Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(76)

I sipped the water. It should have been refreshing, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I shoved the glass across the table in front of me and shook my head.

“Maybe you should go. I don’t want to drag you into this mess.” I pulled out my phone and opened the contact list. My gaze strayed to the dragon on my forearm. I was sure there was a way to use it to reach Shya but wasn’t sure I wanted to know how. So, I hit the number I had for him and waited.

I got the voicemail. Both relief and disappointment crushed me. “Shya, it’s Alexa. Lilah has my sister. I need to see you.”

I hung up and stared at the phone. My mind ran through several people I could contact. Jez, Kylarai, Brogan. Only one stood out as the one I needed now. It would take the simplest act, a touch of my mind to his. I couldn’t do it.

“You shouldn’t be alone tonight, Alexa. You should be with Arys.”

I tapped my nails against the table for a minute before shoving the chair back to stand. The screech of chair legs was loud in the quiet, empty nightclub.

“I don’t know how to be with Arys anymore. Things are… complicated.”

“Since when is that a reason to give up?” Willow challenged. He stuffed the invitation and Juliet’s hair back into the envelope and tossed it to me. “If you need me, I’m here for you. But, you’ve got to figure your shit out. Take the rest of tonight, do what you need to do, whatever that is. Be ready tomorrow. I’ll have your back. And, you’ll walk out of there alive.”

I chewed my lip, mulling it over. He was right; rushing in would not go my way. “Well, I’m glad one of us thinks so.”

Willow seemed hesitant. “Do you want me to stay? We could hang out, go for a walk, share a bottle of the good stuff. Whatever you want.”

“No. I need some time to meltdown. Alone. I’ll be fine though. Really.” I had a hard time meeting his eyes. I didn’t want him to know what I planned to do.

Willow drew me close for a hug that enfolded me within his wings as well as his arms. There was so much warmth and comfort in that embrace I almost started to cry again.

“Alright,” he said. “Think about contacting Arys. I’ll see you soon. Remember, you don’t have to do this alone.”

I forced a smile so he would feel okay with leaving. He lingered as if unsure. Then, he was gone.

I shoved the envelope into my bag and headed for the door, pausing to talk to Justin. “Lock down the building. Anyone currently in the back can stay, but nobody else comes in.”

He nodded, his ebony eyes taking in the dried blood tears on my face. “Just say the word, boss lady, and I’ll be with you tomorrow night.”

“Thank you, Justin. I’ll keep you posted.”

I crossed the parking lot to my car where I took a few minutes to clean the bloody smears from beneath my eyes. Digging around in my purse, I produced some red lipstick, which I generously applied. I tore my skirt shorter and finger combed my hair. A glance in the visor mirror revealed bloodshot blue eyes.

I didn’t have to go far to find a seedy area ripe with the kind of activity I sought. I left my car in an empty grocery store parking lot and walked the few blocks from the decent streets of the downtown core to the filthy, crime heavy district. With an extra swing in my step and a toss of my hair, it didn’t take long for the johns to roll up.

The first two I sent away with a shake of my head and a half-assed excuse that I was waiting for my pimp. I was looking for something specific. Wedding rings and families were not it. The third guy fell easily into my eyes, answering my questions almost hypnotically. No wife and no kids. He was disappointed that I was as old as I was. The pervert was cruising for underage girls. He was the one.

I got into his old pickup truck, wrinkling my nose at the smell of old McDonald’s wrappers littering the floor. My chosen prey stank of booze and too much cheap cologne. It could have been worse. I directed him to the nearest sleazy motel, finding with each passing moment another trace of doubt had vanished.

“Take your clothes off,” my victim said as soon as stepped inside the dark, dank motel room. “I want to watch you undress. Do it slowly.”

The room was tiny and simple with one bed in the center. The blanket held old stains that could have been anything from food to blood. An adjoining bathroom that stank of mildew completed the suite. I would have preferred to be in a five star joint with a suit and tie kind of guy, but this would have to do.

I could have killed him in a matter of seconds, but half the fun was the build-up to the moment he would bleed for me. So, I played along.

I peeled my top off slowly, taking the opportunity to drape him in the lusty thrall of my hunger. His eyes took on a glazed, mesmerized glassiness. He was pushing fifty, a little on the thin side with a scraggly bit of beard. He watched me eagerly.

Sliding my skirt down my legs, I stood before him in my bra and panties. Without waiting for him to give me another command, I climbed into his lap, straddling him with a lascivious smile on my red lips.

“What’s your name, gorgeous?” He mumbled into my cle**age. His hands were hot on my waist.

“Whatever you want it to be.” I caught his hands before he could slip them any lower. Pushing him down on the bed, I ground my groin against him and leaned down to drag fangs across his jugular.

I half expected the erection he pushed against me to bring about an ill feeling. The surge of confident control and illicit desire felt rejuvenating. It was intoxicating, seducing me as I seduced him. I drew on the sex-charged energy vibrating through his deliciously human body.