Poison's Kiss (Deadly Beauties 2)

Chapter One

The Enemy

"It's been three weeks since Mom got back, and she's still refusing to see me? What the hell, Frankie?" I gripe while staring down the tired warlock.

He sags against the back of my couch as he shrugs. "She was pretty beat up and battered when she crawled through the great halls of the light council's chambers. She still doesn't know who her captors were, and they've been working on healing her ever since she showed up. She will hardly speak to anyone, including me."

This is killing me. My mother and I have never spent this long without talking, and now she's back, refusing to speak to me. It boils my blood to know how terrible someone has been to her, especially since I don't even know who's behind it.

"Three more days, Frankie. That's all I'm giving her before I show up and force her to see me. She doesn't have to play strong for me. I'm her daughter. If anyone can be there for her, it's me."

"I agree, Alyssa. Just give her time. Calypso is a hard one to let her guard down. She hates for people to see her pain. Until then, I need to get back. The light council is taking this a little more seriously now that they've seen the damage done." He starts to walk away, but turns back with hesitance in his eyes just before he reaches the door. "Has he tried contacting you at all since the diner?"

My heart folds and breaks even more than it is already broken. My chest grows heavier, weighing me down all the more. I really didn't need a reminder.

I try to act unaffected by the mere mention of the night stalker I so foolishly fell in love with. I wish I could stop missing the man I thought he was and start loathing the monster he really is.

"No. If he knows what's best for him, he won't. When is Thad coming back?"

Frankie smirks, a secretive grin spreading. "Needing new socks, eh?"

I flush instantly, realizing there are some things I will never again share with Frankie.

"No. I just want an extra set of hands available, should Kane decide he wants to finish what he started."

Seriousness takes over the playfulness in his eyes.

"I won't let him touch you, Lyss. You know that. If he tries, I swear I'll show him how incredibly tough light ones can be."

Sighing out, I start to tell Frankie about Castine. It's a topic I've avoided. Frankie will surely put me on lockdown, and I'll feel like a turtle that is unable to poke its head out of its shell.

"Frankie, I-"

Before the words can escape, Gage materializes in the room and flops down on my couch while reading something on his phone. He's way too comfortable in my home these days, but he definitely makes me feels safer.

"What the hell?" Frankie scolds, making Gage's head snap up in realization. "Why is there a dark-"

"It's a long, long story. He's keeping me safe," I grumble, interrupting Frankie's will to rant.

Gage tenses as he stands up, coming to take a place behind me. It's smart to put me between the two of them, but I don't exactly enjoy playing Mom to a dueling duo.

"I can keep you safe, Lyss. He's not-"

"He can keep me safer. He can vaporize me without killing me, and he can get me out of here, should the time arise for such a need."

"Nothing can get in here. I've recast the protection spell. Apparently, I should cast it again."

The venom in Frankie's eyes is apparent, and the dark user who has held his tongue finally gets sick of being Mr. Nice Guy.

"I'm the one who kept her safe while you left her to the mercy of a damn night stalker. I'll be the one keeping her safe when Castine returns."

Frankie's face is suddenly ashen with fear. His whole body tenses, proving Castine must really be one hellacious bitch. Just what I need.

"Why the fuck is Castine coming?" Frankie asks, his voice trembling.

My eyes scold the foolish dark user for being so careless with his tongue. He just offers me a he-needs-to-know look in response.

Very briefly, I give Frankie the rundown, while omitting the part about this being Castine's home.

"Lyss, you have to get out of this toxic town. It's one hotshot immortal after another gunning for you now. Just find a hotel until you find a new home. I'll pay."

As if having Gage breathing down my throat to get out wasn't bad enough. I hate, hate, hate our world.

"I've got plenty of money. I'm just sick of having to haul ass out of a town because of an immortal with a grudge. My whole life has been like that. I swore I wouldn't do that once I started living my own life. I'm not suicidal. I will move, but I won't run. I'll find a place that I intend to live in and stay in. Hell, I'm already using the trust my father gave me that I promised myself I'd never use, simply because the fucking crazy life I have refuses to let me keep a job."

Frankie leans over, not really giving a damn about anything coming out of my mouth right now.

"I don't like this, Alyssa. I wish you'd just go right now. It's not running - it's surviving, sweet girl. Sometimes, that's how our life is. There are good days and bad days. This just happens to be one of those bad days."

It's all a bad day lately.

"I plan on moving, Frankie. I don't have a death wish."

Frankie rubs his temples as if I'm giving him a migraine.

"I'll get her out of here if trouble arises. I can swear that to you. I've already got a few friends keeping an eye out for Castine. If she makes a move, I'll know about it," Gage interjects, seeming calmer now.

Frankie looks back up to him and narrows his eyes while bringing his finger to point at him very deliberately. "If you do anything to her, I swear I'll unleash hell's wrath. I may not be overly fond of her father, but I can swear to you he'll not let his daughter's death go without being avenged, and I'll be by his side."

Gage walks back over to the couch, sitting down on the arm of it as he relaxes a little.

"I know perfectly well what Drackus would do to me. That alone should give you peace of mind."

Frankie's eyes widen as his gaze falls on me. "Alyssa, you can't tell people who your fucking father is!"

"And you can't use him to threaten people if you don't want them to figure it out on their own. Just go, Frankie. See the light council and let me know what's going on."

He scowls at me, but he finally vaporizes to start his journey. He leaves behind the echo of ranted curses.

"Sheesh. I thought he'd be gone by now," Gage grumbles as he drops off the arm of my couch and makes himself comfortable once more on the cushion.

"Maybe you should try knocking every once in a while."

I cross my arms, staring at him very sternly, but he simply brushes off my words as though they don't hold any value. I suppose they don't.

"My council called," he says, not acknowledging my sardonic remark. "The gang of night s