Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(95)

We followed her to the backyard where Kylarai also threw herself at Shaz in glee. Arys sat back looking pleased with himself.

There was a flurry of chatter as everyone threw questions at Shaz about where he had been and what he had done. Shaz laughed and ran a hand through his hair, one of his habits that I had dreadfully missed.

Arys rose to greet him with a handshake that became one of those loose guy hugs. The kind of hug that is brief and barely a hug at all but means more than either man will admit to.

“Welcome home, pup.”

Epilogue

“You’re going to Vegas? For how long?” Kale regarded me with skepticism. He sat across from me in a corner booth at The Wicked Kiss, drumming his fingers impatiently on the table.

“I’m not sure. A week or two I guess. Depends how much fun we’re having.” I swirled the whiskey in my glass before tossing it back and savoring the burn. This was the best place to speak with Kale. He had to know I’d be out of town; the club would be entirely his responsibility. So would everything and anything that happened inside it.

Kale leaned back, his lips pressed together. He sat stiffly, clearly as uncomfortable as I was. We hadn’t spoken since the night he promised to drive me crazy. This meeting was awkward for me, too.

“You mean it depends how long it takes for someone to try to kill you,” he scoffed.

“Would that really be a problem for you?” I asked snidely. I’d come to discuss the club, not to sling barbs at one another. “Besides, Arys and Shaz will be there. Jez, too.”

“Ah, I see. So, your wolf came home. How very romantic. Must be nice having your little threesome back together.” Shadows veiled Kale’s mismatched eyes, and I couldn’t read him. Even his energy felt tight and restrained. He didn’t want to let me in.

Actually, our threesome had yet to resume. Perhaps it never would. Shaz had only been back a few days. Our time together had been spent talking and cuddling, simply finding joy in being together. I didn’t know what the future held for Shaz and me. I was happy to take it a day at a time.

“Look, I just wanted to let you know I’d be gone for a while. I’m not interested in playing the game with you, Kale.” I spun the empty glass, using it as a distraction. Maybe I should have just called him.

He chuckled, low and smooth. My pulse quickened, and I cursed inwardly, knowing he’d sense it. Raising a brow, he leaned across the table.

“Don’t be coy. You love the game. You play it better than anyone I know.” He reached out to drag a finger over the back of my hand. I froze, stopping the glass mid-spin. Before I could tell him off, he pulled back. “Relax, Alexa. I won’t lose my shit and do anything too crazy while you’re out of town.”

I crossed my arms and sat back, far out of reach. “That’s reassuring. Thanks.” Sarcasm dripped from my words. “Call me if you really need to. If anything goes on here that I should know about.”

“Will do, boss lady.” He saluted and stood up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a shy brunette waiting for me that likes it when I pull her hair while we’re f**king.”

Ouch. That, I did not need to hear. It shouldn’t have bothered me, and I refused to let it show.

“Hey, Kale,” I called as he exited the booth. “Why never a blonde?”

It was a mistake to ask; I knew the answer. Asking was just me being an ass**le in response to his attitude.

He moved fast, sliding into my side of the booth, pinning me to the wall. He leaned in so close I could smell the leather of his duster.

“Do you really want an answer to that?” Kale brazenly twisted a lock of my hair around his finger. “The last blonde I’ve been inside was you. I could never take another to bed without it being you I saw. Is that what you want to hear?”

I felt the color drain from my face. Me and my big mouth. I couldn’t possibly get any farther away from him. My back was to the wall.

“No,” I said softly.

Kale studied me, even as I searched him, seeking a glimmer of the Kale I adored inside his brown and blue eyes. I didn’t find him.

“Have a nice trip, beautiful. I’ll be here when you get back.” He placed a kiss on the back of my hand, lingering longer than appropriate. Then, he was gone, moving through the crowd to find his playmate for the night.

I let my held breath out in a whoosh. Damn that had been intense. I was starting to give up hope that things would ever be ok again with Kale. He meant the world to me, but if he insisted on forcing this to a dangerous level, nothing would save him. Still, I wasn’t ready to accept that just yet.

I stayed in the booth, watching the club activity. Getting away would be fabulous. I had no doubt that Sin City would be as dangerous as it was fascinating. Still, it couldn’t be any worse than the mind-game playing demons and manipulative vampires here at home. Although, perhaps I shouldn’t speak so soon.

Things would be changing around here soon enough. Shya had been right on one account; Arys and I had the ability to gather the vampires and werewolves of the city, to organize them. Their support would give us a stronghold, empower us for future events. It wasn’t going to be the way Shya expected though, too bad for him. After the trip to Vegas, we would begin making moves to form alliances with the vamps and Weres of Edmonton. It was high time to take initiative. I was sick of being the only one with power who didn’t utilize it fully. The time had come to make some changes.