Only Vampires Cry Blood (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #3)(56)

“Don’t walk away mad,” he whispered against my lips.

I crumpled against him, breathing his scent deeply. “Let me go.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to.”

“But, you already have.”

“No, Lex. It’s not like that.”

“Isn't it?”

“Please understand. I’m losing my mind here.”

It took all of the remaining inner strength that I possessed to push away from him.

“Then go back to the Kiss and find it.”

I did walk away then, and much to my utter horror, Arys didn't stop me. I held my head high and strode across the street. I’d drank too much to drive, and I couldn't hang around to wait for Ky and Jez. The dark walking path alongside the road would lead me home.

I refused to acknowledge the flurry of emotions that assailed me. Fuck it. Even as I walked away from him, the power urged me back. All I could think as I went was that I should have known, should have expected this. He was a vampire, and I was a woman with scars on my heart. Bad combination.

Chapter Fourteen

The town was so quiet. Not even the teenage crowd that partied wherever they could find a vacant spot was out and about. It was a little unnerving.

As I walked down the path toward home, I sent a text message to Kylarai telling her I’d gone home. If she wanted the details tonight, she could harass Arys for them. I could only assume he’d gone back into the bar after letting me walk away. Perhaps he’d gone to The Wicked Kiss instead. The thought made my wolf pace inside.

I mulled over the situation in my mind, unable to let it go. If Harley expected me to show and keep my end of the deal, I would. Then, I’d finish what I’d started months ago when Arys had stopped me. I could have killed Harley then. I wanted to. Other than the information he had, he meant nothing to me.

Would it hurt Arys if I killed his sire? Was that something I should allow to alter my decision? He claimed to feel nothing for Harley, but how could I be sure?

I hated that he might, which made me feel like the world’s biggest hypocrite. Arys could do whatever he wanted. Who was I to say anything? I did what I wanted, despite the many repercussions. I was no one to judge.

Knowing that didn’t change my way of thinking. I wandered the path home feeling broken, insecure and more than a little jealous. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get the image of Arys and Harley together out of my head. It made me hate Harley so much more.

I allowed myself to fantasize about the various ways I could kill him. Each one brought a smirk to my face. I was almost looking forward to seeing him again.

As caught up as I was in my thoughts, I was instantly aware that I was being followed. I sensed it before I picked up the wolf scent of my follower. It wasn’t a total surprise. I figured Dylan wouldn’t wait long before making his move. Predictable bastard.

Keeping a calm head was easy. I was already spoiling for a fight. This was the perfect time for him to try to jump me. I knew his buddy had to be out there somewhere as well. So far, I could only smell one, but I could sense the other. I continued to walk as if I didn’t know I was being stalked.

The sensation of their watchful eyes burned right through me. Instinct told me to take a stand and call them out, but common sense said to keep going. Kylarai’s place was closer than mine was. If I could get into the forest on that side of town, I could avoid a confrontation in town and hopefully have the home turf advantage.

Before I left the comfort of the streetlights, I needed to bang out a quick message to Shaz. I kept it short and to the point: being followed, headed for Ky’s. If I knew Shaz, he wouldn’t be far behind.

Resisting the urge to look for my stalkers was nearly impossible. I was torn between both physical and psychic responses. It was hard to focus, and I started to wish I’d never left the bar.

Deep breaths. Do I run? No. They’d just chase me down. Could I make it into a public place before they could grab me? Fuck that. I was the Alpha in this town. My town.

I watched my feet hit the ground, one after the other, and I concentrated on the energy in my surroundings. The power that Arys and I had just tapped immediately reacted to my desires. I wanted to know where these two wolves were located around me.

I wanted to see them.

I could feel them then with a keen psychic awareness of their auras. I read them with the ease of reading the morning newspaper. Just had to skim the surface to get everything I needed to know. It was so simple to bend the power to my will; I knew it was largely due to the confrontation with Arys. He had a way of firing me up. Oddly enough, it seemed to work in my favor. Also, it proved me right. Arys and I did need each other. It was no coincidence; my power and my control improved because of him.

Both Dylan and the other wolf kept their distance. Dylan was staying about a block behind me, keeping to the shadows. I could see him in my mind’s eye, padding along with the silence of the wolf. His companion was to my right, walking parallel with me a block over. I didn’t feel intimidated by them, but I was wary. Werewolves were nothing if not true killers. Having two of them preying on me was definitely unsettling.

My wolf was on full alert, ready for an attack. She wanted it. Tearing Dylan’s throat out would feel incredible right now. The thought encouraged my bloodlust and a small smile played along my lips. This could be fun.

Much as I liked to rant and rave about it, the vampiric tendencies I’d acquired from Arys had a plus side. With the power blazing its way through me and the blood hunger rising, I wasn’t surprised when my fangs and claws lengthened fully. My brown wolf eyes were very likely blue with the vampire power coursing through me. I focused on control. I’d let loose when the f**kers cornered me.