No Time For A Break
Gage takes a seat at the desk-like table in the room, while Kane comes to scoop up the food I spilled.
"What about her?" Kane asks as he trashes the spoiled goods.
"For starters, she's been all over the world killing and draining witches—immortal and mortal. She's gearing up for a fight. The night stalker council is now involved, and they want you to help them find her."
I huff out. We can't have one day—one frigging day—of peace.
"Worst day ever," I mumble, prompting Kane to sit beside me and wrap his arm around my waist.
"Our bond is severed. I can't find her. Speaking of which—how did you find us?"
Gage starts to speak, but I answer before he can. "Fucking cell phones," I gripe, wishing now I had removed the batteries from both. The second Kane spoke with Sierra, Gage knew exactly where we were.
"Dark user thing," Gage adds. "I told the night stalker council your bond was severed, but they still want your help, since you were her favorite."
Kane tenses, and my heart breaks for him. I can only imagine what being Castine's favorite entailed. I reach over, grab his hand, and then squeeze it in mine. He doesn't acknowledge the gesture. He seems to be lost in the past.
"Tell the night stalker council to kiss our asses. They're on their own. There wasn't anyone stepping in when she was just after us. They can go fuck themselves for all I care," I interject, sick of all the damn councils and their demands.
A small, ghost of a grin touches Kane's lips, letting me know I've done something right. Gage doesn't seem quite as impressed. I'm done with the fey councils expecting everyone to fight their battles. If Castine is stirring up a war, it's up to the councils to deal with her.
"These are innocent fey and mortals, Alyssa," Gage says, warily studying me. "Since when don't you give a damn?"
He looks to Kane as though he's tainted fr
uit that has poisoned my mind. I haven't stopped caring, I've just stopped—I don't know.
"It's not our problem until it's our problem again," I mutter dismissively.
"You sound more like a night stalker than a light witch right now," Gage growls, his murderous glare still casting daggers toward Kane.
"Because we're all so callous and cold?" Kane quips, accidentally making me feel like a bitch.
"I sound callous and cold?" I ask pitifully, bringing both of their eyes toward me.
Instant regret washes over Kane's face, but I speak before he can.
"I'm not cold. I don't want anyone innocent to die, but it's time we make the councils do what they were designed to. We're not strong enough to take on Castine, and that's what they expect. They say they need his help, but they'll leave him alone if he finds her. I'm not going to watch him die. I can't."
Gage looks away when Kane pulls me onto his lap, gently kissing my forehead as he does so. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that," he murmurs softly.
"We need to get back to Alyssa's house and regroup, plan against an attack that will come when Castine is finished refueling," Gage grumbles. "We're going to have to face her again—one way or the other."
"We're going to my house," Kane murmurs, tensing. "Alyssa doesn't want to go back to her home."
Thanks to a psychotic spirit, a crazy human witch bitch, and a crafty night stalker.
"Where's your place?"
"You can just follow us," Kane says through a sigh, reluctantly standing while still holding me to him.
"I'll wait outside."
Gage vaporizes, rushing away. I'm sure this is hard for him, just as it was for Kane. I hate it, but what am I supposed to do? Never touch Kane because it's difficult for Gage? I didn't ask for all this confusion.
I wish I'd never involved myself with Gage. He saved me from my bond with Kane, and I should be grateful, but now I'm hurting him. I love Kane. I never loved the dark user who willingly used my vulnerability against me. He knew he'd extinguish my light if we got too close. How could he?