Blood's Fury (Deadly Beauties 1)

"Alyssa, shit. Where the hell are you? I've been worried to damn death."

He really does sound worried, tormented even.

"Sorry. It's been a long, busy week. Um, Kane, I think this goes without saying, but you know we're not together anymore. If you want to be with Amy-"

"Damn it, Alyssa. Stop with the Amy shit. I don't even fucking like her as a friend. As a matter of fact, I quite possibly hate her at this particular moment. Please tell me where you are, and don't you dare say we're not together."

I sigh out heavily, and then I glance out the window of the huge condominium to stare down at the small humans below, oblivious to the world of deadly beauties around them.

"I just called to see how you are. I've been worried my mom's shit was going to affect you since you've been with me."

"Alyssa, please tell me what's going on. My detective friend can't even find out anything about her. It's like she's not real or something. Are you in trouble? Are you in witness protection or something?" he asks, worrying all the more.

Oh how I wish it was something as mundane and human as that.

"Sort of. Look, don't worry. As long as you're safe, I'll be okay. For the record, I'm not as fragile as you think I am. I'll be fine."

Don't ask me where I heard that.

"Alyssa, you are fragile. You're a twenty-year-old girl. Please let me come be with you. I can help."

I wish that was true.

"Sorry, but it needs to be this way, and we aren't together. It's for the best. Maybe Amy is psycho, but she's probably better for you than me."

"Fuck! I'm so sick of hearing about her. I want you. Do you hear me? You."

The butterflies ruffle in my stomach, and I lie back on the bed while pulling on my shirt.

"I want you, too, but things are just too complicated right now. I'd rather you just forget about me."

"Please don't make me beg," he hoarsely whispers, making my tears form.

I grip my hair and walk over to pull on my jeans, my heart sinking to the pits of my stomach as I stare woefully at the girl who has started to fall in love with a human she can never be with.

"Kane, I'm sorry. Listen, if-"

I scream when I see the scaly tail of … something, dangling from the top of my shirt, and I start flailing around wildly to rid myself of the mystery varmint invading my cleavage. I leap onto the bed as a lizard thuds to the ground, and then I see it wink at me. The fucking lizard even laughs as it scurries out the door.

Thad!

"Alyssa!" Kane yells, as if he's been saying my name repeatedly, expecting an explanation for my panic.

"Sorry. I'm fine."

He breathes out a rattling breath, and I actually hear him collapse to a chair or something.

"What the hell just happened?"

"We've apparently got... pests," I grumble, scowling at the door which I know Thad is lurking behind.

Pests of the changer variety.

I need to remind Thad how much it hurts to be brought down by a witch.

"You damn near stopped my heart," he mumbles, his breaths still coming out in pained wisps.

"Sorry. I need to go. I've got to get some new clothes before we head off to some new, random destination."