Only Vampires Cry Blood (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #3)(68)

I’d dressed for a fight: slim fitting jeans that I could still move well in and a sporty tank top. With my hair pulled back in a ponytail that reached my elbow, I felt good, ready to kick some ass. However, I didn’t intend to get any more physical with Harley than I had to. I’d spent hours before bed working on my focus and honing my control. Harley’s coaching had helped incredibly with envisioning my power and guiding it. He’d sealed his own fate in a way.

The banging and clanking of dishes in the kitchen reached me as Shaz moved about cleaning up after dinner. I’d had no appetite though I’d tried to eat. When this was all over, I’d likely be ready to devour a four-course meal.

One of my biggest concerns had been dealt with, all thanks to Kylarai. I had such amazing friends. She’d been able to reach her contact in the city and not only had he asked her to dinner, he’d also been more than willing to make Kale’s ownership legal.

She’d agreed to the dinner as a means of saying thank you. I was crossing my fingers that it may lead to more, as long as he wasn’t a dirt bag like Julian.

If everything were going as planned, Jez would be getting to the Kiss any time now.

She was going to play the role of vampire junkie and hang off Kale as if she was his donor of the night. As long as Arys didn’t show up, she wouldn’t have to do anything else. I was keeping my fingers crossed. Could I be so lucky?

I paced impatiently as the sun vanished from sight and darkness fell. When Shaz came in and wrapped his arms around me, I found it hard to relax into his embrace. He smelled faintly of steak and shampoo, scents that I associated with home and comfort.

The sooner we got this over with, the sooner I could snuggle up with those lovely smells and entwine his warm body with mine.

I sighed and rubbed a hand along his arm. “Are you ready to get this show on the road?”

“I’m way ahead of you.”

The drive to the blood-junkie nightclub seemed to take less time than I remembered.

I wasn’t afraid or nervous, but I wasn’t in a rush either. Shaz kept up a steady stream of small talk as I drove in silence. I think he was unsure of my mental state. I’d been quiet since waking, lost in the zone, where I needed to be to do this.

I glanced over at Shaz, admiring him despite my mind’s preoccupation. His white blonde hair was tousled, appearing even whiter in contrast to his brilliant green wolf eyes.

He was feeling the predator within, strong and commanding. He was dressed all in black, but casual wear, easy to move in.

I swore at the Jaguar when I accidentally ground the gears while shifting. My car had an internal clutch; I wasn’t used to this manual clutch work. Listening to the pricey car’s protests, I smiled, envisioning Raoul’s fury if he could see what I was doing to his prized automobile.

I pulled into the parking lot of The Wicked Kiss with an unintentional squeal of tires.

It was empty except for two barely legal women strutting their way inside in breakneck stilettos. I knew it didn’t take long for vampire donors to become vampire wannabes.

This place had spawned more than enough foolish donors turned vampire. I couldn’t wait to bring that to a stop.

We parked and headed for the door. We were going in through the front. I concentrated hard on shielding my energy. I didn’t want Harley to sense me until I was ready to blow him apart. I couldn’t assume it would be as easy as I was picturing it. I was keeping my fingers crossed though. Good Lord, please don’t let this backfire on me.

The bouncer at the door didn’t stop me, knowing better by now. The woman taking cover charge gaped at me when I breezed by with Shaz at my side, but the bouncer waved away her protest.

A wave of relief washed over me when I spied Kale and Jez sitting at his usual table.

I was torn, uncertain if I should approach them or not. Shaz took the lead and strolled casually over to them, so I followed along with a lingering glance at the patrons littering the place.

“He hasn’t come out front yet tonight.” Kale skipped the greeting and launched into the important stuff. “He usually does after he’s had his fill of eager youth. Then he leaves and goes God knows where. This is the best chance you’ll get all night.”

“Good, I’m going in then.” To Shaz I said, “Wait here. Give me ten minutes or so before following. If we both burst in on him, it’ll get ugly faster than I’d like.”

“Alexa.” Shaz shook his head at me, clearly not liking my plan. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

“Of course. Don’t question me now, Shaz. I don’t need you planting doubts in my head.” I was primed and ready; I didn’t want to hear anything that could ruin my state of mind.

Jez listened to our exchange, but her eyes were constantly moving, watching the building carefully. She gave me a dismissive wave, telling me just to go. She was right; I shouldn’t waste time standing around. I kissed Shaz quickly before heading for the black curtain behind the bar.

I didn’t allow thoughts to form. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other and nothing else as I moved fast with silence and stealth. I tapped the power inside me, calling it forth in full force. Where it had once quickly overwhelmed me, it now felt right as it flowed through me with a heady mix of vampire and werewolf. Though I wasn’t one-hundred-percent sure I could control it if it went wild, I was willing to find out.