Trina M. Lee

by Alexa O'Brien Huntress Series Book 1-4 Box Set (Retail)

  She considered it, her brow furrowed in thought. “There’s a huge chance she’ll never see it, but I don’t see any other way to let her know we’re looking for her. Can’t hurt to try.”

  “Do you want me to run it out there?” Julian offered. He had a carefully constructed poker face, as if he were resisting the sneer that came naturally to him.

  I shook my head. “No. But, thank you. I appreciate the offer. I’ll do it. Maybe if she catches my scent she’ll know it’s legit. A strange male scent could scare her off.”

  “Alright,” Julian nodded and shifted in his seat. “So what if we do come across this Dylan guy? What then? Beat his ass?”

  “That would be ideal, but it could also be a bad move. I don’t know much about this guy. I do know that he’s an Alpha, and he’s likely super pissed after finding out I took out one of his wolves.” I fell silent, my mind turning over several possible scenarios. None of them was appealing.

  Ky disappeared into the kitchen. I could hear her rummaging around in a drawer. She returned with a pen and paper. “Hopefully it doesn’t snow too hard or anything before she comes across it. If she even does. Sorry, I don’t have anything waterproof on hand.”

  I scrawled a fast note with nothing more than Zoey’s name, a brief note stating I needed to speak with her immediately and then my own name. It was a total shot in the dark.

  “If either of you see Dylan or his buddy, don’t take them on,” I said. “I don’t trust them. They’ll be ruthless and hell bent on getting what they came here for. Call Shaz or me immediately, and get out of the situation if possible. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

  “Except me, right?” It was Julian’s attempt at a joke.

  Forced to think about it, the idea really didn’t sit well with me. “Actually, as appealing as it may sound to hurt you myself, I really don’t like the idea of anyone else getting their hands on any of my wolves. Even you.”

  I stared at the note in my hand. The thought of trotting along through the forest beyond Ky’s backyard with the paper clutched in my muzzle like Lassie didn’t impress me. Ten minutes later, I was disrobing on her patio to do just that.

  Kylarai slid the glass patio door shut to give us some privacy. Julian remained right where we’d left him, in front of the television. She tucked a lock of brown hair behind one ear and fixed me with a look I knew well.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s up, Lex? You have this strange tension that I don’t think has anything to do with these wolves. Am I wrong?”

  Our little pack mother always seemed to know when we needed that parental push. It was sweet. It was also impossible to lie or withhold the truth when she was looking at me like that.

  “No, you’re not wrong.” I sighed and handed her the note to hold until I was in wolf form. “It’s Arys. I went to see Harley last night, and he was waiting for me when I came out. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. We went our separate ways, and he hasn’t been home since.”

  Kylarai looked confused as she processed my words. “But what about sunrise? He just never came back in time?”

  “I’m not sure where he ended up. I do know that he never came home, and that he’s blocked me from reaching him telepathically. So, I guess that’s that.”

  “What do you mean? You’re just going to let him shut you out without an explanation?”

  “No. I don’t know what to do. If I can’t speak with him, my hands are kind of tied.”

  I glanced back into the house to make sure Julian was still in the living room before slipping out of the last of my clothes. I handed those to Ky, who never stopped frowning.

  “You’re bound to him, of course you can find him. Either way, he should know that shutting you out for now has no effect on your link to one another in the long run. He can’t avoid you forever.”

  I nodded, forcing back the wave of emotion that threatened me. I didn’t want to feel or think about anything right now other than reaching out to Zoey.

  “I know, Ky. We’ll sort it out. Eventually.”

  The snow and ice was cold against the bottom of my bare feet as I descended the patio steps to the snow covered lawn below. Ky followed, pausing on the bottom step. Embracing the change, it washed over me, a warm wave of pure, wolf energy. By the time my hands touched the ground, they were paws. The change happened fast, smoother every time. It had once been painful, but it no longer burned as my body re-knit itself. It felt like a blissful release.

  Kylarai held the note so that I could take it in my mouth and off I went through the open back gate. I felt beyond silly trotting along across the farmer’s field to the forest beyond. At least nobody could see me but Ky.

  It didn’t take long to reach the edge of the forest. I wound my way in amongst the trees, scenting the air for any sign of Zoey. Nothing. Most of the forest’s inhabitants were hidden in their burrows or tree top homes, secure and slumbering for the night. My nocturnal counterparts consisted mainly of rodents and owls. The scurry of tiny feet could be heard as the field mice detected my approach.

  I continued until I reached the place where I had run into Zoey myself a few months back. Dropping the note lightly on top of the snow, I shifted back into human form. Making the change so soon after becoming wolf was incredibly difficult for brand new Weres. For me, it consisted of little more than some muscle cramps and bone aches that would soon diminish.

  Picking up the note, I glanced around for a good spot to secure it. I chose a tree with some limbs low to the ground. With a twig, I poked a small hole in the note in order to slide it fully onto the lowest skinny branch I could find. It was easier said than done. I needed it to be at eye height for a wolf. Of course, that was if she even found it. Even if she did, I had no way of knowing what kind of state she was in mentally. Hopefully, she would still understand it.

  When I was sure that it was as safe and secure as I could possibly make it, I shifted back into wolf and made my way back to Ky’s house. I instantly wished Shaz were with me. Being out beneath the stars with my white wolf at my side was something I really needed right then. As it was, being out there all alone made me feel very small and insignificant.

  I felt a strong sense of relief upon re-entering Kylarai’s backyard. It had been quite some time since I’d truly felt lonely, but in that moment, I felt it stronger than ever.

  It ate at me that I had no idea what Arys was up to or where he was. The side of me that was hurt and saddened wanted nothing more than to seek him out. The night was fading away, and I knew it wouldn’t be worth it to start searching for him now. Where would I even begin?

  It bothered me much more than I cared to admit. I felt like nothing was in my control. It never had been.

  As far as I knew, Shaz was heading to his own place after work unless I asked him to come over. It was tempting, but I felt like some time alone may be best. I needed to organize my thoughts and decide what to do about everything I was facing.

  All I really wanted to do was go home and crawl into bed though I wasn’t sure that sleep would ever come. I hadn’t had the slightest hint of regret regarding my decision to blood bond myself to Arys. Now, I wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter Eleven

  It was noon when I first ventured up the stairs from my basement bedroom. After returning home from Kylarai’s, I’d tossed and turned fitfully until I finally gave up on sleep and read a book all night. It did little to quiet the insanity running laps inside my mind.

  The first blast of sunshine through the living room window burned my eyes. They instantly began to water, and I blinked furiously. It stung like a bitch. The touch of the sun caused my skin to tingle almost painfully.

  I stumbled into the bathroom, nearly blind from the tears running from my eyes. I closed the door and turned on the light. It was like instant relief from the agony of the sun. I wasn’t a vampire, not yet anyway. This was totally unfair.

  I wiped my eyes with my hands, not at all surprised to see that my tears were tinged red. T
hey’d been bloodier than this though. Washing my face with cool water, I waited until the pain in my head subsided. The burning of my eyes had caused an instant headache.

  My hands shook as I splashed the cold water on my face, and I felt faint. I focused on taking deep breaths. It had been a while since I’d felt this bad. In fact, even when Arys and I had first bonded our power, the results didn’t make me feel this bad. My stomach cramped and rolled. For a moment, I thought I was going to be sick. It had to have something to do with him shutting me out. I was sure it was his absence causing the strong vampire reaction in me. I hated it.

  Leaving the bathroom was just as painful. Squeezing my eyes shut against the bright light, I rushed back down the stairs into the sanctity of my bedroom. I didn’t come up again until the sun had descended in the sky.

  After a brief phone call with Shaz, I got ready to leave the house. I had one destination in mind. Good or bad, I didn’t care. I was going to The Wicked Kiss. I wanted to see if Harley knew of Arys’s whereabouts. If not, maybe he could help me pinpoint it. This disappearing act of his was getting old fast. I was more than over it.

  Dressed in a long black skirt that flowed softly around my legs and a deep red corset of the softest velvet, I looked much better than I felt. I wore smoky grey eyeliner and blush to mask the paleness of my skin. It didn’t work, but it was an attempt. Using bobby pins, I secured my hair up with several loose tendrils falling down my back. I figured if I didn’t find Arys tonight, then at least I knew he was missing out.

  I didn’t tell anyone where I was going, not even Shaz. I didn’t want him to worry. Instead, I left him a note in case he stopped by after work and found that I wasn’t home. Even though I didn’t want to, I stopped by Arys’s house again, hoping against hope that maybe he would be there. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find that he still hadn’t made his way home, but I was. The disappointment was heavy and painful.

  Why was he doing this? Was it just to punish me or was this something bigger than that? I was starting to get the feeling that Arys had issues that I had never been aware of. Whatever they were, I’d pushed him over the edge.

  I didn’t go through the back door when I got to The Wicked Kiss. It didn’t feel right. It was creepy and unwelcoming. It wasn’t as if I were a VIP member or anything. So I strode through the front door of the club with only one thing on my mind: to get to the bottom of this mess with Arys. By avoiding me, he was only making matters worse for both of us.

  There was no hesitation when I pulled the doors open. The bouncer at the door didn’t stop me, as he once had, to ensure that I wasn’t carrying any kind of weaponry. I breezed by him, ignoring the girl next to him at the cash register, who stared after me with shock when I didn’t pay the cover.

  The lobby was in a quiet little hall, separated from the main club area by a set of double doors. Once I yanked those doors open, the loud music and myriad of scents hit me. I paused, momentarily hesitant. I drew a substantial amount of attention right away, most of it from the vampires that mingled amongst the human patrons, seeking their next willing victim.

  Lucky me, most of them knew who I was and didn’t bother to approach or harass me. The one vampire that did have the balls to wave hello from his place buttering up a blonde across the room was Shawn. He’d helped me out once when I was here looking for Kale, and because of that, he was on a safe list that many others would never be on. He was under my protection, and therefore Arys’s. I knew I could count on him to come through for me in the future if it was needed, which could be soon at the rate I was going.

  My instinct was to charge straight for the heavy black curtain near the bar that led to the back rooms. I moved slowly though, not wanting to rush through like a total maniac. I surveyed the room as I went, my gaze landing on Kale at a nearby table.

  I shouldn’t have found it surprising to find him there, yet it caught me off guard. He sat next to a young brunette, holding her hand as he pressed his lips to her wrist. His head snapped up suddenly, and his mismatched eyes fixed on me.

  Something like alarm flashed across his face. With a brief word to the woman with him, he was on his feet and headed my way. I raised an eyebrow in question when he crossed the distance much faster than I felt was necessary. My suspicions were immediately raised.

  “Alexa? What the hell are you doing here?” Kale came to a stop directly in front of me, blocking my view of most of the club along with the back room entrance.

  “I’m not allowed in here? It’s a public place.” I had to look up to meet his eyes because of his close proximity. “What’s going on anyway? Why are you so jumpy? I didn’t come to drag you out this time. Feel free to continue whatever it is you’re doing.” I waved a hand dismissively, indicating the table where he’d been sitting.

  He shook his head, and a sudden sense of dread hit me. Kale knew something.

  “Please, trust me when I tell you that you need to leave. You just … really shouldn’t be here right now.”

  “What the fuck is going on? You know something. I know you do.” I started to shove past him, and his firm grip on my shoulders stopped me. That confirmed it. “Get out of my way, Kale. I want to see Harley.”

  “I can’t let you do that.” His tone held a deadly calm that almost frightened me. His hold on me tightened ever so slightly.

  My wolf wasn’t happy with his dominating action. However, a part of me found it to be delightfully intriguing. Kale was hungry for more than one thing. I could taste it in his energy. Though my instinct was to react aggressively, I held my temper in check.

  “Why not? I don’t give a damn if he’s busy. Get out of my way before I move you out of my way.”

  “Do it then,” he challenged. “I’m trying to stop you from making a big mistake here. You don’t want to do this.”

  I shook my head and stared deep into him until he began to look uneasy. “What I don’t want to do, Kale, is this.”

  The power went out from me, straight into him. The fact that he was physically touching me made it that much stronger. I didn’t want to hurt him, but to some degree, I had to. He was starting to become a real pain in the ass.

  When Kale stumbled back a few feet, I completely expected it. What I didn’t expect was the grin that spread across his features and the arousal that his energy oozed. Damn vampires. They were always so unpredictable.

  Rather than give him a chance to come at me, I shoved by him and almost ran to the black curtain. I could feel him hot on my heels, and I poured on the speed. The bartender looked up in surprise when I flew by him, through the curtain. When he saw Kale in pursuit of me, he shrugged and turned back to the line of customers.

  “Alexa, stop!” Kale’s voice rang out behind me. I sprinted down the red-carpeted hall. The door to Harley’s room was far but in my sights.

  I ran straight into a wall of energy, thick and pulsating. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Arys. He was here. My gut had already known it, but my head didn’t want to see. I couldn’t deny it now. I could feel his power running high and hot like it was crawling all over me, through me.

  If it had belonged to anyone else, it would have crippled me. As it was, this power was a part of me. It sought to draw me in, and that’s when I felt Harley’s energy running at a high frequency, mingled in with Arys’s. It was weaker than the power Arys commanded. Our union had given him strength greater than that his own sire possessed. Harley had been right when he said I held more power than he did. I hadn’t been able to feel it then.

  Kale came to a halt beside me but kept his distance. “Don’t go in there, Alexa. Trust me on this. You don’t want to be here right now.”

  “Why not?” I whispered, my voice low and near inaudible.

  He said nothing, merely shaking his head solemnly. Kale’s pity was not something I wanted. The closed door before me was nothing but a minor barrier. It would be so easy to see what was on the other side. I knew already in my very soul that it was bad. Really bad. Yet, I cou
ldn’t walk away blind.

  I could have stormed into the room like a raging bull. I could have even tossed a blast of power at it and blown it right off the hinges. What I did was take slow, steady steps until my hand wrapped around the doorknob. I didn’t think. I just shoved the door open, revealing a scene that I’d only seen inside my mind when afflicted with memories belonging to Arys.

  For a moment, my brain didn’t fully process what I was seeing. I could feel Kale at my back, bracing for my reaction. I struggled to make sense of what played out before my eyes.

  All of the action in the room was happening on the king size bed. The scent of blood was heavy and the power ran so high that it was almost suffocating. It had to be why they hadn’t sensed my approach.

  Arys and Harley each hovered over the relaxed form of a dark haired woman. Her wrists were bound, but she didn’t struggle, not anymore anyway. She was completely nude, and they were both clad in little more than silk lounge pants. Arys’s fangs were buried deep in her throat, his hands, lost in her thick tresses. Harley crouched between her legs, delving into her pink folds with both fingers and mouth. My stomach turned, and the bile rose in my throat.

  I stood frozen as my heart dropped, unable to look away. I barely felt Kale’s cool hand on my arm. This is what Arys had been doing? He blocked me out so that he could revisit his past with Harley, and from what I could see, he was enjoying it.

  The shock hit me, and it felt like time had stopped. When Harley lifted his head and looked at me, reality really hit home. His smile was pure evil. He didn’t appear to be all that affected by my presence in his suite.

  “I knew you’d come,” he purred in a low, seductive lilt.

  I hated him. I hated every single fiber of his being. He loved this moment. A part of me wanted to crawl onto that bed with them, to taste that rich human blood they were spilling. Knowing that side of me was linked to Harley through Arys made my blood boil.