She grabbed the clothes off the back of the chair and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her and muttering a series of muffled curses. I stared at Kale, expecting some kind of serious explanation.
He met my eyes, and I was sure I saw the flicker of total humiliation hidden in the depths of his carefully constructed vampire gaze. It was quickly replaced with irritation.
Something in me did not like this situation. I realized that, though I wasn’t afraid, I was wary. Something wasn’t right. I again had the sensation of being prey in this place, something the wolf in me detested. I am a predator by nature, even more so since I’d formed a permanent metaphysical bond with a vampire. I didn’t appreciate being looked at as if I were lower on the food chain.
The sound of running water and drawers slamming came from the bathroom. Jennifer didn’t seem too happy about being asked to leave. I would have been glad to take off right then myself.
“You shouldn’t have come here, Alexa.” Kale cast a glance around for a robe, which he spotted on the chair a few feet away. “It’s dangerous here. You’re like a dose of premium fuel in a place that only has regular. Someone will fixate on you in a heartbeat.”
I watched him slip from the bed in one fluid motion, pulling the robe secure around his slender but firm frame. Kale was certainly a sweet sight on most days, but right now, I was more interested in my safety than his lean physique.
“So I’ve discovered. But, it was either me or Kylarai, so be grateful for small blessings.” That you don’t deserve, I added silently.
Now that he was out of the bed, his presence seemed to grow. It was intimidating. I stood my ground when he came towards me, my pulse quickening in my veins.
“Why are you so nervous?” He asked softly, leaning in to reach behind me, to the hook on the back of the door where his finely pressed pants hung.
When he closed the short distance between us, I could feel the energy trickling from him to tickle me wherever it touched. I rubbed my arms but didn’t step away from him like I wanted to.
“Why do you think?” I looked up into his intense light and dark eyes, more than a little concerned. “You’re wired. Been doing a little binging, huh?”
Kale’s pupils were dilated. They shone with a strange, translucent shimmer. He made no attempt to get out of my personal space, and that instantly raised a red flag for me.
“I wouldn’t hurt you. You’re not food to me. You know I see you as an equal.” His words said one thing, but his actions said another. His clothing hung forgotten in one hand; his gaze transfixed on my throat, despite the choker I wore.
“Then why are you thinking about what I taste like, Kale? I think you need to take a step back.” I was careful not to move too much, cautious to avoid doing anything to set him off. I wanted so badly to gather the energy at my core in case I needed sudden defense, but if I did, he’d know.
He gave his dark head a slight shake before turning away from me. His energy grew strained. His sudden distress caused the power level in the room to rise further.
“Dammit, Jennifer! Get out of the bathroom and get out of here. I don’t have time for your dramatics right now.” I’d only heard that vehemence in his tone when we were hunting to kill.
I had a hard time believing he really found the awkward donor thing to be worth the hassle. It made me kind of glad that Arys frowned upon this lifestyle. I don’t think I could handle him becoming this involved with random women who were supposed to serve one purpose only.
When Kale glanced my way again, the shame was evident in his eyes. Maybe there was a really good reason he chose this way. I knew he’d been forced into a lot of things in the past, things that were beyond evil. I was clearly getting the feeling that there was much more to Kale’s preferences than I wanted to know. He was pushing it with this binging. It was junkie behavior and not at all healthy.
The angry sounds coming from the washroom filled the strange silence. Kale stood staring at the door as if he really didn’t know what to do with himself. He seemed to be fighting a battle within himself, one he was bound to lose, again. Perhaps that was it right there. He enjoyed the pleasure that came with giving in.
I could relate to that. After Arys and I had bonded our energy, we’d ended up sharing both our strengths and weaknesses. I’d slaughtered a man during a moment of uncontrollable bloodlust. There hadn’t been much left of him when I was done. Of all the things I’ve ever had to deal with, the affliction of the vampire’s hunger was the most terrifying.
Feeling odd, I cleared my throat. “Look Kale, just get dressed, and I’ll drive you home.”
He banged on the bathroom door, avoiding direct eye contact. “What about my car?” As an afterthought he added, “It’s still out there, right?”
“Yeah, we’ll deal with it.”
The door to the bathroom swung open, and Jennifer strode out, a small overnight bag in her hand. “Have fun with your newest flavor, Kale. Don’t call me anymore. You’re much too back and forth for me. That’s not what I’m here for.”
Kale sighed but only muttered, “Good riddance.” I couldn’t help but wonder about the tension between them. I thought this was supposed to be some sort of business arrangement, like high-class prostitution.
The glare that Jennifer shot me was pure venom, and she even dared to go so far as to shoulder her way past me. I grabbed her elbow, reacting without thinking about it. Before she could reach the door, I had her pressed up against it.
In one blink my brown eyes went from human to wolf and four sharp incisors filled my mouth, two on the top and bottom. I growled into her face, a jolt of excitement filling me as the fear rolled off her skin.
“I am not whoever or whatever you think I am. And, the next time you step out of line with me, consider yourself dead.” I smiled as I spoke. “Because I don’t stop at just a little.”
The color drained out of her face, and she nodded her head vigorously. Her eyes were wide with horror as she stared at my fangs. They were twice as long as any vampire’s, a good two inches or more. Vampire fangs are sharp and extend an inch or so longer than the rest of their teeth all the time. Mine only show up when the wolf comes out.
Jennifer didn’t dare squeak a word. Though I felt Kale’s high-strung energy behind me, he never moved to intervene. Smart vampire.
When I decided she knew I meant business, I let her go and stepped back. She stunk like wounded prey, and I wanted her to leave before any of Arys’s temptations got the better of me.
The door slammed in my face upon her hasty exit, and I physically had to resist the instinctual urge to follow her. My body hummed with energy that was quickly growing. I’d need a release soon, like the impact of a good chase, or risk the consequences of building up too much, too fast. Ten deep breaths didn’t make me feel much better.
“I am not prey in this place. Don’t ever compare me to humans that ask for it again.” My voice shook slightly as I rode a wave of adrenaline.
Kale seemed to think before speaking, choosing his words carefully. “Alexa, you know I never meant that. This place can be dangerous to anyone.”
“Obviously, Kale,” I replied, the words flying off my tongue. “Look at what it’s done to you.”
Was that a low blow? Maybe just a little bit. But, I was ticked that all of the crazy-ass power in this place was tempting me and his weakness had brought me here in the first place. That, and my concern for both him and Kylarai. I was there because I cared, but that didn’t mean that I had to be happy about it.
Without another word, Kale slipped soundlessly into the bathroom and closed the door. I felt like a jerk, but someone had to say it. I’m pretty well known for being the one to say what we’re all thinking when everyone else chickens out. True, it didn’t earn me many friends, but I’m not the type to fake nice when something needs to be said.
While Kale was busy dressing, I tapped out a fast text message to Ky to let her know I was with him. Then, I placed a cal
l to have Kale’s car towed safely back to his house. No way was I letting him out of my sight. Not until he was home and the sun was up.
There was a squeak as the bathroom door opened and Kale stepped out. Fully dressed, hair smoothed into place, he almost looked like the version of himself that I was used to dealing with.
I was painfully aware of the new and strange tension between us. It was both foreign and unwelcome. I had to say something.
“I’m sorry, Kale. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s not my place.” My apology sounded forced. At least, it did to me.
He waved it away and began to gather his wallet from where it lay open on the table. Money spilled out, and I wondered how much these vampires were handing out for a lame re-creation of the real deal.
I knew firsthand that the true thrill of the chase, the ecstasy and release that came with the kill could never be duplicated. Kale clearly had enough problems without me laying on the guilt trip. He wasn’t my boyfriend.
“I don’t expect you to understand everything I do. I know how utterly insane this must look to you.” His usually melodic tone was listless and dull. “This has been a hard week for me. I think it’s the target I killed for Veryl last week.” He paused and glanced around the untidy room.
Veryl Armstrong was our go-to guy for the nasty targets that we get paid to take out. Most of what we do involves policing our own supernatural society as it co-exists alongside human society. If sunrise came and some numb-nuts vampire hadn’t exposed us all with his thoughtless actions, then we’d done our job. Being touted as fictional has its advantages, and we’d like to keep it that way. The few humans that knew the truth, like the ones here, were clearly little threat: disposable and not likely to be believed by anyone they were dumb enough to tell.
“What do you mean?” I was disturbed by the haunted glow behind his eyes. I was more than ready to leave, but I didn’t want to rush him.
The power rolling off him was steady and natural but stronger than usual. It was chipping away at what remained of my self-reserve. All of this vampire energy was stirring the vampire magic that lay coiled like a snake within me, bonded to my very being.
Kale did a final sweep of the room before striding to the door, stopping when his hand hit the cool, solid metal knob. “This vampiress I hunted, she just looked so much like … her.”
His voice trailed off, but I knew whom he was talking about, the one who had turned him. She’d almost broken him. I knew enough of his past to know that it was a miracle he’d come out the other side of it with his sanity intact. His inclination to slake his blood hunger with willing donors had a lot to do with the things she’d made him see and do.
“She wasn’t though, Kale. You should have gone to Kylarai.” I imagined the predatory look in his eyes when I’d come in and thought better of that suggestion. “Or me or Lilah. But, I do understand why you do this.” I gestured to the room before laying a hand on his arm. “I’m the last person in the position to judge.”
I laughed lightly in hopes of relaxing the strained mood. It managed to get me a smile out of him, which I took to be a good sign. Kale and I are friends, but we don’t share the level of intimacy reserved for extremely close friends. I have that with Ky and sometimes Jez. I was more than a little uncomfortable in this situation.
“I do love her, Alexa,” he said suddenly, the door open just a crack as he held it. “Kylarai has come to hold a very special place in my life.”
I opened my mouth to tell him that he didn’t owe me any explanations. Before I could get a word out, he continued in a rush.
“I just want you to know that. Because I know you only came in here for her.” He shook his head slightly, as if searching for a thought.
A loud bang followed by a shriek came from the room next door, and I jumped. Everything about this place was getting creepier by the second. Kale was completely unfazed by it.
“Kale,” I said, wanting to get straight to the point. “Don’t think for a minute that I think badly of you. I know you’re one of the good guys. Trust me when I say, you don’t even come close to comparing with some of the assholes out there. Now, let’s get the hell out of here before I lose my mind.”
It bothered me that Kale worried about my opinion of him. Maybe he needed to do a little soul searching, examine his opinion of himself.
He was absolutely adamant that we leave through the back exit. I can’t say I was especially fond of walking through the club again, but his resistance piqued my curiosity.
When we left the room, the first thing I noticed was the horror movie-style quiet in the hall. There was no sign of Shawn or anyone else for that matter. I followed Kale back the way I’d come. Instead of turning to the door with the velvet curtain, he went all the way down to the other end of the even numbered hall.
We had almost reached the exit door at the end, when door number sixteen burst open and a giggling mid-forties woman came out followed by a large African Canadian vampire.
The guy was large enough to bench press my petite frame with one arm, I was sure. I caught his attention immediately as he identified what I was. His dark eyes went from me to Kale, and a grin revealed white teeth, his fangs drawing my eye.
“Kale, buddy. How did you get so lucky?” He winked and nodded at me as if I wasn’t listening. “Prime pickings, my friend.”
Kale appeared flustered, eyeing the exit door. “Indeed, Justin. However, those pickings are most certainly not mine.” He looked embarrassed, and I started to feel my patience slipping.
The big vampire studied me; the brunette at his side, now quiet in speculation. I met his eyes evenly, unafraid.
“What are you?” He asked suddenly, catching me off guard.
“What?” I gaped at him. “You know what I am.”
He didn’t move, just continued to stare at me. I had the sensation that he was analyzing my energy, much the way one would slowly pick apart a sip of fine wine.
My mind was reeling. I needed out of this moment, now. Nobody had asked me what I was in months. The last man to do so had been my former Alpha, Raoul Roberts. The same night that he’d said it, I had watched as his daughter killed him.
Raoul had been the first man I’d ever fallen in love with. He had also been the first man to break my heart. If that was all he’d done, I could have gotten over it. I’d learned soon after his death that he had been the one that murdered my family after having an affair with my mother. He was directly responsible for the attack that infected and turned me.
Those same words, “What are you?” they haunted my dreams. That question was one of the last things Raoul had said to me before he died. Now, here was this big, scary vampire asking the same thing.
He was looking at me with a mix of interest and confusion. “Oh, I know what you are Huntress.” He gave me a wink and a chuckle that made my spine tense. “But, there’s something else there. Something undead.”
His words almost caused my heart to stop. Shawn hadn’t had a clue until I had thrown a little power around. Justin was clearly more perceptive and a lot more intimidating.
I smiled and shook my head. I wasn’t going to be coerced into giving up my secret.
Kale cleared his throat and said, “We really should be going.”
We made as if to move, and Justin held up a hand. “Tell me.”
I did not like the commanding tone he used. Who the hell did he think he was to demand from me?
“Come on, Justin, lay off.” Kale reached to draw me closer in a protective gesture.
The hallway was stifling, and I began to crave some fresh air. Justin glared at Kale, and I sensed the unspoken challenge. With an exasperated sigh, I held up a hand, forming a perfect psi ball with little more than a thought. It glowed with swirling traces of my gold and Arys’s midnight blue energy.
Justin’s eyes widened, but his lady friend didn’t react. Only humans with an incredible sixth sense can see energy. I’d been one of them once. It was much the same wit
h Weres. Vampires were the exception, as increased psychic abilities came as part of the package, though it varied by vampire.
I made no further motion, simply showing him the ball and then allowing it to drop. Kale stiffened as the vampire and wolf energy buzzed around us. Together, it created something much bigger than either Arys or I was on our own.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” Kale breathed the words in my ear. His nervous glance at the occupied rooms around us set my heart to racing as I realized how stupid what I’d just done was.
“Arys Knight,” Justin said, nodding as if he’d known all along and had just wanted confirmation. “You’re prettier than he let on. I can see why he’s been trying to keep your identity quiet. I wouldn’t let a tasty little thing like you become common knowledge either.”
Was that supposed to be flattering? And, how in the hell did all these vampires know one another? Small world.
“Um, thanks.” I frowned, unable to humor him.
“We really need to go.” Kale jerked into action, pulling me with him as he pushed open the door to the parking lot beyond. “Justin, have a lovely night.”
The bigger vampire watched us pensively but didn’t attempt to stop us. The look he wore was so curious, so eager that I felt the grip of panic tighten my chest. Was I safe from these vampires because of my bond with Arys? Or, was I in more danger than I realized?
I gulped in the fresh night air, feeling like I had just escaped prison. “How do these vampires know who I am? I’m sure I don’t have a reputation that precedes me.” If there was a slight tremor in my voice, it wasn’t a coincidence.
The parking lot was empty of people. The tow truck hadn’t come for Kale’s car yet. The street noise carried to us as we walked toward it from the back of the building. I was so relieved to be out of there.
“That’s debatable, but I think you underestimate your vampire, Alexa. He’s a bigger player than I think you’re aware of.” He looked at me almost apologetically, and it made me feel naive. I had no idea what Arys was up to when away from me, but I had a feeling that I was in the dark on a lot.
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