The Darkest Secret lotu-8

by Джена Шоуолтер

  «I like where your head’s at, Stridey-Man. Maybe we’ll do that anyway.»

  Out of habit, Strider performed a perimeter check before exiting. During the drive, when he hadn’t been lost in thought, he’d been watching for a tail. So far, so good. Not once had he spied anything suspicious. To be honest, that was kind of disappointing. He’d expected Haidee’s boyfriend to come after him. Shit, the guy had sworn to spill Strider’s guts and remove each of his limbs. Oh, well.

  He and William entered the store side by side, then split up. They still wore their swim trunks, but they also wore T-shirts and flip-flops, so they weren’t totally inappropriate as they strutted down the isles, grabbing what they wanted. Still. People stared. Maybe because they were giants compared to everyone else, both in height and muscle mass. Maybe because of the telltale bulge of weapons at their waists. Or maybe because William opened a bag of Doritos and ate while he shopped. Hard to tell.

  «You see any Gummy Bears?» William called.

  Strider balanced five boxes of Red Hots and five boxes of Hot Tamales in the cradle of one arm as he scanned the racks. «Nope. Sorry.» He grabbed a few Twinkies for Paris and threw them on top of his pile. They weren’t fried, but hell. Women ate sweets when they were nursing broken hearts, and Paris was definitely acting like a woman. Guy would be grateful for anything.

  Strider was snickering to himself as he mixed a suicide at the soda fountain. Paris, acting like a woman. What was new about that? When the fizzing liquid reached the rim, he popped the lid and straw in place. Hard to do one-handed, but he managed it. He sipped. Nice.

  Behind him, gasps resonated. He whipped around, expecting trouble with William — only to spy a scowling Lucien with his hand resting on the shoulder of a stunning redhead. She was a tiny little thing, only reaching his shoulder, but damn was she curved. Her breasts strained the lacy tank. Her waist flared around low-rise jeans. Really low-rise. So low it was obvious she wasn’t wearing any panties. She couldn’t be. Her legs were lean and long enough to lock around his back.

  He wanted to curse.

  «Kaia?» Strider blinked, certain this was only a nightmare. A Harpy, the deadliest race on the planet. Here. Stinking up his vacation even more. And he’d thought the night couldn’t get any worse.

  «Oh, yummy. A Big Gulp.» She closed what little distance there was between them and jerked the cup from his kung fu grip. Then, without waiting for his permission, she slurped the contents. «Thanks.»

  Not a challenge, not a damn challenge, he told his demon.

  Still. Defeat perked up inside his head. Thank the gods the beast didn’t urge him to act. Yet.

  Kaia’s features wrinkled with distaste. «Yuck! What is this stuff? Battery acid?»

  «It’s a little of every kind of soda they’ve got,» he gritted, reaching out his free hand and waving his fingers. «Now give it back and tell me what you’re doing here.»

  Her sensuous lips pulled back from her teeth as she hissed, her gray-gold eyes flickering with incandescent striations of silver and deep, dark lines of black. «Mine.»

  That wasn’t a challenge, he mentally shouted.

  Defeat practically twitched against his skull, a wee bit agitated but still not insisting Strider do anything.

  He allowed his arm to fall to his side. Harpies could only eat what they stole or earned, everything else made them sick, so he knew she had to take what she could, when she could. He also knew Harpies were as possessive about their stuff as he was, and Kaia now considered the drink hers. But if she pushed any more, his demon would want him to do something. Strider knew it, felt it. Yet there was no damn way he could challenge a Harpy in front of humans. That was something better done in private — where he could have his ass handed to him without being humiliated in front of others.

  «I asked once, but I’ll do it again. What are you doing here?» He switched his focus to Lucien before she could reply. «What’s she doing here?»

  Lucien met his stare and gave a pitying sigh. «She was bored, so she called me and asked me to take her to you, and because I like my testicles where they are, I decided to indulge her.»

  «Take her to me?» Strider thumped his chest to make sure Lucien and Kaia understood who «me» was. «Why me?»

  Neither responded to his question.

  «My friend, I wish you a good night. She’s your pain in the ass now,» Lucien said, and after saluting Strider with the same irreverent pinky wave Anya was fond of giving, he strode out of the store to find a nice, deserted corner outside where he could disappear without witnesses.

  Strider returned his attention to Kaia. She fluttered her lashes at him, all innocence and feminine wiles. If he hadn’t sparred with her a few times in the past, if he hadn’t known exactly how dirty she fought, going for the groin at every opportunity, he might have believed the act. Even knowing, he had a hard time convincing himself of her extraordinary ability to deceive.

  She was here for a reason, and he wasn’t going to like it.

  His only consolation was that he liked looking at her. Truly, if the gods had asked him to design a female, Kaia would have been it. She had a deceptively delicate bone structure and long red hair that curled to her waist. She had the face of a wicked pixie, the fangs of a pissed off snake and the body of a porn star, minus the implants. And her skin, oh, gods, her skin.

  All Harpies possessed skin like hers. Like polished opals and crushed diamonds, glinting with all the colors of the rainbow. They had to cover every visible inch with cosmetics and clothing because men became slobbering fools whenever they saw that skin. Strider had caught a glimpse only once — during one of their practice sessions, her shirt had ridden up to her navel — and he’d instantly lost control of his body. He’d become consumed by the need to penetrate her.

  She’d covered herself before he had attacked, and the urge had passed. Eventually. Even then, remembering, he wanted to strip her, take her.

  No way. No way in hell. She might be the loveliest female he’d ever beheld, but she would be more trouble than a Hunter. She was a consummate liar and an unrepentant thief. She killed indiscriminately, and well, she was stronger than him. Talk about embarrassing!

  Plus, the first time she had visited her sister Gwen at the fortress, Strider had noticed several of the warriors eyeing her as if she were a lollipop. She hadn’t seemed to notice or care, and he hadn’t wanted to compete for her affections. He’d made the right decision, too.

  He still couldn’t believe she’d slept with Paris.

  Paris. Ah, okay. Her need to find «Strider» was beginning to make a little sense. He was with Paris, so what better way to spend time with the warrior without admitting what she really wanted?

  That didn’t bother Strider, but damn it all to hell, he didn’t like being used. «If you’re here to win Paris’s everlasting love, you’ve already failed. He now knows beyond any doubt that Sienna is still out there, and he’s desperate to reach her. You’re not going to make him jealous by cuddling up to me and you’re not—"

  «Will you just shut up?» Kaia snatched a box of Red Hots and popped open the lid.

  He snatched it back before she could eat a single one, and Defeat purred with satisfaction.

  «Hey!»

  «Mine,» he snapped. Enough was enough.

  Rather than attack him, she merely anchored her free hand on her perfectly shaped hips. «Lookit. I didn’t want to kick things off this way, but you’re being an asshat. So here it is. Paris was a one-time thing and not just because he can’t ever come back for seconds. Yeah, he gave me about a bazillion orgasms, but afterward I didn’t like how I felt and I couldn’t stop thinking — never mind.» She was scowling as she shook her head. «What I’m trying to say is that I’m not here to see him. I wanted to see—"

  «Kaia, darling,» William said, nearly leaping over a stand of beef jerky in his haste to reach her.

  Strider frowned, but he wasn’t sure why.

  As William pulled her close for
a hug, the bastard grinned with utter delight, as if Kaia was just the thing he’d needed to relieve an eternity of boredom. «Are you here to fight the strippers who just enjoyed hours of my company?» He patted her ass in approval.

  «Hardly,» she said, tossing her glorious mane of hair over her shoulder with a single flip of her wrist. «I’m here to thank them for keeping you occupied. Please tell me they’re still with you.»

  William pretended to wipe away a tear. «Knife through the heart, my sweet. Knife through the heart.»

  Gods, they were annoying. William had been trying to get into Kaia’s pants for months. She, of course, liked to string him along.

  Which was another reason Strider would never make a play for her.

  Kaia would challenge him more than most, and she wouldn’t care if he lost. Hell, she would want him to lose, even though the loss would bring him days of physical agony. Her sense of rivalry was just as highly developed as his own.

  «We’re on vacation, Kaia,» Strider grumbled. «You weren’t invited.»

  She waved away his words as if they were unimportant. «Deep down I knew you meant to invite me, so ta-da. Here I am. You’re welcome.»

  «It’s scary how well you know us. Here, pay for this,» William said, dumping his candy into Strider’s arms. «We’ll be in the car. Making out.»

  At first, Kaia remained in place, watching Strider. Whatever she wanted from him, he must not have given to her, because she blew him a kiss and allowed the black-haired warrior to lead her off. Not even trying to hide her actions, she stuffed a Twinkie in the back pocket of her jeans and grabbed a couple magazines before stepping outside.

  Strider’s jaw ached from the grind of his teeth as he strode to the register. For some reason, people moved out of his way as quickly as possible. Even the ones standing in line, waiting their turn.

  «Uh, I wouldn’t bring this up, except I kinda have to and everything,» the overweight cashier began nervously, «since it’s on camera and my boss, like, watches the film sometimes, but, uh, the little lady took a—"

  «I know. Just add it all up.» After he paid, he stomped outside, the bag filled with candy slapping his thigh with every step. The cool night air failed to dampen his sudden black mood. At least you’re not thinking about Ex now.

  Hardly a silver lining. And one that didn’t last. He’d maybe, big maybe, exaggerated his attraction to Ex. If he’d really wanted her, he wouldn’t have slept with someone else earlier today. He would have fought for her affections now rather than eventually, no matter how foolish fighting your friends over a woman was.

  Look at Paris. Guy needed sex to freaking survive, but he hadn’t spent quality sheet time with any of those strippers.

  That didn’t lessen the sting of being rebuffed, though, and maybe that’s why he’d thought he wanted Ex so damn badly. Because she hadn’t wanted him. Because she’d been a — what? A challenge. A challenge he claimed he hadn’t wanted. And he didn’t!

  Damn it. No more challenges. He was taking a break if it killed him.

  He reached the car, saw that Kaia had stolen his seat in front and practically ripped the back door from its hinges. He climbed inside and settled beside the still sleeping Paris. And what the fuck was that smell? Cinnamon rolls?

  He decided to take his irritation out on her. «You wearing perfume?» he growled, kicking her stolen seat so she’d know he was talking to her.

  She twisted to peer back at him, a smile clinging to the edges of her I’m-not-wearing-any-panties mouth. He’d known she wasn’t wearing any, the little teaser, but he hadn’t needed that kind of confirmation.

  Dude. It’s a smile, not a glance up a skirt.

  Oh, shut up.

  He was talking to himself now. Wasn’t that just great? «Well?»

  «Nope, no perfume, but I did visit a bakery just before I hunted Lucien down. Why? Do I smell as sweet as sugar?»

  No, damn it, she smelled like she needed a good licking.

  Kaia, in bed. Naked. Splayed. His mind liked the image, and hell, so did his demon. While Strider would rather die than accept another challenge — figuratively speaking, of course — his demon would go insane without them. Beast fed off the high that came with their victories.

  But he wasn’t going to let himself go there with Kaia. Not today, and not ever. Kaia wouldn’t just challenge him more than most; she would challenge him about everything, and he would never have a moment of peace.

  Defeat practically rubbed his hands together in glee. Strider frowned. No, no, hell, no. We aren’t going there. She’s a Harpy. We can’t win against her. We’ll suffer. Constantly.

  A growl. A whimper. Anger and fear, wrapped tightly together and sprinkled with Oh, please, gods, no.

  That was more like it. Even if some part of Strider liked the idea of constantly sparring with Kaia, ’cause yeah, matching wits and daggers could be fun and peace was sometimes overrated, he still couldn’t allow himself to be with her. Unlike the other warriors, he had never been able to sleep with a woman who had already tasted one of his friends. It was that possessive streak of his. There was simply no way around it.

  Although…for Ex, Haidee, he’d been willing to make an exception. Which meant his competitive nature was stronger than his possessiveness. Kaia, though, wouldn’t be extended the same willingness.

  Defeat gave another growl, this one laced with…disappointment? No way. I’m just tired. Imagining things. His demon only cared about battles, not a specific woman.

  Kaia finally gave up on Strider and turned back around. William maneuvered onto the highway, the caddy gobbling up the miles. Of course, he resumed his flirtation with the Harpy.

  For a little over an hour, Strider ate his candy and fumed. Yes, vacations sucked. At the next rest stop, he might just ditch his companions and head off on his own. Except, when Kaia giggled at something William said, Strider decided waiting to reach a rest stop was dumb. He’d get out now and hitchhike. That kind of feminine delight was grating to his nerves. Yes, grating. Not enchanting.

  He definitely needed distance between him and Kaia. Then he’d stop thinking about her. Stop reacting to her. Stop caring about her past. After all, he’d just gotten out of a bad «relationship» and didn’t need to endure another. Plus, that’s what had happened the last time he’d left her. He’d left, and all the torment had stopped. Granted, his reactions hadn’t been quite as strong back then, but there was no reason to think this time would be any different.

  «So where are we going?» Kaia asked no one in particular.

  «Nowhere,» Strider replied.

  «To kill Gilly’s family,» William answered easily.

  Strider needed to have a chat with the man. You didn’t undermine your friends. It was worse than cock-blocking.

  Kaia tossed Strider a shut-your-mouth frown before bouncing in her seat. «Do I get to help? Please! Can I? You may not know this, but I’m very handy with a blade of any kind, a hacksaw, a whip, a—"

  «Hey! Someone went through my bag,» William said.

  «So?» Kaia continued, as if William hadn’t spoken. «Whatever the weapon, I’m good with it.»

  He would not be impressed. «We won’t be using weapons. We’ll be smashing jugulars.»

  «Oh, oh! We can play Who Can Smash More!»

  «No, we can’t because you can’t help,» Strider said at the same time William blurted out, «I’d be disappointed if you didn’t help.»

  Kaia hmphed at him.

  «Just try not to destroy the entire neighborhood,» he snapped. Nobody listened to him anymore.

  Slitted eyes returned to him. There was no hint of black in the whites, so he knew her Harpy was under control. «Why are you so grouchy?»

  «I’m not grouchy. Only women are grouchy.»

  «You’re grouchy,» William said.

  «You’re grouchy,» Strider said. Realizing he sounded like a child, he leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees, his face in his upraised hands. What the hell
was wrong with him?

  William snickered at him. Kaia simply continued to watch him, her expression unreadable.

  «Well, grouchy or not, Stridey,» she said, «I have news that will cheer you up.»

  Leaning forward had been a dumb move. The scent of cinnamon and sugar was stronger now, enveloping him, making his mouth water. Would Kaia taste as delicious as she smelled?

  Suddenly she stiffened. «You smell like a woman’s peach-flavored body oil.»

  Did he? He thought back to the stripper he’d had on his lap at Paris’s ranch, and yep, he remembered smelling peaches. Kaia must have hated peaches, though, because she was obviously planning to murder the maker of that oil.

  «I. Will. Destroy. You.» And yep, black now bled into the white of her eyes. Her nails had already lengthened and sharpened into claws, and those claws were embedded in the plastic console between the driver and passenger seat. Hello, raging beast.

  Mental note: never eat peaches in front of Kaia.

  Win? Defeat said on a trembling breath, the question having nothing to do with uncertainty this time, and everything to do with being cowed.

  Yeah. Good luck with that, buddy. She’ll eat you for lunch and spit out your scales. «I’ll wash, okay.» Strider jerked upright, as far away from her heavenly aroma as he could get. «And just so you know, I don’t care about your news.»

  «I cannot kill him,» she muttered to herself. «I cannot kill him. I promised Bianka I’d stop at ten bodies a day, and I’ve already surpassed my quota for the fifth day in a row. I cannot kill him.»

  As far as pep talks went, that one kind of blew. But it calmed her, the black in her eyes fading and those claws receding.

  Strider peered out the window, willing to count the trees that whizzed by rather than peer at that too-pretty face. «Now listen up, buttercup. Stri-Stri is going to take a little nappie-poo. Everyone hush their big, fat mouths.» Better to be bored pretending to snooze than accidentally piss Kaia off again.

  «Fine. Sleep.» All kinds of irritation layered her husky voice. She wasn’t squawking, though, which was another excellent sign that the danger had passed. «Just know that while you’re catching up on your much needed beauty rest, you’ll miss my story about how many Hunters I bagged and tagged this week.»