Apocalyptic

by Trina M. Lee

  Clearly, he’d left out the most important part. Both he and Falon were right, however. I would have struggled to trust Gabriel if he’d told me to let Arys kill me again. I couldn’t blame him for choosing to go about it the way he had. He’d still ensured the information got to me at the right time.

  “You can come to Vegas. But if I catch you withholding anything at all—”

  “I haven’t seen anything,” he interrupted, raising a hand. “Not yet anyway. I swear.”

  Crossing my arms, I sat back against the fluffy booth. “Right. Well, I’ve heard that one before.”

  He started to plead his innocence again but stopped when he realized I was just busting his balls. The guy really needed to lighten up a little.

  A cool breeze inside me preceded the ruckus a group of partying ladies started at their table. Their voices raised in girlish screams and drunken laughter. I sat up straighter and craned my neck to get a good look at them.

  From their midst emerged Jenner and Arys, grinning and eating up the attention. Especially Jenner who lingered to enjoy it a little longer.

  With his midnight eyes on me, Arys sauntered over, oozing enough sex and swagger to draw the gaze of every person he passed. A playful light danced in his eyes, but his jaw was hard set. Something was up. Because when it rains, it pours.

  Arys caught my hand in his and used it to pull me out of the booth and into his embrace. Sparks flew as our hands touched. He smelled like cologne, blood, and shenanigans.

  “Do I even want to know what you two have been up to?” I slid my arms around his neck and kissed his tense jaw.

  His seductive laugh gave me shivers. “Playing by all the rules, I assure you, my queen.”

  “So you’re breaking the rules and you’re lying about it,” I teased right back, searching his stare for what I’d sensed the moment he walked in. “What’s up, Arys?”

  After giving me another squeeze, which included a fondling of my ass, Arys released me so we could sit in the booth across from Gabriel whose thumbs flew furiously over his phone screen. He glanced up and put the phone down when he saw Arys’s grave expression.

  “Roscoe called to update Jenner on a few things while we were out.” Arys slipped an arm around my shoulders. “Loric has started making some changes to the club.”

  The ominous way in which he said this got my imagination spinning some wild threads. “I’m guessing these changes are going to start fires we’ll have to put out.”

  Looking pleased with himself, Jenner ambled up to our table. At first glance he seemed like his usual playful incubus self. But when he slid into the booth next to Gabriel and met my inquisitive gaze, worry haunted his icy depths.

  “I was just telling them about the news you received,” Arys explained, gesturing for Jenner to take it from there. “That there’s been some changes made to the club.”

  Jenner squirmed a little. Visibly. I’d have enjoyed it if it didn’t mean we’d have to clean up someone else’s mess.

  “Loric changed the fight ring,” Jenner began. “I guess it’s anything goes now. Any creature type. No rules. Nobody leaves until someone’s dead. It’s become a full-on, underground, supernatural fight club.”

  Slowly I released the sigh I’d been holding in. “The fight ring never should have existed in the first place.”

  “Tell that to Harley,” Jenner snarked. “Oh wait, no, you can’t. You killed him.”

  The vampire was on edge. His nightclub, his city, his home. All of it was in danger of being taken from him. I understood the moodiness. However, I didn’t appreciate being its target. Although I knew it wasn’t just because I’d killed Harley. Jenner gave no fucks about that. He was hurting for a taste of me.

  Noting the way he eyed my jugular, I growled, “Ready to join him, Jenner?”

  Beside me Arys chuckled. “Tell her the rest, Jenner. Tell her what he’s done to your theatre.”

  The theatre? Jenner had been seducing and bleeding women for the public’s entertainment in the theatre for years. I’d seen it myself. It had been undeniably sexy while almost being intimidating and horrific.

  “How much worse can the theatre get?” I asked, glancing between the two of them.

  Jenner shot Arys a dark scowl. Most likely willing him to shut his trap. “Loric is performing in the theatre now. He’s turned it into a horror show. It’s not about the seduction and tease anymore. It’s just fear, bloodshed, and death.”

  Whoever this Loric asshole was, he seemed intent on remaking The Wicked Kiss Las Vegas from a den of pleasure into a place of terror and mayhem. I didn’t have to look at Arys to know he wanted to go kick this guy’s ass.

  “So when do we go?” I asked, leaving it up to Arys and Jenner. It was their city. Their nightclub.

  “As soon as we can,” Arys answered right away. “Loric’s working up to something. This isn’t just vampires being vampires, business as usual. Something else is going on there. Something dark.”

  Fuck. I gnawed my lower lip. I’d made a promise to Arys. Now that we were whole again, I had to see it through. So we would go to Sin City and help Jenner to take back the city he and Arys so loved.

  “Ok. Book the flight.” I sucked in a breath, steeling myself for the news I had to share about Salem and Lilah. “I have something to tell you too.”

  EPILOGUE

  Stepping into Kale’s house was a punch in the heart of sensations. Even though he hadn’t spent the majority of his time there, it still smelled like him. Leather and cologne. I paused in the doorway to take it all in.

  “Perfect. You’re right in time to help me with something. Get in here. I’m in the bedroom.” Jez’s voice drifted from down the hall.

  Making my way to Kale’s bedroom left me with mixed emotions. I missed him desperately. Yet after seeing him in between, I felt more at peace with him being gone.

  Only Jez knew that I’d seen him there. I hadn’t told the guys. They didn’t need to know how I’d gotten the twin flame fire. Just that I had. The meeting with Kale was special, just for me.

  And of course, Jez.

  I walked into the bedroom to find her sitting on the floor outside the closet with a pile of things scattered about. Everything from clothing to miscellaneous crap like cell phone chargers. There were a few personal items in the mix.

  My gaze went to the bed. Too many memories hit me at once. Kale and me, entangled in those sheets. In his arms, watching the dust motes float in the stray sunbeams that made it through the blinds. It felt like a lifetime ago.

  “Tough memories, huh?” Jez’s tone was soft. “You know, since you told me that you saw him, I feel so much better about it all. He got what he wanted. We can be happy for him.”

  “Yeah, for sure. Me too.” I forced myself to turn and see what she’d called me in for. “Still hard to remember though. What do you need help with?”

  She stood up from the pile, lifting a small, fireproof safe. “Think you can manipulate the lock?”

  Not a problem. A little metaphysical force and the lock clicked. Jez set the box on the end of the bed and flipped open the lid. Inside were various personal items. The few pieces of jewelry looked incredibly old. Old newspaper clippings filled one envelope. Another had Jez’s name on it. A hundred year old movie ticket stub had been carefully placed on the bottom of the box: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

  I had to laugh. I’d been pretty Jekyll and Hyde myself during the time I’d known Kale.

  Somewhat hesitant, Jez peeled open the envelope with her name on it. She sifted through the papers inside, and her heart-shaped mouth dropped open. “It’s info for a savings account he opened decades ago. There’s a ton of cash in there.” Her eyes welled up and she shook her head. “He knew I’d never take it if he tried to give it to me while he was still here.”

  Jez could use the money. She worked for The Circle, and though they’d always kept us fed and housed, they weren’t just handing out the cash. Although I’d heard from Falon that one could do
special jobs for special perks. Regardless, this was Kale’s way of taking care of Jez beyond the sale of his house.

  “Hey, what’s this?” The edge of a book peeked out from beneath the house deed. I grabbed the book and tugged it free. It was a journal.

  Was journaling a thing for vampires? Made sense. How else would one keep track of so many damn years?

  I held the worn book, even older than the one Arys had given me to read. I cradled it close to my chest, suddenly feeling closer to Kale despite not yet having looked inside.

  “Kale kept a journal?” Jez pondered this. “Yeah, I can see that. Keep it. Let me know if you find anything juicy in there.”

  It might be some time before I’d be ready to read it. Still, I tucked it into my shoulder bag feeling a little warmer inside.

  When we finished up in the bedroom, we went through the kitchen drawers, ensuring no personal effects were left behind.

  “So things must be good with Smudge. You two seem really happy together.”

  The smile that brightened Jez’s face practically lit up the whole room. “It’s going so good I’m afraid to talk about it in case I jinx it.”

  “Good. I’m glad. She seems crazy about you.” It gave me a great deal of comfort to see the way the two of them were together. So cozy. Connected. They’d bonded fast and it appeared solid.

  “Honestly, Lex, I’m a little freaked out by how into her I am. It’s never ended well before.” With a tight, pinched smile, she shrugged and tossed a stack of old utility bills into a garbage bag.

  “Well, that was then. This is now. Don’t let the past keep you from loving again, Jezzy. I’d hate to see you as a dried-up old spinster, all hardened and alone.” Snickering, I tossed a newspaper dated three months ago into the bag she held.

  Jez went through the cupboards, checking each one. “Smudge has been a lifesaver with all this necromancy stuff. I don’t think I’d be handling the day to day of it so easily without her.”

  “How’s that going?” I watched her move through the kitchen, doing what I could to help. For just a second I swore I got that rich, honey-drenched vibe. Then it was gone.

  “Better. There’s a learning curve, which is putting it lightly. But being able to lock it down helps.” She paused and reached to touch a finger to the black amulet that hung around her neck. “I think I’m getting better.”

  After everything we’d both been through recently, it was nice to have a quiet moment alone. Doing something as mundane as packing up Kale’s house helped ground me in a sense of normalcy. I didn’t get that a lot.

  Jez wouldn’t be coming to Las Vegas with me this time. She and Smudge would stay here and keep an eye on the city. Considering her last visit to Sin City had included drunken hookups and rowdy behavior, her choice to stay here revealed much about her current state.

  I hadn’t decided yet who we’d be bringing to Vegas. Going there ready and able to protect ourselves was vital, but I couldn’t leave my city unattended. Not with Lilah and Salem MIA.

  The very thought of the two of them brought a sour taste to my mouth. Had Lilah manipulated him into freeing her? Had she broken out and run? Maybe he’d gone after her. Too many possibilities and none of them felt right.

  They would turn up, and from what I knew of Lilah, she’d wait until she could really screw me over. I wasn’t sure if I should be more concerned with her or Prince Bane. I opted for Lilah. Her ability to carry an obsession seemed far more terrifying than Bane’s. Of course, he might prove me wrong.

  “Gabriel thinks you could be a real powerhouse one day. You have the power. With enough skill, you could create your own zombie horde and make them do your bidding.” I teased Jez, laughing at the image that brought to mind. Probably shouldn’t have. That shit could happen.

  “Yeah, you laugh now,” she said, rubbing her hands together like an evil villainess. “Speaking of Gabriel, are you taking him to Las Vegas? Seems like he’s been seeking a way into your bed. Am I wrong about that?”

  Digging around in the top cupboard above the fridge, Jez pulled out a roll of paper towels and tossed it to me. I set it on the kitchen table and considered the question. “Nope. You’re not wrong. He told me that he wants to be inner circle. Power wise, he brings a lot to the table.”

  “And what about the bedroom? Interested in hitting that? He’s young so that probably makes him eager.”

  Since it was just the two of us enjoying some girl talk, I felt like I could be honest. “Can’t say I’m not tempted. He’s got this quiet, mysterious thing going on and a lot of power to play in. But I’m not sure he’s earned a place in my bed just yet.”

  Jez laughed. “So you want to bang him but also need to justify it to yourself. You’re a succubus. He’s hot, young, and willing. What is there to justify?”

  I picked up the paper towel roll and smacked her in the ass with it. “It’s not that simple. I have to be careful with this stuff. I want to keep my circle small. I have to be picky.”

  “You’ve already claimed him, Lex,” she pointed out. “You’ve picked. Holding out is some kind of twisted foreplay for you.”

  Pursing my lips, I half shrugged. “Maybe it is. Maybe I just want him to work for it.”

  “Now that I can get behind.” Pausing, she peered into the next cupboard and laughed before pulling out a rolled-up Playboy that was older than either of us. Flipping through the pages, Jez raised a finely sculpted brow. “Damn, now that’s a hairy cooch. Why did Kale keep this?”

  Together we flipped through the pages and shared a few laughs. Getting to this moment hadn’t been easy. We’d both gone through our own personal hell and emerged out the other side. These moments of girl talk and laughter, they were priceless. Now I knew just how priceless.

  By the time we finished with Kale’s place, it was ready for the cleaning crew Jez had hired to come by in the morning. A for-sale sign had already been stuck in the front yard.

  The sleek black 1973 Camaro sat in the driveway. That car held just as many memories of Kale, if not more, than any other place.

  Jez locked up the house and joined me. She plopped into the passenger seat and began to fiddle with the radio dials the moment I started the engine. “So where are we headed?” she asked, obeying when I pointed to her seatbelt. “The night is still young enough to have some fun. I think we’ve earned it.”

  “We have,” I agreed. “I’m up for just about anything. Within reason, you wildcat.”

  Jez began to speak animatedly as she searched for an address on her phone. “There’s this new burlesque club on the south side. Male and female dancers. Very sexy. Want to check it out?”

  “Yeah, sure. Why not?” I maneuvered the Camaro through the streets, savoring the rumble of the engine.

  If I had to name the last time Jez and I had gone out and done something normal that had nothing to do with vampires or demons, I probably couldn’t do it. Trouble was coming down the wire. Soon. No time like the present to have some fun.

  I could use the down time. Before I knew it I’d be up to my eyeballs in Sin City mayhem and immortal, twin flame chaos.

  Truth be told, I could hardly wait. I had a little mayhem and chaos of my own to dish out.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Don’t miss Falon’s bonus epilogue on the next page!

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  BONUS EPILOGUE

  FALON

  How can you hate fuck someone who’s crying? You can’t. Unless you’re a real piece of shit. I’m no nice guy. I own that. But I’m not that much of a piece of shit. So you hold them while they cry their fucking guts out because their whole world has just gone to hell in a handbasket. And you wonder, when the hell did hate fucking turn into this?

  The night at the hotel, when Alexa fell apart in my arms, I’d wanted so badly to tell her what I knew. That she would come out the other side of the pain to find victory. Sitting on the floor of the shower with her, hot water beating down, I’d been in a near panic.

  A woman’s
tears held a strange power over me. One that reduced me from an angel to a man. Speechless. Uncertain. Even hers.

  I’d kept my mouth shut, knowing that to spill it at the wrong time would be folly. So I’d just held her and waited for the tears to stop. My God, that had been hell.

  “Why are we here, Falon?” Alexa nagged me for the third time since we’d arrived. “I’m starting to think you’re leading me on a wild goose chase.”

  We walked through the largest cemetery in the city, a small community in its own right. Prime pickings for those seeking a creepy graveyard vibe for whatever magical mischief they were cooking up.

  I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “I have the same info you have. Smudge said a couple was walking through the cemetery and saw a group of dark robed figures. Probably your run-of-the-mill wannabe witches. Still, it could be the real deal. Someone has to check it out.”

  She turned deep brown eyes on me and frowned. Her lips twitched like she wanted to tell me to go fuck myself but held back. Most likely brewing up a better smartass remark to fling at me later.

  “And why does it require both of us?” She nitpicked, unable to leave anything alone. “Pretty sure you could’ve poofed in and out of here in seconds and saved me the trip.”

  This woman severely tested my patience. She was everything I hated about those who walked between the worlds. Too ignorant to understand what they’ve been given. Too green to know how to properly use it. Undeserving. Not to mention annoying as fuck.

  But son of a bitch did I want her. I’ve never known a succubus who embodied sex in all its possible forms quite the way she does. And I’ve known a few. She makes it an art.

  From those piercing eyes—usually vampire blue when she’s with me but I enjoy the brown wolf eyes too—to that luscious ass and sassy mouth, she drove me wild. I hated how much I loved the way she drove me. She just knew how to work me. How to touch, where to bite, and the woman rode me like it was her calling.