Poison's Kiss (Deadly Beauties 2)

My heart finds my ears as everything around us slows to a halt. Power most have never known yields to Father Time and claims dominance. Humans become frozen in their tracks, their actions left suspended as dread fills the air around us.

A dark, rumbling cloud in the distance grows stronger, proving he's on his way, and he's pissed.

"What the hell is going on?" Zee almost whispers, too scared to speak any louder.

The first tear streams down my cheek, and I let it stay there as I make my way over to the cop carrying Thad's chain and coin. I pull it free from his stilled hand before pulling the silver piece from the bag.

Fastening it around my neck, I walk back over to the two night stalkers staring into the distance at the storm brewing.

"It's Drackus. He knows, and he's going to find whoever did this to Thad."

"Drackus?" Zee whispers even quieter, knowing how powerful Drackus is since the Castine debacle.

A car roars as it skids into the hotel parking lot, and suddenly Drackus materializes in front of us, pulling me into his arms. I haven't hugged my dad since I was a child, so I'm startled by the embrace.

"I'm so glad you weren't here," he crackles out, clearing his throat immediately after.

"I might not have been, but Thad was. And he-"

"And he will be avenged, I assure you," he almost growls, his tone laced with more anger than someone should ever try to provoke.

"How'd you know?" I ask, my voice starting to show my emotion.

"Gage called me directly after your ex-night stalker called him."

His eyes seep with venom as he glares at Kane, offering him an intimidating glower. Kane doesn't seem to notice as he and Zee converse quietly, avoiding Drackus with all their strength.

I guess it's a good thing Gage didn't tell him he was already on his way here. Drackus would be giving him that glare.

"I need to go see the room. I have to see if I can get a feel for who or what did this. I can't keep these humans frozen forever. It might leave them with long term damage," Drackus says while finally releasing me.

"I'm coming, too," I chime in, wiping away another tear.

I'm grabbed from behind, as Kane halts my stride. "Alyssa, no. You don't want to see it."

Drackus almost growls when he sees Kane's hand on me, and he steps in between us, knocking away the stray limb.

"Don't touch her again if you want to stay in one piece," he threatens, his eyes burning into Kane's.

"He's not going to hurt her, Drackus. The boy is here to protect her after all," Dray says from behind, his voice interjecting being as sudden as his presence.

I turn to face him, but he's not there. When I turn back around, he's right in front of me, stepping between Drackus and Kane like a protective lion caring for his pride.

"Last I checked, he already did," Drackus says through a sneer.

"Not physically. He'd never do such a thing. Let's go tend to the matter at hand before all these people end up brain-dead. You'll need me for the process, and I won't have you threatening my boys anymore."

Drackus cracks his neck to the side. "I won't tolerate him touching my-"

"He won't hurt her," Dray says again, interrupting Drackus before he spills my secret.

Drackus snarls, and then he vaporizes from in front of me. Kane walks up beside me, putting his hand at the small of my back.

"He's protective of you. What was he about to say? His what?"

"Nothing I care to explain right now. I want to go see this. I want to know who did this to Thad."

I start walking off, but he quickly joins my side, his eyes flashing to Gage on the balcony. I look, too, noticing Gage is almost shaking as he tries to recover from whatever gruesome sight lies ahead. Thad would go in there for me. I owe it to him to do the same.