Chapter 11
Gage
My hands actually hurt from wringing them so much. I hate being around that fucking night stalker who can't keep his hands off my girl. I'm sick of this. I need my proof, and this had better be it.
"It's about time you showed up," the dark voice charms from the distance.
"This had better not be a waste of my time," I growl, looking toward the shadows in search of my mother.
"I told you I'd find it," she says, stepping out to be where I can see her.
Any help she offers will come at a price, but I'll gladly pay it if this is what I need to make Alyssa see I'm the one she's meant to be with.
Mother holds up a scroll that looks tattered and beaten, but the glimmer of magic that shimmers over the surface proves it's legitimate and not a forged piece of uselessness. My heartbeat quickens, as do my steps, and I snatch it out of her hand, careful not to let the old scroll tear during the hasty exchange.
My heartbeat pounds in my ears, making me tingle with anticipation. I almost leap in the air when I see each and every bit of promise being delivered, just as I knew it would if I ever found the whole prophecy. Elation fills me. Finally—fucking finally.
I look up, dreading the price, but I ask, "What's this going to cost me? And where did you find it?"
Her lips pucker as though she's offended, but it's more mocking than sincere.
"Can't a mother do something nice for her son without there being a price?"
I scoff, "Only if there's a hidden agenda."
She pouts, but it's exaggerated and still taunting, as opposed to authentic. Crazy bitch. She has an angle, but I don't know what it is.
"No price, Gage. Go get your girl and keep her from destroying the world. This benefits me, seeing as I'll live. It's not as if you or Drackus will let me kill her."
If you know her, then you know that had the underlining promise of a threat in there. My blood almost literally boils from my surging anger.
"You come anywhere close to her, and I'll—"
"Oh, stop with the theatrics," she murmurs dryly in interruption while waving a dismissive hand in the air. "I would have tried by now if I was going to."
I still don't even know how she found out about Alyssa, but I'm sure I don't want to know either. My mother's magic is dark and powerful. There's no telling what force she tapped into in order to break free those secrets.
"You know," she says, sounding bored, "you should have just used the spell I gave you."
I almost roll my eyes. That spell affected me more than it did Alyssa.
"I did. It only ever amplified her feelings of lust, not love."
She sighs out, seeming annoyed. "Because you let her stay around that damn night stalker. Her bond to him was stronger than that spell. Even after you severed the bond, she still remained too close to the first man she loved. He has to be out of the picture. Then the spell will work."
I know what she's implying, but I won't do it. I hate Kane—loathe the fucker. But I won't kill him. I don't kill without having a justifiable reason to do so. Not to mention, it would destroy Alyssa.
"There are some lines I won't cross, Mother. I'm not having this conversation again."
She murmurs something about me being a foolish bastard, and I restrain the power desperate to break free so it can slash into her. I really hate this bitch.
"There are things to come, son. You should do what you have to before she destroys you and everyone else. If you get the chance to tear her away from the night stalker, then use the spell again. He doesn't have to be dead. He just has to be gone."
She starts to walk away, leaving me to glare at her back.
"I've got the proof now. She'll leave him. She'll want to do what's right."
Her movement stops, and from within the shadows, she turns back, letting her eyes flicker with a spark of fire.
"It won't be enough. You've waited too long. You'll have to pry her away from him, because she's too far gone to care as much as she used to."
With that, she vaporizes, leaving nothing but the echo of a breeze swishing in her wake.
Alyssa isn't too far gone. She'll leave him. She'll learn to love me without a spell. We're meant to be together, and now I can prove it. Finally.
When I materialize inside the house, I hear the laughter coming from Kane's room. They'd spend all day in the bedroom if they could. I'm sick of it. Sick of them being together when she belongs to me.
The duster is idly flipping through the pages of a book, Dice is doing push-ups on the floor, and Amy is warily watching the duster, keeping her eyes trained on him like he's going to attack at any moment.
"That's getting annoying," Chaz says, not looking up from his pages.
"Then leave," Amy snarls, earning a grin from the unfazed duster.
"It'll take more than that to get rid of me, wild girl."
She growls, a lycan growl, but he ignores her, acting as though she doesn't bother him in the least.
"I need to speak with Alyssa," I say to the blond man still ignoring the snarling lycan.
He looks up and tilts his head. "And? You want me to fetch her for you? No way. I'm not going in there."
My stomach churns with disgust, and I barely fight back the urge to double over. I shouldn't have used that spell. Never should have trusted my bitch mother. It's hurting me more everyday because my feelings only grow, while Alyssa's only taper off.
"Just get her."
Dice stands up and cracks his neck to the side. "I'll get her."
Leave it to the incubus to enjoy interrupting sex. I'd punch him in the face if he wasn't useful right now. I hate that guy.
I step outside for some quick air. I'm constantly having to vaporize away from the two of them. It physically hurts me to see them touch. I hope this ends it all and brings her back to me. I'll never lose her again.
When I step back inside, Alyssa and Kane are on the couch, both looking disheveled. My hands fist at my sides, my teeth grind together, but I do my best not to disappear. I have to talk to her, and he'll never let me do it without him glued to her side. He's smarter than I was. I shouldn't have ever left her alone with him. I won't be so fucking stupid next time. Fuck the Somage. Things change—starting now.
I hold the scroll like the lifeline I've been needing, but the look Alyssa gives me lacks any warmth or hope at all. She could care less about me. He's destroying her soul by planting so much doubt in her head. As bad as I hate to admit it, my mother is right. He has to go.
"What's this about?" Kane asks, sounding irritated.
Alyssa leans into him, like she always fucking does, and he wraps his arm around her shoulders. When he leans down to kiss her head, I end the suspense and toss the scroll to his lap.
"What's this?" he asks as Alyssa leans over to read it with him.
I ignore the tears forming in her eyes, deny the pain the right to fester in my heart, and I look away when she whimpers in fear for having to be with me. She has no idea how much that fucking hurts.