September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(32)

It shook me to the bone to see her this way. She was one of the strongest people I knew. Nobody was safe from the repercussions of love. Cheesy romance movies paint a picture of a big love moment followed by a happily ever after. That simply isn’t reality. Love comes at a price, and it is never without challenge.

Lying there in Kale’s bed with the feel of him all around me, I thought about the many trials and complications of love. If only it were as cut and dried as the whole boy meets girl crap.

Jez mumbled, a soft murmur into the pillow. “Don’t leave me alone with him. It’s not safe. He’s a killer.”

“Jezzy, your blood reeks like a cocktail of poisons. There’s nothing enticing about it. Besides, it’s Kale. Of course you’re safe with him. I promise.”

“He’s like Jekyll and Hyde. I never know which one I’m dealing with.” Her eyes were closed, and she began to breathe deeply as slumber dragged her under.

I said nothing, knowing that Kale could hear us. In no time Jez began to snore softly. I stayed until I was sure she wouldn’t wake up, then carefully disengaged myself from her grasp. Trying to be quiet, I moved with silent footsteps to gather my jacket and dagger. With a look back at Jez, I hoped I was doing the right thing by leaving her with Kale. He loved her like a sister, and though he’d hurt her once, I trusted his devotion to her was strong enough to keep that from happening again.

I hoped that when I was vampire I would still see her as family, as pack. Though we were very different beasts, we shared so much. I never wanted to lose that.

Kale was in the living room, staring out the window at the fading night. “Do you need a ride?” He didn’t look at me when he spoke. There was a hard set to his shoulders. He was stiff and uncomfortable.

“No, I’ll call a cab. You should stay with Jez.” I hesitated, watching him closely. “You know she didn’t mean that, Kale. She’s not really afraid of you.”

When he continued to avoid my gaze, I knew for certain that’s what had him so tightly coiled. “She should be. I’ve given her good reason to fear me.”

“It’s just the drugs talking.”

“Is it?” He did look at me then. His mismatched eyes were haunted.

“Who was that guy back at The Spirit Room?” I asked, hoping to redirect his focus. “Or more importantly, what was he? Is there something going on there that we should be paying more attention to?”

Kale shook his head. “Don’t worry about The Spirit Room. Things will take care of themselves there. Keep your attention on what matters. Shya and the rebel vampires. The guy getting high with Jez is a nephilim. The offspring of an angel or demon and a human. Nothing to worry about for the most part.”

I frowned and pursed my lips in thought. I wasn’t sure I agreed with that. Kale was right though; it wasn’t my problem. Not right now anyway. I had enough to deal with.

“We have to keep Jez away from there,” I said. “I felt something inside her during the healing. The dark part of her that is demon. It’s in there, and it’s waiting for something. Taunting death with guys like that can’t be good for her.”

Kale’s interest piqued. His eyes widened, and he nodded. “If he goes near Jez again, I’ll kill him myself. I don’t give a shit who his daddy is.”

“Good.” I was satisfied with that, though I couldn’t help but hope it didn’t come to that.

“I’ll call my cleaning lady and have her bring some groceries over. Jez will be safe here.” Determination shone in his eyes. Again it was a tiny but reassuring glimpse of Kale’s sane side.

“I know.”

“I hate that she fears me.”

A question burned on the tip of my tongue, one that I could not bite back. “And what about me? What about when I fear you?” I think I was hoping for more reassurance, seeking the Kale I longed for.

His expression changed in an instant. Gone was the friendly concern for Jez. Replacing it was a mask of malevolence. “I love it,” he said with a deadly, stone cold seriousness.

“You said you want to back me,” I challenged, trying to understand the many faces of Kale. “How can you do that when you’re on this nutjob mission to destroy yourself? Does being my second affect your promise?”

Kale’s promise to force me to end him hung over my head, a constant shadow that hovered in the back of my mind. I kept expecting it to blow over. It never did. Always we somehow came back to it.

“No. It stands.” There was a dramatic pause as we stared at one another. “I’m yours, Alexa. And I’m here for you. But once it’s all over, you have to set me free.”

That was my cue to leave. I wasn’t ready to have this argument. Besides, I didn’t trust myself around Kale. The urge to smack him was as strong as the urge to kiss him. Would just a little taste of that honey-sweet energy be so bad?

The answer was a resounding yes. So I lurched into motion, careful to avoid Kale’s personal space as I headed for the door.

“Take care of Jez. I’ll call you later.” I was relieved when he didn’t follow me.

Once outside I called a taxi and paced the length of Kale’s block, waiting.

Chapter Nine

It was almost dawn when I got home. No sooner had I stepped foot onto my property than I knew with absolute certainty that there were two vampires and a werewolf inside my house.