Freak Show (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 7)

by Lee, Trina M.

  She turned to Arys with a laugh that had clearly been perfected over the centuries and a very subtle, hard to place accent that came through only on certain words. It sounded European. “She’s feisty. I like her. Finally, Arys, a woman that can keep you in line.” To me she said, “I apologize. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him. I let my excitement get the best of me. It won’t happen again.”

  “You’re damn right it won’t.” This time my smile was genuine, and it was vicious. My wolf looked out at her, promising very bad things for the woman that dared to climb all over my man.

  “I told you, Sloane,” Arys said, having a hard time meeting my eyes. “Alexa doesn’t like to share. And I no longer enjoy being shared. Things have changed.”

  I bristled at that. It was impossible not to look Shaz’s way. He remained motionless, void of any true emotion. I wondered how much I had missed.

  Sloane saw the brief exchange and nodded in sudden understanding. “Oh, I see. Well, I can respect that. She is your other half after all. Not much room left for another in that tightly bound equation now is there?”

  Shaz winced, though I wasn’t sure she intended her words as a direct hit. Sloane was oblivious, rambling on again about how thrilled she was to meet the one woman who could tame Arys Knight. Tame him? She had no idea what she was talking about. There was no taming a vamp like Arys.

  “You should go, Sloane. I’m sure Jenner would have a tantrum if he knew you came here to throw yourself at me.” Arys gestured to the door, clearly not interested in having me in the same room as yet another of his old lovers. This was how many now?

  Sloane retrieved a little black clutch from the couch. It matched the little black dress that hugged her curves like a second skin. I felt incredibly underdressed compared to the women of Vegas.

  “Don’t flatter yourself, sweetheart. You may be a bad ass in bed, but that’s not why I came here.” With a wink, she reached for Arys, grasping his hand tight. “I came to warn you, Arys. Get out of town. Jenner feels threatened by your arrival.”

  “Good,” Arys said with a satisfied sneer. “He should be threatened. I could have this city if I wanted it.”

  “But you don’t, do you? You left Vegas and everyone in it. You abandoned us. You don’t belong here anymore.” Sloane’s lower lip trembled, a subtle but dramatic action that had me snorting in derision.

  “Spare me the dramatics, Sloane.” Arys pulled away from her and stalked over to the door. “I didn’t abandon a damn thing. The way I remember it, you weren’t exactly begging me to stay.”

  I was growing increasingly uneasy as I watched their exchange. A dull throb racked my brain as memories that didn’t belong to me struggled to surface.

  Sloane stood her ground, refusing to allow Arys to usher her out the door. “Harley and Jenner never understood your reasons for leaving. I did.” Her cool blue gaze flicked to me. “But coming back was a really dumb move. It’s dangerous. Go home, Arys. Please.”

  “Goodbye, Sloane.” Jerking the door open, Arys ignored her pleas. He swung his arm in a gesture for her to get out. The two vampires had a stare down the way vampires often do. Arys won.

  With a huff and a shrug, Sloane sashayed from the room. Lingering at the door, she cast a glance at each of us in turn, ending with Arys. “I was hoping you’d prove to be the more reasonable one. God knows it isn’t Jenner. Your presence opens up old wounds. You should know better.” Without another word, she disappeared into the hallway.

  The door slammed behind her, and I faced Arys with a deadly glare. “Are you kidding me? What the hell was that?”

  “I didn’t know she was coming,” Arys began to explain, continuing even as my glare darkened. “Sloane was just being Sloane. She’s a bit over the top sometimes. She doesn’t mean any harm though. I’m sure she’s overreacting.” Realizing he was rambling, he paused to study me. “Are you ok? You feel a little scattered.”

  “I wasn’t ok before I walked in here. Now I’m not ok, and I’m pissed.” Instead of allowing my temper to start a fight, I walked away. I went to the bedroom to dig through my suitcase. My hands shook from hunger and fury. Damn vampires and their touchy feely, cryptic crap.

  From the living room came Jez’s low murmur, telling Arys about my near attack on the man downstairs. Shaz’s voice joined the mix, and I tuned them all out by crossing the hall to the bathroom.

  The tub was nice and big, with jets. A quick perusal of the small bottles lined up on the bathroom counter revealed bubble bath. If I could relax and refocus my energy, perhaps it would help. The urgency and demand of the bloodlust had faded, though it remained as an ill twinge in the pit of my stomach.

  I was expecting Arys when he knocked, then opened the door. I stood at the counter, tying my long locks up into a bun to keep them from getting wet. The mirror allowed me to watch him enter, closing the door behind him. Our eyes met through the reflection.

  “How are you feeling?” He asked tentatively as if expecting me to tear his head off.

  “I feel like a failure for losing control like that. I feel like bitch slapping you for flaunting another former lover in my face.” I leaned over the tub to check the water temperature and turned the hot up a bit. “I won’t though. I’m mostly just mad at myself. And that cheap blonde floozy.”

  Arys’s lips twitched as he tried to hide his amusement at my jealousy. “There’s only one blonde for me. You know that.”

  “I do. I know.” I nodded, peeling my top off and tossing it on the floor. I saw the way his gaze traveled over me, lingering on my bra-covered breasts. It was a nice stroke of my ego, especially after seeing the knockout that just walked out of here. “Are you planning to stay and watch while I relax in a bath? Maybe tell me some lies about how this Vegas visit won’t be a total mind fuck?”

  “Oh, it will be that and more, I’m sure.” Arys leaned against the counter, watching me strip down as if he hadn’t seen my body countless times before. “I came to give you blood. It’ll kill the urge for a while. Don’t slap me for saying this, but you might have to, um, partake a little. Obviously, the ideal place would be Jenner’s club. I believe I owe it a visit anyway.”

  Harley Kayson had owned a small franchise of nightclubs for those who wanted to give and take blood, among other things. The Edmonton club caused tons of trouble in my city, until Shaz and I killed Harley. Naturally, I took over control of that club, but that’s where my control ended. Harley’s other properties were scattered around North America, and Lord knows where else, each of them under someone else’s control. Las Vegas was Jenner’s.

  I didn’t need blood to survive. Not yet. But I did need it to keep the bloodlust at bay. Vampire blood was potent and powerful but a short term fix at best. It wasn’t mortal, yet it would take the edge off. However, Arys was ludicrous to think we could walk into the club of the vampire who had told us to get the hell out of town.

  “We didn’t think this part through before leaving home.” I turned off the water and stuck a toe in the tub. It was hot and welcoming. “I can’t take blood from some Vegas blood whore. And most definitely not at a club owned by someone who hates you. We’re not going in there.”

  “What about Shaz? You could take his blood. No power games.”

  I shot Arys a dirty look, surprised he would suggest such a thing. “Absolutely not. Totally out of the question. I can’t use him as a blood source. It’s far too dangerous.”

  “For who?” Arys challenged. “Him or you? It’s just blood, Alexa. He can handle bleeding a little.”

  “It’s never just blood!” My voice echoed, amplified by the bathroom acoustics. I lowered the volume, aware of the keen ears beyond the door. “You’ve said the same thing yourself.”

  Arys held his hands up in surrender. “Fine. I’ll leave that between you and the pup. Eventually, it will come up again. But I’m out of it. Ok?” He held his wrist out to me in invitation.

  I didn’t want his wrist, but I accepted it anyway. I prefer
red a more intimate bite. There was nothing like feeling someone’s jugular beneath my lips. My fangs sprang forth, yet I hesitated. Wolf fangs didn’t pierce as neatly as vampire fangs. When Arys gestured for me to go ahead, I bit carefully into his wrist. The tangy vampire blood spilled from the wound, deliciously coating my tongue. I sucked hard on the bite, coaxing a groan from Arys.

  With his free hand, he stroked my hair. His arousal was palpable, a heady desire that rolled off him like waves on the ocean. Arys was always ready and willing. However, he would never make a good victim. There was one thing missing. He didn’t fear me.

  Blood was just one part of the feed for a succubus like me. It was because of Arys’s incubus nature, courtesy of his bloodline. We needed more than just blood. We needed to feast upon the lusty energy of our victim, and in turn, their fear aroused us. It all went hand in hand. Arys’s blood tasted like power and eased my hunger, but it wasn’t enough.

  I gazed up at him, running my tongue over my lips. Shoving a hand into my hair, he kissed me with a primal passion. Arys slipped his tongue into my mouth, firm and commanding. My head spun, and I fell into him, my earlier irritation obliterated.

  “Take your bath. Relax. We’re here to enjoy ourselves.” Arys pulled me into a hug, running his hands down my naked body.

  “The tub is big enough for two,” I taunted. I pulled away and climbed into the bathtub. Sinking below the bubbles into the soothing heat, I sighed with pleasure and crooked a finger to beckon to Arys.

  He raised a dark brow, his expression playful. “Tempting. Very tempting. Might I suggest you extend that offer Shaz’s way tonight instead?”

  That I had certainly not expected to hear. I pursed my lips, trying hard not to frown. “That’s definitely not an Arys comment. What’s your deal? And anyway, I don’t think Shaz and I are there yet. Too awkward.”

  “Which is exactly why I should send him in,” Arys said, his gaze on the bubbles hiding my nudity. “I don’t have a deal. I just want to see your relationship restored.”

  “Why? What’s it to you?”

  Arys maintained eye contact, but I saw the lie in his eyes. “I just want you to be happy. The pup too.”

  I squinted at him with my best scrutinizing stare. “You have an ulterior motive. I know you do. Why do you really want Shaz and me to reconnect? You were never so keen on sharing before, unless you got something out of it.”

  “He’s the only one I trust to protect you.” There it was. Arys’s confession was no surprise. “That wolf would die for you if he had to. Loyalty like that only comes from love.”

  “So you’re willing to exploit his feelings for me,” I said with a nod. “Sounds about right.”

  Arys shrugged and headed for the door. “Be mad if you like. You’re the most important thing to me. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”

  “I noticed.” My tone dripped with acid. I was still bitter about Arys’s recent stint dealing with a demon for my so-called protection.

  “I’ve got to talk to the others about our visit to The Wicked Kiss. Enjoy your bath.” He ignored my snarky remark but paused to add, “You may want to do some shopping. I want you dressed to kill.”

  He left swiftly, closing the bathroom door behind him before I could protest his latest bout of insanity. I squashed the urge to grab a towel and go after him. Screw it. If Arys was going to raise hell, then I might as well enjoy a hot bath first.

  * * * *

  “You don’t have to come with us. Really. Don’t feel obligated.” I stood in front of the bathroom mirror the following evening, digging through my makeup bag. Jez was beside me, doing the same. There was more than enough counter space for the both of us.

  “Are you kidding? I’m not missing out on a chance to see how Sin City does a club like The Wicked Kiss.” Jez swept mascara onto her long lashes. Her hair was bound up high on her head in a towel. “Aren’t you the least bit curious?”

  I lined my eyes with black liner, creating a dramatic cat-eye effect. I paused to paw through my bag, looking for my favorite pale silver shadow. “No, I’m pretty much just scared. I think Arys is letting his history with these vampires cloud his judgment. I’m not sure what I dread more, meeting Jenner or seeing what goes on in his club. Harley was using that place in a blood ring operation. Some twisted shit.”

  Jez carefully applied her trademark red lipstick, pursing her lips to inspect her handy work. “Isn’t Harley’s stuff technically yours now? I mean, you killed him.”

  “Some might say that.” I was hesitant to claim anything of Harley’s as mine. I’d gotten my share. “I don’t want it though. My hands are full as it is.”

  “Better make sure the new owner knows that.”

  “I intend to, when I’m not doing damage control for Arys. He’s stubborn, but this time he’s taken it to a whole new level.” I finished my makeup, refusing when Jez tried to force me to wear red lipstick as well. She thought it went with everything at any time of day. It wouldn’t surprise me if she wore it with PJs as well.

  To appease her, I agreed to a light pink lip-gloss that smelled like candy. She huffed at me like the snooty cat she sometimes was but relented. After layering my lashes in volumizing mascara, I stared at my hair and shrugged.

  “Leave it down,” Jez suggested, eyeing me through the mirror. “It’s so long and beautiful. It looks really bad ass down.”

  “Thanks.” I pulled a brush through the tangled ash blonde mess until it lay smooth against my back. “Sometimes I think about hacking it all off and dying it black.” Since trimming off the black tips I used to have, I hadn’t added any color to it.

  “Oh God, don’t do that.” Jez was aghast. “That’s too drastic. And I don’t have to be a shrink to tell you what that kind of sudden change often means.”

  “That I’m in need of control and can find it only in insignificant things like my hair style because I’m too neurotic to keep my shit together.” I smiled, but I wasn’t joking.

  “Yeah, exactly that.” She turned to face me, a serious light in her green eyes. “Please don’t go off the rails on me, Alexa. I can’t lose another friend like that.”

  I reached to touch her hand, a brief but poignant connection. “I won’t. I promise.”

  She was thinking about Kale Sinclair, our friend and my one time lover. The three of us had been a tight knit group for several years. Recently, that had unraveled, primarily because of Kale’s inability to maintain his sanity. Five hundred years of vampire hell could do that to a person.

  “You know I’m always here for you, right? No matter what.” Pulling me into a hug, Jez held tight. She hummed with pent up emotion that sought to escape her restraint.

  “I know.” I breathed in her earthy Were scent. It was comforting. “I love you, Jezzy.”

  Things had been tough for us both lately. She had lost the woman she loved. We had both lost Kale to his delusions. Worst of all, we’d lost our illusions: safety, peace, self-contentment. Gone. All of it.

  “Ok, enough sappy shit.” Jez pulled away and tugged the towel off, letting her damp golden locks tumble over her shoulders. “Should I flat iron or let it curl naturally?”

  “Curls, definitely. I can never understand why women with curls straighten their hair.” I studied my poker straight tresses. I was more than a little envious of Jez’s gorgeous curls.

  “Go get dressed,” she commanded, grabbing the blow dryer. “Your boys will hit the floor when they see what you bought.”

  I still couldn’t believe I’d let her talk me into buying the body-hugging dress. The bodice was a black corset that made my breasts look photoshopped. The skirt was fairy style, cut into black and white jagged edges that fell halfway down my thigh. It had looked pretty damn good in the dressing room before I bought it.

  Now I wasn’t so sure. I brought it from the bedroom into the bathroom so Jez could help me lace up the back. “I don’t know about this. Maybe I should have bought pants.”

  “Don�
�t start. Insecurity is not allowed for Arys Knight’s queen,” she snickered, tying the lacing securely but allowing me room to breathe properly. “I still think the red lipstick would top it all off. Think about it.”

  I ran a hand down the tight bodice to the skirt, reveling in the soft material. It was a knockout dress for sure. I felt good in it, sexy. As I gazed at my reflection, the insecurities began to fall away. I hoped this was what Arys had in mind when he said dressed to kill.

  “No red lips,” I said, grabbing my choker from the counter top.

  I knew better than to walk into a place like The Wicked Kiss with a bare throat, especially one I didn’t run. The choker was black velvet with an oval moonstone hanging from the center. I had found it in my friend Brogan’s magic shop.

  “Stilettos?” Jez tried, returning to the hair dryer.

  “Not a chance.” I spritzed on some French vanilla perfume and left the bathroom to fetch my boots from the bedroom. They were black leather and almost knee high. The three-inch heels were perfect, not as dangerously high as Jez would prefer but enough to add height to my petite five foot one frame.

  I took a deep breath and left the bedroom, glad that the minibar was outside the door. I poured a few shots of vodka into a glass and stood in the small hallway listening to Arys and Shaz talk in the living room.

  “And you’re sure we’re going to walk out of there in one piece?” Shaz asked, his tone heavy with concern. “The guy told us to get our asses on a plane out of here, and you really think going to his club is the best response to that?”

  “Of course,” came Arys’s self-assured reply. “Jenner’s bark has always been worse than his bite. Threats are his way of throwing his power around, making sure I know my place in his city.”

  “And do you?”

  “What do you think, pup?”

  Shaz chuckled. “You don’t want to know what I think.”

  “Jenner was Harley’s favorite after I left. He wants to make sure I remember that. There’s nothing more to it.” Arys sounded confident. Too confident.