Poison's Kiss (Book 2 Deadly Beauties) Page 6

  Big mouth girl.

  He laughs a little, and I head over to his bed, unsure of whether or not he got one room or two.

  "You're never going to view me as anything more than a dark user, are you?"

  I view you as someone I'd desperately like to see naked. I blame this stupid aura problem.

  "It's hard to do since I'm supposed to be wary of you. Besides, it's not like you've shared any deep secrets with me."

  "Haven't I? I clued you in on the existence of the Somage. It's definitely a big secret amongst my people."

  True. He has me there. Though I was apparently one of the few people who believed the Somage to be a mere rumor. Most everyone else knew they were real. That's just how frigging naive I am. And that's not the same as sharing Intel on who's who in the undercover departments.

  "What about your mom?" I ask, turning this more personal and pushing away the attention. "You've never divulged anything about her. Not to mention, you've never told me how you knew I was Drackus's daughter."

  He stands up and comes to lie down beside me while flipping on the television. His long-sleeved, ribbed, red shirt looks so good against his golden skin and dark hair. I try not to acknowledge my carnal craziness as he finally answers.

  "My mother is a sore subject. She's psycho. I mean that very literally. Drackus... well, he's got a worse rep than he deserves. However, he'd probably kick my ass if he knew I was here with you. I know him well enough to know he wouldn't kill me, but he'd sure as hell-"

  "You work for him? I thought you said you didn't."

  I suddenly feel hurt. I knew Thad only stuck around because of his devout loyalty to my father, but I thought Gage was here for me.

  Why do I keep giving the bad boys a benefit of the doubt?

  "Hey, I don't work for him. Never have, never will. Like I just said, he'd kick my ass if he knew I was here. I'm here because I want to be. And let's face it; you don't exactly have anyone else sticking up for you right now. What happened to your light warlock friend?"

  I let a small huff of a laugh free. "Frankie? He's not my friend; he's my mother's friend. He's going to be up her ass for a while. This whole disappearance scared the hell out of him."

  "Well, see there? You need me. Stop trying to pick a fight with me. I'm smarter than you think."

  I let a small smirk free, and then my hand lifts up to touch his eyebrow ring.

  "Don't let it be Thad," I mutter absentmindedly, focusing my attention on the piercing.

  My eyes finally fall to his as he tilts his head, curiosity clearly shining through his bemused blues as he stares at me expectantly.

  "Don't let what be Thad?"

  My gaze moves back, fixating on the spiky metal I'm touching once more.

  "If I get to a point where my aura is too much... just don't let it be him. I love him to death, but he's such a pervert."

  He scoffs lightly under his breath while turning his nose up.

  "I can swear to you I won't let that happen. But what are you going to do?"

  I rise up, taking in all the possibilities. Everyday this thing connecting me to Kane gets stronger and it's starting to physically hurt more and more.

  "Will you... I know I don't have any right to ask, but if it reaches the point where something has to be done... Will you be the one..."

  I can't finish the question, but it's still out there. Gage lets a smirk fall free by accident, and he tries to cover it quickly.

  "Of course. I was hoping you'd ask while you were sane and sober. I'll be here when you need me, and all the times in between as well. Just don't tell-"

  "Believe me. I swear I won't tell anyone, especially not my father if that's what you're asking."

  "Embarrassed?" he jokes, though I see a hint of honest insult in his eyes.

  "No, but I don't feel like hearing the lectures. Considering my first time was with a night stalker, I'd prefer it if everyone didn't know I just propositioned a dark user as well."

  His throaty laughter vibrates through me, and then he leans back on the pillow behind him. After a few seconds of his chuckling release, his laughter tapers off.

  "If Thad hadn't walked in on us in that room, you'd already be free from that bond. Problem is, I don't think you would have forgiven me."

  I've thought about that experience more than I care to admit aloud. I'd like to tell him I was more pissed about the fact he didn't do it than I would have been if he had.

  "It's not like you could help it, first of all. Secondly, if we had done it, then so what. I just asked you to help me out when the time comes."

  "True. I wish I had known that. It could have saved me some hypothermia."

  I laugh lightly at his joke as I curl into his body. His hand slides around my waist, and we both just lie there in silence until I yawn.

  "Did you get me my own room?"

  "Yeah. You're right next door," he says while turning down the television a little.

  "Can I just stay with you today?"

  I feel his smile against my forehead as he kisses it. "That sounds good."

  Within seconds, I'm off in another land, taking in the air like I'm a human without a care, as the world of dreams offers me my desired escape.

  "Your mom looks good, doesn't she?" Aunt Hilly asks as she sits across the table from me.

  I take a bite of the sandwich just as the waitress comes to refill our glasses. Mom didn't look like Mom to me, but I won't disclose my freak-out with Aunt Hilly.

  "Yes, she does. Um... by any chance, have you talked to Frankie? He seems a little... distracted. I tried calling him today, but he was too busy to talk."

  She nods as she folds her napkin in her lap and leans back from her food.

  "He's just stressed out, dear. You know how torn up about her disappearance he was. He's just a little hesitant about leaving her side right now. Don't worry. It'll all be fine. Your mother is one tough woman."

  I smile, still feeling uncertain about how tough she really is. Everyone has a breaking point, and Mom has had a rough enough life for this to be her final straw.

  Our chitchat turns idler, and I start to feel a distance between us. I think with all that's going on with her, she's starting to feel the weight of the life she's chosen. It makes me question my alignment with the light. Though I'd never go dark, no one says I have to stay light.

  My dad is unaligned. A few others have chosen his path. I'd have to learn a whole new way of magic, but I'm starting to think it might be worth it.

  "Oh, by the way, I found that information you wanted... about Castine. You're not thinking about going after her, are you?"

  Her concern is genuine, but I can't tell her what's going on.

  "Of course not, but I like to be well versed on all the special-circumstance beings. Lately, I've learned she's a little more than just a night stalker."

  She nods as she pulls out a leather-bound book. As she hands it to me, a page falls free to reveal handwritten passages. It almost looks like a journal.

  "Indeed. She's not something you should be messing with. She's vicious, merciless, and completely insane. She's an old-school killer, sweet niece. Don't start a fight you'll never win."

  I clutch the book to me, looking her in the eyes. "I don't intend to, but I know someone who does. I want him to have the facts before hand. Thanks for this. Where'd you get it?"

  An enigmatic smirk quirks up. "Let's just say the light library is short a book now. They'll never know it's missing as long as you return it to me soon. Just call it our little secret. I think you might be able to use this one, too."

  She hands me another, old fragile book, and I add it to my bag to hide it with the one on Castine. I smile, and then I stand to my feet while tossing the napkin to my plate.

  "Thanks for lunch, Aunt Hilly. And for the Intel. I need to get back."

  She smiles softly, and then she stands to offer me a noninvasive hug. After her light embrace ends, I walk out, pulling my phone from my purse.

&nb
sp; Punching in the number I never thought I'd use, I anxiously wait for the ringing to turn into a voice.

  "Yeah," a gruff voice answers, proving I've just woke him up.

  "Zee, this is Alyssa. I've got something Kane will need before he faces Castine, but I don't want to see him. Can you meet me somewhere tomorrow when I get home?"

  "Yeah. Um, actually, I'm on guard detail tomorrow. Amy loses it about three days a month right now, and we have to keep her chained up. The others are going to the blood bank in town, so it'll be safe for you to just swing by. I can't leave, or I'd meet you."

  Three days? That's all? I didn't know she ever had it to lose. Psycho bitch.

  "As long as he's not there, I'll swing by."

  "He won't be back until nightfall. It'll be fine."

  Chapter 5

  Marking the Prey

  "This is truly amazing," Gage says as he carries around the leather book on the deadly woman who might be after me.

  I had to drive us back since he was enthralled by writings. Three days in the same hotel room hasn't done much for my aura issue. If anything, it's made it worse, since Gage is a complete gentleman.

  I don't know if I want him to just lose it and take me, or if I'm glad he's using restraint. This is all so annoying and frustrating to the nth degree.

  "Does it say how to kill her?" I ask while sitting down behind the bar.

  "If it does, I haven't gotten there yet. I still can't believe I'm holding this. The light got all the best pieces of history after the divide."

  I smile at his enthusiasm, and then I pull out the second book.

  "She also gave me this. She told me I needed to be studying, but I think you might enjoy it more than I will."

  His eyes widen as he stares at the book that seems more like a relic in its tragic state. His mouth falls open as he places one book down to pick up the other.

  "This is so incredible. I've always wanted to read this."

  He touches the pages of the old dusty book with the same caution someone shows a priceless gem. I watch with a smile on my face.

  "Well, enjoy. The one on Castine is going next door."

  I stand up to leave, but he grabs my arm.

  "You can't go over there. Especially not alone."

  "I have to. Zee's expecting me. If we both go over there, he might not trust me anymore."

  "And you trust him?" he squeaks out in disbelief.

  "Absolutely not, but I've got your phone number, and I'm not afraid to use it. I'll be fine. They could have killed me already if they had wanted me dead. They won't turn down information on Castine."

  He sighs out, staring at me and knowing he can't stop me no matter how well thought out his arguments are.

  "Be careful. Your aura is only getting more buzzed by the second. You might provoke the coven into attacking if you try to rush Kane. I doubt they'll realize what's going on. You have to either get it under control, or you've got to... well, give me permission to go ahead and bump up the schedule."

  I swallow hard, but I shake my head. He's killing the seduction with his clinical attitude toward it. I'm starting to regret asking him to handle it at all.

  "Kane won't be there. I'll be back," I mutter while walking out with the old book.

  The door shuts behind me before he has time to object again, and I cross the short walk with my brisk strides. Zee is waiting as soon as I reach the steps of the deck.

  "Are you sure you want to turn over a book like this to us? There could be consequences. Your kind doesn't take lightly to our kind having such things in our possession. If they find out you willingly brought this, they could do a lot of rather nasty things to you."

  I stare at the leather in my hand, knowing Kane will most likely use it against me later on. I don't care. Though he's a monster and an asshole, I want him to have all he needs to know before running headlong into a fight.

  "I'm sure. It might help. I haven't read all the way through it, so it may just be a waste of time. Regardless, the more one knows, the better. I need to get going before-"

  "What's going on here?" Kane asks from behind as he joins us on the deck, his eyes narrowing at Zee.

  Shit. He was supposed to be gone until nightfall. Damn it!

  "Alyssa brought by a book that has quite a bit of information on Castine. She thought we might need it if or when we go after her."

  Kane's jaw tenses, and my whole body goes almost numb.

  "These conversations shouldn't be held outside. We need to exercise more caution than ever before."

  Zee squirms after hearing Kane's scolding, and I explain for him.

  "Zee couldn't leave because Amy's chained up and no one else is home to watch her. I came over to give him the book, since he's the only one who can apparently tolerate me anymore. He didn't want to let me in because we both knew it would upset you. Sorry. I'll be on my way now."

  I step wide, making sure to stay away from him as I try to leave, but he steps in my path, blocking my escape. I look up, my mouth drying as I see the night stalker blue in his eyes.

  "Don't leave until you've shown me how to open this book without it turning to dust. Yes, I know your witchy tricks. Thought you could fuck with me some more?" he taunts.

  He doesn't seem anything like the man I thought I loved... the asshole I still do love.

  "Actually, no. I lifted the spells permanently."

  I walk over to take the book from Zee, and I open it to show Kane nothing is wrong at all. He tightens his lips, realizing he just judged my intentions wrong once more.

  "Go in," he orders, looking over his shoulder, possibly for Gage.

  "There's no need-"

  "I said go in," he interrupts, sounding demanding in his insistence.

  Zee looks at me with a thin line holding his lips. I doubt he'll do me any good. I might have finally pushed Kane too far.

  I walk in without further argument, and he shuts the door behind him as Zee sits down on the couch just behind where I stand.

  "What will they do to you for taking this out of the light?" he asks, surprising me a little.

  "That's my problem. I need to get back. I've got my own shit to deal with right now. You're welcome, by the way."

  I start to barge by him, but he stops me again, moving into my path.

  "Answer the damn question. What will they do to you if they find out you brought this?"

  He holds the book up, his eyes burning against me.

  "I don't know. Like I said, don't worry about it. It's not like you really give a fuck," I growl.

  His eyes flicker humanity for a fleeting second, and then the coldness resumes.

  "You're right about that. I just need to know what to expect if they find out I have it."

  This whole inquisition makes sense now.

  "They won't do anything but demand it back, as far you're concerned. Their people receive-"

  I feel dizzy suddenly, my whole body flaming with the torturous heat. The close proximity to him is growing painful right now. I only thought it was bad around Gage. It's excruciating around Kane.

  "Alyssa?" Zee prompts, noticing my paling appearance.

  "I'm fine. I need to go," I murmur while trying to push past Kane again, staggering in my attempt to walk a straight line.

  "Finish your sentence before you go. Their people receive what?" Kane asks while pulling me back.

  The skin-on-skin contact eats at me like a lusty demon. Without any regard for my safety or sanity, I'm suddenly hurling myself at him.

  I shock the fuck out of him when I rip his head down to meet mine, and my tongue forces its way in before he can fully process what's going on.

  He quickly withdraws with his hands gripping my sides.

  "What the hell?" he asks as he stares at me.

  But I pull him back down, devouring him with the passion I can't control. For a second, he returns the fueled, torrid attack, but he regains his composure and pulls back once more, holding me in place so I can't launch mys
elf at him again.

  I'm swaying like I did the night of the ball. It wasn't the succubus and incubus air that left me so fucked up, it was him. At least, part of it was him.

  A ringing of a doorbell draws his attention. Thad is in front of the glass door, smiling like a boy with a secret.

  Zee opens the door, but holds his hand up to stop his entrance.

  "We're not hurting her. She just got-"

  "She just got a little crazy? Yeah, we were worried about that. She doesn't need to be around Kane for a while, at least until she finally gets over her fear of intimacy. Just bring her to me. I'll take her home."

  Kane tilts his head, his grip still firmly planted on my arms.

  "What the hell are you talking about?" Kane murmurs, sounding irritated.

  Thad smirks, seeming amused by all of this. Jackass.

  "Have you forgotten? Rule number one about being immortal, don't fuck a virgin. They bond to you. Until we can convince her to get over the idea of... well, you know, she'll stay bound."

  Kane swallows hard, looking down at me a little differently.

  "She'll go crazy without someone breaking it. I forgot all about that. I guess at the time I never thought it would be an issue, since I planned on being with her. As long as she had me-"

  "Yeah, we know. As long as she had you, she never felt the painful withdrawals. Bring her to me. She needs to get away before she does something you'll punish her for."

  Kane growls at him, and then he pulls my wrists to him a little tighter.

  "I may not be with her, but I know better than to let anyone leave with someone ready to take advantage of a situation. Where's the other one?"

  "Gage?" Thad chuckles out. "Believe me; she's in far better hands with me than with Gage. He's barely holding himself back, and her aura is driving every man in town crazy. Now hand her over like a good little fanged one. I've got to try and talk some sense into her, or I've got to douse her in the lake."