Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(24)

“I shouldn’t have to, Alexa. I’m intervening because I know if you were in your right mind, that’s what you’d want.” He concentrated on the unconscious woman, and the room filled with warm, healing energy. “You’re no different than any vampire now.”

I ran my hands along the energy wall blocking my path. When I focused hard, I could see it shimmering with flecks of gold and blue, the colors of our two auras. Arys was using my own power against me, and it was working. If I hadn’t been high as a kite on sex, blood and power, that would have frightened me.

The palms of my hands tingled. I was sure I could manipulate his barrier and bend it to my will, but my concentration was scattered. Arys picked the woman up and, with an exasperated eye roll directed at me, carried her from the washroom. Moments later, the barrier dropped.

A look in the mirror had me shrinking back in horror. Blood stained my hands and face. Scarlet smears ran around my mouth, up the side of my face and even in my hair. Even as I stood there staring into my unnaturally blue eyes, I licked the blood from my fingers. Seeing my brown eyes all wolf had taken years to adjust to. I doubted that I’d ever get used to seeing Arys’ midnight blue eyes on me.

I understood completely why Shaz had such a hard time looking at me like this; I looked like something straight out of a horror movie. My ash blond hair was a wild, blood-flecked mess. I sobered as I stared at my reflection. After what felt like a long time, I turned on the tap and washed the blood from my face and hands.

Arys was right. I couldn’t keep fighting this. I needed to hunt, to feast and to kill. The hunger haunted me all the time now. Try as I might to fight the urge, it wasn’t going away.

An eerie giggle spilled from between my lips. It echoed in the silence of the washroom. I felt amazing even after just a taste of her. I wanted to run through the forest so fast that my paws barely touched the ground. I suddenly couldn’t wait to be wolf. At least in the confines of the forest, I couldn’t hurt anybody.

Chapter Eight

I didn’t see Arys when I left the bathroom. I kept my eyes on the front exit and forced my feet to keep moving. Shaz was having a heated exchange with a vampire I didn’t recognize. He was right up in Shaz’ face, demanding entry to the club.

I didn’t know or care what reason Shaz had for refusing. That was good enough for me. I held up a hand on my way past and blasted the vampire in the chest with a shot of the tightly wound energy burning its way through me.

“Beat it!” The blow threw him back out into the parking lot. I didn’t bother to glance his way. If he made any more trouble, I would kill him.

I needed a few moments alone in the night air to get a grip on myself. I walked quickly through the parking lot to my car, passing Kale’s along the way. I did a double take. When did Kale arrive? Thank God he hadn’t seen me and Arys getting it on inside.

My hand went to the bite on my neck and Arys’ ‘Let’s hope so’ comment rang in my ears. He’d bitten me for Kale’s benefit. That was a whole new jealous low for Arys. He’d never admit any such thing though.

Kale hadn’t been in the club, which meant he was in the back, in his personal room. I could just imagine what he was up to, probably with some woman. No imagining! Whatever Kale was up to, I didn’t need to think about it, and I didn’t want to know.

As I drew closer to my car, I got the feeling that I was being watched. I didn’t feel a close presence though. Whoever it was, they were a good distance away. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone or anything else tonight. Just to be safe, I cast a power circle around me. Nobody would get close without walking into it and ending up on their ass.

I unlocked my car with the key remote and glanced inside before opening the door, a habit I’d started when I first got my license. Too many late night movies featuring a creep waiting in the backseat had permanently instilled that caution in the back of my mind. The car was clear. Nobody was around. Still, something felt all wrong.

I opened the driver’s door, and the white envelope sitting on the seat affirmed my unease. Both my name and Arys’ was scrawled on the front in handwriting that was barely legible. I reached for my cell phone first, finding it untouched. Knowing that I was being watched from a distance, I grabbed the envelope, relocked the car and turned to go back into the club. Whatever was inside that envelope, I wasn’t looking at it with an unseen audience.

“Take a break?” I whispered to Shaz upon re-entering the building. After a few words to Shawn, another security guy, Shaz followed me through the lobby. I searched for Arys, spotting him near the dance floor enjoying the attention of two women fawning over him. He looked my way almost as if I’d called his name. I gestured for him to join me and continued on to the back hall.

I didn’t believe there was anything truly dangerous inside the envelope. I sensed nothing unnatural inside. Still, better safe than sorry. I’d rather open it in a private, quiet area. No matter what it was, it wasn’t good. I knew that without a doubt.

Stepping through the door into the back hall made me uneasy. I automatically shielded my presence so that the vampires consorting with their blood whores back there wouldn’t sense me, Kale included. Shaz was right behind me, concern etched on his face.

“What’s going on, Lex?”

I turned the envelope over in my hands. “Someone was in my car. No damage or any sign of a break in. It was just sitting there on the driver’s seat.”