Under Sunless Skies (Starlight Saga Book 2)

by Sherry Soule

  “Fine. Chill.” Viola rolls her eyes and takes another drink of beer. “Tonight we should just have fun and forget our troubles.”

  “Great idea,” I mumble.

  The beer is anesthetizing my swirl of emotions, and I’m starting to think alcohol should be part of a daily balanced diet living in this Hellmouth aka Grimm Haven. Or should the island be dubbed, Hybrid Haven?

  I giggle and spill some of my beer.

  Saxton returns to my side. “What’s so funny?” He stands so close to me our shoulders keep brushing.

  “Aw! Look at you two, all coupley.” Emma wears a weird smile.

  I drain the last dregs of my beer, all the while frowning at Tanisha, my former blackmailer and friend.

  Somehow, another beer is thrust into my hand and I sip the foamy liquid. Someone passes a bowl of pretzels around, and Saxton and I grab a handful to munch on. I chew on the salty crunchiness, then drink the last of my beer. Around me, the trees tilt and sway. Drinking isn’t that fun, nor does it taste all that great. Actually, it’s quite nauseating, but it’s doing a great job at numbing my feelings.

  I check my phone for any missed calls or texts. Kinda hoping that Hayden has tried to contact me. Only a blank screen and no service. Of course, it’s very difficult to find reliable cellphone reception in a horror film. Or in this case, while parting with my friends in the forest at night.

  Saxton gets us two more beers and now I’ve lost count on how many I’ve already drank. Taking another swig, I sway again. My equilibrium is shot. Sheesh, what a lightweight I turned out to be, but I haven’t eaten anything since lunch. I tug at the neckline of my dress and fan myself with one hand. When did it get so hot out here?

  “You look flushed. Let’s go for a walk,” Saxton says.

  “Um, I think walking deeper into the woods and separating from the group is like entering your own deathtrap.”

  “We’ll be fine.” Saxton takes my hand. “I’ll protect you.”

  I can almost hear ominous theme music playing in the background, which makes me giggle. He leads me away from the blaze of the fire and the other partygoers. We hike a little ways into the woods, where it’s darker and much quieter, the only light emitting from the bonfire that flickers over our faces.

  “Sit.” Saxton grabs my free hand and yanks me onto a log overgrown with moss. He sits beside me, studying my face. “Hayden doesn’t deserve you,” he says quietly.

  “You’re right about that,” I mumble.

  “I knew you were hung up on the guy when I asked you to the prom, but I hoped you’d get over him.”

  “Then why did you?”

  “’Cause I like you. I guess I started to enjoy your brand of snark.”

  I bump his shoulder with my own. “So you’re saying you like sarcasm? And acerbic jibes?”

  Saxton clears his throat. “Yeah, when they come from you. There’s no pretense. You own who you are and it’s damn sexy.”

  If Saxton hadn’t dated Viola and I never met Hayden, I think I might’ve actually liked him, but a twisted love triangle might be too much for me to handle right now.

  I roll my eyes and sip my beer. “You’re getting all serious on me now.”

  “I know, it’s just…I can see now that this was a mistake.” Saxton takes a gulp of his drink. “No matter what Hayden’s done to you, I can tell you still care about him.”

  “I wish I didn’t.”

  “Hayden’s a lucky guy. Even if he’s a dumbass.”

  “Let’s not talk about him tonight.”

  “Okay…” He clears his throat and shifts on the log, straddling it. His gaze drops to my chest. Some emotion flickers in his eyes when he lifts his stare to mine. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Sloane?”

  I lean back and shake my head. “Why are you looking at me like that? What’s wrong with you?”

  “Confession time.” He clutches his chest with both hands. “I gotta tell you that I’m madly in love with you.”

  I roll my eyes. “Yeah, well, good luck with that.”

  Saxton laughs. “Don’t patronize me. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, and I even wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat—”

  “Would you please shut it? This is stupid. You don’t like me! It’s like you have this weird need to prove that I’ll go out with a guy like you. That’s not liking someone.”

  “Why are you fighting this? It might be meant to be.”

  A skeevy feeling courses over me, so I take another drink to squash it. “Are you drunk?”

  Saxton shrugs. “Maybe a little.”

  I giggle. “Me too.” My vision is blurry as I lift the beer bottle to my mouth for another swig.

  “Are you drunk?” Saxton frowns.

  “Yup!” I giggle again into my bottle.

  “Why do you keep laughing?”

  I shake my head and laugh again. “I have no idea.”

  In a way, I find the absurdity of my current situation hilarious. Not that I can tell him. One thought repeats itself in my head and pounds the words like a drum beat: Hayden’s a liar. Hayden’s a liar. Hayden’s a liar.

  “I could tell you needed a stress-reliever tonight. I noticed you arguing with Hayden, but I didn’t want to butt in,” he says, lifting a rock and throwing it into the darkness. “Breakups are tough.” Saxton moves his hand to the small of my back, holding me against him, and the other touches my chin, tipping back my head.

  Holy hot fudge…he’s going to kiss me!

  He inclines his head and suddenly his mouth is covering mine, tasting of beer and pretzels. His arms go around me and pull my boobs into his chest. No, no, no! I am not supposed to be kissing Saxton. Only Hayden. Thoughts of him flood my mind—his lips, his hands, his spicy scent, his perfect kisses…

  The one thing with Hayden that never feels wrong.

  Saxton’s hand goes from my waist and inches to my breasts. His fingertips graze my cleavage and he moans.

  What the hell am I doing? Why am I letting this guy grope me like I’m a CPR doll?

  My stomach sours like curdled milk. Oh, god. I’m going to throw up. Barf in Saxton’s mouth.

  I shove him away from me, then stagger a few feet into the forest. Bracing one hand on the trunk of a tree, I keel over, and dry heave over a damp bed of leaves. My throat burns and my eyes water. Saxton leaves me alone, which I appreciate because no girl wants the guy they were just making out with watching them puke. When nothing comes out but a small amount of bile, I slump against the tree and clutch my stomach.

  “Are you all right?” Saxton asks from behind me.

  I nod, too mortified to speak. An arm darts out in front of me, palm upraised and offering me two breath mints.

  “Thanks.” I shove them into my mouth to kill the nasty vomit taste on my tongue.

  Saxton wraps his arm around me and helps me stand upright. “Do you want to sit down again?”

  “No! And what the hell was that kiss about?” I demand and stagger away from him. “I don’t know what game you’re trying to play or whatever happened in the past between you and Hayden, but I don’t want to be part of it. So let’s get one thing straight, I am not interested in you.”

  A bright flash of blinding light bathes the trees in an eerie blue color, then quickly fades. I squint into the shadows to see who teleported into the woods, my heart pounding loud and fast.

  If it’s Xavier or more reapers, I’m in no shape to fight or run. My pulse accelerates.

  Hayden steps out from between the trees. “What the hell is going on here?”

  THIRTY-TWO

  “Hey, Hayden.” Saxton’s eyes narrow as he gets to his feet. “Where did you come from?”

  “What are you doing out here?” Hayden demands. He doesn’t look at Saxton, his gaze trained on me.

  “Take it down a notch.” Saxton lifts one hand like a traffic cop. “She’s with me—”

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” Hayden says, sparing a glance at Saxton, an
d then refocusing on me. “Sloane, what the hell? I know you’re pissed at me, but that’s no reason to rebound with a guy” —he gestures offhandedly at Saxton— “like him.”

  “Dude, I’m standing right here!” Saxton says, sounding annoyed.

  Standing, I prop both hands on my hips. “Just leave me alone, Hayden.”

  “I am not getting married!” Hayden’s face is flushed, with visible tension around his eyes. He rests his hands on my upper arms and lowers his voice. “I get why you’re upset—”

  “Why would I possibly be upset just because you’ve got a trunk full of secrets?” I shrug his hands away and throw my arms out to the side.

  Saxton lifts his chin. “Married? Who’d you knock up, Lancaster?”

  “Nobody’s pregnant, and I’m only seeing one girl,” Hayden replies firmly, glaring at Saxton. “And I don’t know what you’re up to with Sloane, but I swear if you hurt her, I’ll end you.”

  Saxton takes two long strides with his palms raised and pushes Hayden backward. “I’d like to see you try, asswipe.”

  “Guys!” I yell. “Don’t do this. It’s prom night, not a sequel to Rocky.”

  “Sorry, Sloane, but this guy needs an ass kicking.” Saxton pulls back his arm and his fist cracks against Hayden’s jaw.

  His head snaps back, then Hayden rubs the spot, glaring at Saxton. “You got a death wish?”

  Saxton lets out a guttural growl and he swings again at Hayden, who ducks at the last minute. When Hayden comes back up, he lands a solid punch to Saxton’s gut, doubling him over. Saxton swings his foot, almost catching Hayden in the face before he crosses his arms in a shield to block the kick.

  “Don’t do this!” I shout, but the two boys ignore me.

  Saxton rushes Hayden like a linebacker and shoulders him in the torso, ramming his backside into a tree. Hayden gasps and shoves Saxton off with both hands. They trade a few more blows to the face and head, with Saxton punching Hayden so hard it splits his lip.

  Then Saxton stumbles backward with pure hatred blazing in his eyes, and grabs a discarded bottle of beer on the ground. “I’m gonna kill you, Lancaster.”

  Hayden sways on his feet, wipes at his lips with the back of his sleeve, then spits blood on the ground. “Like to see you try.”

  “Saxton! Stop!” My voice bounces off the pines, cutting through the fight, and Saxton goes rigidly still. “Please put the bottle down.”

  His gaze molten with irritation, Saxton drops the bottle. “Sorry about the kiss,” he says. “I don’t want you to think that’s the only reason I brought you here.”

  “Isn’t it?” I ask.

  “Not entirely,” he says.

  “You kissed him?” Hayden shakes his head, taking a deep breath through his nose. “Why, Sloane? Are you trying to punish me for something?”

  “I don’t need to be the third wheel on your tricycle. I’ll let you guys sort this out alone.” Saxton backs away, glancing in my direction. “I’ll be at the bonfire if you need me.”

  I nod stiffly and cross my arms. “Uh-huh.”

  Once Saxton hikes back in the direction of the bonfire, Hayden’s jaw tenses, but his voice softens. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? You shouldn’t be out here unprotected.”

  “I doubt Xavier or any other crazyass Meleah is gonna try something with a bunch of kids around as witnesses,” I say. “Plus, your brother is here, so I’m perfectly safe.”

  An awkward silence falls between us, and even the music seems muffled.

  Tears burn my eyes. “What are you even doing here?”

  “Let me take you home.”

  “No thanks.”

  He takes my arm, his grip firm. “Please come with me. Just to talk.”

  My breath comes out in short gasps. “Talk? You don’t tell me anything and now you want to talk? It’s your stupid honorable duty to protect all the hybrid secrets that’s tearing us apart!”

  Hayden balls one hand into a fist at his side and squeezes it, then widely spreads out his fingers, as if relaxing the tension. “Don’t give up on me. I can’t lose you. Not again.”

  “Then start being more honest with me. That’s true friendship.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry.” His lips press into a hard line. “I wouldn’t blame you if you expected me to earn your trust again, but please let me try.”

  I fold my arms and level a stare at him. “Trust? I don’t think your species understands the meaning of the word.”

  He sighs and shuffles his feet. “I haven’t exactly lied.”

  “Yeah, right, you just left out pertinent details, like being engaged and a future leader of the Meleah!”

  “So I guess now you probably think Saxton’s a better guy for you, more trustworthy. But he’ll never love you as much as I do, or worry about your safety. Or risk his entire future to be with you!” He steps back, standing straighter and squaring his shoulders. “Tell me, damn it! Are you choosing him or me?”

  I stand my ground, staring into his eyes. “Your jealousy is not an attractive virtue.”

  He closes his eyes, as if trying to compose himself. “Just tell me what to do to win you back. Earn your trust again.” He opens his eyes, his gaze full of pain. “Please, I’ll do anything.”

  “Then give me a little room to breathe and time to process everything.”

  “Okay,” he says. “I can give you some space.”

  “We will always be friends,” I say.

  “I know what you’re doing and it won’t work.” He nods his head and his mouth tightens. “I suppose I’ll just have to prove it to you.”

  My shoulders hunch. “I don’t understand you. I don’t even feel like I know you anymore.”

  “Is it because you don’t trust me now? Have I completely screwed everything up?” Hayden groans. “I know you deserve better than me, Peaches. You think I don’t realize that? I’m guarded and stubborn and terrible at intimacy, but somehow with you…my life just makes sense. Without you, it’ll just be like treading water. If you’ll only give me one last chance, I swear I won’t disappoint you again.”

  Lowering my head, I study the chipped dark blue fingernail polish on my fingers. “How can I believe anything you say?”

  “I’ll never lie to you again. I swear it—on my life. And if you’re going to be friends with Saxton, then I don’t want it to affect our relationship…I guess I’m just going to have to deal with it.”

  I lift my face. “About Saxton. Since you teleported so close to where we were standing, does he have any ectoplasm on him now?”

  He shrugs. “A small trace.”

  “What about the reapers?”

  Hayden licks the blood on his lips. “He’s not my biggest concern at the moment. Only you are. Although, you kissing Saxton complicates things.” He lifts his arm as if to touch me again, then lets it drop to his side, and turns his head. “Are you two together now? I mean, I’d get it if you were…”

  “He kissed me, I did not kiss him.” My heart is thumping a dramatic uneven beat. “But…before you showed up, there was a split second where I thought I could be with him. Now I know I only want to be his friend. So I can’t lead him on…” I lick my lips. “Because of the way I still feel about you.”

  He leans closer, his eyes stormy. “So…you don’t hate me?”

  “No, I don’t hate you,” I say. “Although, I have imagined at least ten different ways to dismember your limbs. Well, mostly just your precious man-parts.”

  “Yeah? What would you have done to my, um, man-parts?”

  “Cut it off with scissors. Dull ones.”

  “Makes sense. I mean, you wouldn’t want it to end too quickly.”

  “Precisely.”

  “Oh, Peaches,” he says, laughing softly. “Did you know that every time I hear your name, I smile? Every time my phone rings, I hope it’s you. And whenever I see you, you always make me laugh. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Please, please forgive me…” His velvety word
s hang in the air.

  “Then stop pushing me away and try being more honest with me. ’Cause one of these days I may decide to remain single.”

  “That I can do.”

  The strength and dominance of his presence exudes an almost tangible force field around him. When he steps closer, that seductive aura surrounds me too, closing me in with him like a warm, safe bubble. The world outside of it ceases to exist. A tremor moves through me, followed by a heated ache rippling over my skin and pooling low in my belly. My breathing short, cheeks fiery. This boy, with his alien DNA and unique eyes, seems to emanate some kind of lust pheromones because I have the overwhelming urge to kiss him fierce and reckless.

  Then before I can think or move, his lips crash against mine. The kiss is so hungry, desperate, and full of passion that my head spins. My hormones go crazy. My arms slide up and glide around his neck. I kiss him back feverishly—deep and ravenous. Every inch of me aches to touch his skin and my hands move downward to slip under his shirt. Suddenly arms and hands are not enough. In that rare, precious moment, it’s only him and me in this secluded place. There are no outside distractions. The kisses are long, soft, searching, and I simply get lost in the fabric of time, like eternity and infinity stand still and the world rotates in slow motion around us.

  He cradles my head in his hands and moans softly against my lips. My body melts at the taste of his kiss, sweet as chocolate dipped strawberries. Shivers of pleasure shoot through me when he deepens the kiss, and my heart thuds crazily while holding Fourth of July sparklers.

  It beats any of the top romantic on-screen kissing scenes in history.

  When I move away from him to draw a breath, he catches my arm and draws me hard against him. My arms go back around his waist and I tilt my head back to gaze into his eyes. He doesn’t say anything for a long minute, he only stares down at me with the softest, most loving expression. My heart splinters down the center at that lost, haunted look.

  I hate to admit it, but underneath my cynical, angsty shell lies a sappy marshmallow at its core. This confession is going to put a serious dent in my Goth cred.

  “Damn, I like making up with you....” He sighs, stirring the hair around my face. “Are we good now?”