Poison's Kiss (Book 2 Deadly Beauties) Read online

  He lets a laugh free, and then Kane returns to join the party once again. A faint smear of blood taints the hem of his shirt, and I notice it immediately. I don't know if I buy Amy's packaged blood story or not, but I hope it's true. I'd rather not feel like I gave someone my most coveted possession while they were in between kills.

  He passes us by just as a flock of guys stumble over themselves to gawk at me. Thad pulls me into his arms and starts moving to the music.

  "Dance. It'll take the edge off."

  One thing can be said about the sandy-blond changer, he knows how to make me feel a little better. His positive energy is contagious, but I have to keep in mind he's dark despite his light appearance.

  He's sexy, there's no mistaking that. His hard body makes for a delicious treat for my eyes, but his blond hair is misleading. Most all dark ones have dark hair, but changers are different. They can have any shade of hair, just as lycans and a few others.

  I fall into the trap and start dancing, doing my best to ignore the sick whispers of the fantasizing men.

  "I've never seen so many men so jealous of me. Damn, I feel good."

  I let a laugh out, and then I shake my head. "I'm hoping it'll fade without having to resort to drastic measures."

  "Doubtful. We might as well tend to the problem since I'm already ready."

  He pulls me to his body to let me feel his desire trying to burst free from his pants. His mischievousness is emphasized by his dancing eyebrows as he gives me a wink.

  Pulling back from the too-close proximity, I let a laugh free. I feel a strong hand on my waist, and I lean into the dark user pulling me from behind as he stares down the changer trying to seduce me.

  "Time to go. I've got what we came for."

  Thad keeps a wry grin as he stares at Gage.

  "So this is the dark user who has been stalking you?" Thad asks, his grin confusing me.

  How does he know he's a dark user?

  "Yeah," I murmur, confused.

  Gage and Thad are locked in an intense staring competition. The pissing match isn't far from being underway, so I decide to break the awkward tension strangling me.

  "Thad, this is Gage. He's been keeping an eye on me."

  Thad cocks his brow, his grin growing. "Sounds like a much better job than the one I had. Care to trade?" he asks.

  "This isn't the time or place for your games. You should know better than to be messing with her," Gage growls, seeming far too protective all of the sudden.

  "Says the guy who's been living in her house. If Daddy finds out, he'll have your balls in a vice."

  They seem to be sharing some silent conversation. It's becoming increasingly apparent they know each other already. Gage breaks the eye contact as he starts pulling me toward the door and away from my changer friend.

  "Did he mess with you?" he asks in a register just below a whisper.

  "Who? Thad?"

  "No, I know he messed with you," he grumbles while rolling his eyes. "His whole aura makes me feel dirty. I'm talking about Ka-"

  Before the words escape, Zee is blocking our path.

  "Can I talk to you for a second? Alone?"

  Thad steps out from behind me to answer before I can. "I don't think so. I know you don't realize who she is, but I've been sent by two people that care about her. I'm expected to keep her safe, and I'll be damned if you sink your teeth into her."

  Zee rolls his eyes, obviously not impressed with Thad in the least. If he had seen what I had when Thad tore a night stalker apart under the full moon, he wouldn't be so quick to dismiss him as a threat.

  "You can stay close by. I just need to speak with Alyssa about a private matter. I can assure you I'm the safest one out of this bunch to be in her company."

  Obviously he just took a stab at both Gage and Thad. Their auras both gleam with anger in response.

  "I can taste the desire for the bite in you," Thad murmurs, keeping his voice quiet.

  "True. I'm a biter, and I have the urge to get it sated, but I wouldn't do that with Alyssa. Kane would make me regret it even if I did want to."

  Yeah right.

  "Just stay close. I'll be right back," I huff out over my shoulder, ignoring both of their scolding eyes.

  It's really not like they're the safest company for a light witch to keep, so I'm not sure I get their adamant objections.

  Gage finally strains out his begrudged approval, as if I need it. "Fine, but call-"

  "Yeah, yeah. I'll scream your name."

  He smirks, instantly flashing his aroused aura by mistake, and I blush in response. He stifles a grin, and Thad rolls his eyes.

  "And you thought he'd break me like a stack of twigs," Thad says to Gage.

  I tilt my head, but I'll question that later. Right now, I just want to find out what's so important that Zee needs to speak to me.

  We walk over to a quiet section of the yard, inches away from the lake’s beach. He slowly stops, and then leans up against a shed.

  "If you're telling the truth and you really didn't know what Kane was, then you should take my number in case something goes wrong. In the meantime, where are you staying?"

  A fucking night stalker expects me to trust him. Is this their endgame?

  "I'm still at home, but no one or nothing can break through without my permis-"

  "Damn it, Alyssa! You have to get out of there. She can break through and she will break through. Castine has power like you've never seen."

  Doubt it. Try meeting my father.

  "Got it," I murmur dispassionately. "She's a bad bitch, and now I'm number one on her to-kill list. I'll handle whatever comes. In case you haven't noticed, I've got a few friends."

  I motion toward Gage and Thad who are both glaring at us. Zee's eyes follow, landing on the changer and the dark user for a fleeting second. He rolls his eyes before he turns back to me.

  "They'll do you no good against her. Trust me."

  "Thanks for the warning. I'll get going so you can get to biting. Have fun killing."

  I roll my eyes while walking away, but Zee lets out a huff of a laugh as he strides up beside me.

  "There won't be any death, but I'll make her scream for all the right reasons. I think you've tasted such venom before."

  His eyes dance for a second, and my mind involuntarily races back to the last shameful night I spent in the devil's bed.

  "That's pure elation, not pain. Wouldn't you say?" he prods, and I realize he somehow forced me to remember that.

  "He didn't bite."

  His dark smile only grows as we both stop.

  "You would have enjoyed it even more if he had."

  With that, he turns to walk away, leaving me squirming in the total awkwardness left behind.

  Kane appears at the doorway just as Zee returns to the party. I can see him giving him an earful, but Zee brushes him off as if he simply doesn't care. He's just one more person claiming to be friendly under the guise of my foe.

  I'm not sure how many times I can fall for that, but I'm sure as hell not going to trust a night stalker.

  "What was that about?" Gage prompts as I return to him.

  "Getting out of town before Castine comes to visit. Any luck finding a place that meets my criteria?" I ask as his arm snakes around my waist to lead me to his car.

  "I've lined you up a few options. We'll discuss it at home."

  "Oh good grief, lad. You're calling her house home?" Thad chuckles out. "You're so fucked."

  Gage rolls his eyes, but he doesn't offer Thad anything else. I hope the two of them don't keep this up. If they do, I might end up buying a house somewhere else without telling them how to find me.

  Chapter 2

  Night Stalkers with Secrets

  Thad is next door, Gage is comfortably placed on his bed/my couch. He's been tirelessly reading over the girls'... journals. Journals definitely sounds less invasive.

  "Anything worth reading?" I ask as I plop down beside him.

  He rubs
his eyes, pretending to be human for a second as he mocks a strained vision.

  "Plenty of interesting, but nothing too helpful. Most of this is just girly stuff. I've been skipping through the dirty parts, if you know what I mean."

  "Sure you have," I tease, and he lets a laugh escape.

  Suddenly, my front door bursts open, flying off the hinges as it slams against the wall and clatters against the floor.

  "What the fuck?" I screech.

  Before Gage vaporizes me, Kane steps inside the doorway.

  "What the hell are you still doing here?" he snarls. "I told you this house wasn't safe, damn it. Get the hell out of here!"

  My whole body shivers, and Gage steps up to be in front of me.

  "How did you just break through her spell barrier?"

  Kane rolls his eyes, slapping everything off the small table by the doorway to create a dramatic shattering effect.

  "The same way Castine will. She's not bound by magic, and thanks to her, neither am I. Do you really want to be here when she comes? Get her the hell out of here now. I can't kill Castine if she has freshly drained a witch... a mortal witch."

  He turns to leave, and my whole body turns to rubber just before he's slammed into and knocked from the porch, tearing through my porch railing on the way down. I look out to see a smirking Thad as Kane rises to his feet.

  He wipes his mouth, and his eyes flash blue once as a dark warning while he stares down the neighbor he only thought he knew.

  "I should have guessed you were one of them, too," the night stalker snarls.

  I step out to join Thad who keeps himself between Kane and me.

  "Not one of them," he says before letting his eyes flash the yellow proof of a changer.

  Kane lets out a laugh, and then he shakes his head.

  "A light witch, a dark user, and a damn changer. Unbelievable. Fuck with me again, and I'll let you know what a mistake this whole charade really was."

  "It wasn't a-" before I can finish, Thad leaps off the porch, hell bent on showing Kane he's not the average changer.

  I expect to have to save Kane's life, since the sun is out and Thad is already too strong, but I'm shocked when Kane catches him midair and slams him to the ground. Thad starts to get up, but a dark, grim smile spreads over the night stalker's lips.

  Thad starts gasping for air as Kane kneels before him, not having to touch him to nearly kill him where he lies.

  "I warned you."

  Gage throws his arms out, but Kane goes nowhere, remaining unaffected. How the hell is that possible? Without moving, he just laughs as he throws Gage's power back at him and knocks him to the ground, pinning him the same way Thad is pinned.

  "You don't want to kill them. I've always been your intended target. Leave them alone and do what you want to with me."

  He laughs again, an ominous roar ringing out that makes my chills form.

  "You're nothing to worry about, Alyssa. Get out of here before I drain you myself. I won't let Castine use your power to fuel her fight against me. I mean it. Go."

  He turns his back and walks away so casually, as if nothing just happened. I look around to see a few of my neighbors peering out, and I chant a memory spell to recant the last few minutes of their life.

  When my eyes open, Thad and Gage are already rising to their feet, both of them coughing on the air finding their lungs.

  "What the hell kind of night stalker can do that?" Thad growls, his usual playful tone banished.

  "The kind we don't need to fuck with," I grumble. "Come inside. Get out of sight before the neighbors decide to come investigate."

  He rubs his neck as does Gage, both of them questioning what the hell just happened. I've certainly never seen anything like it before, and if that's any inkling as to what I should expect from Castine, I obviously need to get going.

  Gage appears with the rest of my stuff in tow as he drops my bags to the ground of the guestroom in his house.

  "You can take the master, Alyssa. I don't mind swapping with you."

  Sighing, I pull my knees to my chest while resting on the bed.

  "The master is directly beside Kane's house. I don't want that view. This one is much better in that aspect. Thanks though. This will work until I can get the paperwork sorted out on that house you found me."

  He shrugs, and then he plops down beside me. "So, you need to cast the spell. I can't do it. It could cripple you if I cast a protection spell using my magic and invite you in with your mortal form. I'll go out while you-"

  "I've already done it. I did it while you were gone. Of course, I already said you could come in."

  He smiles, and then he brushes my hair from my shoulder. "Are you sure it took?"

  I see Thad walking outside, making his way toward the front, and I pull Gage's hand in mine to lead him out of the room.

  "Let's find out."

  He looks a little too excited, and we both eagerly await the proof of some results. The sound of a changer cursing rings out as Thad is launched backwards, almost too forcefully.

  He thuds into the lake, splashing the water up and drenching himself. Gage bursts out laughing, his whole body shaking from the explosive release. I giggle a little as I walk to the door.

  "Thad can come in."

  Gage laughs harder as Thad emerges from the lake, soaked and furious. He throws his hands up, and Gage only laughs that much harder while pointing at me.

  "You?" Thad asks in disbelief, a menacing grin covering his face.

  "Thanks a lot, dark boy," I tease while narrowing my eyes at Gage.

  Suddenly I'm drenched as Thad rips me up from the ground and presses his soaking wet body against mine. I squeal, though it does no good.

  Gage rolls his eyes as he shuts the front door. Thad just drips his wet demise all over the floor while carrying my squirming body.

  "Please stop," I laugh out, but instead, he pulls me closer until his lips are on mine.

  "I think that's enough," Gage gripes, his tone stern and irritated.

  "I think someone's jealous," Thad jokes while releasing me.

  I just giggle lightly while pulling my wet clothes away from my body. "I need to change now."

  "Yeah, you smell like wet dog," Gage quips, though it doesn't seem like harmless banter.

  His eyes narrow at Thad who simply shrugs off the burning glare.

  "I happen to like getting you wet," Thad teases, making my face flush all the more, and making Gage roll his eyes again while letting out a huff of distaste.

  Shaking my head, I snap my fingers to dry my clothes and the damp pieces of my hair. Thad chuckles and holds his hands up.

  "Do me?" he chirps, menace in his eyes.

  He never stops with the innuendo, but I walk over and wave my hand to dry his clothes and hair as well.

  "Much better," he says with a sigh. "So... now you're living next door to the night stalker who can't be barred by magic? Is that wise?"

  Gage flops down on the couch and flips on the TV while bringing out his phone. "No, but it's better than staying in Castine's old home or right next door to there. She's got another place picked out. We're just waiting on the paperwork to run through."

  Thad lets a derisive snort free. "It's funny how you keep referring to the two of you as a pair when you're obviously not together."

  "Please don't start," I groan, not allowing Gage's witty retort to escape.

  They both tighten their lips as a ruckus stirs outside close to the open window, allowing the sound to penetrate the soundproofed home. I rush over to view it without thinking about who it might be.

  Kane is fighting with Zee, both of them shirtless in front of the lake. I realize quickly it's not a real fight - it's more of a training session.

  My heart flutters in my chest as I stare at the perfection of the immortal body I never should have known so intimately. So many times I knew he was too perfect to be human. I knew a body that divine had to belong to an immortal, but I refused to acknowledge the o
bvious.

  "He really wants Castine, doesn't he?" Thad says as he joins me on Gage's bed.

  "Apparently so. What else do we know about her?"

  Gage walks in to answer that. "She was blessed with more gifts than I can cipher, all of which were given to her by our kind. I'm not sure what the hell those assholes were thinking, but they made her too damn strong. Though Kane is obviously much stronger than your average night stalker, he still isn't strong enough to take her."

  "We don't know that," Thad interjects. "What he did to us... I could tell he was holding back. If he hadn't been, that shit could have gotten ugly very fast."

  Sighing, I drop back onto Gage's bed just as the sun disappears from the sky.

  "I wish you had sniffed out his night stalker side," I grumble to Thad.

  "I wish I had that ability. I can only smell night stalkers when we're both in changed form. When they're in their human facade, their scent is totally different. The same goes for everyone, including you. Your scent will be different when you hit the immortal change and then go all witchy. You'll still smell like you when you're playing human."

  "Witchy?" I ask, grinning.

  "Witchy," Thad repeats, shrugging. "I have to track in changed form, but the scent has to be strong. Lycans can track in human form and follow a faint trail, but like all of us, they can't sniff out fey power unless the fey is in changed form."

  "So, basically it's the same as auras," I grumble.

  "Auras?" he muses, tilting his head to the side. "I wouldn't know. Changers can't read auras. We can only feel the effects of what you put off."

  He adjusts his pants, winking menacingly.

  "Such an ass," Gage mumbles, and then he turns to me. "It's different from auras. You can't read a fey's power unless they drop their guard intentionally. Even if they're in changed form, you still can't read their aura unless they want you to. You can sometimes see their emotions, but only if it's a very extreme emotion. It's the same even with humans. Unless you've got an aura stain... like yours. Then everyone either sees it or feels it."

  Great. A tainted aura. I almost forgot. Thad's crude gesture now makes a little more sense. I have to figure out how to cap this off.