Angel Seduced

by Jaime Rush

  Kye released her hands. “I can’t read you.”

  Her mother blew out a frustrated breath. “The one time I need your ability and you won’t—”

  “Can’t, Mom. I can’t, because my Zensu ability is not working. I can’t pick up anything at all.”

  Her mother narrowed her eyes. “The only time you have trouble with that is when you’ve been romantically involved with a man.”

  No way could Kye explain what had happened. “I’m a little tangled up about someone right now,” she admitted in a soft voice.

  “Who?”

  “You don’t know him.”

  Her mother’s gaze went to the duffel bag tucked to the side of the living room. “He’s here, isn’t he?” She shot to her feet. “He’s here, and you let me go on about my personal issue. I am beyond mortified.”

  Join the crowd. Kye didn’t think it was possible to shrink anymore, but she did. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to get into that situation with you.” Kye had seen that disappointed look so many times, yet she never became inured to it.

  Her mother planted her hands on her hips. “Well, bring him out of hiding, where he’s been listening the whole time.” She called down the hallway, “Come out.”

  Kye wanted to drop through a hole. Instead, she said, “Kasabian.”

  He stepped into the hallway from her home office, still shirtless, his hair tousled. She tried to view him through her mother’s eyes. Bad boy, with his confident gait and smile that failed at being anything but sexy. Even though he hadn’t come from her bedroom, it looked as though they’d recently had sex. And she saw the exact moment her mother realized he was Caido.

  Kasabian held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Rivers.” He briefly kissed the back of her hand and then gestured to himself. “Sorry for the lack of attire.” He ruffled through his bag and donned a shirt. “I was checking my stocks.” He gave Kye a guileless look. “Sorry, love, I didn’t know anyone was here.”

  He was good, assuring her mother that he’d heard nothing. Maybe he’d tuned out once he’d heard the reason for her visit.

  Her mother’s mind was clearly grinding through all the possibilities, and she didn’t like any of them if her eyes were any indication. “Kye, walk me to my car.”

  Kasabian gave Kye the slightest nod. He’d be watching over her.

  “What have you gotten yourself into?” her mother hissed the moment they walked away from her door. “He looks like all kinds of bad news. And he’s a Caido!”

  “I knew you’d disapprove, like you disapprove of all of my life choices.” Kye glanced back to find him watching from the distance, surveying the surroundings.

  “He’s all wrong for you.”

  “I know.”

  “He’s dangerous. I can see it written all over him.”

  “I know.”

  Her mother stopped next to her Mercedes-Benz. “Are you in love with him, or is it infatuation?”

  “It’s lust.” That’s all it was, right? Just as he’d said, combined with their bond and the lure of his Shadow. “I don’t plan on marrying him, but I feel a connection to him I can’t explain. I did from the first time we met.” That was true, having nothing to do with their bond.

  “What does he do for a living?”

  “Of course you’d ask that. He’s a bartender at the Witch’s Brew. And he volunteers at a youth center.”

  Her mother sneered. “A bartender.” She didn’t comment on the second part. “You know what kind of men tend bars at clubs like that?”

  “Men like Kasabian. He has a good heart. He volunteers with disadvantaged kids.”

  Her mother clapped her hands in front of her face. “Snap out of the spell. Men work at bars because they’re looking for one thing.”

  Kasabian did want one thing—to feel emotion. But Kye couldn’t exactly explain that. “Uh, yeah…income. He excels at his job. He’s entertainment, the way he mixes the drinks and flips the bottles.”

  “But is he worth giving up your abilities for? You’ve told me and your father how much your precious abilities mean to you, how helping people is more important than even your self-respect. Or ours.” She flicked her gaze to the apartment building. “Now something else is more important.” She shook her head. “A Caido,” she muttered, getting into her car.

  Kye stood there as her mother pulled away, feeling again like a fourteen-year-old who’d just discovered she’d inherited the wrong kind of ability.

  “You all right?”

  She spun to find Kasabian behind her, a sympathetic expression on his face. “No, I’m not all right. I finally had the chance to show my mother the value of my abilities.” It stunned her, that her mother had come to her. “And I couldn’t help her. Because of you.” She pushed at him, needing to vent. Her hands connected with his hard chest. He barely took a step back. “You came into my life and messed everything up. Just like you said.”

  He clamped his hands over hers. “Your mother’s right. You’re caught in a spell. You can’t resist any more than I can. And we’re going to drown in it.”

  A breeze blew a lock of her hair across her cheek.

  “She’s not right. She’s self-righteous and prejudiced.” Kye brushed her hair back with her hand. “I’m sorry I took it out on you. She’s been making me crazy for so long. I just wanted to prove to her that I have value.”

  He started to step forward, perhaps to put his arms around her, but visibly pulled back. “You do have value, Kye. Not because of your abilities. Just for yourself. Don’t listen to all of that denigrating stuff she says.” Before her heart could fully open to those words, he went on. “But she’s right about me. I am wrong for you. I am dangerous. She probably senses the darkness in me. I’m trying to keep the balance between my humanity, my angel, and the Shadow, but where you’re concerned, I’m mostly the hungry, possessive Shadow. I couldn’t stop us from giving in to this desire between us. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t even want to. If I hope to have any control, any sense of right and wrong, we have to stop this.”

  She saw the agony in his expression, felt his regret. Control. She had lost hers, too, and they both needed it now more than ever. She walked to the apartment. He followed, but she kept her gaze straight ahead. The moment the door closed behind him, she turned to him. “How do we stop this pull we have? Even losing my abilities doesn’t keep me from wanting you.”

  “The only way is for us to stay away from each other. You need to remain here until I determine it’s safe.”

  “And where are you going?”

  “To the Bend. If Jonathan ended up with my father, he may have come through this supposedly safe community. I need to find out everything I can about the place.”

  “Then that’s where I’m going, too.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “Uh, no, you’re not. Remember, we just agreed it would be best to stay apart.”

  “I saw your dream, Kasabian. I was in your dream, and I saw what those kids went through. What they’re probably suffering now. If you think I’m going to sit in this bubble while you figure it out, you’re sorely mistaken.”

  The moment Lyle’s eyes lit upon Kasabian, he rushed forward. “Did you find him?”

  “Yes and no.” Kasabian told him everything. “Hayden is making it his top priority to find him, I promise you that.” Kasabian introduced Kye. “We’re working on another angle, and we need to get into the Bend. You’ve been there. Tell us the best way to get inside.”

  He jabbed his chest. “Me.”

  Kasabian shook his head. “The people I’m dealing with are very dangerous. One of them has dark powers. I can’t afford to get you involved in this.”

  “Didn’t you just tell me that sometimes you have to let others help? I kept thinking about that all night, how you offered to help me. I didn’t want to let anyone into my problems. My life. But I need help, and it’s stupid not to take it when it’s offered.”

  Kasabian could
n’t help meeting Kye’s gaze, and yeah, she was gloating.

  “He’s right,” she said.

  He focused on Lyle. Nothing like having a mirror thrust at you in the guise of a young man. “I can’t endanger a minor.”

  “It’s the Bend, a gated community. How dangerous can it be? I can get in because my mother lives there. You can accompany me because of your affiliation with the Harbor.”

  Kye’s face lit. “Smart kid. Kasabian, you can pretend to be his guidance counselor. He’s having problems in school.”

  Lyle lifted one shoulder. “That’s the truth. But you know why.”

  Kasabian leaned toward Kye, sensing her body heat, her scent. Distance. They had to maintain distance. He moved back. “Lyle’s been spending every spare minute of his time looking for Jonathan. So what’s your role?”

  “I’m his therapist.” She brushed her hand over Lyle’s unruly hair. “I’m sensing some behavioral issues stemming from his brother’s absence. Perhaps we can get some answers, resolution.”

  Kasabian was surrounded by brilliance. “All right, we’ll start there.” As long as they didn’t look too closely at her credentials, considering that she was a sex therapist.

  Cory, who was leaning against the door, said, “There won’t be any danger, right? I can’t send one of the Harbor kids into an iffy situation.”

  Lyle stepped forward. “The Bend is nothing compared to the places I’ve been looking for Jonathan. If I can get a clue, just a clue, to where he is, I’d go to the Dark Side.”

  Where demons lived in a plane adjacent to this one.

  “He won’t be going to the Dark Side,” Kasabian assured Cory. “I’ll protect them with my life. Can you work up some business cards that show we’re affiliated with Harbor?”

  Ten minutes later, Cory had printed out a page full of cards for Kasabian and Kye. “If they call, I’ll cover for you.” His expression grew somber. “Be careful.”

  “It’s a gated community,” Kasabian said. “What could go wrong?”

  Kasabian borrowed one of Harbor’s vehicles, since the Lotus had no backseat, and they had lunch at a little Cuban café before heading to the Bend. It took fifteen minutes for the gatehouse to clear Lyle, and they were sent directly to a building that looked a bit too secure and foreboding to be the community center it pretended to be. The receptionist seemed benign enough as she told them to wait in the lobby for Paul Porter.

  A tall, older Deuce came out, his gaze on Lyle. The man seemed unassuming, but his eyes were sharp and calculating. “Yes, I remember you. Your mother has been very worried.” He focused on Kasabian and Kye. “Lyle ran away soon after his mother relocated here. He’s clearly a troubled young man.” Porter spread his arms. “To run away from all this.”

  What if Lyle’s mother insisted on keeping her son with her? After all, she could provide a safe environment for him now, at least on the surface. The Mundane courts would certainly deem her fit, as would the Crescent government. The thought struck deep in Kasabian’s stomach. He would not let them keep this kid.

  Kasabian held out his hand. “I’m John Thorpe, Lyle’s guidance counselor.” He gestured to Kye. “This is Mary James, the Harbor’s staff therapist.”

  Kye, in professional attire, handed him a card with her credentials spelled out—minus any reference to sexuality, of course. She gave the man a firm handshake. “Psychologically, Lyle is doing very well at Harbor. But he’s struggling with issues I feel can be helped with some answers from his mother. We can then talk about his future.”

  Paul referred to a folder he’d brought out with him. “I’ve asked that his mother join us. She should be”—he glanced up as the door opened—“ah, here she is now. Lisa.”

  A very pregnant woman waddled in and paused as she took in the three of them. Kasabian paused, too. It was always a surprise to see a Caido female.

  She pasted a smile on her apprehensive face and gathered Lyle in an awkward hug. “Lyle! I’ve missed you so much.” She stepped back too quickly, her arms crossed over her belly and then loose, obviously not sure what to do with them. She assessed him, but not in the hungry way a mother would, had she been truly eager to see her son. “You ran off, saying all those crazy things.” She gave a nervous laugh. “I was terribly worried.”

  Kasabian wondered if she’d been worried about her son or what he might tell others. “He’s been safe and sound at Youth Harbor.”

  “He would have been safe and sound here, too.” Her expression hardened as she met Kasabian’s gaze, but she turned back to Lyle. “But it doesn’t matter now. You’ve come back.” She flicked a glance at Porter that sent apprehension through Kasabian again.

  Kye must have felt it also, either through their bond or on her own. She put her hand on Lyle’s shoulder. Surprisingly, Lyle moved closer to her.

  Porter stepped forward. “We’ve been looking for him. He made some wild accusations. Is that why you’re here?”

  Lyle’s mother’s laugh was so phony it grated on Kasabian’s nerves. “He’s always had a vivid imagination. Add in puberty hormones, and…” She shrugged.

  So that was her story. Kasabian needed to allay her concerns and put her at ease. “He hasn’t told us anything other than that he’s heartsick over the loss of his brother. He needs answers so he can move on with his life. His preoccupation with finding Jonathan is not only holding him back, but it’s also putting him in precarious situations.” Kasabian turned to Porter. “Give us the name of the family who adopted Jonathan. If Lyle can talk to the boy, that will help immensely.”

  Porter stiffened. “All adoptions are private. But let me assure you that Jonathan is a happy, well-adjusted boy. Why, I did a post-adoption visit just last week, and I’ve never seen him so content.” An outright lie. His smile was even phonier than Lisa’s laugh had been. “But perhaps I can arrange to get you a picture. If you come back here to stay, we can keep you updated.”

  Son of a bitch.

  Lyle’s expression shuttered again, seeing the trap for what it was. “I want to talk to my mom. In private.”

  They wandered outside, leaving Porter to watch from the window. Kye and Kasabian followed at a discreet distance. Lyle couldn’t keep his gaze from his mother’s belly. “Who’s the father?”

  Lisa’s eyes flicked toward the office as her hand rubbed her distended belly. A subconscious giveaway. Porter.

  “When you left, I was distraught,” she said. “I turned to someone for comfort.”

  Kasabian’s fingers twitched with rage. She was using Lyle’s escape to manipulate his feelings, make him feel guilty. Kasabian couldn’t tell whether Lyle was buying into it or not. That his expression was still shuttered was a good sign.

  “You sold my brother,” Lyle said, his own anger just beneath the surface.

  “I didn’t sell him, sweetheart.” She lifted her hands to encompass the Bend just as Porter had done. “I came here for all of us. I needed time to get straightened out. Jonathan was so young and impressionable. I hurt him.” Lisa put on an appropriately bereft expression. “So I let him go to a camp where he could emotionally detox. The people who run the camp fell in love with him. They had the ability to offer him so much more than I could, even living here. They could give him a family.”

  Did she believe that? Maybe she’d convinced herself. “Did you meet this family?” Kasabian asked when Lyle went silent.

  “Yes.” She kept her gaze on her son, even though Kasabian had asked the question. “They seemed like a wonderful couple.”

  She was in on whatever was going on here, had to be.

  “If they’re so wonderful, why won’t they let their new son see his brother?” Kasabian asked.

  Lisa’s mouth worked but no words came out. Can’t come up with an answer for that, can you? Finally, seeing that Lyle was waiting for an answer, too, she said, “They want him to have a fresh start.”

  Lyle tentatively put his hand on her belly. “And what will happen to this baby? My half bro
ther or half sister?”

  Lisa placed her hand over his. “If you stay, you can help me raise it. Be a big brother.”

  Holy hell, she was good. Kasabian clamped a hand on Lyle’s shoulder at the same time that Lyle withdrew his hand from beneath hers. He gave Lyle a warning look. Don’t buy this load of bullshit.

  As they wandered the sidewalks, Kasabian studied their surroundings. The Bend certainly seemed like a normal community. The sidewalks could use pressure washing, yards were overgrown here and there, but overall it was well maintained. He saw mostly women, many of them in various stages of pregnancy from baby bumps to due-any-second. That was odd enough. What he didn’t see were a lot of children’s toys, swing sets, or other evidence that these women kept the children they carried.

  What was this place, a breeding farm? The thought gave him a sick feeling.

  They passed an unmarked, utilitarian building. “What’s this?” Kasabian asked Lisa.

  “Security. Administration. Job training and child care.”

  “Funny, Lisa, I don’t see a lot of evidence of children here,” Kasabian said.

  “They’re here,” she said in a rush of words, regarding him warily. “No, not a lot of them. Some of the women find themselves in, uh, unfortunate situations.” She rubbed her belly. “The Bend finds good homes for their babies.”

  “They must do a hell of a job,” he muttered. He sensed that pressing Lisa would get him nowhere. “I’ll be right back. I spotted an old friend. Lisa, if you’re hoping to lure—I mean, to convince Lyle to live with you again, it would ease our minds to see where he’d be staying. Why don’t you show Ms. James?”

  Kye’s eyes widened in question, but she nodded. “Yes, that would be helpful.”

  He watched them head off, wanting a bead on the direction they were going. Then he ducked into the building. The lady at the front desk looked a bit startled when Kasabian approached and loudly asked, “Do you have any children who need a home? My wife and I are unable to conceive, and I understand you facilitate adoptions.”

  “Sir, this is not—”