The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)(25)

“Coffee?” Her first word kind of surprised me. She smiled wide, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Sure, thanks.” I watched her fill a mug and hand it to me. I fetched my own cream and sugar. “Good morning, or afternoon I should say.” The microwave clock indicated that it was closer to the supper hour than breakfast. Such was the life of a werewolf.

“Did you sleep well? I stayed up reading the latest Nora Roberts novel until my eyes were dry. Had some pretty crazy dreams after.” Kylarai bustled around the stove, carefully not meeting my eyes for more than a few seconds at a time.

I took a long sip of my coffee, watching her like a hawk. I didn’t have to say anything. I knew her, and she would cave all on her own. “I slept great. There is no such thing as a bad sleep when Shaz is with me.”

She took two plates out of the cupboard and began to scoop food onto each with the spatula. Handing one to me, she met my eyes with a guilty half-smile.

“You’re not even going to ask, are you?”

That had happened even sooner than I’d expected. I gave her a friendly grin and reached out to pat her arm before grabbing a fork and taking a seat at the table.

“Of course not,” I said. “But, that doesn’t mean I’m not dying to know.”

I took a bite of the mouth-watering omelet and almost had to close my eyes in pleasure. Kylarai was a supreme cook when she had the time. I was going to enjoy this.

I’d be fending for myself again in no time.

She took the seat across from me but didn’t pick up her fork. “Ok, this is the quick version. Kale and I called it quits over a week ago. I just can’t do it, Lex. I can’t be with a vampire romantically. Kale has baggage that I can’t even begin to comprehend.” She shrugged and looked like a lost little girl. “I didn’t think it was fair to him. I had to let him go.”

“Is that why he was drowning his sorrows at The Wicked Kiss?” I asked between bites. “That makes more sense now.”

“And, it wasn’t that I was trying to keep anything from you, but then I ran into Julian at Lucy’s and one thing led to another…” Kylarai smiled shyly and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I really like him.”

I wished she had let me finish eating first. I grimaced inwardly but miraculously prevented it from manifesting on my face.

“Just like that, huh?” I took a sip from my coffee cup, using the moment to think of something positive to say. I failed.

“Well … the attraction isn’t new, but acting on it certainly is.” Ky picked up her fork and took a bite of her eggs. She chewed robotically, out of habit rather than desire. “I can’t stop thinking about Kale though. He didn’t want to see me, when I went to him after he bit you.”

I could see how the admittance pained her. Dropping my fork on my plate, I reached across the table to give her hand a warm squeeze.

“Don’t worry about him, Ky. Kale will be fine.” I didn’t sound very convincing, but I’d seen how rough he was. Why didn’t he tell me they had broken up?

She chewed her lower lip, her eyes darting between her plate and me. “I just couldn’t do it. I can’t donate blood to him, and I can’t sit by while he gets it from that whorehouse of a blood bar. Everything unraveled really fast.”

I nodded in understanding. Kylarai hadn’t even been cool with it the first time Arys had fed from me. It was a very personal experience, one that was more intimate than sex.

I could understand her inability to be part of that world. And, Kale was the type of guy who needed that in his lover.

“You can’t blame yourself. Kale’s issues go deeper than either of us realize. I’m sure of it. And, if you aren’t able to be with him, then it’s better to figure that out now instead of months or years from now.” I was encouraged to finish my meal when she began to pick at her food again.

“I know,” she nodded and pushed a slice of bacon around her plate before finally spearing it and popping it in her mouth.

We ate in comfortable silence for a few moments. I wanted to ask her why Julian of all people. She could do so much better. That would be rude though, so I bit my tongue against the urge.

“I know it’s hard, Kylarai,” I said instead. “But, Kale will be fine. And, so will you.”

As an afterthought I added, “I hope you don’t hold it against me for introducing you guys.” I smiled to soften the seriousness of my words.

Kylarai laughed then which made me feel a million times better. “Don’t be ridiculous, Alexa. I adore Kale; he’s a good man. He just isn’t meant to be mine.”

Her warm grey eyes fixed on me, and the uncertainty in their depths made my heart go out to her. Her energy was very strained and pinched. It stung if I concentrated on it.

Too much negativity.

I finished eating and rinsed my dish before stacking it in the dishwasher. That had to be man’s greatest invention to date. I went for a second cup of coffee, needing the caffeine boost in my system. There was more that I wanted to say, but I wasn’t sure how.

I shook my head and resisted the urge to hug her against her will. She wasn’t ready for that though. I could see how hard she was fighting to subdue the depths of her feelings.

“You know I’m always here, right? If you ever want to talk.” I wished there was more I could say, but I could only say so much.