Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(89)

“As you can see, there is a lot more to this than rogue creatures running amok.” With a dismissive wave of his hand, Shya gestured to the headless body near the altar. “Normally, I wouldn’t bother to deal with something so trivial myself; I would have one of my people do it. However, this time it was personal.”

The scent of blood and death grew heavy on the air. As horrified as I was by the entire situation, I couldn’t stop the bloodlust from rising. Though I was looking only at Shya, I could feel the watchful gaze of the angel upon me. It set loose a handful of butterflies in my stomach.

I forced myself to maintain steady eye contact with Shya. Looking into his intense red eyes was difficult. “Can I ask what this was all about?”

“Of course. You’re an important part of the team. You have every right to a few questions.” His interest was solely on me. Not once did he look at Kale or anyone else present. The undivided attention was unnerving. “Let me tell you one thing, Alexa. The most valuable power someone can possess is the right information. Jon had it. And, since he wouldn’t share that information, he had to be taken out of the equation.”

I wanted to ask how taking a man’s life could be so simple, just part of an equation that I didn’t fully understand. Instead I said, “But why? What could he have known that was worth his life?”

Shya eyed me appraisingly. He nodded slowly, as if in approval of my desire for an explanation. “I understand that in some ways you’re very much still human. You need to be able to justify death. Well, tell me, would you be able to justify it if you knew that the information he harbored could expose you? That it could land you in a lab where you’d be picked apart by human scientists in a vain attempt to find out what makes you what you are?”

My mouth went dry, and the blood drained from my face. What Shya described had always been one of my greatest fears. He had put me in a tough place. I didn’t believe that my life was more valuable than anyone else’s, but I did believe that mass public exposure of the supernatural was in nobody’s best interest.

“Point taken.” I nodded, having nothing else to offer. I was in no position to either condone or condemn what Shya had just done. I wasn’t sure what I would have done if it had been me. I hoped to never be the one who had to make that call.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, Alexa. I want you for the vampires and werewolves. For now anyway.”

That pretty little head comment would have earned anyone else a bitch slap or at least a seriously tongue lashing. I took it from Shya simply because I had to. He towered over me with those scarlet eyes and wings that went from shoulder to ankle, and I was overwhelmed.

“I’m not making any deals with you.” My voice wavered, but I meant it.

A grin lit up Shya’s face in a way that should have made him appear friendly but really just made him predatory. “I like you. You’re young yet, but you know what’s best for all of us. Kale assures me that I can trust you. Prove him right, and I’ll be happy not to have to kill the both of you.”

The way Shya spoke was so casual, like he was discussing the weather rather than threatening to kill us. All I could do was play along with a smile and a nod.

“So,” Shya clapped his hands together and smiled. It shone in his eyes, and he was suddenly a whole different persona than seconds ago. “State your terms. I assume you have some. You have genuine potential, and I will do anything to make you happy to work with me.”

My lips curved into a smile, but it didn’t feel natural. “Let’s start there. I work with you, not for you. I won’t be forced to do anything I don’t believe in.”

“Certainly.”

“I do things my way. And, my personal life stays personal. I won’t have my actions watched or judged.” I didn’t mean to sound bitchy, but I felt the need to show a little backbone. Something told me that with Shya, if I gave him an inch he’d take more than a mile. He’d likely take me to hell and back if he could.

“As long as you never betray me, Alexa, I really don’t give a damn what you and yours do.” Matter of fact and somewhat flippant, Shya shrugged.

“Fine. Thank you.” I wasn’t going to push things further. I’d address everything as it occurred. What mattered to me right then was that Shya knew I wasn’t going to be controlled.

The angel glided up next to Shya, but his pale silver gaze was on me. Blowing a shaggy lock of fair hair out of his eyes, he openly glowered. “So this is the one that will lead vampires and wolves. Doesn’t look like much. Kind of small. Cute I guess.”

My jaw dropped. He was an enigma, a being so enchanting that I was both in fear and awe of him. Unlike Shya, I couldn’t feel the angel’s power. I had a feeling it was simply because he didn’t want me to. But angel or not, who the hell was he to talk about me like that?

A retort burned on my lips, but before I could get it out, Shya cut in. “Piss off, Falon. Give Ms. O’Brien some respect. There is much more to her than it might appear.”

I was completely offended. Not only did I hate being spoken of as if I wasn’t present, I also hated being underestimated. Anyone who chose to use “cute” and “small” to describe me was immediately on my shit list.

Falon looked me over, his glower becoming a sneer. “Well, I should hope so.”