Trina M. Lee

by Alexa O'Brien Huntress Series Book 1-4 Box Set (Retail)

  “I’m pretty sure you owe me more than just one. But who’s counting?”

  Chapter Four

  The upstairs master bedroom barely resembled Raoul’s anymore. I turned in a slow circle, taking in the entirety of the room. It had taken me months to work up the nerve to come into his old room. Even after I’d washed away the visible signs of murder, the energy of terror and death lingered.

  I’d had Lena come in to do a smudging, cleansing the negative energy. Lena was a witch and a close friend that occasionally offered her services to Veryl. Despite how effective it usually was and how great a witch Lena was, I could still feel Raoul’s lover Belle in the room, as if she were there with me screaming for her life. I couldn’t shake it so I blocked it out, shielding hard as I moved about the room.

  With the bed and carpet both removed, the flooring was now just a nice cream-colored tile, matching the tile in the ensuite bathroom. A dresser remained in the corner near the window. It was still filled with Raoul’s clothing. I hadn’t had the heart to either go through them or toss them completely. Yeah, I’m real sentimental that way, if you can call avoidance sentimental.

  I still didn’t know what to do with the room. Eventually, I would have to decide. I’d come in here to try and get an idea of what to do with it. Instead, I was standing in the middle of the room staring blankly.

  Despite the horrific events that had taken place in this room, I found that I was drawn to it when I needed a moment alone with my thoughts. Though, every time I found my thoughts straying to Zoey Roberts. Raoul’s daughter had been the one to murder Belle in this room. She would have killed me as well if she’d been able to. Ever since I ran into her before Halloween, I’d found my thoughts going to her, wondering if maybe there was a way to get her back into a human body after all.

  Zoey was a hybrid, born of a werewolf father and human mother. It had resulted in mixed blood that gave her many of the werewolf’s urges and instincts yet not the wolf body to go along with them. She’d managed to change forms the night of our confrontation, but as far as anyone knew of hybrids, it was impossible for them to change back. They were cursed to live in either one body or the other, until death.

  With a sigh, I banished Zoey from my thoughts. I hadn’t cared then. Why start now? In fact, I’d spent weeks, months even, wanting nothing more than to kill her like I should have. I couldn’t. I had enough death weighing on my conscience as it was.

  The sound of the front door opening downstairs indicated Shaz’s arrival. He often stopped by after a shift at Lucy’s Lounge. I hadn’t heard from Arys since he’d spoken his carefully worded threat. That was fine with me. I wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation.

  “Up here,” I called down to him, but he was already taking the stairs two at a time. The man could scent me anywhere. “Hey, babe. How was your night?”

  I turned toward the door in time to be swept into his embrace. My nostrils filled with his amazing smell, and I breathed it in hungrily. Wolf, human and all man, how I loved it. His warmth was heavenly, and I snuggled close against him. Our bodies fit together perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle. It was one of my favorite feelings.

  “It’s been a long night. But now, it is finally perfect.” He nuzzled my ear, stimulating the nerves, which sent a tickle down my spine. “How was yours?”

  “Better than last night, that’s for sure. I’m glad you came by. I needed this.” Closing my eyes, I soaked up the moment.

  Shaz was silent, his arms tightening around me. He rested his head on top of mine, and I pressed my face into his black cotton t-shirt. The only thing missing was my bedroom, which was downstairs.

  “I’m guessing that Arys’s pissy mood tonight has something to do with that?”

  “You saw him?” I leaned back so that I could look him in the eyes. “Did he say anything?”

  His lips twisted into a grimace, and he gave his head a slight shake. “Other than telling me to mind my own business and keep my mouth shut, no. He didn’t have much to say to me.”

  “Figures. He must be in a real mood.” With an exasperated sigh, I repeated the incident with Arys to him, editing out unnecessary details. If Shaz knew how he’d enforced his threat, he’d be tearing out of here to go and kill him.

  When I finished, Shaz’s jaw was clenching, and his jade green eyes had darkened. Tension thrummed throughout his body, and I stroked the side of his face. If Shaz and Arys were to get physical with each other again, I knew it would end much worse than it had the first time, and this wasn’t worth that kind of trouble.

  “I don’t know how that mother fucker thinks he can control you. Lex, you have every damn right to go to whoever you think you need to see. But … I do have to agree that Harley may not be the best first choice. Isn’t there anybody else?”

  I shook my head, and chewed my lower lip until I tasted blood. It was a nervous habit. “Not that I know of. Besides, I don’t plan to go alone. Kale’s coming with me.”

  Shaz knew about the kiss I’d shared with Kale, but only because I’d told him. Arys knew nothing and never would. Hiding things from Shaz wasn’t something I could do, nor did I want to. He was far more open-minded and understanding than the dominating vampire. He understood why it happened whereas Arys would merely finger point.

  “The thought of you walking in there makes me sick to my stomach. Can you just take a few days to think about it?”

  I smiled and stood on my tiptoes to kiss him. I loved that he worried about me, though I didn’t want him to. Our lips met, and for a moment, my nagging problems ceased to hold any power or meaning. The taste of wolf stirred my own beast to life, and I wrapped my arms around his neck to hold him closer.

  I dipped my tongue into his mouth for the briefest taste of him. The temptation to linger was strong. He caught my tongue as I tried to pull away, sucking it deep into his mouth. It sent an excited thrill through me, causing my heart to race.

  “I have been thinking about speaking with Harley for weeks now. Several. I have to. And besides, he probably won’t even give me the time of day.”

  Shaz didn’t look convinced. “Or he’ll be more than happy to see you and milk it for all it’s worth. Just what are you prepared to give him for his help, Alexa? He’s not going to give something for nothing.”

  Worry shone in his eyes then, and I knew the types of things that he was imagining Harley would demand. I didn’t doubt most of them myself. I knew how vampires worked.

  “Leave that to me, ok? I have boundaries, and I don’t intend to cross any of them.” My mind wandered to the file folder from Veryl sitting in the den. Dammit. “Why don’t you come and join me in a hot bath? And then, I have something from Veryl to show you.”

  * * * *

  The interior light of Kale’s car was relatively dim, but it was good enough for me to see my reflection in the rear view mirror. Kale had made a pained noise when I’d turned it so that I could look into it from the passenger seat, but for the most part, he waited patiently while I double-checked my appearance. Call me vain, but I didn’t want to approach Harley in PJs and a ponytail. I wanted to appeal to every one of his senses. I planned to get what I came here for.

  I knew what would get Harley’s attention. The cleavage baring black halter top and red lips would certainly help. He was a man after all. But, my exposed throat would really make him listen. Wearing a scarf or choker necklace was an indication that one wasn’t interested in playing. In a place like The Wicked Kiss, a bare neck was like an open invitation.

  I could feel Kale’s eyes on me, watchful and curious. I slid him a sidelong glance and raised a brow. “Yes? Go ahead and ask whatever it is that you’re thinking.”

  “Alright.” He gave a brief nod of his dark head. “Are you absolutely sure that you want to do this? It could get nasty in there.”

  “It could. But, it won’t. And, no matter what happens, don’t get confrontational with him. Nobody gets hurt, ok?” As tough as Kale was, he’d been no match for Harley
. “We’re just here to talk. No power, no bloodshed.”

  “No power? You think you can go in there and not tap the live wire running through you?” Kale threw his head back and laughed, earning a glare from me.

  “That’s exactly why I’m here, Kale.” I wiped away a small eyeliner smudge and turned the mirror back towards him. My eyes were brown, not Arys’s vampire blue, and I felt cool and calm. Now as long as I could keep it that way, things would be just fine.

  I wasn’t scared, but there was no squashing the apprehension that rode me. If this didn’t pan out, it would at least make it easier for me to find a way to bring down The Wicked Kiss. I knew that vampires were being created inside. I could feel the entire building blinking like a beacon in my mind when I concentrated. It felt ugly and wrong, and I wanted to see it burn.

  However, that’s not what I was here to do. I shoved my cell phone into the pocket of my jeans and stuffed my purse beneath the seat. I would have given anything to bring my dagger in with me, or even a stake. I doubted that would be very well received, but it would make me feel a tad safer.

  “Let’s go before I chicken out and change my mind.” I opened the door of the Camaro and got out, gazing at the large, dark nightclub across the street.

  When would Harley sense me? Did he already know I was here? A flurry of questions seared my thoughts, antagonizing myself with doubt. Maybe this was just too stupid for words, and I should leave before something happened that I would regret.

  We were halfway across the street when Kale asked, “Where is Arys tonight? He wouldn’t come here, would he?”

  His question got my heart racing even though I knew the answer. “No. He’d never come here. At least, I hope to God he wouldn’t. And anyway, I would sense him instantly.”

  “Then he would also sense you. No?”

  Once we stood in front of the all-you-can-drink vampire club, I stopped and fixed Kale with the best evil eye I could muster. “Why the hell are you trying so hard to change my mind? You’re the one that offered to come. Do you know how damn hard it was to keep Shaz from coming? If he doesn’t hear from me within an hour, he’s on his way. We have to do this fast. So what’s your deal, Kale? You don’t have to do this. I can go alone.”

  “Like hell you will.” He looked down at me from his much taller frame, his eyes penetrating deep. I began to feel uncomfortable when I caught the unmistakable gleam of something disturbing in his gaze. Emotion.

  Turning away suddenly, he stalked ahead of me, leading the way to the back of the club. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Alexa, physically or otherwise. You mean a lot to me. Take that however you like. Let’s get this over with.”

  I stared after him, completely dumbfounded. Um, what? I hurried after him, trying to make sense of what I’d just heard. So, maybe I’d like to play with Kale on a metaphysical level but that was strictly driven by urges I’d obtained through Arys. Yeah, that was my story, and I was clinging to it. So, what was Kale’s excuse?

  I cared for Kale as I cared for any of my friends. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that, despite the talk we’d had a few months back, he was developing feelings for me, feelings that had nothing to do with vampire instincts and power cravings. Was I wrong on that? I hoped so.

  Pausing at the back door, Kale waited for my nod before pulling it open. Despite shielding hard, the eerie energy inside was strong enough to send a shiver down my spine. My stomach dropped, and I swallowed back a wave of nausea. Damn, I was nervous.

  We entered a long hallway that stretched out ahead. Either side was lined with numbered doors, much like the hallway of an apartment building. I’d only been there twice in the past, but I’d never forget the place.

  The front of the building was a regular nightclub, or as regular as it could possibly be. It looked like a regular bar, but it was mainly a place for donors to get snapped up by hungry vampires. The back was where all of the action happened. I’d naïvely believed the place was running on a give and take procedure. I should have known better. Vampires are rarely satisfied with a taste. There was more going on here than most would have ever guessed.

  “I wonder where he is,” I whispered as we made our way quietly down the hall.

  One of these rooms was Kale’s. I’d had to drag him out of here once, after his break up with Kylarai. He’d taken it hard and had come here for days to drown his sorrows in a three-day blood and sex fest. I could have happily lived without seeing that side of him. The fact that he bit me that night didn’t help either.

  “What if he’s not here? Then what?”

  I looked at Kale with horror. I hadn’t considered that. “Well … then I’ll leave a message for him.”

  We came to the halfway point in the hall where it opened into a small foyer. The door leading to the bar was on one side. The rest of the foyer was mainly a seating area with a few human objects like a water cooler and cigarette machine.

  I stopped and dropped my shields. Others could sense me much easier, but I needed to find him. Closing my eyes, I thought of that butterscotch sweet energy, letting the memory enfold me. Then, I felt him. He was in the club alright. In fact, if I wasn’t mistaken, he was coming our way.

  “He’s coming!” I took a few steps away from the door leading to the club. He had to have felt me by now.

  “Your heart is pounding so hard, I can hear it.” Kale nudged me, moving to stand closer. “Relax.”

  I took a deep breath as dizzying adrenaline flooded me. The door before us opened, and it took all of my strength not to instinctively throw up an energy barrier around Kale and me. I couldn’t tap any power unless Harley gave me a reason. Being the first to do so wouldn’t go over well, not if I wanted to walk out of there alive.

  Harley Kayson strode through the door with a grin on his handsome face and a tall blonde at his side. Our eyes met, and my insides shriveled. He looked much too happy to see me. Here we go.

  “Alexa O’Brien. I thought I sensed your delicious presence.” Stopping a few feet away, Harley made an obvious show of looking me up and down. “Most definitely surprising. Please tell me that it’s pleasure that brings you here rather than business.”

  I couldn’t help the memory that surfaced at the sound of his voice. I could still feel the sensation of his fangs buried inside me. My cheeks grew hot. I had hated myself for responding to him without resistance. The last time I’d seen him, he was on his knees pleading with Arys, for me.

  I met his coal black eyes evenly, refusing to fall into the seductive pull of his energy. Harley was an incubus vampire, as was Arys. It was in their nature to use the lure of desire to sway their victim.

  “I need to speak with you.” I cut to the chase, unwilling to be intimidated. “If you refuse, then I’ll leave without any trouble. I’m just asking for a few minutes of your time.”

  I knew that there was no way he would refuse me. If anything, he’d agree simply out of sheer curiosity. At least, that’s what I was counting on.

  Harley cast the briefest of glances at Kale before returning his eyes to me. Regardless of the smile he wore, there was little humor in his gaze. It was dangerous and calculating but also intrigued. I had to take that as a good sign.

  “I most certainly would love to know what brings you here. In fact, I’m dying to find out.” He said it with a smirk that had me second-guessing my actions yet again. Would I ever stop being amazed at my own foolishness?

  “Just me and you.” I looked pointedly at the human woman at his side. “But, Kale stays close by.”

  “Or, Kale could enjoy some time with my lady here.” Harley winked, and a tiny flutter began in my stomach.

  “No.” I shook my head. I could feel Kale’s tension. No doubt, Harley could, too. I wasn’t allowing for distraction techniques. “I’m here to ask you for something, a proposition if you will. No games. No bloodshed.”

  “Well, now you really have my attention. You took a real gamble walking in here. I can refrain from giving in to
temptation for one night.” Harley licked his lips, drawing my eye. I knew what it felt like to have those lips pressed to mine. He’d tasted me, taken my energy into him. As much as I’d hated it, I’d been unable to fight the fact that it felt so good.

  “Can you?” I didn’t mean to say it. It just slipped out.

  I held my breath, fearing I’d gone too far on that one. Shit. His eyes never wavered as they bore into me. With just the slightest shock of silver in his dark hair and fine lines around his eyes, he was the epitome of the sexy older man. I couldn’t help but be painfully attracted to him, even though I knew that it was due to his power.

  He took a step closer, as if he couldn’t help himself. His voice was low and smooth like silk when he said, “Maybe the real question, Alexa, is can you control yourself? Anything you throw out, I’m going to accept. Keep that in mind.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Kale shot me a look that clearly conveyed his take on the situation. I chose to ignore it. I was here now, and I was going to say what I came to say. To him I said, “Stay right here. Give me fifteen minutes. Then, come and get me if I’m not already back.”

  He nodded tightly, but his eyes were on Harley’s midnight snack. I shouldn’t have brought him here. This place was his weakness. A vampire like Kale should be killing. That didn’t have to mean innocents. Killing would free him from the leash he’d put on himself, which was long overdue.

  I gestured to Harley, indicating for him to lead the way. I assumed he would head for the same room that he’d attacked me in. I was right.

  After a brief word to his “date,” he waited for me to step in line beside him. “Forgive me if I don’t quite trust you at my back. I’m sure the feeling is mutual.”

  “Certainly.”

  When we came to the room at the farthest end of the hall, I felt like the breath had been crushed from me. For the first time since I stepped foot into the building, I was scared. Fear was an aphrodisiac to the man at my side, and I struggled to gain control.