I glare at Kane with complete and utter contempt. How dare he act so disgusted with me. It's I who has a
right to feel disgusted, repulsed even.
"Get on with your explanation about Castine," Gage prompts again, impatience shining in his tone.
Kane sighs, leaning back as he starts his explanation. I look away when Amy rests her hand on his leg.
"I broke almost every bond with Castine years and years ago, but until last night, she didn't have a reason to track me down. Now, Alyssa tricked me into telling her I loved her, and that last bond tethering me to that bitch has been severed. She'll be out for blood. Just thought I'd give you a heads up that your dreams of taking a shot at her are about to come true, but you'll regret going for this."
Bond? Tricked? That bastard.
"I didn't trick you, you son of a-"
"Castine is your sire?" Gage asks, interrupting me as the color rushes from his face, stealing his calm composure.
"Like you didn't already know, hunter. The Somage have wanted her dead for quite some time," he snarks, carrying on with his charade. "I couldn't exactly kill her without first falling in love. If I had of, it would have killed me, too. She knows that I've said it now, and she'll fear I'm coming for her. Since I'm one of the few strong enough to do so, she'll go on the offense. The two of you should leave, because despite what you think, you won't be able to take her on. When she gets her hands on a mortal witch, she'll be merciless. Though I don't give a damn if she bleeds her fucking dry, I don't feel like trying to kill damn Vampiress that is already much stronger than me while she has a witch's blood coursing through her, giving her added power."
His words cut like daggers in my heart. He's so cold and callous. I want to hate him so badly right now. Why can't I?
"Fuck," Gage says under his breath. "When will she be coming?"
Kane leans forward, his eyes finding mine once again.
"I don't know, but Alyssa is living in her house. That gives her all the power in the world over her. That little protection spell she cast won't do a damn bit of good. You should know how possessive my kind is. That house belongs to the dark, and so will the blond witch if she stays there."
"You knew the whole time, you slimy bastard. You knew what I was and you-"
His eyes narrow as he interrupts me. "The spell threw Deke off your porch. That's how I found out. It let me through, ironically enough, considering I'm the one who wants to see you suffer for what you've done."
"What I've done? You're as psychotic as your pet," I scoff, my eyes cutting toward Amy.
A beastly growl slips through her snarling lips, and Gage stands to pull my hand in his.
"Let's go. We've heard enough."
Mel returns with the coffees and her eyes clock Gage's hand on mine.
"Wow. The night really changed things," she gasps while putting down the tray.
"One night didn't do anything but reveal the true depths of deception Alyssa has," Kane angrily releases while standing and tossing a few bills to the table. "Keep the change."
He walks off with his dog on his heels. It makes so much sense now. Lycans don't mingle with night stalkers unless they find solace in one. That one usually ends up being its owner... sort of. Lycans were meant to be guardians to the night stalkers, and only after the rebellion did they cut ties.
The door jingles an annoying tune as the bells above it clank together. Just like that, they're all gone, leaving us behind to deal with the heavy air.
"We need to go. If you're living in Castine's home, he's right - no spell will keep you safe enough. You'll stay with me."
"Right next door to him?" I scoff. "Hell no. If she comes, I'll rip her heart out."
"Alyssa, damn it. You don't understand how this shit works."
"No, you don't understand what he did to me. I won't let him take me from my home just because he has a crazy ex. I'm sick of this ridiculous bullshit."
He pulls me down the road and to my walkway as we near my tainted house. He glances around, suddenly wary of his surroundings as he urges me in. His companions break off and head into the woods to vaporize and disperse.
"You didn't even ask him what he wanted from me. You let him dictate the conversation and blame me for it all. You even interrupted when I tried to pry the truth out of him," I scold, crossing my arms in front of my chest like a sullen child.
I'd stomp my foot, but that might be a little too immature. I'm not sure why I ever thought a dark user would actually help me get the truth from my mortal enemy. Of course, Gage is technically my other mortal enemy. How the fuck did all this happen?