, stepping out to be where I can see her.

  Any help she offers will come at a price, but I'll gladly pay it if this is what I need to make Alyssa see I'm the one she's meant to be with.

  Mother holds up a scroll that looks tattered and beaten, but the glimmer of magic that shimmers over the surface proves it's legitimate and not a forged piece of uselessness. My heartbeat quickens, as do my steps, and I snatch it out of her hand, careful not to let the old scroll tear during the hasty exchange.

  My heartbeat pounds in my ears, making me tingle with anticipation. I almost leap in the air when I see each and every bit of promise being delivered, just as I knew it would if I ever found the whole prophecy. Elation fills me. Finally—fucking finally.

  I look up, dreading the price, but I ask, "What's this going to cost me? And where did you find it?"

  Her lips pucker as though she's offended, but it's more mocking than sincere.

  "Can't a mother do something nice for her son without there being a price?"

  I scoff, "Only if there's a hidden agenda."

  She pouts, but it's exaggerated and still taunting, as opposed to authentic. Crazy bitch. She has an angle, but I don't know what it is.

  "No price, Gage. Go get your girl and keep her from destroying the world. This benefits me, seeing as I'll live. It's not as if you or Drackus will let me kill her."

  If you know her, then you know that had the underlining promise of a threat in there. My blood almost literally boils from my surging anger.

  "You come anywhere close to her, and I'll—"

  "Oh, stop with the theatrics," she murmurs dryly in interruption while waving a dismissive hand in the air. "I would have tried by now if I was going to."

  I still don't even know how she found out about Alyssa, but I'm sure I don't want to know either. My mother's magic is dark and powerful. There's no telling what force she tapped into in order to break free those secrets.

  "You know," she says, sounding bored, "you should have just used the spell I gave you."

  I almost roll my eyes. That spell affected me more than it did Alyssa.

  "I did. It only ever amplified her feelings of lust, not love."

  She sighs out, seeming annoyed. "Because you let her stay around that damn night stalker. Her bond to him was stronger than that spell. Even after you severed the bond, she still remained too close to the first man she loved. He has to be out of the picture. Then the spell will work."

  I know what she's implying, but I won't do it. I hate Kane—loathe the fucker. But I won't kill him. I don't kill without having a justifiable reason to do so. Not to mention, it would destroy Alyssa.

  "There are some lines I won't cross, Mother. I'm not having this conversation again."

  She murmurs something about me being a foolish bastard, and I restrain the power desperate to break free so it can slash into her. I really hate this bitch.

  "There are things to come, son. You should do what you have to before she destroys you and everyone else. If you get the chance to tear her away from the night stalker, then use the spell again. He doesn't have to be dead. He just has to be gone."

  She starts to walk away, leaving me to glare at her back.

  "I've got the proof now. She'll leave him. She'll want to do what's right."

  Her movement stops, and from within the shadows, she turns back, letting her eyes flicker with a spark of fire.

  "It won't be enough. You've waited too long. You'll have to pry her away from him, because she's too far gone to care as much as she used to."

  With that, she vaporizes, leaving nothing but the echo of a breeze swishing in her wake.

  Alyssa isn't too far gone. She'll leave him. She'll learn to love me without a spell. We're meant to be together, and now I can prove it. Finally.

  When I materialize inside the house, I hear the laughter coming from Kane's room. They'd spend all day in the bedroom if they could. I'm sick of it. Sick of them being together when she belongs to me.

  The duster is idly flipping through the pages of a book, Dice is doing push-ups on the floor, and Amy is warily watching the duster, keeping her eyes trained on him like he's going to attack at any moment.

  "That's getting annoying," Chaz says, not looking up from his pages.

  "Then leave," Amy snarls, earning a grin from the unfazed duster.

  "It'll take more than that to get rid of me, wild girl."

  She growls, a lycan growl, but he ignores her, acting as though she doesn't bother him in the least.

  "I need to speak with Alyssa," I say to the blond man still ignoring the snarling lycan.

  He looks up and tilts his head. "And? You want me to fetch her for you? No way. I'm not going in there."

  My stomach churns with disgust, and I barely fight back the urge to double over. I shouldn't have used that spell. Never should have trusted my bitch mother. It's hurting me more everyday because my feelings only grow, while Alyssa's only taper off.

  "Just get her."

  Dice stands up and cracks his neck to the side. "I'll get her."

  Leave it to the incubus to enjoy interrupting sex. I'd punch him
in the face if he wasn't useful right now. I hate that guy.

  I step outside for some quick air. I'm constantly having to vaporize away from the two of them. It physically hurts me to see them touch. I hope this ends it all and brings her back to me. I'll never lose her again.

  When I step back inside, Alyssa and Kane are on the couch, both looking disheveled. My hands fist at my sides, my teeth grind together, but I do my best not to disappear. I have to talk to her, and he'll never let me do it without him glued to her side. He's smarter than I was. I shouldn't have ever left her alone with him. I won't be so fucking stupid next time. Fuck the Somage. Things change—starting now.

  I hold the scroll like the lifeline I've been needing, but the look Alyssa gives me lacks any warmth or hope at all. She could care less about me. He's destroying her soul by planting so much doubt in her head. As bad as I hate to admit it, my mother is right. He has to go.

  "What's this about?" Kane asks, sounding irritated.

  Alyssa leans into him, like she always fucking does, and he wraps his arm around her shoulders. When he leans down to kiss her head, I end the suspense and toss the scroll to his lap.

  "What's this?" he asks as Alyssa leans over to read it with him.

  I ignore the tears forming in her eyes, deny the pain the right to fester in my heart, and I look away when she whimpers in fear for having to be with me. She has no idea how much that fucking hurts.

  Chapter 12

  Alyssa

  The daughter meant to harness the great will be one full of light and dark. Her powers will war within her, struggling to know which side to fight for.

  In the darkness, there will be only one there to truly guide her. In the light, there will be those who wish to betray her. Light will surround her power, her magic, and her life, until she falls for her dark lover. He will be one who has descended from the greatest of his kind; one with unprecedented power that almost rivals hers. And his strength will only fuel hers.

  He'll represent power thought to have never existed, and she will gravitate to him until at last their eyes meet. The sparks will ignite a flame that will never fizzle, and their love could be the only way to save us all when the darkest hour comes to break the light. She won't be strong enough without him. As long as their love is embraced, accepted, and most importantly, never doubted, she'll have the strength she needs. She'll be the hope amongst the hopeless times. If doubted, chaos could ensue inside her light, destroying what little purity that remains once the darkness consumes her, decimating the stability of light and dark.

  The balance will shift, opening the door to the side of darkness she never knew she possessed. Together, their powers will grow, surpassing all fathomable predictions, and jading them both if this happens. But the war within her will only rage on stronger with each day until she either trusts her dark lover or gives into the power that will swallow her. The balance of light and dark is needed.

  If she denies the love, denies the heart's intended, then she'll destroy us all.

  The words are there, clear and spoken. The scroll is real, blessed and chanted. The content is obvious, painful and bleak. It's all here. Everything says I'm supposed to be with Gage. But I can't. I won't. I was willing to give him up when I thought he would help me destroy the world, but I'm not willing to be with him to save it. I love Kane. I refuse to accept this. I'll wage a war with destiny before I cave to its demands.

  "This is complete and utter bullshit," Kane says, making me relax a little. Thank God he feels the same way. "I've never believed in all this prophetic crap our world constantly spews."

  His fingers thread with mine, and I smile lightly as something deep inside me stirs. I glance up to Gage, and he sucks in a sharp breath.

  "You should," he whispers, making my smile grow.

  "Alyssa," Chaz whispers, keeping a wary stance away from me.

  "How the hell—"

  Amy's words are cut short when she goes flying out the window. I don't feel like listening to her right now. Whatever she was going to say wasn't worth our time.

  Kane sits beside me, not seeming as freaked out as everyone else.

  "Do you see what's happening?" Gage asks, his eyes still wide with fear. Fucking coward.

  "I see she's learning control. I get sick of Amy as well. You should leave. You stink like fear, and that'll only feed her predatory side. Me? I'm going to teach her how to control it better."

  Kane stands and I willingly go into the arms of my fearless night stalker.

  "Control?" Gage almost whispers, not raising his voice above the level he needs to reach the ears of my beautiful killer. "You call that control?"

  I turn, but Kane tugs at my arm, guiding me back to his glorious body. "You'd all be dead if she didn't have control. Leave. I want to be alone with my girl," he says, making me smile as he leans down and presses his lips to mine.

  "Silver eyes without the red moon. This is bad. Very bad," I hear the incubus say from a distance, but I've already lost interest in everyone else as I fall into the clutches of the creature I love.

  "I think it's good," I chuckle, letting the ominous ring flow through the house.

  I'm sore. Damn, I'm so sore. How long have we been in here?

  I glance at the clock and groan. Three hours?

  I look over to see Kane sleeping peacefully, and I'm torn between smiling and frowning. I feel like I'm at war with myself, and I'm worried Kane is eventually going to become collateral damage if I don't find a way to get myself under control—full control.

  I run my fingers through his dark hair, debating about whether or not I should wake him up. We need to talk about this. This could get dangerous if the prophecy is real. But if he can keep bringing me back, we can make it work. I can't just give him up because I might become this deadly, destructive, crazy fey.

  I decide against waking him up and toss on my clothes. I see Thad's necklace staring at me from the drawer, and I take a deep breath before pulling it on, giving it a place to reside that seems better suited than a forgotten drawer.

  I head through the empty living room to the outside to be engulfed by the dark night air. It feels good. The red moon isn't supposed to be out tonight, so that's comforting. It's also the only reason I'm not locked in a cage.

  I hear a phone ringing before I sense a presence, and I turn to see Chaz in the distance, talking quietly so as not to let me overhear. I don't strain my ears. I'm sure he needs some privacy just as I do.

  "Alyssa," Gage says softly, materializing beside me.

  "Don't. I don't want to discuss this."

  He breathes out heavily, probably silently cursing me. He's so convinced I have to be with him. I can't though. Every day I care about him less.

  "We need to talk about it at some point. You'll eventually lose yourself, and God knows what you'll do once you lose your light completely. I love you. Don't you see? I'm trying to save you."

  I turn to face him, watching my blond locks stay untainted. "You have no faith in me. How can you love me and doubt me?"

  His eyes fall down to cast their shadows to the ground.

  "I'm just worried. How can you be so indifferent? You used to be full of worry and concern. Now you don't care. Don't you see—"

  Screams break our conversation apart, and vicious snarls erupt from beyond the woods. Chaz materializes beside us, staring out into the woods just as we are.

  "Lycan or Were?" he asks, trying to cipher the sounds of the growls, and then a roar breaks free, confirming what it is.

  "Lycan," Gage mumbles before sending a shock of power my way to knock me far back from him.

  I bounce to the ground, though it doesn't hurt, and I feel the necklace break. I search for it, but I'm distracted. My eyes widen, my jaw drops, and my heartbeat quickens to the point of exhaustion, as the most monstrous beast of a lycan I've ever seen steps into view with its huge glowing orange eyes.

  "Son of a bitch," Chaz whispers, seeming as shocked as I am.

  "Gag
e!" I yell, needing him to back the hell away from it before I freak out more.

  "You might want to go grab me some help," he says without looking, keeping his attention focused on the beast who seems to be alone. Dear God, let it be alone.

  Chaz vaporizes, but my feet are cemented to the ground.

  Howls break free as two lycans join us, but they're friendly lycans—well, sort of. One of them is Amy after all. But Amy starts yelping and whimpering when her eyes lock on the beast in front of us, and the male lycan snarls, sniffing the air as he stares in her direction.

  He paws at the ground, and I swear that fucker smiles. Amy rolls to the ground and bows her head, seeming submissive. Now is so not the time for her to be a coward. Where is the bitch-from-hell side of her when you need it?

  Sierra rushes to be in front of her, snarling and pawing the ground as she paces in warning, turning her body but never her head. They resemble wolves right now—hairless, huge, crazy, orange-eyed wolves with a thirst for bloodshed.

  Kane's arms are suddenly around me, pulling me behind him before he releases me and shields me.

  "Oh fuck," he says just as the rest join us, night stalker eyes beaming from Deke and Zee, glittery trails following Chaz, and Dice's aura beaming his incubus promise—not that it's a very intimidating promise.

  "What?" I ask, trying to peer around him to assess the scene.

  "Get out of here, Alyssa. Now," he orders, taking a step toward the rest of the group, ready to fight.

  "No. What the hell is going on?"

  He shakes his head, just as Zee tries to start pulling Amy away. I gasp when she contorts and shifts back to her naked human form.

  "It's him—Amy's sire. Go. Go now," he says again, just as he joins Deke and Zee in a sudden attack.

  Chapter 13

  Taken

  I don't know what to do. My heart won't stop pounding, and I'm scared to throw any power for fear of hitting Zee or Deke. It wouldn't hurt Kane, but I don't want to hurt the other two.