Red Moon Secrets (Deadly Beauties #3) Page 6

  "You looked like you were doubting me," he murmurs as blood trickles down his chin.

  My heart beats faster, making me wobbly. His blood looks so tempting on so many disturbing levels. I feel hypnotized by the crimson flow as it mesmerizes me, igniting something primal within me.

  "I...I..."

  "You okay?" Kane asks, as he studies my crazed eyes.

  Licking my lips, I nod and then I pull him to me to taste his breath, his kiss, his...blood. It almost feels intoxicating and soothing as the tang of his sweet flavor finds my taste buds. He grips me tighter as something stirs the both of us. I have to ignore the sick fact that I enjoy his delicious taste of red. It'd be troubling if I dwelled on it.

  Did he just find a way to use poison's kiss? Do I have a cut?

  I feel the venom's effect, and I have no idea how to fight this. But right now isn't the time or place for us to get unruly and savage.

  Before I can question it further, the effect of the blood vanishes, leaving us without the carnal urge.

  "What the hell was that?" he asks breathlessly, seeming just as entranced as I was.

  His confusion matches mine. I thought it was him.

  "Do I have a cut or something? That felt like poison's kiss."

  He tugs at my lower lip with his thumb and then his tongue slips into my mouth to invite me into a powerful, heart-pumping kiss. He pulls me at the waist, and that same stir repeats itself.

  Just when I'm ready to succumb to the intoxicating draw, he releases me and it fades as quickly as it came.

  "Alyssa, that's not my venom, or we wouldn't be standing here fully dressed right now. It's like—I don't know. It has the same signature as poison's kiss, but it lacks the strength of the venomous pull."

  It takes me a second to catch my breath. The kiss was mind-blowing, but it shouldn't have left me reeling so viciously. What freaks me out a little is the fact that I tasted his blood and loved it—wanted more. Stop thinking about it.

  I glance over my shoulder at the fuming werewolf who has fully redressed and is staring us down. His betas have gathered their whimpering bodies off the ground, and they go to join him, licking their wounds while still in wolf form.

  "Let's deal with them before we try to figure anything out. There's someone you still haven't met, and you can't meet her until they're gone," I mumble.

  He nods, knowing who I'm referring to. Even though our voices are hushed and cautious, I'm not taking any chances of them listening in. I've underestimated wolves before, but now I know better than to make that mistake again.

  "I think he could have taken Zee or Deke down without a problem. I also think he's stronger than a lycan," I murmur softly as the wolves follow Dice through the front door.

  "I know. I wasn't prepared for his strength. Things evolve, but I usually keep up with the times. He didn't have the girl he loves depending on him though. That gave me the edge I needed."

  I smile like a fool, and Kane's arm snakes around my waist. His battered appearance should leave him looking wretched and unappealing, but instead, he looks sexy and rugged. It's amazing what an absolute hormonal fool I am—it’s pathetic really.

  "I love you," I mutter while leaning against him.

  Despite his miserable beating, he doesn't seem tired or weary. His strength is as refreshing as his unexhausted posture. He kisses the top of my head, allowing his breath to heat me through my hair.

  "I love you. Don't worry. I've dealt with dredgers before. I won't let him view anything I don't want him to see. They won't know what the bitch spirit said to you."

  That's curious.

  "You can keep them from seeing too much?" I whisper, barely keeping my voice in an audible register.

  "Baby, I can do more than you ever thought possible. Don't worry," he says with his sexy, smug tone that makes me fight the urge to spark up that kiss again.

  "I trust you."

  He smiles as we head in, and his fingers entwine with mine. "I know. And it feels good to know that."

  "I need to head out. I have to go check on a tip about Castine," Zee whispers while walking up close to us.

  Kane's jaw clenches and he nods. "Call me as soon as you have something."

  Zee quickly leaves us, driving too fast down the winding dirt path through the forest. Immortals—always in a hurry.

  Reese is congregated with his pack when we walk in. They've all shifted back to their human forms, and they don't bother to cover up anything on their bare bodies. I haven't seen such a blatant lack of modesty since my time with Thad.

  "I'll fetch them some robes," Dice chuckles out when he gauges my heated cheeks. "They sort of ruined their clothes."

  The men all just whisper amongst themselves, as if this is a boy's locker-room or something. This is absurd, and frankly, it's scarring.

  Kane snickers under his breath at my unease. I'm sure he's rather used to nudity since Amy and Sierra have wild blood in them. I doubt very seriously Amy does much to shield her naked sight from his eyes when she's in between shifts.

  "My life was once so simple, and I thought it was too complicated then," I grumble, allowing his chest to become a burial ground for my burning eyes.

  He laughs a little louder, and then he kisses the top of my head.

  "You boys are in luck," Dice chirps as he enters the room. "Drackus has quite a few shifter friends, so he tends to keep such things on hand. Otherwise, you'd be risking an arrest for public indecency."

  "Every form of shifter usually carries a change of clothes in his or her bag," Kane interjects, inserting his insulting tone without hesitance. "It's sort of rule number one."

  I turn as the boys finish shrugging on their decent wraps, and Reese leans against the table—being the only one who didn't shred his black ensemble to pieces.

  "We bunked out at a friend's house on our way here last night in an effort to avoid the red moon's fate. The boys didn't get their clothes off in time, and we didn't bring another set of spares. This was supposed to be a friendly conversation."

  Kane narrows his eyes. "You're the one who pushed it into the physical by demanding to dredge a girl who is still mortal. She's mine. I've already claimed her; therefore, I have the right to fight for her."

  He's claimed me? What does that mean?

  "It's funny you say that. Gage told me the same thing. So who is it exactly that owns the girl?" Reese spouts, poking the night stalker more than he should.

  "Nobody owns me," I growl, tired of being talked about but not talked to. "I happen to be standing right here. In case either of you have forgotten."

  Kane stifles a grin, as if he enjoys my angry retort. Dice doesn't hold back his laughter. Reese doesn't seem impressed or amused by my words.

  "Careful, pretty girl. An unclaimed mortal among our realm puts you in danger. Are you sure you're the only one who owns you?" Reese asks, narrowing his brown eyes at me as he awaits my answer.

  I'm a witch. Not just a human. He can't fucking touch me. It's illegal, damn it.

  "I—"

  "As I said," Kane interrupts, "she's mine. Mortals can't claim themselves."

  Reese smirks when he sees my deadly glare cast toward Kane, who ignores me completely. When I realize arguing will only make this situation worse, I bite my tongue. Later—I'll kick Kane's ass later for this.

  I turn back to Reese to feel him out on a witch level. His aura is cloaked for the most part, hidden from my witch eyes, but I can still see the vibrantly colored scandalous inclinations he holds. He's done well not to act the least bit interested in me for any other reason than to slit my throat, but now I see it. Strangely enough, I see it on all of them—

  lust? Surely I'm reading it wrong. I've not been on my game lately. Not to mention, people usually hide their emotions better than this.

  All the wolves sniff the air in unison. It's almost comical to see a bunch of full grown men sniffing at nothing the way a dog would.

  "Incubus, put it away," Reese says, exasperation i
n his tone as he swats the air.

  Ah. That's why they're radiating lust.

  Dice shrugs innocently. "It's not me. I haven't got it in me right now. I need to feast to leave a heady rush like the one in here. Did you guys bring a succubus? Because that's a female's tug, not a male's."

  Reese rolls his eyes, not buying Dice's denial. I don't feel anything, but then again, I seem to be immune. Kane tugs at his shirt collar, proving the itch is finding him as well.

  "Dice," I grumble. "Please."

  "I swear it's not me."

  Right. Jackass.

  "Let's get this over with. Where's your dredger?" Kane asks, growing irritated with Dice and his leaking seduction.

  I'm sure it's not too much fun to have someone filling the room full of an aphrodisiac when your girlfriend is the only female around. Not to mention, I'm literally surrounded by wolves.

  "Very well," Reese says while clearing his throat and trying to shake off the lust-laced toxic air.

  I'm really glad it's not bothering me. Dice closes his eyes as if he's studying his mind. I bet that's a really scary place to go—the mind of a moral-free incubus.

  Kane disappears into the study, waving me off when I try to follow him. He really doesn't want me anywhere around the dredger. A hand on my back results in a squeal from my lips, and I leap away, unsure of what filthy mongrel is touching me. I sigh in relief when I see it's merely the wolf without fur. Dice.

  "Don't sneak up on me in a room like this," I hiss, my eyes pointing to the robed brotherhood.

  "Sorry," he chuckles, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Care to explain?"

  "About why I don't want to feel strange hands on me in a room full of barbaric wolves who think of women as nothing more than property? Is that rhetorical?" I ask, half scoffing.

  "No," he murmurs, his eyes narrowing while his I-know-a-secret grin grows. "Just curious as to why you're the one secreting succubus," he whispers, barely leaving the words loud enough to hear.

  I cough out a laugh, drawing all the unwanted attention my way. The men stare at me, wondering about the reason behind my seemingly random outburst. Dice's eyebrows cock up, proving he's amused by my laughing denial.

  He's lost his mind.

  "Wrong, incubus. So, so wrong."

  I continue laughing while moving away from him, shaking my head in comical disbelief. He'll say anything to get a rise out of someone.

  "I'm serious, light one."

  I roll my eyes. "Where's Drackus and Gage?" I ask, shifting the topic to one that actually makes sense.

  He glances toward the wolves who have all resumed their interrupted conversation, no longer interested in us.

  Before he can answer, Gage is materializing in the room with us. He dusts his shirt free from an ashy residue, grumbling as the same gray dust falls from his hair.

  "What happened?" I gasp, covering my mouth when I take him in.

  He looks almost gray. I'm curious if he found a pit of ashes and rolled around in them.

  "Wrong plane," he murmurs vaguely, and then he waves his hand over him, clearing the remaining dust from sight.

  He runs a hand through his clean hair, but the ash returns on its own, cloaking him again with an unforgiving cling. Dice chuckles when Gage's head drops back in frustration.

  "Wrong plane?" I ask, stumped by the foreign residue that refuses to be banished.

  "Stupid fucking pixies," he grumbles, vanishing from sight again.

  I hear creaks coming from upstairs just before the pipes hum. He's taking a shower?

  "What's going on?" I ask, growing all the more irritated.

  Dice chuckles more, shaking his head. "Gage takes Drackus to various planes when the unaligned powerhouse loses control. He dumps him there and makes him cool off. Don't worry. Drackus will find his way back when he comes down."

  "And the pixies?" I prompt.

  He laughs louder, almost roaring out his amusement, which draws attention our way once more. This time the wolves only glance at us briefly.

  "Pixies. Yes. Pixies are vicious little buggers with a wicked sense of humor. If you crash their plane, they love to have a little fun. He'll be in that shower for a while."

  I almost smile. Gage was bullied by fingernail-sized beings.

  "I didn't realize pixies existed on a different plane."

  "Only during red moon cycles. Pixies get hunted during those times. They're a delicacy for black widows, and the red moon is the only time it's legal to hunt them."

  I cringe. We've still got to explain things to the widow council. After seeing how terrible the were have handled this, I dread dealing with a bunch of furious deadly beauties with webbed restraints and vicious venom.

  "Don't worry. The dredger can't hurt a night stalker," Dice says, misreading my cause for concern.

  Of course, now that he's brought me back to the here and now, I am worried about Kane. I wish they had stayed in sight.

  "How long is it supposed to take?" I ask, my anxiety growing as my eyes fixate on the closed door Kane is behind.

  Dice nods to the door as it opens, answering my question. Kane returns, promptly wrapping me up in his arms as he smiles. Apparently, all went well.

  "The girl and night stalker are innocent of all charges," Reese grumbles to the others, seeming disappointed. He's followed by a dark-haired man I never saw enter.

  He disappears from sight, leaving me curious. He didn't vaporize like a witch or warlock, but he just vanished.

  "When did he get here?" I ask, looking up to the relieved eyes of Kane.

  "The dredger? I assume Drackus let him in. He was waiting in that room when I got in there. Let's sweep out the trash and get on with our day," he murmurs before offering me a sweet, chaste kiss.

  A few snarls erupt from the husky group of mutts. Kane ignores them, pretending as though they no longer exist.

  "You'll deliver your findings to the widow council?" Gage asks, walking down the stairs.

  I inadvertently glance up to catch sight of him—shirtless. His hair is wet, seeming darker under the weight of the water still clinging to his strands. I look away, refusing to be tempted for any reason.

  "Yes," Reese growls, not too pleased with his defeat.

  He tugs at the collar of his shirt, seeming to be sweating more as he curses Dice with his eyes.

  "You need to learn to cap your shit off," he snarls while motioning for his betas to exit.

  They all filter through the door, heading toward the outside. I reserve my breath of relief, waiting for the last one to leave.

  "It's. Not. Me," Dice hisses, acting offended.

  "Whatever," Reese murmurs dismissively. "I'll be in touch. We want to know who helped the witch. Obviously, she had another who changed their appearance to look like the night stalker. We'll handle them."

  I tense up. "What if it was just a human who didn't know what they were doing?" I ask, instantly dreading his answer.

  His eyes glisten with menace as he smirks. "Don't ask questions when you can't stomach the answers, light witch."

  Kane's grip tightens around me as he glares at the heartless alpha. Reese lets his malevolent grin slide into a proud placement before turning to follow his pack.

  I visibly relax once I hear their cars cranking up. Gage closes the window to the outside, making it soundproof in here again.

  "It's her!" Dice blurts out randomly, pointing his finger at me with a touch of anger.

  Gage cocks his eyebrow, and Kane lets his bemusement show on his beautiful face.

  "What's her?" Kane asks before Gage can.

  Dice scowls, irritated even though no one has provoked him.

  "The damn seduction-crawl in this room. It's even affecting me, and quite frankly, it's pissing me off. How the hell does she have succubus blood when she's clearly a light witch? The two species can't procreate. Only like species can produce children."

  I roll my eyes, quick to rebuff his absurd accusation—again. "You're crazy, Dice. I am
just a light witch."

  Gage and Kane both look at me with bemused glances. Kane then meets Gage's gaze. Why does he look worried?

  "Is it possible?" he asks Gage.

  "She told you?" Gage growls, cutting his eyes toward me.

  I look between them in rapid repetition. Told him what? What the hell is going on?

  "Of course she fucking told me," Kane barks. "Now, is it possible?"

  Um... I’m confused.

  "Not here. Not in front of him," Gage mumbles, motioning toward the seething incubus.

  "I'll be damned if I'm kept out of this loop. Why does she wreak of succubus? What the fuck are you two hiding?"

  "Go, Dice. This doesn't concern you," Gage says dismissively, shooing Dice away.

  "No, damn it! I'm not going anywhere. Tell me what's going on!"

  The door swings open as a dangerous grin pops up on Gage's face. "Go," he murmurs in a breath, and Dice is flung from the room. He squeals as he thuds outside, and then the door slams back shut.

  Dice could simply walk back in, but I think he knows better. Gage really is stronger than I thought.

  "Finally," a beautiful voice interjects as my mother gracefully descends the stairs, drawing all eyes to her.

  She's a vision in a long white dress with a train that softly trails behind her. I glance out to see Dice throwing a tantrum, though nothing he says can breach the house. I'm sure he is releasing several choice words right now. He finally gets in a car, slamming the door once again. I'm glad all the sounds are muted.

  "I thought you'd never get rid of him," Mom continues, bringing my attention back to her.

  Gage looks so broken right now. I wish he wasn't in my line of sight, but he's right next to the stairs.

  "Drackus?" Mom asks.

  "He'll be back soon. The other planes douse his craziness," Gage says with effortless nonchalance.

  Mom's eyes come to rest on my night stalker, but he accepts her scrutinizing gaze. Her lips tighten as she returns her gaze to me.

  "Kane?" she asks.

  I nod, and then I lean against him, letting the gesture tell him I've got his back. Wisely, Mom refrains from saying whatever she really wants to.

  "Very well. What was the incubus saying about Alyssa being a succubus?"