Alphas, Airships, and Assassins

by Frost Kay

  Another tear dripped down her face, and he pressed his forehead to hers, breathing heavily.

  “Please,” she whispered.

  He groaned and pressed his lips to hers in a chaste, sweet kiss. More tears fell down her face as she sank her fingers into his hair and kissed him harder.

  “No, love,” he said between kisses. His hands slid from her back and cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look at him. His black eyes scanned her face. “Not like this.”

  Embarrassment flooded her, and she tried to push away, but he held on, never looking away. Why couldn’t he give her what she wanted? She just wanted oblivion for a few precious moments.

  “Why?” she croaked. All she wanted was a few stolen kisses.

  “Because I care for every part of you, and I won’t take advantage.”

  “It’s not taking advantage when I’m offering it freely.”

  His thumbs caressed her cheeks, catching her tears. “Listen to me, Allie. You are precious. You are not going to die. You are going to live a long, happy life with pretty babies.”

  A choked laugh escaped her. “Even if they’re not your babies?”

  He hissed out a breath and nodded. “As long as you’re happy. That will be enough for me.”

  His soft words shook her. “You shouldn’t care so much.”

  “I can’t help it. You grew on me.”

  “And yet, you won’t give me what I want.”

  Blade caught her chin with his right hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist to pull her close. “You’re going through a lot, and I won’t presume to know your mind, but I won’t take. You deserve more, and so do I.” A dark, sensual smile crossed his face that caused her brain to short-circuit. “If you still feel the same way after all of this, believe me, you will be nowhere else but in my arms, mated and happy.”

  Heat rushed through Allie as a shadow of guilt nagged at her, damping some of her raging hormones. “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not.” He smiled softly and hugged her close. “Thank you for giving me such a gift.”

  “Gift?” she asked, her wet face sticking to his shirt.

  “I’ve hurt you, and yet, you cared for me. I won’t forget that.” A pause. “Will you let me care for you?”

  Exhaustion pressed down on her, and her eyelids threatened to shut. “Please.”

  Blade lifted her chin and kissed her forehead. “We’ll figure this out. I promise.”

  Allie didn’t say anything as he wrapped the blanket around her and pulled her into his arms, moving toward the doors. Finally, she whispered, “I’m scared.”

  He paused and glanced down at her. “I know, but you’re not alone.”

  She knew. It made it easier to close her eyes and sleep.

  11

  Come at Me Bro

  Allie wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and then bent to retrieve the cleaning supplies from a cabinet beneath the bar. A wolf whistle sounded behind her, and it took all she had not to lift her finger in a rude gesture. Did no one have any respect these days?

  She slammed the cabinet door shut and then straightened. Her eyes narrowed as she studied all possible suspects surrounding the bar, but the culprit seemed unwilling to reveal himself. Coward. You’d think someone would have the spine to own up to his actions.

  Giving up her search, she sighed and glared at the dirty countertop. Angrily, she squirted the cleaner onto the bar and proceeded to scrub it as diligently as she could, her mind bouncing in so many directions that she couldn’t focus on any one thought.

  Allie scratched at her shoulder, hating her scarlet dress. She’d never noticed how itchy it was. If she could, she’d tear it from her body right here, behind the bar. She grinned at the thought of shocking the patrons of the Scarlet Kiss. They’d probably think it was some archaic Human ritual.

  Allie tossed a squished lime into the trash, gave the bar a cursory glance to make sure all the customers were satisfied, and went back to cleaning.

  A prickling sensation started between her shoulder blades, causing her to frown. That wasn’t from the itchy dress. Someone was staring at her. She peeked up under her lashes, but no one seemed to be paying her any mind. Allie shook her head as she scrubbed a particularly stubborn spot. “Of course, there’s someone watching you,” she muttered to herself. The Av Lock sector had eyes on her. She was as jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof. No one can get to you. Despite her pep talk, she glanced around the bar again, noting nothing out of the ordinary. A male winked at her, his antennae seeming to wave at her. Allie rolled her eyes and ignored the come-hither look he tossed her way. He wasn’t looking for anything she could make for him.

  Satisfied with the shine of the wooden top, she slid the cleaners under the bar before starting the prep. It had finally quieted down after a busy night, and they were running dangerously low on spirits. She sighed and savored the quiet. She’d scarcely had a moment to herself. There was something comforting about the dull roar of softly-spoken conversations, ice tinkling against glasses, and music. It almost felt like home.

  Allie pulled a knife from a drawer underneath the bar and began slicing fruit into tiny wedges and intricate patterns. She might not have an artistic bone in her body, but she could at least carve pretty garnishes and mix a mean drink. Her mind drifted to the night, three days before, and a blush heated her cheeks. She couldn’t believe she’d thrown herself at Blade like that. Goodness, she’d made a fool out of herself. Thank the stars he had the forethought to turn her down, even though she felt painfully awkward around him now.

  She jerked, almost slicing the tip of her finger, as a male voice hollered at her, followed by a kissy sound. Her teeth snapped together, her jaw clenching. It didn’t matter what race they were; males were jerks when they overindulged. They acted four ways: they were lovely with everyone, angry, maudlin, or the grand trifecta of all three. The latter were the most dangerous. You could never know how they’d react to something.

  “Hey, gorgeous, come over here and make me a drink.”

  Her shoulders stiffened. So, he was one of those. Let the games begin.

  Allie rolled her neck, pushed her shoulders back, and spun on her heel, a fake smile plastered across her face.

  The Sarpe at the end of the bar smiled at her, flashing a little too much fang in what he probably thought was a roguish smile. She eyed him as she sashayed closer. He was similar in form to Sid, except slightly shorter, with midnight skin that shone a deep red in the soft light. Sid’s form had surprised her when she first met him, but he’d never scared her. But this guy… There was something about him she didn’t like—besides his rude manners.

  “What can I do for you?” she asked between gritted teeth, her tone bordering on icy. He wasn’t special. She’d dealt with his kind before.

  He smiled lazily, once more flashing his sharp fangs. “Well, you could come closer, for one thing.”

  A slow smile crept across her face, so sharp it could have shattered glass. Allie chuckled slowly and cocked a hip. “I don’t think that’ll be happening. You see, I’m not on the menu. Either order a drink or get out of my bar before I slap the bananas out of you.”

  Her smile widened as his fell. Take that, you jerk. One point to Allie Sai.

  His pupil-less eyes narrowed on her as he leaned closer. “I asked you once nicely. I shouldn’t have to tell you again,” he practically hissed. “Women are meant to serve.”

  Oh, hell no.

  Allie jerked upright and was just about to reach over the counter and slap the shite out of him when a huge, hulking form materialized behind the troublemaking male. Elijah gave her a feral smile before grabbing a handful of the Sarpe’s shirt and yanking him from his chair.

  “What the heck, man?” the Sarpe yelled.

  “We don’t allow punks to harass anyone in our family,” Elijah said calmly, grabbing the alien by the scruff. “Let’s see you out. Jer?”

  Jer practically skipped from her place to op
en the door. “Taking out the trash?” she said gleefully.

  “Don’t antagonize him,” the Kitteran admonished as he pushed through the doors, towing the Sarpe along.

  “I’m not,” Jer retorted, as they disappeared out the double doors.

  Those two…

  Allie rolled her eyes and dusted her hands off. “Good riddance,” she muttered underneath her breath.

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself,” a familiar voice remarked from her right.

  Allie immediately smiled and turned toward Sid. “When did you get here?”

  He shrugged one shoulder and scooted into a chair at the bar, his fingers drumming on the counter.

  “Feeling a little antsy?” she asked.

  “Naw, but it’s been a long day.” He smiled at her. “It’s better now that I’m here with you, beautiful.”

  Allie shook her head. “You’re such a flirt. Can I get you anything?”

  “Sure, surprise me. I like to live dangerously.”

  She barked out a laugh as she tossed her towel over her shoulder and moved toward the booze, her heels clicking on the floor. “Dangerously. I can do that.” He’d never know what hit him.

  Allie pulled a glass tumbler from under the bar and tossed some ice cubes into it. Carefully, she crushed three bright pink berries over the ice and squirted some bubbly water into the glass. She tossed a mischievous glance in Sid’s direction and reached for a blue stir stick. The stick sizzled as it touched the liquids in the glass and dissolved, turning the mixture a vibrant violet color.

  She turned and placed her specialty in front of Sid. He glanced from her to the drink.

  “What is it?”

  “A drink.”

  He chuckled. “What’s its name?”

  “It’s my specialty.”

  “That wasn’t what I asked.” He blew out a breath and held up the drink to the light. “The color’s weird.”

  “You said you wanted to live dangerously,” she drawled. “Now, you’re running scared.”

  “I feel like this is a trick,” he murmured as he sniffed the drink heavily. “Well, bottoms up.” He took a large swig, and his eyes seemed to double in size. He slammed the drink down and sputtered. “Are you trying to kill me?” he asked, coughing.

  “Stop being such a baby.”

  “It burns,” he moaned and then took another swig.

  Allie sniggered. “I thought you just said it burns.”

  “I didn’t say it didn’t taste good.”

  She smiled, satisfied. Her Rump Knocker was the best out there. “I knew you’d like it.”

  Sid thumped at his chest and wiped at his eyes. “I wasn’t expecting it to be so strong. You didn’t add any booze.”

  “The first lesson of mixology is that it doesn’t have to be from a bottle to be a spirit.”

  “Huh,” he mumbled, staring at the violet drink. “What’s the second?”

  “Don’t kill anyone,” she said with a straight face. She bit the inside of her cheek as Sid’s expression turned to one of horror.

  “Kill someone?”

  “Alcohol poisoning.”

  He gaped at the tumbler. “Just how much booze is in this thing?”

  “Enough to knock a Kiterran male out for eight hours.”

  “Hot damn,” he said, picking up her Rump Knocker. “Well then, I guess it will be you driving me home tonight.”

  Allie’s smile thinned. “You mean fly,” she enunciated. “We fly, not drive.” How she wished it was driving. Sid’s death machine would be the end of her, she swore.

  Sid downed his drink, and she lunged across the bar, snatching the empty tumbler from his hand.

  “Why in the world did you do that?” she barked. It was dangerous to drink the spirits that fast.

  He laughed. “How do you not know that spirits don’t affect Sarpe?”

  She blinked at him. That wasn’t possible. “What do you mean, it doesn’t affect you?”

  “Our blood blazes so hot it burns away the liquor almost as quickly as we consume it. I could drink all day, every day, and never feel anything.”

  Allie gaped at him. “That can’t be true.”

  Sid turned to the older gentleman sprawled lazily to his right and nudged him. The male growled at him and clutched his whiskey protectively between his talon-like hands. “Leave me out of this, Sarpe. Leave me in peace.” He glared at Sid one last time before staring into his whiskey like it held all the answers to the world.

  Sid turned back to her. “Tough crowd.”

  “You bring the best out in people.”

  “Whatever,” he mumbled, smiling. “Still, ask anyone. They’ll tell you the truth.”

  “Jer!” Allie called. There was no way he could be telling the truth.

  Her best friend and roommate sidled up next to Sid and sat on the bar, crossing her crazy long legs that were showcased in black leather, thigh-high boots. Jer brushed her wild, red hair over her shoulder and arched her brow.

  “You called?” Jer purred.

  “Sid is messing with me.”

  Her roommate glanced between Allie and Sid. “And what trick is his devious self up to?”

  “He told me that booze doesn’t affect him.”

  Jer’s mouth quirked into a teasing smile. “Allie Sai, did you live under a rock? Of course he’s telling the truth. How did you not know this? That’s why you never engage in a drinking game with them.”

  No way. “Are you serious?” She couldn’t believe it!

  Sid’s lips twitched, and Jer’s twinkling blue eyes crinkled just a touch, making Allie’s suspicions rise. They were messing with her.

  “You jerks.” She glared playfully at Jer. “How could you take his side?”

  Both her friends burst out in laughter. Sid shook his head. “You make such an easy target, Allie. You’re gullible, and I love it.”

  “I am not gullible.”

  Well, not that much.

  She yanked the towel off her shoulder and snapped it at Jer’s hip. “Get off my bar, you miscreant.” A quick glance at the clock told her that her shift was about to end. “What time are you working ’til?” she asked Jer.

  Her friend hopped off the counter, pulling at the billowy tunic she wore that reminded Allie of something a pirate king would wear. “My shift lasts another five hours. I’ll be home in the early morning.”

  “Okay, I’m heading home for the night, and Bastian should be rolling in sometime soon. He’s been grouching about the audit he has to start today.”

  Jer winced. “Yuck. I don’t envy him one bit.” She rotated her left arm. “Man, my arm hurts.”

  “The Sarpe?” Allie asked, wiping the bar down one last time.

  “Yeah, he just didn’t want to listen.”

  The double doors to the bar of the Scarlet Kiss swung open, and her boss breezed in, looking like a million bucks in a slate-gray suit with his black shirt opened at the collar. Bastian nodded at her. “You’re good to go, Allie.”

  “Yes, sir.” She flipped the towel into the sink, ducked underneath the bar, and stood in front of her tall friend.

  “Lucky you,” Jer complained. “I want to go home. My feet are killing me.”

  Her gaze dropped to Jer’s very flat boots. “You’re wearing flats, and I’m wearing heels,” Allie pointed out. “If anyone gets to complain about their uniform, it’s me.”

  Jer leaned down and pecked her on the cheek. “I guess you’re right.” Her gaze narrowed on something over Allie’s shoulder as voices behind her rose. “Duty calls.”

  “Go get ’em,” Allie said as Jer skirted around her and made a beeline for the arguing couple to her right.

  Exhaustion settled heavily over Allie; she could barely keep her eyes open. Every day, it had been getting worse. She rubbed her chest where the now-hidden cyan markings were. They needed to figure out what was wrong with her, and fast.

  Sid slapped a hand on her shoulder and pulled her close to his side. “You
ready to go home?”

  He steered them toward the door, and the shadow that had been watching her all night detached from the wall and materialized in the form of Kale. She smiled at the Kanji and then stared at the looming doors that led to the outside world. A thought occurred to her.

  “Did you bring helmets?”

  Sid grinned at her, guiding her through the doors and into the humid night air. “Would I forget the helmets?”

  “Yes,” she gritted out. “Since you tend not to wear one, which is totally not safe.”

  “Right, because a helmet will protect you from a thousand-foot fall.”

  She froze, her body flashing cold as the image of her falling seared into her mind.

  Sid shook his head and pulled out the helmets from the bag attached to the back of his hover. With shaking hands, Allie put on the helmet and buckled it under her chin.

  “Was it really necessary to remind me of the fall?”

  “No, but it was fun to tease you. Now, stop stalling and get on.”

  “So bossy,” she grumbled as she forced herself to climb onto the hover.

  “It’s all the rage in female books, so I’m told.”

  Allie snorted, losing some of her fear. “You reading romance novels again, Sid?”

  A beat of silence. “Maybe.”

  Her laughter filled the air as he took off into the melee of traffic.

  Sid was good for one thing, at least.

  He could always make her laugh.

  12

  Snakes… Eve Should’ve Known Better

  She rolled her eyes and kicked herself. Sid wasn’t capable of flying at a reasonable speed.

  Allie barely managed to get to her door and press her palm against the scanner. Between being sick and Sid’s terror-inducing drive, she was utterly worn out. The edges of her hand lit up with a bright blue light, and the door hissed open when it recognized her.

  “Home sweet home,” she said, mostly to herself, as she stepped into the apartment. After the shift she’d had, she was more than ready to crawl into bed with a good book and then pass out.

  Leaning against the wall, she pulled her shoes from her feet one at a time and groaned when her toes sank into the soft carpet. “Mercy,” she breathed, wiggling her toes. There was nothing better than lush carpet on abused toes.