Death Wish (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #5)(35)

“I’m fine.” I led the way out. A faint layer of soot covered the Charger. Otherwise, it looked fine. I went to the trunk, checking on the Dragon Claw; I kept the blade hidden in the spare tire compartment. Safe and sound.

The scent of smoke clung to the interior. It would need a good detail job. I opened the windows to let the night air circulate through. Arys was quiet in the passenger seat. I could feel him silently studying me.

I had to see Raoul’s house. The car was in motion, heading for the golf course neighborhood before I could change my mind.

I didn’t get out. I just sat there, staring at what was left. It was worse than I’d imagined.

Black. Everything was so black. The heavy aroma of fire lingered to taunt me. The walls were still standing but just barely. The entire front picture window had blown out, allowing us to see the mountain of rubble inside.

It would be an insurance nightmare. Just another thing to deal with. I couldn’t hunt and kill that problem.

“Alexa?” Arys stroked a finger down the back of my hand. “We should go. We need to find out who is behind this.”

My hands clenched the steering wheel. My gaze was riveted to the destruction. It was never really mine, but it had been my home. Or, the closest thing to it.

Chapter Eleven

I met up with Jez at The Wicked Kiss. She was a vision with a mane of golden curls tumbling over her shoulders. She made jeans and runners look like runway wear with her leggy frame.

Jez was ready to play the willing victim if it meant getting answers. She was riled up and ready to kick some vampire ass. I was happy to leave her to it.

The place was vampire central; the people there knew things. Somebody was going to talk. While Jez and I asked a few questions, Arys kept watch from a distance.

What made it eerie was that I couldn’t always feel his presence. I was certain I could force my way through whatever shielded him, yet that was just further evidence that we could use the power we shared against one another.

It was past midnight. I couldn’t help but notice Kale’s absence. I’d left a voicemail for him earlier, and he hadn’t returned my call. So, where was he?

My thoughts strayed to the dreamwalker and a strange, sickly feeling settled in my gut. He was just a kid, a teenager with his whole life ahead of him. A life that would become dark and twisted if Shya had a hand in it. Whatever Kale was up to over there, he was either running late or something had happened.

I couldn’t assume anything. I didn’t know enough. It wouldn’t hurt to take a drive by the dreamwalker’s house, right? I wrestled with the decision, wondering how much longer I could wait before I just had to go.

I watched Jez move through the crowd with a seductive gait. It didn’t take long for her to draw attention. The vamps would be falling all over themselves to get a taste of her pure Were blood.

I tried calling Kale again. This time the voicemail picked up immediately, indicating his phone was off. It was never off. I was afraid he was on another bender. Kale on a bender was dark, dangerous and more than a little terrifying.

Arys glided through the crowd, making his presence unmistakably known. Both humans and vampires in the vicinity paused to take note of him. It was impossible not to. Tall, dark and handsome, he exuded supremacy.

The atmosphere shifted as he moved through the club. Tension thrummed through the room. Apprehension and fear rolled off many of the vampires present. How many of them could I trust? The one that issued the hit could be here right now, and I wouldn’t even know it.

“Have you seen Shaz yet?” Arys asked upon returning to me. He seemed pleased by the reaction of the crowd.

“No. He’s probably in the back. With her.” My tone dripped venom.

“He’s here trying to help you. Cut the boy some slack.”

“You did not just say that.”

“I did. He doesn’t love her. He loves you.”

I did my best to glare at him. He held my gaze, crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. I clearly missed a portion of the conversation they’d had while I slept. Still, it was reassuring that Arys was so sure. Guy code and all that junk.

“I need to take off for half an hour.” Changing the subject entirely seemed like a good idea.

“Alone? Not gonna happen.”

“I just need to do a quick drive by. I want to check on the dreamwalker. I think he might be in danger.” It occurred to me that telling the total truth was not going to help my case.

“Hell no. The minute you rush off and do something reckless is when they will get the shot they need to take you out. Don’t make it easy for them.” Jaw clenched and brow furrowed, Arys was damn sexy when he was annoyed.

“It hasn’t been easy for them so far.” Arguing with Arys was useless. I knew that. Instinct told me to get my ass to the dreamwalker’s house. I had to follow that.

“Alexa.” That one word, my name on Arys’s lips, was thick with warning.

I fought back the urge to snarl at him. I didn’t have the right. He was rightfully concerned, and though I hated it when he tried to dominate me this way, I knew I’d feel the same if I were in his place.

“Come with me then,” I relented, “but I have to go.”

I fought a battle with myself the entire way there. I couldn’t shake the bad feeling that Kale’s absence instilled in me. Perhaps it was arrogant of me to think I knew Shya had less than savory plans for the kid. It sounded hard enough to be a dreamwalker. He deserved to make his own choices.