Freak Show (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #7)(90)

Still, I knew deep in my heart that when push came to shove, I would have to walk this dark path alone.

Epilogue

A loud clatter followed by a bang had me cringing. The last of the old furniture and tables were being hauled out of The Wicked Kiss. I was happier than I thought I’d be to see them go.

I had wasted no time in following through with my plans to renovate. Whatever had gone on here in my absence was still a mystery to me. Kale and Willow seemed to be the only ones to know the exact story, and neither of them was talking.

I snuck a sidelong glance at Willow who sat perched on a barstool beside me, watching the vampires on my staff tear apart my nightclub. In his hand was a tequila, like usual. I would never understand how he could drink that awful swill.

“Still not talking, huh?” I teased, knowing he wouldn’t spill Kale’s secret.

“There’s nothing to talk about. I promise.” He ducked his dirty-blond head to hide a grin. “So, tell me what you plan to do about Jenner and the Vegas club.”

While we watched the loud and sometimes destructive activity in the club, I had filled him in on the details of my trip. I had also told him about the dream I had a few nights ago. Even Arys and Shaz didn’t know about that. Not yet.

“Vegas is Arys’s problem right now,” I said, frowning into my whiskey glass. “I have enough to deal with here. How the hell can I run two cities when I have yet to run one? And who knows? I might be dead soon. Then neither city will be my problem.”

Willow’s silver wings were absent from sight though I could almost hear them rustle as he shifted on his stool. He gave me a look I was starting to know well. It meant he was about to get serious on me.

“You think the dream means you’re going to die soon?” He asked, his tone gentle and warm. “Dreams are open to interpretation. They can mean almost anything. Try not to read too much into it.”

Falon’s words haunted me every time I gazed into the dark gold liquor in my glass. He represented everything I feared and loathed. Being one of Shya’s minions didn’t appeal to me. I would rather truly be dead than enslaved to a demon.

The dragon on my forearm itched and burned, as if aware of my thoughts. More than once, I had toyed with the thought of digging it out of my flesh with a claw. The only thing stopping me was knowing that Shya would make me pay for it. He had still not shown up unexpectedly nor had he continued to call. It was starting to make me nervous. I wished he would just get it over with already.

Since returning from Las Vegas, I felt like I was stuck in some kind of limbo. Waiting for something to happen was not my strong suit. I’d rather make things happen. In this case, my hands were tied. I could do nothing until Shya made the first move. Then I could only react and hope that it was enough.

Of course, there were other things to keep me busy. I had no intention of remaining idle. Shya was seeking something, a scroll. It went without saying that I would be wise to seek it as well. Seeing as the bastard planned to use my death to open the seal barring it, I had as much reason to desire its location as he did.

“I don’t think I’m jumping to the wrong conclusion, Willow. I can feel it. It’s going to happen soon.” I took a deep breath and blurted, “I’m scared.”

It was a confession I don’t think I would have made to anyone else. Arys had a way of knowing my feelings due to our bond, but even he did not know my every thought. An admission of fear felt like an admission of weakness. I detested it.

Willow scooted his stool closer so he could put a friendly arm around my shoulders and pull me in against him. His touch was comforting like a warm blanket on a rainy day.

“I know,” he said, resting his head against mine. “It’s ok to be scared, Alexa. It means you still feel something. You still care. It’s a good thing.”

“Doesn’t feel too damn good.”

There was another crash as a broken table came apart on its way out the door. It would be a relief when this was done. I planned to keep the club operating during renovations, which would prove difficult but had to be done. It would have been nice if Kale had been here to help oversee things. Wherever he was, I probably didn’t want to know.

He too had been keeping his distance. That was likely for the best. There were only so many ways and so many times I could apologize for taking Shya’s mark to save him. I would never be sorry for saving him, no matter how hard Kale tried to make me regret that choice.

Baggage. We all had it. Mine was starting to get pretty heavy. I shuddered to imagine what it would be like after centuries as a vampire. I couldn’t picture it.

The Wicked Kiss was almost bare. The floors were being redone as soon as the painting was finished. No carpet. It was too easily dirtied up in a place like this. Kale had little input to give despite the building’s ownership being in his name, so I’d chosen a nice, non-slip luxury vinyl tile to do the main party area in, including the dance floor. The old, hard booth seats were being replaced with softer seats that were more couch-like rather than bench-like. I was still picking out furniture for the lounge area behind the bar. I sighed when I remembered that the paint color for the walls had yet to be selected. There was a lot of work ahead, and yet I was kind of excited about it.

The regular patrons that couldn’t stay away were crowded around the bar, squeezing in wherever they could. If they could see the Vegas club, they’d all be on the next flight out. Jenner had much to be proud of.