Blood's Fury (Deadly Beauties 1)

"Fuck," he mumbles, and then I feel him leaning over as if to check on my sleeping status.

I remain perfectly still, keeping my breaths even to ensure him I haven't woken up.

"Fine. I'll be out front in a second. Make sure nothing can get in here. Keep her safe."

"I'll stay. It's you they need. You're the only one she responds to when she loses it."

"I think that's just the game she's playing. She's doing everything she fucking can to break me and Alyssa up. I'm sick of this shit. I plan on making that very clear."

Their conversation halts as Kane's warmth disappears from the bed. I silently scramble to my feet the second the door shuts behind him.

I'm tired

of this shit, too. I'm desperate to see what the hell is going on with Little Miss Crazy Bitch. I want to know why they need his help so fucking bad.

"If she wakes up, tell her I won't be long," Kane says from the living room.

"What should I tell her? You got a good lie lined up?"

Lie? What the fuck?

"No. Don't lie to her. I don't want to do that. Just tell her I'll be back. It's time to explain this shit anyway. I told her I love her."

My heart beats fiercely. The way he says it... it's almost like he's worried about something. Is he worried he said it too soon?

"Shit, Kane. You know she'll be coming for you now. What are you going to do?"

What? Who? Huh?

These guys are more confusing than immortals with their constantly cryptic conversations.

"What I have to. No matter how bad it gets, I won't lose Alyssa because of her. Lock up. I'll be back soon."

Who the fuck is her?

As soon as the door shuts, I pull on my shoes and sneak onto the balcony. I'm still wearing my wrinkled clothes I never changed out of, but spy missions don't really have to have a prepared ensemble.

Kane quickly disappears into the woods, and I have to jump from the balcony to keep up.

At the last minute, I use my magic to call to a tree limb to me. It wraps around my waist and halts my fall, turning it into a graceful landing.

Kane's already gone, obviously on his way to town. I can't even sense his trail at all. It's as though he's just disappeared. I'm not giving up though.

I head out deeper, straining to hear one crunch of leaves or one snap of a twig. I'm met with only the stir of the wind against the trees. How in the hell did I lose him that quickly?

Scowling, I trek on, but I quickly learn the woods are trickier in the dark than in the light. After an hour, I'm completely lost. This should have been a quick trip - twenty minutes at most - but now I've somehow wandered into a never-ending circle.

Then I sense it - eyes on me. I look around, casually gauging my surroundings as I inconspicuously search for the creature lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to pounce.

Glowing orange eyes appear behind a pile of brush, and my stomach flops against my sides.

Lycan.

I turn around, and after a heavy breath, I start running with every ounce of energy I have, regretting my thin-soled shoes immediately. I hear the furious growl and the fierce roar, and then the chase is underway behind me as the beast launches itself out of hiding to pursue its prey - me.

I risk a glance over my shoulder to see it's too fast for me. The monstrous size of the she-devil behind me makes me gasp, and I lose my balance, pummeling to the ground with a loud thud and an accidental scream.

I leap to my feet just as the vicious beast catches up. It swipes at me before lunging, and I hurl my body out of its path just before impact. Back on my feet again, I don't hesitate. Using mother nature's energy, the ground jumps up and pins her into place.