Poison's Kiss (Deadly Beauties 2)

I breathe out in relief to know he hasn't just been hitting on a girl right in front of me. I'm so fucked-up right now. If what Gage is saying about this connection is true, I definitely need to figure out a way to get Kane out of my system.

"Well, I don't want Zee as much as I want you," she seduces, her finger trailing over his chest.

He laughs as his hand closes over hers, stopping her descent before she reaches the top of his jeans. He shakes his head as he whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh.

The taste of jealousy has a lot in common with the taste of bile. My eyes scan the room in search of Gage who has moved from his previous spot. I can't tune out the pretty blond flashing her extra white teeth as she continues to tempt death's dealer.

"I think we should make a deal. I'll let Zee take what he needs as long as you promise to take all of me later."

Yep. It's official. Jealousy definitely tastes like bile.

I want to do something, say something... hell, I want to knock the bitch out. But I can't. He's the devil, and I'm just the girl he used for his game.

Kane laughs more, obviously amused by her desire for him, and then I feel a shiver up the back of my neck as I turn to meet Amy's looming figure.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she growls, her eyes seeping venom.

I hold it together, pretending to be unafraid.

"I have every right to be here. The people here aren't at risk because of my presence, unlike you and your coven."

I don't back down. I'm not running from them no matter how skilled at killing they all are.

"You have no idea the lengths we go to in order to keep these people safe. We drink donor's blood all day, every day. When Zee itches for the feel of the bite, we fetch him a willing victim that leaves with her life the next day - her memory completely dusted. Nothing we do can result in calling us evil, you judgmental little bitch."

Why have a willing donor if they are just going to dust her memory? To keep her from screaming? To keep from accidentally killing her when she does scream? Surely this can't be-

I never see Amy's aura warning me of what's to come before she uses her inhuman strength to slam me against the wall, brutally ripping me out of my stupid, silent inquiry. I can't believe I just let my guard down in front of a lycan that hates me with a passion.

A few gasps rattle out as her hands grip my throat, squeezing me just tight enough to make me strain for air. I don't care if I risk exposure or not, I'm not dealing with this.

Just before I decide to shock the fuck out of her, Kane is suddenly breaking us apart, hauling Amy off me.

"Damn it, Kane! Let me handle this. She deserves to have her ass kicked one good time for fucking with us," she growls while squirming against his hold.

He pins her arms to her sides as all the eyes of the party fall to us.

"Stop it now," he warns, keeping his voice low enough to escape the normal hearing register of the humans. "She's not worth risking all we've fought to build here. If you out us, we'll have to move before the council finds out."

"Do whatever you want to me," I scoff while walking away. "There's not a whole lot worse than what you've already done."

I push past Zee who seems more curious than angered this time. He follows me out, and I prepare myself for anything as I start heading down the steps.

"Alyssa, can I ask what you were doing with Kane if you weren't after Cas-"

He stops when he realizes there are too many people outside for this conversation. I whirl around to answer anyway.

"Because I cared about him. Because he made me feel excited, happily terrified, and safe all at once. I fell in love with him, but you all already know this. It's just in your nature to toy with my kind. You love the mind-fucking games that make us shiver and leave us in tears moments before there's nothing left to give - if you know what I mean."

I take a step toward him as I glance over my shoulder to make sure no one can see what I'm about to reveal to him. I'm ready to show him I know exactly what they're all capable of.

Waving my hand over my shoulder, I peel back the fabric to reveal my nasty little secret. Zee's eyes widen as his mouth falls open.

"This happened the night of the botched trap?" he asks while seeing the two bites run together.

"One of them did. The other happened a long time ago."

My eyes fall down to my horrid scars and marred flesh. It looks more like a bear attack than a vampire bite on the first one. Isolis's bite wasn't quite as dramatic, but it still left the proof of his presence. The smaller wound is barely noticeable anymore compared to the monstrosity beside it.