Poison's Kiss (Deadly Beauties 2)

"Yeah. Considering he'd fucking kill me."

Gage frowns, his humorous fun gone as reality of my dire situation arises.

"I won't let that happen." Then his eyes perk up with mischief as he leans down to be inches from my face. My eyes fall on his sexy lip ring as his breath falls between my lips from the shiver-worthy closeness. "Let me know if you need any help. I'm a sucker for a damsel in distress."

I swallow hard, uncertain about whether he's joking or being serious, but then I'm distracted as a familiar, gut-wrenching, and beautiful face comes into view.

"Fuck," I blurt out, and Gage chuckles.

"Well that was easy enough."

I roll my eyes at the obvious misunderstanding, and my eyes point to the devil walking around the party as though nothing has happened. Gage straightens up, standing taller than usual, as he glares across the room.

"I hadn't thought about them showing up here. We should go."

He starts tugging at my hand, but I pull away. "No. We need answers, and you said this guy might have them. Just talk to him and find out what he knows."

He presses his lips into a thin line, and then he nods. "Fine, but stay where I can see you. If he approaches you, just say my name. You know I'll get you out of here within a blink. I don't care who sees us."

I shudder at the thought of Kane hurting me. Three weeks ago, I wouldn't have thought it possible. Now, it's a startling reality and a question of when he tries rather than if he tries.

Gage's hand finds my cheek for a second, and then he rustles through the crowd to join a guy with more piercings than skin on his face. Holy crap.

I hear Kane laughing with a random girl, probably a victim he's lining up, no doubt. Knowing I can't watch, I turn away only to run smack into Zee's chest.

I back away quickly, my whole body lightly shaking as I stare into the false copper eyes I once thought of as friendly.

"Don't be so scared, Alyssa. You've been called hands-off territory, even though you obviously deserve death more than anyone here," he says so coldly.

My eyes narrow as I glare at him, steeling myself with false courage.

"I don't deserve a fucking thing. I'm sick of Kane and all of you pretending as though I'm the one who planned out some elaborate plot, when it was him all along. If I had known he was a fucking night stalker, I would never have trusted him with my blood or my life, you dumbass. I'm not stupid enough to believe you really think I schemed up this suicide mission to do... what exactly? Lure out a bitch I've never even heard of? Go after a night stalker I can't possibly kill? You forgot to factor in anything I would have to gain from this. Go fuck yourselves! All of you!"

His eyes grow colder, but his head tilts in confusion as he tries to process what I'm saying. I'm sure he's planning out his next line of attack, but then he surprises me.

"You're claiming you didn't know who or what Kane was?"

The tone of bemusement almost sounds authentic, but I know how his kind works. They love a good game.

"Don't pretend like you really think I had any ulterior motives. Leave me out of your elaborate, well-calculated, twisted plan for you guys to kill Kane's ex-bloodthirsty mistress. Stop playing your games on me, because they'll get you nowhere. You have no idea what I grew up with."

A father who used mind games as a fun pastime hobby. I watched more than one man fold before him with nothing but a few words of taunting.

Zee takes a step back, his whole posture changing.

"I find it hard to believe you didn't know you were with a night stalker for all that time."

I laugh at the contradictory

argument he places. "Then you understand why I fail to believe he never knew I was a witch, since he tasted my fucking blood... Twice."

Again, he seems so confused, but I barge by him before he can try to fuck with my head anymore. Kane is perched up beside his latest victim, and she touches his chest as he flashes her his award-winning smile.

Though I know I shouldn't, I strain my mortal ears to immortally hone in on the conversation.

"So, tomorrow?" she asks. "How about we meet up and I'll give you as much as you need."

"Actually, Zee's the one who needs it. I'm just here on his behalf because he's shy."