The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)(7)

It bothered me that Kale worried about my opinion of him. Maybe he needed to do a little soul searching, examine his opinion of himself.

He was absolutely adamant that we leave through the back exit. I can’t say I was especially fond of walking through the club again, but his resistance piqued my curiosity.

When we left the room, the first thing I noticed was the horror movie-style quiet in the hall. There was no sign of Shawn or anyone else for that matter. I followed Kale back the way I’d come. Instead of turning to the door with the velvet curtain, he went all the way down to the other end of the even numbered hall.

We had almost reached the exit door at the end, when door number sixteen burst open and a giggling mid-forties woman came out followed by a large African Canadian vampire.

The guy was large enough to bench press my petite frame with one arm, I was sure. I caught his attention immediately as he identified what I was. His dark eyes went from me to Kale, and a grin revealed white teeth, his fangs drawing my eye.

“Kale, buddy. How did you get so lucky?” He winked and nodded at me as if I wasn’t listening. “Prime pickings, my friend.”

Kale appeared flustered, eyeing the exit door. “Indeed, Justin. However, those pickings are most certainly not mine.” He looked embarrassed, and I started to feel my patience slipping.

The big vampire studied me; the brunette at his side, now quiet in speculation. I met his eyes evenly, unafraid.

“What are you?” He asked suddenly, catching me off guard.

“What?” I gaped at him. “You know what I am.”

He didn’t move, just continued to stare at me. I had the sensation that he was analyzing my energy, much the way one would slowly pick apart a sip of fine wine.

My mind was reeling. I needed out of this moment, now. Nobody had asked me what I was in months. The last man to do so had been my former Alpha, Raoul Roberts. The same night that he’d said it, I had watched as his daughter killed him.

Raoul had been the first man I’d ever fallen in love with. He had also been the first man to break my heart. If that was all he’d done, I could have gotten over it. I'd learned soon after his death that he had been the one that murdered my family after having an affair with my mother. He was directly responsible for the attack that infected and turned me.

Those same words, “What are you?” they haunted my dreams. That question was one of the last things Raoul had said to me before he died. Now, here was this big, scary vampire asking the same thing.

He was looking at me with a mix of interest and confusion. “Oh, I know what you are Huntress.” He gave me a wink and a chuckle that made my spine tense. “But, there’s something else there. Something undead.”

His words almost caused my heart to stop. Shawn hadn’t had a clue until I had thrown a little power around. Justin was clearly more perceptive and a lot more intimidating.

I smiled and shook my head. I wasn’t going to be coerced into giving up my secret.

Kale cleared his throat and said, “We really should be going.”

We made as if to move, and Justin held up a hand. “Tell me.”

I did not like the commanding tone he used. Who the hell did he think he was to demand from me?

“Come on, Justin, lay off.” Kale reached to draw me closer in a protective gesture.

The hallway was stifling, and I began to crave some fresh air. Justin glared at Kale, and I sensed the unspoken challenge. With an exasperated sigh, I held up a hand, forming a perfect psi ball with little more than a thought. It glowed with swirling traces of my gold and Arys’ midnight blue energy.

Justin’s eyes widened, but his lady friend didn’t react. Only humans with an incredible sixth sense can see energy. I’d been one of them once. It was much the same with Weres. Vampires were the exception, as increased psychic abilities came as part of the package, though it varied by vampire.

I made no further motion, simply showing him the ball and then allowing it to drop.

Kale stiffened as the vampire and wolf energy buzzed around us. Together, it created something much bigger than either Arys or I was on our own.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Kale breathed the words in my ear. His nervous glance at the occupied rooms around us set my heart to racing as I realized how stupid what I’d just done was.

“Arys Knight,” Justin said, nodding as if he’d known all along and had just wanted confirmation. “You’re prettier than he let on. I can see why he’s been trying to keep your identity quiet. I wouldn’t let a tasty little thing like you become common knowledge either.”

Was that supposed to be flattering? And, how in the hell did all these vampires know one another? Small world.

“Um, thanks.” I frowned, unable to humor him.

“We really need to go.” Kale jerked into action, pulling me with him as he pushed open the door to the parking lot beyond. “Justin, have a lovely night.”

The bigger vampire watched us pensively but didn’t attempt to stop us. The look he wore was so curious, so eager that I felt the grip of panic tighten my chest. Was I safe from these vampires because of my bond with Arys? Or, was I in more danger than I realized?

I gulped in the fresh night air, feeling like I had just escaped prison. “How do these vampires know who I am? I’m sure I don’t have a reputation that precedes me.” If there was a slight tremor in my voice, it wasn’t a coincidence.