Poison's Kiss (Deadly Beauties 2)

Zee steps in and relieves Kane from the bad-guy role. "Alyssa is the mortal. She needs more protection. This wouldn't have happened at all if we had just let her cast the protection spell the first time she offered. We have to go back to Edgebrook. It started here, but it's moved there."

Kane stands up, walking toward the door, turning his back on the seething women. Deke seems to understand, considering he's not worried about Amy the way he is Kane.

"I can't believe you!" Sierra blares, lashing out at Kane again.

"Enough!" Dray yells, slamming his fist on the coffee table in front of him. "Kane is doing all he can to find this fucking murderer. Amy can't contain her wild half yet. She can't control her urges to change, and she can't control herself around Alyssa either. This is not up for debate. You care for Amy - keep her safe, keep her sane, and keep her away from this damn witch. We have to find her. We have to stop her before she finishes her rituals. All she needs is the blood and sacrifice of two more immortals to resurrect who knows what spirit.

"This isn't a time to be sloshing around guilt like it's a glass of champagne. We have to focus on the bigger issue. You don't. Amy's life is too precious to lose simply because she can't control herself. If she changes, kills, and makes a mess, they'll send the Somage to clean her up. Until she can learn discretion with her shifts, she needs to stay put. You need to stay put with her, Sierra."

Dray stands, shaking his head in complete frustration. Sierra slinks back like a scolded child, and Amy sniffles while looking away. This whole time I thought Kane was in charge, but it's apparent this is really Dray's coven. Kane is just the second man in command.

While the tension grows, I silently cast the spell and mark the mirror in front of me with my blood. I clear it from vision and from smell, feeling the barricade work as I start making it possible for them to all pass through.

Dice breaks the uncomfortable silence, sounding more helpful than annoying this time. "We should go. There's a party going on near here. I know the witch covens like to play at such events. I can persuade someone to talk."

I give him an appreciative glance, and he gives me a knowing nod. I walk out first, but Kane is right behind me, following me down the stairs. My phone rings, and I smile when I see Gage's name.

"I need to grab some clothes," Kane says as he touches my elbow.

The contact draws my eyes in, and then I look up, wondering why he followed me out to tell me that.

"Okay."

Then it dawns on me. I rode with him, so he's letting me know he'll be a minute.

He heads back in, and I answer the sweet dark user on the other end.

"I hope your day has been less dramatic and more productive than mine," I say, bypassing a simple hello.

"What's going on?"

"I'll explain later. When are you coming back?"

I hear loud music in the background. It's barely nine, but it feels like midnight right now with this dark, quiet sky. It makes me curious what he's up to that sounds like so much more fun.

"I'm looking for some leads. I should be back in a day or so. Drackus said he sent someone to help out, but he didn't say who."

I glance through the glass at the incubus staring down at me. I hadn't been expecting him to be studying me so intently.

"Yeah. His name's Dice. Know him?" I ask while casting my eyes back to the lake.

"Really? Drackus is worried about someone touching you, so he sends an incubus? Unbelievable." I'll take that as a yes. "Has he done anything?"

I cringe, thinking about the full on attack of a kiss I gave Kane.

"Yeah, but not what you think. He used his magic on me, and I kissed Kane. I'm so sorry."

"I'm going to kick his ass," he growls.

"Whose? Kane's or Dice's?"

"I'll decide that later. It's not your fault, so don't be sorry. Incubus power is impossible for a mortal like you to resist. It's odd he made you kiss Kane."

"Well, it was definitely awkward." Something has been irking me, and now seems as good a time as any to bring it up. "What are we?"

I hadn't meant for that to sound so random or blurted out, but I'm glad I finally asked.

"What do you mean?" he asks, sounding confused.