The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)(6)

My voice shook slightly as I rode a wave of adrenaline.

Kale seemed to think before speaking, choosing his words carefully. “Alexa, you know I never meant that. This place can be dangerous to anyone.”

“Obviously, Kale,” I replied, the words flying off my tongue. “Look at what it’s done to you.”

Was that a low blow? Maybe just a little bit. But, I was ticked that all of the crazy-ass power in this place was tempting me and his weakness had brought me here in the first place. That, and my concern for both him and Kylarai. I was there because I cared, but that didn’t mean that I had to be happy about it.

Without another word, Kale slipped soundlessly into the bathroom and closed the door. I felt like a jerk, but someone had to say it. I’m pretty well known for being the one to say what we’re all thinking when everyone else chickens out. True, it didn’t earn me many friends, but I’m not the type to fake nice when something needs to be said.

While Kale was busy dressing, I tapped out a fast text message to Ky to let her know I was with him. Then, I placed a call to have Kale’s car towed safely back to his house.

No way was I letting him out of my sight. Not until he was home and the sun was up.

There was a squeak as the bathroom door opened and Kale stepped out. Fully dressed, hair smoothed into place, he almost looked like the version of himself that I was used to dealing with.

I was painfully aware of the new and strange tension between us. It was both foreign and unwelcome. I had to say something.

“I’m sorry, Kale. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s not my place.” My apology sounded forced. At least, it did to me.

He waved it away and began to gather his wallet from where it lay open on the table.

Money spilled out, and I wondered how much these vampires were handing out for a lame re-creation of the real deal.

I knew firsthand that the true thrill of the chase, the ecstasy and release that came with the kill could never be duplicated. Kale clearly had enough problems without me laying on the guilt trip. He wasn’t my boyfriend.

“I don’t expect you to understand everything I do. I know how utterly insane this must look to you.” His usually melodic tone was listless and dull. “This has been a hard week for me. I think it’s the target I killed for Veryl last week.” He paused and glanced around the untidy room.

Veryl Armstrong was our go-to guy for the nasty targets that we get paid to take out.

Most of what we do involves policing our own supernatural society as it co-exists alongside human society. If sunrise came and some numb-nuts vampire hadn’t exposed us all with his thoughtless actions, then we’d done our job. Being touted as fictional has its advantages, and we’d like to keep it that way. The few humans that knew the truth, like the ones here, were clearly little threat: disposable and not likely to be believed by anyone they were dumb enough to tell.

“What do you mean?” I was disturbed by the haunted glow behind his eyes. I was more than ready to leave, but I didn’t want to rush him.

The power rolling off him was steady and natural but stronger than usual. It was chipping away at what remained of my self-reserve. All of this vampire energy was stirring the vampire magic that lay coiled like a snake within me, bonded to my very being.

Kale did a final sweep of the room before striding to the door, stopping when his hand hit the cool, solid metal knob. “This vampiress I hunted, she just looked so much like … her.”

His voice trailed off, but I knew whom he was talking about, the one who had turned him. She’d almost broken him. I knew enough of his past to know that it was a miracle he’d come out the other side of it with his sanity intact. His inclination to slake his blood hunger with willing donors had a lot to do with the things she’d made him see and do.

“She wasn’t though, Kale. You should have gone to Kylarai.” I imagined the predatory look in his eyes when I’d come in and thought better of that suggestion. “Or me or Lilah. But, I do understand why you do this.” I gestured to the room before laying a hand on his arm. “I’m the last person in the position to judge.”

I laughed lightly in hopes of relaxing the strained mood. It managed to get me a smile out of him, which I took to be a good sign. Kale and I are friends, but we don’t share the level of intimacy reserved for extremely close friends. I have that with Ky and sometimes Jez. I was more than a little uncomfortable in this situation.

“I do love her, Alexa,” he said suddenly, the door open just a crack as he held it.

“Kylarai has come to hold a very special place in my life.”

I opened my mouth to tell him that he didn’t owe me any explanations. Before I could get a word out, he continued in a rush.

“I just want you to know that. Because I know you only came in here for her.” He shook his head slightly, as if searching for a thought.

A loud bang followed by a shriek came from the room next door, and I jumped.

Everything about this place was getting creepier by the second. Kale was completely unfazed by it.

“Kale,” I said, wanting to get straight to the point. “Don’t think for a minute that I think badly of you. I know you’re one of the good guys. Trust me when I say, you don’t even come close to comparing with some of the ass**les out there. Now, let’s get the hell out of here before I lose my mind.”