"Dredge my mind, but I won't let you touch Alyssa," Kane asserts, fearlessly taking on the alpha in a stare down.
The alpha turns the rest of his body to face us, an eerie smile playing over his immortally sexy lips. I really hate immortals.
"Oh, don't worry, night stalker, you'll get dredged. As will she."
"You have no idea who you're fucking with," Kane growls, tucking me behind him as he steps toward the alpha.
"Castine's lapdog. Yeah, I've heard of you. You forget we've grown stronger these past few centuries. I'm not afraid of you, just like I'm not afraid of your sire or your new friends," he rolls out, tossing a pointed glare toward Gage and Drackus.
I thought Gage was supposed to be friends with the Were. Apparently, he overestimated himself.
Kane cracks his neck, doing his best to keep his temper from flaring, as his warning blues rise to the surface. His stance stays protective, which seems to pique Drackus's curiosity as he regards him with a studious gaze.
"Let's find out how much stronger you are then, because I'll be damned if I let your dredger touch one hair on her head."
The alpha moves toward us, ferocity seeping from his now turned eyes. It looks like autumn is sparking to life and taking over with its red and gold medley—nature stirring.
"Love to," he growls.
Kane smirks, relishing the challenge and not looking concerned at all. I'm almost worried he's o
verestimating himself. His arrogance could hurt us more than help us if this goes wrong.
"When I win, you don't touch her," Kane says while motioning toward the door.
"When I win, my dredger finds her fucking memories without any further interruption."
"I don't think so, night stalker," Drackus says while coming to halt their exit to the hallway. "You don't get to make such calls."
"I just did. No one here is more determined to keep that dredger away from her than I am. I can assure you of that."
Drackus seems dumbfounded by Kane's fearless persona. I know for a fact if Drackus can take down Castine, Kane won't prove to be a challenge. Kane knows that as well, but he doesn't seem to acknowledge such a fact.
He keeps his dominant stance, and Drackus tightens his lips. Is Drackus really ceding? Did I miss hell freezing over?
"You better hope you can take him."
Kane moves his gaze around to the beta wolves who are all still wearing their dark shades and mob attitudes.
"You just focus on the rest of the pack. Wolves don't fight fair unless they're winning. If they try to intervene, fuck em' up."
The wolves all head outside for the duel that is not far from taking place. Personally, I'd rather fight for myself, but I don't know a damn thing apparently. The alpha claims they've gotten stronger. I thought them to be so much weaker than a night stalker.
"Drackus, you can't be serious about letting him do this," Gage growls, joining our small circle of whispers.
Drackus shakes his head while massaging his temples. "As much as I hate to risk it, right now it's our only option. Reese's pride drove him to bargain. Nothing else would have made him back down. If he takes this to the light, Alyssa will be exposed for who she truly is."
Kane tilts his head, looking to me for clarification. I suppose he's wondering which part the light would most disapprove of—the fact Airis Devall is still alive or the fact I'm essentially Freya's chosen chess piece who's destined to destroy the world if I unite with Gage.
"I trust Kane," I insert, feeling like I should have some input on the matter.
Kane pulls me to him and ignores my father's extreme disapproval when his lips find mine in an appreciative kiss. The touch of a vaporizing breeze lets me know Gage couldn't stomach the sight.
When Kane pulls back, Drackus's jaw is clenched shut, but Gage is nowhere to be found—just as I suspected.
"Fine, but don't you dare touch her like that in front of me again," Drackus warns, venom seeping through.
He doesn't know I've told Kane the truth about the dark mystery being my father. If he knew that Kane knew—oh boy. He'd light him up for that little show of disrespect.