by C. M. Owens
I look at him, and I mentally pull on my extra layer of skin, readying myself for whatever cruel thing he's waiting to strike me with.
"I haven't chosen him. Whatever you want to say, get it out there. I don't want to deal with your hurtful gashes all day. Get it all out now so we can focus on the real problem at hand."
He winces, as though I'm the one who has said something cutting.
"I don't plan on saying anything hurtful, Alyssa. But you did make a choice, so don't fool yourself. I also realize why you made that choice. I didn't exactly handle things well after I found out you were a witch, but-" He runs his hand through his hair as he looks away, stopping short.
"But?" I prompt.
He sighs out hard, looking back up to catch my eyes. He comes to stand dangerously close and rests his hand on my side.
"But I was hurting worse than I thought possible. I never knew how much I was missing in life until I had you. When I thought it had all been just a ploy to get to Castine, it felt like someone had ripped my heart out and set it on fire. I wanted to hurt you as badly as you hurt me. I can't apologize enough, and I'll figure out a way to make this right."
I look away, unable to meet his eyes any longer. "This wasn't ever meant to be, Kane. I think we should both try to move on. If we had known the truth about each other-"
"Then we never would have attempted to be with each other," he interrupts, bringing my eyes back up to meet his by tilting my chin. "That's why we were meant to be with each other."
"That makes no sense." I sigh, trying to look away again, but he cups my face in his hand so softly, keeping me pinned to his gaze.
"It does if you think about it, Alyssa. Fate intervened, but you aren't looking at the obvious. In our world, a night stalker with a witch is preposterous, but fate pushed us together, leading the other to think they were falling for a human. The odds of such a connection forming while the other remains unaware of the secrets hidden in plain sight are astronomical. We fell in love. You just refuse to admit how real it all was, so you're using Gage as a beard for your true feelings. You're allowed to be with him. It's normal to fall for one of your own - even if there is a light division."
I shake my head, but he keeps drawing me closer, reminding me how good his touch feels.
"It's more than that, Kane. Gage understands me. He knows things about me that I could never tell you."
"Alyssa, you can tell me anything. You know you can trust me."
His thumb strokes my lower lip as his eyes stare into mine with fearless abandon. I know better than to tell anyone I'm Drackus's daughter. Gage only knows because he already knew. I never would have told him myself.
He only knew because his mother is marrying my father - which is still creepy. He doesn't judge me the way most would. He doesn't fear me or what I could become. Kane would. He'd be appalled by the very idea of my existence and terrified of the monster I could be - ironically enough.
"I trust you, Kane, and I know you'd never use it against me, but there are things about me I never share with anyone. Gage knows, but he knew about me before he knew me. It's different. It's freeing."
He tilts his head, curiosity forming. "Has this got something to do with Drackus?"
"No." It has everything to do with Drackus. "Just leave it alone."
"Alyssa, I know Drackus and you aren't merely acquainted because of his old affections for your mother. He's not that generous or feeling. People involved with Drackus usually owe him for something he's done for them. What's your debt? Maybe I can help you pay it off."
My debt is my birthright. There's no such thing as paying it off.
"It's so much more complicated than that," I say with an exasperated huff.
"Whatever it is, I can deal with it. I promise."
"Like you dealt with my being a witch? You'll jump to conclusions, and I'll be left getting berated just as before."
He frowns, his brow creasing to emphasize his exhaustion with my constant little stabbing reminders of his past attacks.
"All you can do is trust me, Alyssa. I can't prove anything to you until you trust me enough to open up."
I won't give him the chance to prove himself wrong. I know better than to think people will be accepting. I've heard his view on my father. I'm not going to have him look at me the way he looks at Drackus.
"Let's focus on one set of problems at a time. We'll start with the blond bitch playing with fire."
To add a little drama to that, I use my magic to light all the candles in the kitchen, making Kane laugh lightly while releasing his hold on me.
"We could have a lot of fun once you're immortal, Alyssa. Think about that," he says while walking off.
"Hey, whoa. What is that supposed to mean?" I chirp while following behind him.
"You won't be so fragile then," he says with a devious smile as he turns to walk backwards, his eyes daring me to play. I blush slightly, and he continues, "Plus, once you're immortal, your blood won't be addictive, which means you could taste poison's kiss all you want. I think we both know you like the bite."
My body heats up and the mirror offers me a view of the random shades flipping through my eyes. Kane gives me a devilish wink before sitting down on the couch. Something tells me this is going to be a long day.
Chapter 20
The Prey Fights Back
Dice walks down the stairs, looking refreshed and leathered up. I laugh as he squeaks with each step - his leather grinding together.
"Do you own anything in your wardrobe that isn't leather?" I tease while shutting the book in my lap.
"Nope. I'm too sexy, love. I have to show it off."
I laugh at his candor now, considering the oaf sort of grew on me after saving my life.
"Where's Kane and Zee?" he asks while sitting down across from me.
"I'm right here," Zee chirps while walking in from the kitchen, holding two steaming cups in his hands. "Kane is sleeping off his all-nighter."
He hands me a cup of hot tea, and I offer my gratitude by sipping it happily and greedily, reveling in the warmth it brings me.
"Did you cut down my heat?" I ask the incubus while narrowing my eyes at him.
"A little. It was blazing hot in here," he says while leaning back, sizing Zee up for some odd reason.
Perhaps he's into men as well as women?
"A little?" I chuckle out. "It's forty-two degrees in here. To a mortal, that's cold. It'll take my house at least an hour to warm back up."
"Forty-two is a feasible temperature. Thirty-two is freezing, so I'm not sure I understand the problem."
I just laugh while shaking my head, and Zee - someone who has been mortal recently - understands completely where I'm coming from.
"Dude, you're creeping me out looking at me like that," Zee adds with a freaked-out tone.
Dice just laughs while leaning back, and then his eyes shift to me. "I've got an idea. You trust this night stalker, don't you?"
I shrug, glancing toward Zee. "Sure. Why?"
"I want to test my theory. See if you can withstand his powers of subduing."
It seems harmless enough. I know it's not possible, but if it'll appease the annoying incubus, I'll do it to shut him up.
"I'm game. Zee?"
"Sure."
We both place our cups on the coffee table, and he turns to me. "I'm not that good at this yet. You'll have to lie down. It's the only way I can force the energy out. I promise I won't do anything."
"Don't say that," Dice grumbles while slapping his own forehead. "She has to fear some consequence or her instincts won't kick in."
"Dice, if my instincts play a part, they would have kicked in all the other times I've been attacked by night stalkers. As in last night - or this morning rather."
The sun has already hidden itself behind the horizon, and fortunately Kane has been too tired to confuse me further. Dice insisting I test my immunity to the powers my sworn enemy holds is just something to pass the time.
> "I stepped in, Alyssa. All the times before, someone has stepped in. You haven't had the chance to reach the point of desperation you might need in order to make this work."
"And you think I'll make her desperate enough?" Zee chuckles while feigning insult.
"She's aware of the possibility now. It wouldn't take too much to shake things up."
I give Zee a small smile and I lie down, knowing this is pointless. Zee smirks as he comes to hold his body over mine, straddling me as he rests back on his heels, careful not to actually touch me.
"Easy, boy. Your sexual energy is a little distracting," Dice teases, making Zee cut his eyes toward him.
"Are you trying to get my ass kicked? If Kane hears you saying shit like that, he'll rip me a new one."
Dice just laughs, but now I feel a little uncomfortable. I never thought about Zee thinking about me that way. I've heard him cut jokes to poke at Kane, but I never took it seriously. I suppose any full-blooded, heterosexual male might feel a little aroused in such an intimate sort of situation though. He's quite literally straddling me.
"Fine. Just start subduing her," Dice says with a snicker.
Zee leans over, his eyes turning a glowing blue, and his dark hair falls down with the weight of gravity. I smile when he blushes harder, and I stifle a laugh when he rolls his eyes. He really isn't good at this.
"Are you resisting?" Dice asks excitedly.
"No, she's not. I told you, I suck at this."
"What the hell are you doing, Zee?" Kane's voice sounds out, startling Zee and sending him falling backwards.
I laugh harder as he drops his head to the floor and covers his reddened face.
"I was trying to subdue Alyssa's magic so Dice could test her limits of immunity to the fey world. But, as you know, I can't subdue for shit."
Kane laughs, his fleeting moment of anger dissipating, and then he's suddenly straddling me much more intimately than what Zee was.
He gives me a wink, but Dice objects with a scoff. "Oh please. She trusts you more than anyone in this house. She's not going to feel the least bit threatened, and she'll never respond."
Kane smiles bigger, and then he pulls my hands above my head, clasping them together with just one of his. His free hand starts sliding down my body, and then it slides back up as he pulls my bottom lip out from between my teeth. I hadn't even realized I was doing that.
I'm on fire right now, and I'm not sure what the hell he thinks he's doing. I'm suddenly regretting this game.
"She doesn't trust me in all aspects. She knows what I want to do to her, but she doesn't want to give in. If she does have the ability to show resistance, I think I know how to provoke it."
Dice starts fanning himself. "The two of you are almost getting me high at this point. I still haven't come down from last night."
Kane arches his eyebrow at the latter part of that statement, and then he turns to face Dice.
"What happened last night? It seems the two of you must have omitted something."
I brush it off before Kane can over analyze it too much - making sure to add a little lie in as well. "He strained himself getting through my barrier and killing Isolis. I just gave him some of my sexual energy to refuel him. No worries. He still wasn't able to draw me in."
Kane shakes his head, making sure to give the incubus a warning glower, and then he turns back to me.
"If you don't find resistance, my lips are going on yours. If you still can't find it, my lips continue to explore the body I remember all too well."
Zee coughs out his surprise, and then he starts sidestepping. "On that note, this feels more personal than scientific. I'll be heading out. I need a bite anyhow."
"We've got all kinds of food in the fridge," I murmur, using it as an excuse to slice through the thick layer of sexual tension that is coating the air.
The three dark boys laugh at me.
"A bite," Kane says, nipping playfully at my shoulder.
I blush fiercely, feeling like a naive fool as he keeps me pinned down.
"Is that wise right now?" I ask, still trying to break free from Kane's hold.
"I've got it. Kane usually does my recruiting for me, but I think it's time I do it on my own."
He steps out before anyone can say anything else, and Kane turns to look at me.
"Do you have to bite?" I ask curiously.
"No, but I like to. Care to be my willing victim?"
I shake my head vigorously, ignoring the impossibly seductive air around us. Damn incubus can still affect me by projecting.
Dice laughs, but he stands to go open the door. "I'll let you two work. I can't stay in this heat with all the sexual energy sliding out. I'm too full. It's like making a fat man eat a buffet and then forcing a steak down his throat after he's cleaned twenty plates."
Kane drops to the floor, laughing, enjoying the humiliation this is bringing me. I pull my freed hands to my chest as Dice walks out.
"The heat affects him?" I ask, still trying to end our game.
Kane continues laughing, but answers through his chuckles.
"An incubus struggles with heat only when they've filled up on their quota. Apparently, he's stuffed. I feel sorry for him being around us."
Crap.
"Kane, I don't-"
"Easy, girl. Don't get all serious-faced on me just yet. Let's get back to work first."
"What? You don't seriously think I can resist your subduing power, do you?"
"I think it's worth exploring."
I think he's just looking for an excuse to pin me down. Before I can object my two hands are once again clasped in his one as he holds them over my head. He leans down, letting his eyes turn blue, and my body heats to the core.
I should be terrified, not exhilarated. I should be appalled, not so turned on that I'm almost throbbing in anticipation. I don't remember when I turned into such a masochist.
"Stop me and you won't have to endure my touch," he seductively releases, making my stomach knot.
"Kane, this is ridiculous. I'm a witch. You're my biggest weakness."
"Am I?" he asks with his playful tone being both teasing and deliciously provocative.
"You know what I mean," I grumble, struggling ineffectively to use my magic against his subduing force.
He bends lower - the threat of his lips finding mine becoming imminent. I buck my hips when my magic fails me, but he's too strong. I think he actually enjoys the fight. Damn night stalker.
"Do you think you can fight me, or do you secretly want this?" he murmurs softly, finally ending the suspense and crushing my lips with his.
I moan involuntarily as his tongue slips through my lips, and then he grabs me at the hips and pulls me to feel his incredibly firm desire. Primal and carnal ambitions emerge once my hands are free, and my hands tangle in his hair as he pulls me closer.
He flips me to be on top, and before I realize what I'm doing, I'm pulling his shirt up and casting it to the side. The newly acquired tattoo on his toned chest catches my eye. It looks so good on him.
"Kane, this is a bad idea," I murmur seconds before looking like a kissing contradiction when I press my lips to his.
"Then fuck good ideas," he crudely interjects, making me smile against the kiss.
My hips grind against his, and then the door swings open to interrupt our messed-up version of a science experiment gone awry. I fall to the ground, popping my elbow against the hardwood floor.
"Sorry," Zee chuckles. "Dray just called and wants us to meet him at the Corpal Hotel. They've got a lead on our mystery girl. You two need a few more minutes?"
"Yes," Kane grumbles, pulling me back to him.
"No," I quickly counter while rolling my eyes. "We're ready now."
Kane curses under his breath as he stands up, and Zee chuckles a little louder, teasing the sexually frustrated night stalker. I smile when Kane is forced to adjust his pants, but the humor is overshadowed by the genuine fear there might be something wrong with me.
I didn't want to do anything with Gage last night, but it was like I couldn't stop myself. It's almost like I'm getting drunk before consenting to something I'm knowingly going to regret.
I didn't want to do anything at all with Kane, but the second my body heated up, I had zero control. I think I should talk to Mom about this. Either this is one really fucked up set of hormones inside me, or there's something magically screwed up. Either way, I need answers before I do something with someone I really, really don't want to.
"Can we continue this later?" Kane asks, pulling me to him like I belong to him all over again.
Oh crap. This is going to be seriously messed up when Gage gets back.
His bare chest taunts me, reminding me how his body feels sliding against mine. The night in the dungeon flashes through my mind, making my core heat up. It felt so wrong but so incredible at the same time.
"Kane, this is wrong. You know as well as I do it's wrong."
"We'll be right out, Zee. I'll drive Alyssa there."
Zee nods, realizing this is much more serious now. Kane releases me as the door shuts behind Zee, and he pulls on his shirt while cursing.
"Alyssa, stop with the hot and cold shit. It's me. You know I'm what you want - not Gage. He's Somage, and he always will be. Bottom line, he's always going to have to seduce women for Intel. It's the way they operate. You know I've never been anything but completely dedicated to you. Now get the hell over our fey classification."
This is so frustrating.
"We can talk about this later. Let's go find out what's going on," I grumble, but Kane whirls me back in his arms before I can escape.
"It's me, Alyssa. You're going to choose me. Stop fighting it."
There's no doubt I'd choose him if he were any other fey, but he's not. He's a night stalker.
"Can we please stop with this for now?"
He groans as if he's as frustrated as I am, but he nods, ceding to my request while holding out my jacket for me to put on. I slip on my boots quickly, and then Kane takes my hand in his while leading me out to his car, opening the door for me.
I cringe as I start to get in. "Please don't drive like a crazy immortal."