Red Moon Secrets (Deadly Beauties 3)

"Alyssa," Chaz whispers, keeping a wary stance away from me.

"How the hell—"

Amy's words are cut short when she goes flying out the window. I don't feel like listening to her right now. Whatever she was going to say wasn't worth our time.

Kane sits beside me, not seeming as freaked out as everyone else.

"Do you see what's happening?" Gage asks, his eyes still wide with fear. Fucking coward.

"I see she's learning control. I get sick of Amy as well. You should leave. You stink like fear, and that'll only feed her predatory side. Me? I'm going to teach her how to control it better."

Kane stands and I willingly go into the arms of my fearless night stalker.

"Control?" Gage almost whispers, not raising his voice above the level he needs to reach the ears of my beautiful killer. "You call that control?"

I turn, but Kane tugs at my arm, guiding me back to his glorious body. "You'd all be dead if she didn't have control. Leave. I want to be alone with my girl," he says, making me smile as he leans down and presses his lips to mine.

"Silver eyes without the red moon. This is bad. Very bad," I hear the incubus say from a distance, but I've already lost interest in everyone else as I fall into the clutches of the creature I love.

"I think it's good," I chuckle, letting the ominous ring flow through the house.

I'm sore. Damn, I'm so sore. How long have we been in here?

I glance at the clock and groan. Three hours?

I look over to see Kane sleeping peacefully, and I'm torn between smiling and frowning. I feel like I'm at war with myself, and I'm worried Kane is eventually going to become collateral damage if I don't find a way to get myself under control—full control.

I run my fingers through his dark hair, debating about whether or not I should wake him up. We need to talk about this. This could get dangerous if the prophecy is real. But if he can keep bringing me back, we can make it work. I can't just give him up because I might become this deadly, destructive, crazy fey.

I decide against waking him up and toss on my clothes. I see Thad's necklace staring at me from the drawer, and I take a deep breath before pulling it on, giving it a place to reside that seems better suited than a forgotten drawer.

I head through the empty living room to the outside to be engulfed by the dark night air. It feels good. The red moon isn't supposed to be out tonight, so that's comforting. It's also the only reason I'm not locked in a cage.

I hear a phone ringing before I sense a presence, and I turn to see Chaz in the distance, talking quietly so as not to let me overhear. I don't strain my ears. I'm sure he needs some privacy just as I do.

"Alyssa," Gage says softly, materializing beside me.

"Don't. I don't want to discuss this."

He breathes out heavily, probably silently cursing me. He's so convinced I have to be with him. I can't though. Every day I care about him less.

"We need to talk about it at some point. You'll eventually lose yourself, and God knows what you'll do once you lose your light completely. I love you. Don't you see? I'm trying to save you."

I turn to face him, watching my blond locks stay untainted. "You have no faith in me. How can you love me and doubt me?"

His eyes fall down to cast their shadows to the ground.

"I'm just worried. How can you be so indifferent? You used to be full of worry and concern. Now you don't care. Don't you see—"

Screams break our conversation apart, and vicious snarls erupt from beyond the woods. Chaz materializes beside us, staring out into the woods just as we are.

"Lycan or Were?" he asks, trying to cipher the sounds of the growls, and then a roar breaks free, confirming what it is.

"Lycan," Gage mumbles before sending a shock of power my way to knock me far back from him.

I bounce to the ground, though it doesn't hurt, and I feel the necklace break. I search for it, but I'm distracted. My eyes widen, my jaw drops, and my heartbeat quickens to the point of exhaustion, as the most monstrous beast of a lycan I've ever seen steps into view with its huge glowing orange eyes.

"Son of a bitch," Chaz whispers, seeming as shocked as I am.