Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(80)

Chapter Nineteen

The sounds of the night were so different from my backyard patio than they were in the city. There was no traffic to ruin the peaceful quiet. No sirens. Small town living allowed me to see the stars glittering against the night sky. It called to my wolf.

I walked through the yard, taking in the scents of summer. It wouldn’t be long until the warmth faded, and Fall moved in to strip the trees of their leaves and the grass of its green vitality. I couldn’t help but wonder if Shaz would be back by then.

A chorus of howls broke the stillness. A shiver crept up my spine. Kylarai, Coby and the others were running tonight. They were miles away, but I could feel them as if they were right there with me. My wolf wanted to join them. That would probably never happen again.

It was tempting to shift, but the thought of running alone was depressing. I missed Shaz desperately. He would have had something reassuring to say, and for a little while, I might actually believe him. Too bad for me, he wasn’t here. While I was here waiting for the clock to count down to my potential demise, Shaz was likely running through the mountains, at one with nature.

It was better that he wasn’t here. I wouldn’t want to risk him. His absence kept Lilah’s attention off him. That was worth the pain I felt every time I thought about him.

Unable to listen to the pack’s mournful cries any longer, I went inside and closed the patio door. The house felt big and empty. I didn’t know what to do with myself. So, I poured another glass of whiskey and sat at the kitchen island.

I sipped the golden liquor and stared at my cell phone, watching the minutes change. It was a quarter past four. I needed to attempt sleep at some point. Being at full strength for Lilah’s little shindig was essential. The thought of climbing into bed alone was painful. Maybe I’d crash on the couch instead.

“Only got yourself to blame,” I muttered for no other reason than to break the silence.

I had no pack to call my own. My small town pack of everyday people had been a comfort, a sense of normalcy in an unusual world. The three men that I had ties to were all lost inside their own hell. Here I sat in mine.

I didn’t cry. I only wished I could. The cleansing tears would have been a welcome relief from the hollow ache.

I decided to take the opportunity to leave a message for Kylarai while she was out. I wanted her to know where I would be the following evening, in case anything should happen, at least she would know. I called Jez after, happy to hear her alive and safe.

“I’m going with you,” she insisted after I told her about Lilah’s invitation. “You need back up, and I want to see the bitch go down.”

“There’s a huge chance it won’t play out like that. I can’t stop you from coming but don’t take any hits for me, Jez. I mean it. Enough people have been hurt on my watch already.” I refilled my glass and took a large swallow of whiskey. It burned in all the right ways. “How are you doing? You know, since Zoey…”

She sighed heavily into the phone. The crinkle of a chip bag was loud in the background. “I’m stuffing my face with pizza and Doritos. Does that answer your question? At this rate, I’ll be obese in no time.”

“Better than binging on blood and whiskey like I’ve been.” I laughed despite my mood. “Besides, your scrawny ass could stand to gain a few pounds. You’ll be fine.”

“Laugh it up, blood fiend,” she joked. I could hear the smile in her voice. Jez was broken now, but she would put the pieces back together. Maybe I could do the same.

A cold wind swept through me, capturing both my heart and my attention. Seconds later, there was a knock on the front door. I wasn’t sure I could face Arys right now. He wasn’t giving me a choice by arriving unannounced.

“Jez, I gotta go. I’ll call you back later.”

I set both the phone and my glass on the counter before creeping down the hall to the door. I grasped the deadbolt and started to turn it, pausing to second-guess the motion. I didn’t want to fight with him. Could I keep the peace by refusing to open the door?

Groaning inwardly, I flipped the deadbolt and jerked the door open before I could change my mind. When I saw him standing there with a fire burning in his eyes and a bouquet of red roses in hand, I was smitten all over again.

I opened my mouth to speak, but he shoved inside and silenced me with a kiss. Kicking the door closed, Arys pushed the flowers into my hand and pulled me into his arms. The power sparked between us. For the first time since our fight outside The Wicked Kiss, I felt whole. In Arys’s arms, the fear and despair faded, replaced by strength and confidence. I was complete again.

His tongue was soft on mine, exploring my mouth insistently. I was drowning in him. Every one of my senses were ablaze, ignited by his touch.

“Arys, what are you doing here?” I broke off the kiss to catch my breath. The roses in my hand were deep scarlet, reminding me of the blood I’d spilled earlier. That had to be why Arys was so worked up; he’d gotten off on it.

“What does it look like?” His lips moved on my neck as he kissed a warm path along my jugular. “I can’t stay away from you. I tried. I wanted to do what you asked, but it’s not going to happen.”

A lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t bring myself to push him away. With his scent tickling my nose and his mouth on my skin, there was no denying how desperately I craved him.