Dark Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 1)

Tilting my head, I lean up. “What do you mean? Everyone is born with a first and last name.”

He shifts again, still seeming uncomfortable, and my eyes ride up and down his long chest and torso. All the lines of ink seem to go well with each other, creating seamless symbols of protection, but one has my attention. It’s a script that says, breathe through the pain. It’s on his side and written sideways in a vertical line.

If I have to wear a shirt, then he should have to wear one as well. Stupid sexy dark user.

“I don’t like talking about my past, Kimber. It’s a long, nasty road that spans over centuries of the same repetitive bullshit. A life as long as mine doesn’t have very many new experiences after the first century.”

He stands, and I look after him while he leans over and grabs a necklace from his dresser. His room is sort of bare—a bed, taupe walls, a few framed concert tickets, and bare windows. His bed is dressed in black satin sheets and a black duvet.

“Wear this,” he says, handing it to me.

I examine the silver necklace, noting the small round pendant at the bottom.

“What is it?”

“It’s to guard against possessions—of the demon variety. I made it for a friend who was weaker a long time ago. She was susceptible to demon possessions despite the fact she was fey. Now we know a demon who can possess any fey.”

I take the necklace absently while staring into his eyes. There’s real concern there.

“You don’t trust Karma?” I ask in a whisper.

He snorts derisively. “I have a very small list of people I trust. But this isn’t about her. It’s about others out there that can be like her. For now, she needs us. Trust will come or it won’t. Regardless, I want you to wear that.”

I stare at the intricate markings on the necklace, idly rubbing my fingers over the metal. “What about you? Now you’re in just as much danger as I am.”

“I’ve been wanting some new ink,” he says with a shrug.

I have a few tattoos for protection. Most of them are in random places, but nothing like what he has.

“Where will you get it?”

Did I really just lick my lips?

“Oh, I can think of a few places to put it, Kimber,” he says in a sexy drawl before winking.

Great. I want to fucking giggle. I’m officially an idiot girl with a crush.

Fortunately, the ridiculous giggle doesn’t get free, but I do grin like an absolute fool. Clearing my throat and rubbing a hand over my mouth, I meet his eyes that are dancing with humor. He’s proud of himself for making me blush.

“Who did you make it for? And why doesn’t she wear it?”

The humor in his eyes fades immediately, and a cold wall comes between us. “She ended up getting protection elsewhere. The point is you need it. Thad already has the symbol inked on him by now, so that just leaves one gatekeeper unprotected. Wear it.”

He starts to leave, and I stand, taking in what he said. “It was for Alyssa.”

He pauses, but shakes his head. “No. Alyssa never needed it. She was too strong to be possessed by a demon—before this new turn of events. But as I told you earlier; I’ve been around for a long time, and the present is just on repeat from a tired history. Thanks for the reminder.”

His voice is so cold as he walks away, and I sigh while silently cursing myself. I knew better than to bring up Alyssa. Drackus has warned me before to never mention the bitter ties. But his cryptic answer has me confused.

Did someone else also break his heart?

When I walk out of the room, Dice is kicked back with his phone in his hands, his eyes on the screen. Karma is on a computer, her fingers moving too fast for the keys to keep up. But Gage is nowhere in sight.

“Where’s Gage?” I ask casually.

Dice throws a thumb over his shoulder to point toward the door. “Went to check the perimeter. At least I think that’s what he grunted on his way out.”

Note to self; the mysterious dark user hates to speak about his past, and only alludes to his history in vague accidents.