Chapter 9
Alyssa
There's nothing worse than waking up with a vicious headache while the sun blares through the wall of windows in the room. I know what my first housewarming gift to Kane will be—curtains.
A hushed but heated argument is going on just outside the door, and I climb out of bed to listen. I scoop my robe up from the floor and tie it into place as I strain my hearing to hone in on the exact words being shared.
"I won't fucking do it. If you try to put her in a cage, I'll rip your head off your shoulders!" Kane yells in a whisper.
"Do you really think I want to do this?" Gage says a little louder, his tone incredulous. "I have been searching for anything at all to avoid this, but I can't find a better solution."
"Kane," Deke grumbles, keeping his voice lower than Gage did, "he's right. Do you think I like locking Sierra up? I hate it. It makes me feel sick to my stomach every time I lock that door, but we both know it has to be done. The red moon is dangerous to anyone with an animal-related creature inside them. Alyssa has all of them, making her all the more dangerous."
I swallow hard. It's me they want to lock up. Was it that bad? Are they all that scared of what I'll do? I can't blame them, I suppose. I'm scared of what I'll do.
"No! This discussion is over!" Kane hisses.
I frown as I use my magic to clothe myself with some of the few things I have in my bag. They're right. I need to be caged like all the other beasts in the fey world. It's a sobering reality I never thought I'd have to face. I'm paying penance for my past judgments on others. Karma really is a bitch.
I step out, startling them all into guilty silence when they quickly realize I've overheard. Kane shakes his head the second he reads my eyes.
"No," he asserts, refusing to budge on his stance before I even deliver my argument.
"Kane, they're right. If this is happening because of the red moon, it's too risky. It's not like it's every night. I'll be fine in a cage for a few nights here and there."
Gage looks down, probably feeling like an ass for wanting to lock me up, but I understand. I'm dangerous. I'm even more dangerous than all the deadly beauties I've condemned over the years. It's a fitting punishment for my small-minded ways.
"I said no, Alyssa," Kane barks, walking away from me as he heads into the kitchen.
I sigh as I follow, leaving Gage and Deke in the living room. Kane is pouring a cup of coffee when I walk around the small dividing wall. He turns and holds his hand up before I can speak.
"Don't. You can't make me lock you in a cage. I won't do it. Would you do it to me?"
My heart folds over itself a few times to think of such an option, but he's not dangerous like I am—frigging irony.
"If you were worried you'd do something you'd never forgive yourself for because you couldn't control yourself, then yes—I'd do it if you asked me to."
His eyes soften as all the defensive hardness washes away. He looks so torn right now, struggling to find a better way. There isn't one.
"I... Alyssa, I can't. I can't lock you up and watch you struggle to get free. You're not like Sierra or Amy. You won't be in changed form. You'll be you—just—not you," he murmurs, confusing both of us. "What I mean is you'll still be in your form, you just won't be in control. I'll hear you beg me to let you go, and I won't be able to deny you no matter what you're capable of."
Tension and weariness taints the sigh I release. I know I'm putting him in a terrible situation. I don't know what I'm like because I can't remember anything. It's all so—crazy.
"You told me I took your blood last night, Kane. I was a night stalker. That freaks me out, mostly because I can't remember a second of it. Who knows what else I can do? I sure as hell don't, and I don't want some poor, unsuspecting human to meet me when I'm like that. The only way to ensure that won't happen is to lock me up. Don't think of it as hurting me; think of it as saving me. You're good at that."
I smile to try and lighten the heavy situation, but he stays silent, brooding as he thinks it over. What I'm asking him to do isn't fair, and I don't know if I could really do it to him, but I can't tell him that.
With a frustrated, angered groan, he roughly places his cup back on the counter, letting the coffee splash over the rim and form a small puddle around the bottom.
"I don't like this," he mumbles, refusing to let his eyes meet mine as he sulks.
A sad smile graces my lips as I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck, enjoying the warmth he brings when he returns the embrace without the slightest bit of hesitation.
"Then you can do it under extreme protest," I joke, doing well not to fall apart.
This is all too much. I never prepared for this.
"Drackus is on the phone for you," Zee says as he walks in, grinning when he sees us holding onto to each other like a couple in love.
"Thanks," I say softly, feeling a little better now that Zee knows everything. I hated keeping so many secrets from him since he's Kane's best friend. I'm sure Kane needs someone to talk to—to vent to.
"Alyssa?" Drackus says just as my ear hits the phone.
"Hey. Is everything okay?" I ask, wincing when I think of why he's probably calling.
"Everything is fine with us. How are you?"
Let's see—I hit my ex with a shot of power strong enough to knock him out, exposed my magic to humans, revealed silver-eyed proof I'm the creature-demon they all fear, and then I went so far as to turn into a night stalker and drink my boyfriend's blood. None of which I can remember. Yeah, Dad, I'm peachy.
"I'm fine," I mumble, settling for the dishonest but easy answer.
He sighs out heavily, as if that's the first time he's exhaled in ten years. "Good. I'm calling to tell you that your mother and I are going to Scotland. We've got a lead on some of the people who took her. We need to learn about the imposter. More importantly, we need to learn about everyone we're up against. This is a well-thought-out plan being run by someone who has spent years orchestrating such an elaborate feat. We'll have to dig deep to find answers."
"Will the light and dark not flip out when they find out you've left your home?"
He laughs, sounding condescending with each new chuckle. "Dear girl, I've left this home more times than I can count. I have plenty of ways to keep my affairs discreet and quiet. Besides, I have friends in very high places. I'm more worried about you. We want you to join us."
I look to see Kane is staring at me intensely, waiting on my response. I have a feeling he'll go if I go. I'd want him to as well. It's too risky with me being this… thing. I won't put my parents in jeopardy. I can't believe I'm thinking of Drackus as a father right now. We still have fences to mend, but I don't want to see him dead.
"I'm staying," I mutter vaguely, not wanting to add my own issues to their already full plate of drama.
Kane walks over to me and pulls me closer just before Gage materializes in the room. Mom gets on the phone with me, and Kane withdraws so he and Gage can discuss cage making, proving the dark user was listening in to find out if I swayed my night stalker.
Mom tells me she loves me and to call her if I need her—at least twenty times—and I hang up before turning to face the boys. "They're going to miss Thad's memorial. They need to leave now. They're worried their informant will be spooked if they wait too long," I say softly, my emotions choking up my voice just barely.
I'm sure I'll bawl later, but right now, I have to keep it together so everyone doesn't lose focus on Thad's day by paying me attention that I don't want or deserve.
"We'll start working on the cage," Deke says, looking to me. "Sierra and Amy will have to know why you're being caged up. They'll ask questions."
My lips tighten into a thin line. I hate the smug smirk that will be on Amy's face when she learns about who or what I am.
"I need coffee before discussing cages, Amy, and another red moon. This is ridiculous. How many more are going to be here this cycle?"
Gage frowns, probably wishing he could wrap me up in his arms. "I don't know. Maybe...ten?"
My mouth falls open. "What? Why?"
"We don't know what's going on," Kane says. "I didn't think there would be more than five, but it's obvious this is a rough cycle. That's why I don't want to put you in a cage. There're just too many."
He comes to brush his lips against mine, holding me to him as he does his best to free my mind from its burden.
"This atmosphere is draining," Dice gripes as he comes in, swatting as if he's trying to keep the air away from him. "You guys have to quit being so fucking miserable. It's stealing all my energy. It took all my extra to heal last night."
No one even acknowledges the unhelpful incubus. I still don't even know why he needed to heal. Something tells me I was involved, which is a little scary.
He curses when no one gives a damn about his needs, and he returns to his room, leaving us alone with our solemn silence and coffee. Then, suddenly, an old Spice Girls song my mother used to love starts playing—loudly.
Dice leaps back in, singing with the lyrics, while wearing his leather pants and no shirt. He points to Kane and runs his hand over Gage's chest.
"Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want. So, tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I want a—"
"Dice!" we all scold in unison, gripping our ears to offer them reprieve from the obnoxious music.
He scowls at us when his attempt to lighten the mood fails, and he storms out, forcing all of us to stifle a grin.
"He's so annoying," Gage groans.
"Glad we agree on something," Kane mumbles, moving to sit down behind the bar as the music stops.
I go to stand beside him as he flips through numerous scroll images on an iPad. He's reading about me—my kind.
"Studying up?" I ask, trying not to sound as pathetic as I feel.
"Of course I am. I want to prove to everyone you can control it."
My eyes water as I tilt my head. He's so completely on my side that he thinks I could never be the monster so many of those others were. Without thinking, my lips press against his, startling him a little, but he draws me closer and onto his lap as he returns the spontaneous affection.
Gage vaporizes from the room as I thank my night stalker with actions rather than words. Kane smiles against my lips, enjoying the little show I didn't mean to put on. A small tear drips out as it all becomes overwhelming, and his smile falls as he pulls back to wipe away the watery traitor.
Before he can say anything, music starts blaring again, and we both roll our eyes as Dice comes around singing, "Killing me softly with his song."
"Dice!" we both yell.
He mutters something under his breath, possibly cursing us, but the music is too loud to hear whatever snarky remark he has. Kane shakes his head as Dice retreats back to his room once again.
"Do we have to keep the incubus?" he asks.
I smile softly, almost feeling a little better, and then a new song begins blaring. This time, I burst out laughing as Kane narrows his eyes at the annoying incubus returning, singing once more.
"Ice Ice, baby... Ice Ice, baby... All right, stop. Collaborate and listen. Ice is back with my brand new invention..."
As Dice continues singing, Kane groans, doing his best to stifle his own grin as Zee and Deke start singing along. When it gets back to the chorus, I can't help but join in on the fun.
"Ice Ice, baby."
Kane's eyebrow cocks up as he gives me a mischievous glare. "You, too?" he asks, daring me to take the bait.
"Ice Ice, baby," I playfully sing, challenging him.
He starts tickling me ferociously, making my body jerk and contort in hideous positions as my laughter bellows through the house. Deke and Zee both chuckle as I beg for mercy, but the smile on Kane's face is absolutely beautiful with its carefree tug.
Dice has successfully broken the spell of misery for the time being, though we all know it's just a short reprieve. Dice and Zee dance as I scramble free from Kane. He starts chasing me, toying with me. There's no way I can outrun him, but I can't help but gush out more laughter as I give it a pathetic attempt. Gage pretends not to notice us when we clamber into the living room where he was trying to hide.
Just before Kane catches me, I feel tingling sensations spread over my body, tugging me from the inside-out, and stealing my breath. I'm being vaporized, but I don't feel Gage's arms around me.
I squeal when I materialize, only to see I'm surrounded by darkness and the smell of wood.
"Alyssa!" Kane and Gage both yell in unison as the music cuts out.
"Here!" I squeal, rapping fiercely on the wall I've somehow managed to become encased in. "Get me out!"
A fist slams into the wall beside me, and then more is ripped free until the hole is large enough for me to scramble out of. Kane's arms are around me as he pulls me out completely, and I shake in his embrace, shocked and confused.
"How did she do that?" he asks Gage who comes over to inspect my eyes.
"I have no idea," he murmurs before examining my bleeding hand that I must have scratched when I was trapped inside the wall. He points to it as he says, "She's obviously still mortal. This is so fucked up."
I slow my breathing as everyone comes to gawk at me like some science-fiction monster. I shouldn't be able to vaporize. Not yet. Not until I'm immortal. How did I do it?
Sierra and Amy walk in carrying loads of groceries. When they stumble into the deadly silence, their eyes fall to the men of their coven for answers.
"We should get ready for the memorial," Kane says to me instead of answering their silent query.
He kisses the top of my head as we head into the bedroom. It's just one more thing for me to worry about. This is getting more confusing and impossible by the minute.