by Trina M. Lee
It hurt to say those words aloud. I could almost hear Raoul’s voice in my head, telling me I was wrong. That he had loved me. He’d said so in the note he left me. He’d also confessed to the ultimate betrayal in that same note. I didn’t want to relive the moment I’d read his confession.
“I still think you got the better deal,” Zoey said after a moment of silence. “He abandoned me after my mother died. It was his fault she was dead, and he couldn’t be bothered to take on the responsibility of raising me. He was a coward.”
I flashed back to the night Raoul had told me about Zoey. He’d been in pain when telling me about giving her up. He’d cried. After what he’d done to me, here I was tempted to defend him. It was so wrong.
“He hated himself for giving you up, Zoey. He did what he thought was best to keep you safe. Make no mistake, I don’t blame you for feeling the way you do. I thought I could forgive him for the ways he’d wronged me. Then you killed him, and I found out that he was the wolf that killed my family, the same one that attacked me. He’d been in love with my mother-,” I choked on a sob and had to stop. I couldn’t face that again.
Zoey studied me, taking in my sudden brokenness. Her next words were icy cold.
“He was worse than I thought. He deserved to die. You’re right, Alexa. We do have much in common.”
She seemed to show no remorse, to feel no guilt or regret even though she’d murdered her own father. I had to know, had to ask.
“You don’t regret it? Killing him? At all?”
“How can I regret it? He left me and moved on to hurt others. Like I said, he deserved it.”
Looking at Zoey, I saw a young, weary woman with a determined set to her jaw and a ruthless glint in her eyes. There was more to her than that though. I could sense the way her energy wavered. It was pained. She may never admit it to me, but her lack of closure with her father hurt her deeply. Probably more than she would even admit to herself. We were both alone in the pain Raoul had caused us, and yet, here we were. There was strength in that.
I decided to change the subject. Rehashing the pain of the past wasn’t going to help either of us right now. “He left you money. It doesn’t change anything, but it’s more than enough to provide you with some security.”
“Thanks. I guess I’ll be needing that, much as I hate to take it.”
“Well, let me know if you need anything else. I’ll do my best to help you. I know that Kylarai is more than happy to let you stay as long as you like.” I raised my mug and downed a giant swallow of coffee. Not all the caffeine in the world would be enough during a conversation like this.
Zoey smiled then, and it transformed her face entirely. She was actually quite beautiful. If only the smile reached her eyes. I imagine that Zoey hadn’t felt genuinely happy in a very long time, if ever.
“Kylarai is a total sweetheart,” Zoey said, appearing to relax a little. “She’s done so much to make me feel at home here. Even after our little tangle months ago, she’s forgiven and forgotten completely. She’s an inspiration for sure. It’s too bad that she’d rather date men, and an asshole at that.”
Ah. I hadn’t realized that Zoey was playing for the other team. Of course, I hadn’t had a chance to find that out until now. It wasn’t really all that important, but it did bring Jez to mind. She was always looking for that right woman. Her steady human flings were little more than a way to pass time. She could relate to a woman like Zoey.
“Yeah,” I nodded in agreement. “Julian is a real pig. I can’t stand him. I know it really isn’t my place, and I’m not trying to play match-maker but-,”
“The leopard, right? Jez?” Zoey smiled knowingly. “Kylarai told me about her. I vaguely remember her being at my father’s the night I killed him. It’s all a blur really.
I’m not looking for anything right now, but I wouldn’t mind meeting her sometime, on better terms than last time of course.”
I got up and went to the sink to rinse out my empty cup. Before I could respond, there was a sound at the front door. Kylarai came in accompanied by Julian who must have arrived while she was outside. Great. I dreaded how hard it would be to keep my face from revealing the truth about the scumbag.
I shared a look with Zoey, each of us less than enthusiastic about his unwelcome presence. It was funny how that one little thing gave me a sense of camaraderie with her.
Maybe we would get along just fine after all. I’d feared the drama with Raoul would have us at odds, but he was gone, and perhaps that would be enough to allow us to move forward in peace.
“How’s it going, Alexa?” Julian greeted me as he sauntered into the kitchen. He winked at Zoey, and she mustered a half-assed smile in response.
“Can’t complain.” I kept my answer short, going through the motions for Kylarai’s sake. I glared hard at him, and he ignored it entirely. “And you?”
“Game on TV tonight and beer in the fridge. It’ll be a good night.”
I figured this was as good a time as any to make my escape. I said goodbye to Zoey, promising that we’d speak again soon. Kylarai followed me to the door, a frown creasing her brow. She wanted to say something.
“Be careful ok, Lex? This whole thing with you and Kale taking over The Wicked Kiss, it doesn’t sit well with me. That place is dangerous, regardless of whether or not its former owner is dead.”
“We’ll be ok, Ky. Kale can take care of things. And, I’ll watch my back. Promise.”
“I guess that’s all I can ask.” She pulled me close for a quick hug before making me repeat my promise.
I wasn’t stupid enough to believe that I was safe at the Kiss; nobody was safe there. I wouldn’t be there alone. With two vampires and a werewolf accompanying me, I’d be as safe as I could possibly get.
Chapter Twenty-Three
At first glance, The Wicked Kiss didn’t appear to be any different than it was the first night I saw the inside of it. The dance floor was packed, as always. The bar had a line up, and the rooms in the back occupied by vampires and their willing, or not so willing victims, were full. Yet, I could already feel the difference in the atmosphere.
Kale had wasted no time in taking charge. As a regular and an old and powerful vampire, few would be ballsy enough to challenge him. The few staff members that hadn’t wanted to stick around after Harley’s death were gone though almost all of the staff had remained. They hadn’t seemed to care who was in charge, as long as they had a purpose in the club and a paycheck. That worked for me.
I stood near the dance floor, sipping an iced tea and watching the combination of humans and vampires grinding and groping to the music. A few of the human patrons looked like they may be underage. That was something that was going to change and fast.
Arys was in the back. I assumed he was in Harley’s room, though I wasn’t sure what he was doing in there. Shaz was getting a feel for the place as he was about to take over security duty. In addition, Kale was by my side, observing those that were willing to bleed.
“It’s been far too easy. I keep waiting for something to happen.” Kale leaned close so that I could hear him over the loud music. “But, I’ll be ready when it does.”
“And, what exactly are you expecting?”
“I don’t know. It just seems too calm and normal here. Makes me suspicious.”
His words made me look that much harder at everyone around me. Arys hadn’t been happy with my decision to give legal ownership to Kale or my choice to share the responsibility of running the place. It wasn’t up for discussion though. Arys didn’t like that Kale had sunk fangs into me or that I’d wanted it. However, after some of the things we had done recently, we had no choice but to live with it and let it go. Kale was someone I shared a connection with, a connection unlike the one I shared with my lovers.
I’d stopped trying to define it.
“I’m always suspicious in this place,” I replied. “But, now that Harley’s out of the picture, I’m ready to rumble anyone that wants to make
trouble.”
“I have to admit, I was worried about you. I hated seeing you so wrecked when Arys was gone. It’s hard to watch you suffer.”
I reached for Kale’s hand and gave it a friendly squeeze. “Thanks, Kale. I appreciate that. It’s a touchy situation for sure, but we’re making do. He’s still beating himself up over the things he found out during his trip to Vegas.”
Kale shrugged and turned his serious multi-colored gaze on me. “Well, good. He should be. He was an idiot to doubt you.”
I hid a smile. “In Arys’ defense though, Harley was his sire. I can understand the attachment.”
Kale scoffed, glancing away from me back to the crowded dance floor. “Even more reason to off the guy. But, I guess some of us regret the things that others thrive on.”
I had nothing to say to that. I wasn’t a vampire. Not yet anyway. I couldn’t relate to what most of them had gone through. Kale’s experience had been horrific. I knew only some of what he’d endured, but it had been bad enough for him to alter his lifestyle, finding his victims at the Kiss and only taking the kill in rare circumstances.
I watched as Shaz walked a slow path around the perimeter of the club. He wasn’t going to be taking care of typical security like the front door. I wanted his eyes and ears everywhere. A few of the human female clientele had approached him several times already in the hopes that he was seeking a play pal. He didn’t let on what he was though I suspected if they saw him sprout claws and fangs bigger than any vampire’s, they’d run shrieking into the night.
I was laughing softly to myself at the visual my mind conjured when something suddenly grasped my attention. The atmosphere shifted ever so slightly, just enough to trigger my senses and set off my internal alarm. Something wasn’t right.
I scanned the vicinity, trying to appear as if I wasn’t. A negative energy felt too harsh and focused on me. I looked at Kale to see if he felt it, too. The way he surveyed those around us told me he did. Everything in me warned of danger. My body reacted defensively. Claws and fangs lengthened, ready for battle. I was confused, unsure of what it was I was preparing to take on. I didn’t like this.
Shaz was on the opposite side of the room talking to a guy sitting alone at a corner table. Arys still hadn’t returned from the back hall. He must have sensed it too because I felt him in my mind, the lightest touch of concern.
Before I could form a telepathic response to Arys, Kale shoved me so hard I stumbled and fell. In the very same breath, a power ball exploded against the wall where I’d been standing, leaving a smoking hole behind. Screams rang out, and people scrambled to get out of the area.
I got to my feet as a vampire seemed to appear out of nowhere. He was dark haired with light eyes. I didn’t recognize him. Kale was between us, his hands glowing with power. I saw him hesitate, as if afraid to lash out with bystanders so close.
Our attacker didn’t have that same caution. He hit Kale with a blast that terrified me before physically throwing him across the dance floor. I bit back a cry when he crashed into a pool table, sending the whole thing smashing down in pieces.
Before I could react, he grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the damaged wall. The strength and power that emanated from the mysterious vampire was painful in its intensity. I fought hard, raking his face with my claws and kicking him. He didn’t budge. I gathered my power, prepared to unleash what I had. A sharp pain in my chest stopped me. I was stunned to find a stake pressed between my ribs.
“Go ahead and try it.” The vampire seethed between bared teeth. “By the time you blast me, I’ll already have this stake in your heart.”
“What the fuck do you want from me?” I gasped out with the small amount of breath I was able to draw. My hands burned with the power that sought release. I struggled to hold it back. The stake buried in my flesh just beneath my left breast promised pain and death. I was stricken with fear.
“Something like you can’t exist. You just can’t be. I stake you now, and you won’t be rising again. It’s over for you.”
I saw the flash of white blonde hair as Shaz launched himself at the vampire holding me trapped. I winced, expecting to feel the blow of the stake. The vampire didn’t so much as release his hold on me, and he downed Shaz easily with a roiling ball of energy.
“Don’t,” I begged.
“I will never bow down to you, werewolf,” hissed the vampire with raw hatred. “You are unnatural, and your power will never bind me. Your death may also mean my own, but it will be worth it. I’m nobody’s slave.”
I was confused, unable to make sense of his rambling. His eyes were crazed, and the pressure on the stake increased substantially. I felt it bite through my flesh, and I tried to scream. His hand on my throat made it near impossible.
When Arys appeared, it was as if he’d come from mist. I didn’t sense his approach nor did I see it. The snap when he grabbed my attacker’s wrist was audible despite the loud music that still played. Realizing he was in trouble, the vampire attempted to plunge the stake deeper, but Arys had already ripped him away from me.
I slumped to the floor, gasping for air and holding my wound. Blood oozed between my fingers. I watched as the two vampires struggled. Arys’ eyes were wilder than I’d ever seen them. He wasn’t just pissed; he was on a mission to destroy.
I pulled the stake from my body, horrified by its bloody tip. I’d never been on this end of the stake before. It was terrifying, and I had a whole new respect for all of the vampires that had met their final death this way.
I couldn’t tell how bad the wound was, and I was afraid to find out. Each breath hurt, and my vision began to grow dim. I fought to keep a clear head, refusing to pass out. The two vampires were a blur before me, but with a blast of power that I felt in my core, Arys gained the upper hand and soon my attacker was nothing more than dust and bone on the floor of the club.
A voice was trying desperately to get my attention. I tried to focus on Shaz kneeling at my side, but it was difficult. I was glad to see he was ok after the hit he’d taken. I searched for Kale, relieved when I spotted him pulling himself from the rubble of the pool table. When Shaz pulled my hands away from the bleeding puncture in my chest, I was too weak to resist. The power I’d been holding fell away, causing the atmosphere around us to hum with a high-frequency squeal.
“Lex? Are you ok? You’ve got to speak to me, baby. Come on!” Shaz was shaking me lightly. Turning away, he shouted, “Arys! We need you. This isn’t looking good.”
My head swam, and my tongue was thick and dry when I tried to speak. I wanted to tell them that I’d be fine, but nothing came out. Those I cared about surrounded me. Arys was quick to respond to Shaz’ plea. He joined the white wolf at my side while Kale hovered nearby, ensuring that those left in the club went on about their business.
“Let’s get her into the back where we can take a better look.” Arys lifted me in his arms, and I yelped from the sudden shooting pain. “It’s ok, my love,” he whispered to me. “It’ll be ok.”
I faded in and out of consciousness. At some point, I realized I was lying on a bed, Harley’s bed. That had to be a bad omen.
“It didn’t hit her heart,” I heard Arys say, though he wasn’t speaking to me. “But, she’s losing a lot of blood, fast. I think I can slow it.”
The room grew deathly quiet. The ceiling above me was blurred and seemed to grow farther away. A warm sensation started within the wound itself and expanded to fill my entire body. I recognized Arys’ energy, flowing through me with a healing touch. There was a sharp pang in my chest, which was quickly replaced by a soothing sensation.
It got easier to breathe as Arys pushed his energy into me. Closing my eyes, I could feel my body knitting itself back together under his influence. I was fatigued from the blood loss, but my strength was returning. My mind was beginning to form thoughts again.
“What the fuck was that all about?” My voice cracked, but I got the words out. “Did you know that bastar
d?”
Arys shook his head, his expression grim. “No. I hate to say it but I’m not surprised this happened. I knew something like this was coming. It was inevitable.”
“He said things to me,” I said, struggling to sit upright. “They didn’t make any sense.
Something about refusing to be a slave to a werewolf.” I shook my head and frowned. “I don’t know. It means nothing to me.”
Kale stepped forward from his place in the doorway. “You’re unique, Alexa. And powerful, you’ll be even more powerful when you do rise as a vampire. Perhaps some see you as too powerful. A threat.”
I looked from him to Arys, finding matching expressions on their faces. Shaz sat heavily on the bed beside me and reached for my hand. He shook his head but remained silent. I was sure he was cursing the fact that I ever met Arys. Being the wonderful man that he was, he didn’t give voice to those thoughts.
I stared at the burn mark on the carpet, the spot where Harley had perished. It was never going to get easier no matter what I did. Blood bonds, gaining control and skill or wiping out a master vampire up to no good, none of it was going to save my ass.
I couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like if I’d remained a good little werewolf, minding my own business and hiding the natural power I’d been born with. I didn’t share the stream of questions running through my mind. I simply mulled them over, knowing it wasn’t about what might have been but rather, what was.
“I don’t think you should be here anymore.” Arys’ jaw was clenched, and he paced the length of the room.
“What difference does it make? I can’t sit at home watching TV every night just to avoid the occasional shithead vampire. Be realistic, Arys.”
Kale sighed and shrugged. “Girl’s got a point.”
Arys shot him a dark glare, and I ignored them both, lifting my shirt to check out my injury. They could argue all they wanted. I wasn’t going to be controlled by anyone.
