Forget About Midnight (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #9)(11)

He was right. Lying there in his arms did feel pretty damn perfect. It was comforting. That connection let me know that I wasn’t alone. I focused on the subtle hum of Kale’s aura. It was soothing, lulling me back to the brink of slumber. I fell asleep in his arms, feeling safe and loved.

And yet, something was missing.

Chapter Four

Looking in the mirror always felt as startling as it had the first time. I supposed I should have been grateful that the old stories were false, that vampires did have a reflection. But I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps it would be better to never have seen myself like this.

I wasn’t so different. Not really. Yet, I was. Seeing myself with wolf eyes at the age of sixteen had still not been as shocking as seeing myself with vampire fangs was now. They were nothing compared to wolf fangs, and still I could not stop running my tongue over them. It gave me a jolt each time to find them there. Constantly there. The deathly white pallor to my skin gave me a porcelain appearance like a creepy doll. I hated it.

I muttered to myself as I applied black eyeliner. Focusing hard on the line I drew along my upper lid didn’t draw my attention away from the color of my eyes: blue, the same blue as Arys’s eyes. I hoped that would cease when I grew more accustomed to having this much power roiling about inside me without having the top of my head blow off. That part was nice. I sure didn’t miss the headaches and nosebleeds.

The red lipstick in my makeup bag seemed to call my name. No matter how many times Jez had forced it on me, I rarely wore it. Maybe it was time for a change. Besides, my pale complexion could use the added color.

With my eye makeup thicker and darker than usual and my cherry red lips, I almost didn’t look like me. I kinda loved that. Black leggings and a loose fitting tank top with “Las Vegas” on the front allowed me comfort and mobility. I was ready for a fight, and I expected one.

I’d awoken with the blood hunger raging, twisting my thoughts into something maniacal and fun. My plans for the evening involved sating that hunger. But it wasn’t a random victim I wanted. I had someone specific in mind.

“Are you sure you want to go out alone?” Kale’s voice came from the hall as he approached the open bathroom door. “Where exactly are you going anyway?”

“Just going for a drive. I need some time by myself. There’s something I’ve been meaning to take care of. I won’t be long.” Finished with my makeup, I turned to face Kale, finding him leaning on the doorframe.

He looked like himself again in dress pants and his long, leather jacket. The grey shirt he wore was open at the collar, teasing me with a glimpse of his chest. It took effort to keep from touching him. With the power and bloodlust riding me as it was, all I wanted to do was ravage him.

Kale’s eyes widened as he took in the sight of me. “You look good, more dramatic than usual, but I like it. Sexy as hell.”

The spike in his energy was palpable as he reacted to me. I could feel his desire. It almost ripped away the little self-control I possessed.

“Thanks, sweetness. You’re looking pretty hot yourself. But you always do.” I blew him a kiss before slipping by him and escaping into the kitchen.

My purse was on the counter, and I checked to ensure my phone, wallet, and car keys were inside. Jez had left a few texts for me that I quickly replied to, but another from Shaz I ignored. Just like last night’s text.

Begging me to come home wasn’t what I needed to hear from him. When he had needed time away, I’d let him go. Why couldn’t he do the same for me?

“I’m going to head over to The Wicked Kiss,” Kale said as he ambled into the room. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

Getting into the willing victim scene was, unfortunately, something I needed to consider. For my sanity’s sake, I knew it was best, though it held no appeal to me whatsoever. Sanity is so overrated, I thought but knew better than to say as much to a vampire like Kale.

“Totally sure. You go ahead. Have fun.” I frowned as I remembered the kind of fun Kale had at The Wicked Kiss. “Not too much fun though. Wait. Pretend I never said that. It’s none of my business what you do there.”

I turned away, embarrassed and somewhat glad that vampires can’t really blush. What a stupid thing to say. It had slipped out, as if I had some claim over him. Kale’s constant sexcapades hadn’t bothered me much before. Why should it now?

Kale grabbed my arm and turned me back to face him. “Please don’t ever think that I could go there and screw someone after spending the day with you in my arms.”

If life were a movie, this would be the part where I’d swoon and fall head over heels for him. Because it wasn’t, instead I felt both absolutely smitten and equally horrified. Smitten because it was Kale, and how the hell could I not be when he said shit like that? Horrified because we weren’t supposed to be together. Not only was it bad for us, it was bad for society.

Since I was already rushing headlong down the wrong path, I let myself be smitten. “Kale, you are the most selfless man I know. You deserve endless happiness.” I rose up on my toes to kiss him, a gentle brush of lips. With a laugh, I added, “Don’t waste yourself on me.”

“Impossible. There isn’t a second of my time that’s been wasted on you. It’s all been wonderfully spent.”

I fake coughed the word “bullshit” and spun out of his grasp. “Keep your phone handy. I’ll call you in a bit.”