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."
He laughs lightly while shaking his head. "I promise I won't. I'm not in a hurry this time."
That brings me back to the night he was in a hurry. He shuts the door to my side, and almost as quickly, he's climbing into his seat. As he cranks the car, I decide to probe for the answers to the questions that I've had since I first started reading Amy's journals.
He pulls out of the driveway, cautiously checking his mirrors as if he's mocking my concern for safety. I can't help but enjoy his playful side, but I have to remind myself it's his deadly side that worries me.
"Why does Amy believe you're meant for her? Sierra thinks the same thing, and I realize it's the whole bond between lycan and night stalker, but she's determined you're meant for her. What if she's right?"
He sighs out, not seeming particularly thrilled about my question. "Whoa. I wasn't expecting that." He turns out onto another road, and then he gasses it lightly, showing respect for my earlier request. "I'm not meant for Amy. You have no idea how sick I am of telling everyone that. Please don't make me start with you. It's gotten to where I don't even want to go back home because of Sierra and her."
I lean back, turning on my side so I can watch his face as he speaks, searching for any sign of a lie or uncertainty. So far, he seems honest.
"So, how is it that she's so certain you are, and you're so certain you're not?"
He puts his blinker on and pulls up to stop at the curb on the side of the road. As he turns to face me, his eyes are that perfect emerald green I fell in love with.
"Because I've never once felt anything but brotherly toward her. It's not like Deke and Sierra, but Amy is desperately grasping for someone to care about her. She's gone through a lot, and for a while, I tolerated her bullshit simply because I felt sorry for her. She continues to take each kind gesture as something more. Sierra is like her alpha. She is protective, nurturing, and maternal toward her. It's in their nature to side together. Pack mentality and all.
"I've never once felt toward anyone the way I feel toward you, and I'm perfectly capable of deciding who I am and who I am not meant to be with. I don't ever want you to view me the way I view Amy, so I try not to press you too hard, but, Alyssa, you feel it, too. I see it in your eyes when you look at me the way you're looking at me right now. You're young and confused. I understand that, too. But I'm not leaving your side until I know for sure you won't be mine."
My heart sings and cries out for him, but my mind keeps restraining it. He turns to face the road again, but before he can push it into gear, something happens. We're frozen almost instantly, and I hear Kane gasping for air.
I can't move anything on my body until I push forth with all my strength, feeling an invisible fabric tearing as I slip over onto Kane's lap and slam the car in drive.
"What the hell?" he strains out.
"It's her. She's trying to make one of us her third victim."
It's not an easy task to drive while in someone's lap, but the farther away I get us, the less I feel the pressure of her attack. I feel Kane's arms slipping around me as he pulls me to the side and takes over the wheel.
I'm still partially in his lap, as he takes back over the pedals, and I feel my stomach try to come up in my throat as he slingshots us around a curve, making me cling to him to keep from flopping around in the car.
"How did you fight that?" he asks as we round another deadly curve. "I could barely breathe. That wasn't a human witch's power; that was a spirit's force. You shouldn't be able to withstand or overcome something like that."
He almost sounds panicked right now. If that little bit of extra power scares him, he can never understand who I really am.
"And you said you wouldn't freak out over all my secrets, yet here you are freaking out over something as simple as fighting off a holding power."
"A crushing power, Alyssa. Not a holding power. You hardly even stumbled. I felt my chest caving in on me. I'm not freaking out, I'm just shocked. Possibly a little impressed. More than anything, I'm scared to damn death about how close I just came to having to watch a spirit rip you to shreds."
I frown as I lean into him. "Drackus would save me before she could do it. Either him or Mom would. I need to call him."
The car skids to a halt, and his arm wraps around me to keep me from flying through the windshield as the tires screech out their agony.
"He's your father," Kane says in a barely audible whisper.
I suppose I gave it away just then with the way I spoke. I turn to face his wide-eyed face, and I nod just the slightest bit to confirm his fears. His head drops back, and I climb over into the passenger seat and fasten my seatbelt as he puts the car back in gear and speeds away.
"It all makes so much more sense now. That's what you've been afraid to tell me. That's why you're involved with so many dark. And that's why he came to save you from Castine. Holy shit."
"Kane, I know you're probably terrified of me right now, and I know you more than likely want me out of your life, but you can't tell anyone about this. His enemies would use me as a bargaining chip. The things they would do-"
"Alyssa! Damn it! I'm not going to say a fucking thing, and I can't believe you think I would."
I slink back, feeling a little scolded. A tear slips free from my eye as we slide into the hotel parking lot. I start to get out, but he jerks me to him, pulling me into his lap before his lips find mine.
I'm shocked by the fiery kiss, considering that's the last thing I ever expected from him again. More of my tears fall, and he collects them with his thumb as he pulls back, leaving me breathless.
"I don't want you out of my life... ever. I'm not scared of you at all. I'm pretty fucking scared of your dad, but that's a typical guy reaction to any girl's dad."
I start laughing through my sniffling, and he pulls me to him, letting my head rest on his chest as he kisses me through my hair.
"Absolutely no one from my coven will ever hear about this from me. I assume Dray knows."
I nod, flinching lightly. "He made a deal with Drackus to keep an eye on me as long as my father didn't touch you. He was a little pissed when he thought you were playing games with your prey."
Kane swallows hard, nodding at nothing in particular. "That all makes so much more sense now as well. Dray jumped my ass every time I said something to you. He was worried I would go too far, I suppose, and then you would tell your father to just do it."
"I'd never-"
"I know, but Dray doesn't know you like I do. I wish you had trusted me with this, Alyssa."
"I haven't ever trusted anyone with this. Mom told Frankie and some of her people, and Dad told some of his most trusted group. This is the closest I've ever come to telling anyone."
"How did you keep this a secret? Everyone knew Drackus and Calypso had a daughter. How did you keep them from finding out it was you?"
Steadying my breath, I answer, "Mom prepared for that. She knew the day would come where she might have to fake my death, but she planned on raising her daughter. So, when she learned she was pregnant, she and Drackus told the councils they were separated. A few months later, she announced she was pregnant. She made herself look like a total slut when she told them she didn't know the guy's name.
"She named that child Alyssa Coldwell on paper, but no one ever met me. Then she returned home to be with my dad. After she had me, she announced another pregnancy - a false pregnancy. Airis Devall was the child everyone knew Drackus to have. My dad still calls me that name.
"The councils got restless when they weren't allowed to meet me. It's only mandated that a child born from immortals be registered, not seen. Mom had been right to be suspicious about all the enemies that might come out and seek justice by using me against them. I spent almost ten years confined to the house, never going anywhere.
"Then Mom left Drackus; said she couldn't do it anymore. He's not exactly the nicest guy, as you're well aware. We moved in with one of my mother's best friends, Shay, and she trusted only her with our secret. The rest of the coven knew me as the first daughter, Alyssa. Aunt Hilly came to visit some, but no one else. I became Alyssa Coldwell, and Airis Devall stayed with Drackus... so to speak.
"Early on, at the age of ten, shortly after my parents' true separation, an opportunity presented itself to kill Airis Devall forever. I was attacked, but it was a young, weak night stalker. At ten, I killed him myself. But no one knew, and Airis Devall had the chance to die.
"At seventeen, Alyssa Coldwell almost died as well. A night stalker had been tipped off. Someone told him I was a witch, and he hunted me until he found his chance to strike, and it was brutal. Any other mortal witch would have probably died, but the strength my parents' blood offered gave me the extra time I needed to be saved.
"Mom disguised the scar with Aunt Hilly's help. No one knew about the attack or how close I came to dying. Then Alyssa lived on, and Drackus never even came to check on me.
"I've never looked back. I all but cut Drackus out of my life. The first night stalker who attacked me had been hexed by someone who was an ally to Drackus. He wanted vengeance. The second one wanted vengeance as well. I don't know how he knew who I was, but he did. Drackus had done something to his coven. I never got the details - never really needed them. It was enough to know Drackus would only ever bring me harm. Until this whole ordeal with Castine, I hadn't spoken to him since I was ten."
He brushes my hair from my cheek, his green eyes burning into mine. He isn't even looking at me any differently. How is that possible?
"Airis, eh? I sort of like it."
I laugh lightly, considering that's not even close to being what I expected him to say.
"Well, don't get used to it. Airis is dead - as far as everyone's concerned. Besides, Airis is the name that ties me to Drackus's darkness. I prefer the light. Alyssa is all you get."
His eyebrows cock up as a sweet smile floats across his lips. "So I get Alyssa? Sounds good."
I shake my head, feeling foolish for my wording. "That's not what I meant. Let's go in before they send out a search party."
"I suppose that would give new meaning to a witch hunt."
I laugh involuntarily, and he snickers, too, as he pulls me to him, keeping his arm over my shoulders as we head toward the lobby. This feels so much like it did when we were together, but I'm more relaxed now than I ever was then.
That's so stupid. I'm more relaxed now that I know he's a night stalker? Sheesh.
I'm comfortable with Kane, more so than I thought possible after the rude awakening, but I'm also comfortable with Gage. Both of them are extraordinary in their own ways.
We enter the lobby, making everyone think we're a happy couple as Kane keeps me close to him. I'm cold, so it's nice to have an immortal's warmth. Then something strikes me as we get on the elevator.
"Isolis was cold to the touch, freezing actually. Why? How?"
His lips tighten.
"Too much witch's blood. I've seen it happen before. If a night stalker starts living primarily on the blood of a witch, he or she suffers the frosty touch. How much did he touch you?"
I shiver, making Kane tense. "Enough to know I'm glad Dice showed up when he did."
As the numbers start ticking up, carrying us to the fifth floor, Kane surprises me with his random turn of conversation.
"What's going to happen when Gage shows back up? Are you going to be with him even though it feels so right to be with me?"
My stomach twists and turns like an agitator in an old washing machine. I dread finding out what the answer to that will be. Fortunately, I don't have to voice my concern because the doors to the elevator open, revealing a smirking Dice.
"I assumed the lot of you would be a few minutes longer," he teases, his odd English accent irking me.
"Where are you from?" I ask curiously.
"Up north, though I couldn't give you an exact state. There weren't states then. Why?"
"Your accent... it's different. It's almost like I'm listening to an old movie."
"Ah, well, that's because you should have asked when am I from as opposed to where. To answer that, I'll just let your imagination wander. Not all of us are too keen on giving away such intimate details."
I laugh lightly as he gives me a wink, but Kane just rolls his eyes at the flirty incubus. He pulls me toward the room where Zee is standing in the hallway, waiting on us.
"What's going on?" Kane asks.
"The human girl was here. We found her stuff, but we can't find any pictures. We did, however, find plenty of things we can use to track her. Sierra and Amy are almost here."
Kane frowns, looking down to me, and I shrug. It's not like he has to apologize for them. It's not his fault the two are such bitches to me.
"The spirit tried to hold us. We think the witch was after one or both of us this time," Kane says, sighing in exasperation. "It's strong to have such power without a body."
"How the hell did you get out of that?" Dice asks, falling over himself to come and stand in front of Kane.
Kane does well not to look at me and give it away. "We drove like hell. Where's Dray?"
"He's doing some of his dark angel mumbo-jumbo, trying to get a glimpse of this girl by using some of her personal things," Zee murmurs.
Suddenly, the two lycan girls are walking toward us. Sierra's auburn ringlets are bouncing, though I think lycans should have to bear dark hair like the rest of the dark entities.
Amy's midnight black hair is illuminated slightly by the glow of the moonlight beaming down on her. The orange in her eyes flickers as she sees me, and Kane's arm slides protectively around my waist.
Amy growls low in her throat, her upper lip twitching into a snarl, and Kane's eyes flash blue to warn her off. I'd almost like to kiss him right now just to piss her off.
Yes. I'm that frigging bitchy at this point.
I lean into him instead, which forces a wry grin to pop up on his lips, and his tame, green eyes come back to rest over the blue.
"Stop with the territorial growling out here," Dray grumbles, tossing a shirt bearing the witch's scent to Sierra. "Let's find our human witch."