Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(67)

The atmosphere grew stifling. Arys was seething. “You took something from Shya? A demon? See, I told you. Death wish. If Maxwell overpowers you…”

“I killed Harley just fine without you. I think I can handle this.” It was a low blow, and I immediately felt bad.

Harley’s death hurt Arys more than he would ever admit. I understood well the love/hate relationship he’d had with his maker. I’d had my own with Raoul.

Arys eyed me with an unreadable expression. He hid it well, but I’d hurt him. “So you did. A night hasn’t gone by when I haven’t thought about what it felt like to feel him die. Forgive me if I don’t care to relive it with you.”

I cringed inwardly and gave myself a mental bitch slap. How did I even begin to back-pedal on this one? “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Just don’t get yourself killed. Unless you’re ready to join the fang club.”

“I have no intention of that happening. Not yet.” Did my tone sound too rushed? I hoped not. I didn’t want either of them to know just how much the thought of turning terrified me lately.

I felt Kale’s scrutiny. If anyone would figure me out, it would be him. He crossed his arms over his chest and studied me. “I know you can kick-ass like nobody’s business, but are you sure you want to take a risk like this?”

Despite the fact that Kale was backing his opinion, Arys shot him a dirty look. I couldn’t look either of them in the eyes. The interior of the club was sweltering from the heat of so many bodies, along with my own growing discomfort. I needed some air.

“I’m sure neither of you would be saying this if you were able to come with me. Four wolves backing me are more than enough to kick some vampire ass. Would either of you really want to face that?” I challenged. Neither of them responded, leaving me feeling validated. I knew what I was doing, and they would just have to trust me on this.

Reaching for my hand, Arys regarded me with an unsettling darkness. His gaze strayed to Kale, and he grinned. “I would much rather be at your side, as I should be, but if you insist on going during daylight, I understand. I will eagerly await your return.”

Turning that sexy smirk on me, Arys gripped my hand tight and bit deep into my wrist. I gasped and gave a small cry of pain and surprise. In a dramatic move that stirred our shared power, he swirled his tongue leisurely over the bloody wound. A shock of heat pooled between my legs, and a blush stole across my cheeks.

Despite the way my body reacted to him, I was mad. That was nothing but a territorial show, marking me in front of Kale. It made me feel like a possession to be claimed, and I was livid. It was in Arys’ nature to claim me as it was in mine to refuse to allow it. As much as I wanted to pummel him right then for such a cheap move, I had responded the way he’d known I would. Though my conscious will defied the idea of belonging to him, the rest of me responded in full. We were bound and, like it or not, I was his.

With a low growl, I broke his hold on me and stepped away. Glancing furiously from Arys to Kale, I was mortified. Kale’s eyes widened as he reacted to my spilled blood, but there was pain in their depths. Instead of smacking Arys, I shoved past him and stormed outside.

Blood dripped down my hand as I fumbled with my cell phone. I scrolled through my contact list for Brogan’s number. Pain shot up my arm from my bleeding wrist, and the urge to throw my phone in a fit of anger was strong. Before I could either throw it or hit send, Arys was there, pulling it from my hand.

“I’m not going to apologize for marking you. I have every right.”

I glowered up at him from beneath lowered lashes. “Everyone’s doing whatever they want and clearly feeling little remorse. That’s fine. Let’s all just run amok. We can self destruct together.”

Arys grabbed me by the shoulders before I could turn away and searched my eyes. “That wasn’t really a reply to me. What’s going on with you?” When I pursed my lips and shook my head, he persisted. “Is this about Shaz?”

“You know about that?” My accusatory tone was thick with suspicion.

“Yes.”

“For how long?”

“A few days. And, don’t look at me like that. It was the pup’s place to tell you, not mine. Just like I didn’t inform him about your recent indiscretions. It wasn’t life or death, Alexa. It was personal. Therefore, not my place.”

I wanted to argue with that but couldn’t. His logic was sound. Sticking Arys in the middle wasn’t going to change anything. The Shaz incident was eating at me, lurking in the back of my mind. I just kept seeing him with her, and I felt sick.

The crimson droplets staining the concrete at my feet brought my attention back to the immediate issue. “This,” I held my injured wrist before me, “was not necessary. It’s the vampire equivalent to pissing on me, and I’m not cool with that shit. I’m already part of you. Permanently. There isn’t a damn supernatural being in this city that doesn’t know it. Rubbing it in Kale’s face is low, Arys. Even for you.”

His dark gaze held no hint of repentance. “It was nothing compared to what I’d really like to do to him. Live with it, Alexa. It could have been worse.”

This territorial vampire nonsense with Kale was heads and tails beyond the tension Arys shared with Shaz at times. Arys enjoyed the conflict with Shaz, and ultimately, he always conceded to my wolf, acknowledging Shaz’ place as my Alpha mate. It was different with Kale. It scared me because I didn’t really know if I could trust Arys not to take it to the next level.