I screech when he suddenly materializes in front of me, speeding away and leading the race.
"That's cheating," I grumble. "You're not supposed to be able to vaporize stuff as big as a car anyhow. What's up?"
"I'm not supposed to be able to vaporize a mortal, but I do it just fine. I've got secrets too, Alyssa. Care to find out what all I can show you?"
I giggle like a fool girl, and then he murmurs, "Hey, let me call you back. I've got a beep."
"Okay."
He's gone in that breath, and I smile foolishly, no longer dreading this meeting with Kane. Gage has freed me.
Suddenly, his car is barreling down the road, slingshotting around the curves as he leaves me behind. I didn't realize it was this big of a race.
I try calling him back, but he doesn't answer. It ends up going to his voicemail, and I'm left with nothing but abandonment issues when his car turns into nothing more than a speck in the distance.
I drive faster, carefully using just enough brake to catch the curves appropriately. In a fraction of the time it took to get to Drackus's home, I'm back in Edgebrook.
I pull up in front of the hotel to see police everywhere. Lights flashing blue and red blare against my eyes even through the sun is still shining. There are all sorts of reporters, news vans, and so much more.
I climb out of the car and try to head into the thick of the mob scene to find out what's going on, but suddenly I'm being whirled around my familiar arms and then staring into green eyes.
"You can't go in there, Alyssa," Kane says softly, secrets in his eyes.
Something's wrong. Something's very wrong. He looks worried, like he thinks I'm going to flip out.
"Where's Gage?" I worry, panic sounding out.
"He's-" His words stop as his eyes trail to the balcony, and I follow his gaze.
Gage is leaning over it, acting as though he can't catch his breath, but air finally enters my lungs.
"What happened? Why does Gage look like he's sick?"
Kane's lips tighten as he pulls me tighter into his arms, a comforting motion I once craved and couldn't receive. Even though his touch still stirs some deep, twisted emotions inside me, I'm not desperate for him now that the bond has been severed.
"Kane, tell me what's going on."
Zee rushes through the crowd, finding us and breathing out in relief.
"Thank fuck your safe,
" he gushes out, seeming sincere with his worry. "We've been worried sick. We called Gage, but then he showed up without you. Is he okay?"
"He's right there," I murmur with confusion. "Why were you worried about me?"
Kane releases me at long last, freeing me from his intoxicating scent, and then he brushes my hair from my face while staring softly into my eyes with more compassion than I've seen in a while. It figures he'd wait until I got rid of our connection to start being something other than an ass.
"We were worried they got to you, too," Zee murmurs, not really giving me anything explanatory for their bizarre behavior.
A few cops barge past us, splitting me up from Kane, and I see something familiar in one's hand. It's a chain, a coin fastened to a chain, rather. It's in a clear bag labeled evidence. I've only ever seen one like it, and suddenly I feel numb, realizing what's going on.
I look up at Kane expectantly when he makes his way back to me. My lip threatens to tremble as the blood in my body pumps painfully through my veins. His lips stroke my forehead softly before pulling me to him in another comforting embrace, something he wouldn't do at all if my suspicions weren't correct.
I listen as he softly confirms the dread consuming me. "Alyssa, it's Thad. He's dead."
Chapter 14
A New Focus