September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(64)

“We can’t be alone together. Not until this is over.”

“I know.”

I held tight to him, enjoying the way it felt to be in his arms. A lurking certainty haunted me, telling me that I’d better savor it while I still could because things were about to change.

The sound of raised voices drew my attention back to the bar. A couple of vampires were sniffing around Kylarai. From the looks of it, they weren’t taking her brush off very well, even with Jez in their face threating to tear their eyes out.

Arys followed my gaze. “Kylarai shouldn’t be in here. Not in her state.”

“You knew right away, huh?” I nodded. “I guess that explains why every vampire in here is looking at her like she’s a hot new item on the menu. We better go put a stop to that.”

“You need to get her out of here. She’s no use to you by being a liability.” Arys took my hand and pulled me along beside him. He was repressing a lot of pent up shit, and his energy burned with it.

Jenner caught my eye as we approached. His unspoken question was met with a nod from me. He moved fast, a blur as he clotheslined the nearest vamp, laying him out flat on the floor. His fist smashed the face of the other, and a brawl broke out.

I pulled Kylarai aside, trying to shield her with my body. “Do you believe me now that you shouldn’t have come here? I love you, and I know how deeply you care for me. But now you have someone else to put first.”

I forced her to see how serious I was. This was not up for discussion. If I had to drag her stubborn ass out of there myself, I would.

Arys jumped into the melee and promptly killed one of the offending vampires. A shower of dust coated the floor. A moment later a barstool came careening over to us, smacking the back of my legs. I swore like a sailor but was thankful it hadn’t hit Ky.

“You don’t have to ask me again,” she said. “I didn’t realize I’d be making this much trouble for you. I just wanted to help. I’ll head home, but you better call me the second this is over.”

“Trust me, it’s better that you go now. If you think the vampires are bad you should see the FPA. If they knew you were…” I faltered, unable to even consider what I was about to say. “They can never know about the baby, Kylarai. This has to stay as secretive as possible.”

Worry filled her grey eyes, and she nodded quickly. Her lower lip began to quiver, and she bit it. I hugged her close before escorting her all the way to her Escalade. I only went back inside after seeing her safely leave the parking lot.

Returning to the scene of the action, I found not one but two piles of dust and ash. Jenner and Arys stood there proudly, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d high fived. Catching Arys’s eye, I gave him a pointed look and shook my head. This was not the way to show the vampire population that we weren’t dictators.

“Don’t even say it,” Arys said, proving how well he knew my thoughts. “Those two threatened a pregnant woman. No innocents. Ever. Remember? It had to be done.”

I glanced around at the remaining vamps present. They were either blissfully unaware and caught up in their own hunt, or they were very obviously watching us.

“You’re right. That kind of shit can’t be allowed. I just wish it hadn’t happened at such a delicate time.”

“Should’ve just let me rip their eyes out,” Jez insisted with a frown. “Some punishments can be worse than death. They leave a longer lasting impression as well.”

“Next time, Jezzy. Their eyeballs are all yours.” My promise was met with a ruby red smile.

“Thanks,” I said to Jenner, hoping he noticed the lack of sarcasm. I was genuinely grateful for his willingness to defend a wolf he didn’t even know merely because she meant something to me. Maybe he wasn’t such a jackass after all.

There was no time to recover from that little disturbance before Justin called my name. Even amid the pounding music and loud chatter of patrons, I heard it. Because I’d been expecting it.

I turned to find him beckoning me over. “Showtime,” I said to Arys.

The trepidation and anxiety that had plagued me since Briggs’s call faded. Now that he was here, I was ready.

“So that eyeball thing?” Jez asked, staying close as we headed for the door. “Is that still cool? I mean, the FPA, they’ve got to have it coming.”

“I’d like to settle this without bloodshed. Briggs needs to see things from my point of view. But if he draws first blood, then it’s on.”

Jenner and Willow accompanied us out to the parking lot. It felt damn good to have these people at my back. At least it did until I stepped out of the building and saw the small army Briggs had brought.

Two black vans full of agents sat in the parking lot, blocking my car in as if Briggs thought I was cowardly enough to flee. He hadn’t seemed to grasp my personality yet.

Agent Thomas Briggs stood beside one of the vans looking like he’d just stepped out of a Hollywood CIA movie. It was his usual look. Dark skinned with short-cropped hair, in a black suit, he had his hands on his hips, one of which rested on the butt of his gun.

I didn’t give him a chance to speak first. “You must have some seriously big balls to hunt down your lover’s sister, Briggs.”

His steely dark gaze remained unchanged, but the slight change in his energy gave him away. I had just revealed something his crew didn’t know. Good. It was a tiny victory, but it counted.