Forget About Midnight (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #9)(14)

In sudden desperation Sylvia kicked me hard in the shin. I cursed and retaliated with a solid punch that dropped her, out cold at my feet. Lingering in the parking lot was stupid so I grabbed her limp form and started moving.

Jenner stepped forward and scooped her into his arms with a nod. “Lead the way, your highness.”

Eyeing him with suspicion, I led the way back through the shadows to the side street where my car was parked. As we went, I continued to shoot questioning glances his way. Each one was met with a shit-eating grin.

“Be honest, Jenner. Why are you following me? Did Arys send you?”

“No. I’m here because I can’t stand to be away from you a moment longer. You haunt my dreams, my queen.” He laughed, clearly entertained by himself. “Of course he did. He’s worried about you. I’ve never seen him like this. Frankly, it f*cking sucks. He’s not himself. From the looks of it, neither are you.”

We reached the car, and I opened the passenger door so Jenner could dump Sylvia inside. When I was sure she was still pretty out of it, I pulled the seatbelt across her, shut the door, and turned to Jenner.

“You’re right about that. I’m not myself. Because the man I love killed me, and it was the highlight of his existence. Pretty sure that could f*ck even the sanest person up.” I met Jenner’s gaze and saw a pity there that made my fists clench. “Don’t you dare look at me like that.”

“Chill out, girl. Don’t bite my head off.” With raised hands, Jenner grew serious. “You want to know why I’m still here? Because I give a damn. I love Arys. And he loves you. So please, go home, Alexa. He needs you.”

Jenner was seriously starting to cramp my evening. I had plans that didn’t include emotional turmoil. The bloodlust driving me had no interest in self-pity.

I wanted to shout at him, to ask him why it didn’t matter what I needed. But he wasn’t the one I really wanted to shout at. So I just said, “Go home, Jenner.”

To be fair, Jenner had proven himself to be loyal to his bloodline. He was a good guy, somewhere beneath the ego and the snide remarks. Thanks to the way I’d tied him to me back in Las Vegas, I kind of wanted to take a little taste of his heady energy. He just felt so much like Arys.

“You can’t avoid him forever, you know. You’ll go crazy. Correction. Crazier. So will he.” His ice-blue gaze my met dark-blue one, and we stared uncomfortably at one another.

“Thank you, Jenner, for everything. Seriously. It means a lot to me that you’re here for Arys.” On sudden impulse, I threw my arms around him in a hug. It was a quick squeeze. I released him before he could decide to hug me back. “But trying to force me to face him before I’m ready isn’t going to help anyone. Now if you don’t get out of my way, I’ll have to send you back to him with your head stuffed up your ass.”

Jenner was hesitant to leave. He looked from Sylvia in the car to me with a raised brow. “What exactly are you up to?”

“Just exacting a little vengeance. I’ve got to run before they realize she’s missing.” I went around to the driver’s side, aware of his gaze heavy upon me. He was definitely going to tell Arys about this. “Have a good night, Jenner.”

I got in the car before he could reply. The engine roared to life, and I hit the gas without a look back. My good mood had soured, but with a glance over at the unconscious Sylvia, a devilish smile crept over me.

Jenner’s attempt at convincing me to go home before I went crazy had only served to feed the fire that drove my madness. I would go home when I was damn well good and ready.

Seeking a place that was likely to be unpopulated at night, I headed for the cemetery north of downtown. I’d ran there blindly on the night I’d awoken as vampire. It would do for what I had in mind.

I used the hands-free feature in my car to leave a message telling Kale to meet me there. Driving paths crisscrossed through the cemetery. It was the perfect place to pull off the street and wait.

I parked where two paths intersected. The graveyard was dense with trees. It gave the illusion that we weren’t in the middle of the city anymore. Unable to resist, I leaned over and breathed deeply of Sylvia’s scent. Expensive perfume tickled my nose. Beneath that was the very rich, tantalizing aroma of human blood.

When she opened her eyes and found me inches away, I smiled. She screamed and grabbed for the door handle. My hand on her wrist stopped her.

“Because I don’t want to chase you around a cemetery, I’m going to make this easier on you.” After a pulse of power, she blinked a few times, confused. Then it hit her, and she sank back in the seat.

“You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?” She was relaxed, as if I’d slipped her a pill rather than a subtle taste of my energy. There was a laziness to her tone, and she eyed me with a carnal interest.

“No. Kale probably will though.”

She nodded and smoothed back her hair as if primping for a big date. She flipped down the visor and examined herself in the mirror. “I deserve that I suppose. I’m not going to deny it. I tortured the f*ck out of him. And many others.”

“Is that all you do for the FPA?” I studied her, watching as she pursed her lips at her reflection.

“Pretty much. I’m also the bait more often than I like to be.” She turned to me with a painted, pink smile. “Do you have any hand lotion?”