Dark Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 1)

“My mother shouldn’t be in on this,” Dice grumbles from the back seat.

“She’s the only one the witch with the insider information trusts,” Kimber sighs. “Did she tell you her name?”

“Says she goes by Sadie now. I’m not sure what she used to go by. It’s not uncommon for immortals to change their names over the years, but it sounds like she has a shady past,” Dice answers.

It’s not like I can judge, but I don’t trust just anyone. “Karma shouldn’t be around, and neither should you,” I tell Kimber.

“I’m not running,” she growls. “Or hiding.”

“Me either,” Karma adds.

Great. Fucking great. The only way this witch can have insider information is if she was at one point involved with the rings. And not as a slave. Not with this sort of information. How else would she have known how to open all the cell locks? A prisoner wouldn’t have had that sort of intel.

“Oh damn,” Kimber groans, looking at the cars already at the house.

“Shit,” I say in a breath.

“Looks like our king and queen have decided to join the party,” Dice says, amused now.

Asshole.

“So you and the queen…” Karma’s words trail off, and I roll my eyes.

“Long time ago,” I mutter.

Reaching over, I grab Kimber’s hand, lacing our fingers together, and I notice her shy smile as she looks down at the connection. If she’s determined to do this, then I’m going to make damn sure she stays safe.

“Mom’s already here,” Dice says, leaning up. “Make sure she gets the hell out of town. Use your mojo on her if you have to.”

I nod into the mirror. I’m strong enough to spell her a

way from here if I have to, but I’m sure she’ll leave after she’s connected us to her witch. We only stayed behind because I had to wait on everyone to exit before I could cast a protective spell on the house.

“Drackus is here, too,” Kimber says as we sit in the driveway and stare at the small safe house that will be much too crowded on the inside. I really should have kept that protection spell in place.

“And motherfucker. Shaylan is here, too,” Dice says on a gasp.

“Who?” Kimber asks, even as I grip my steering wheel

“Shaylan. He’s a demon that works with Drackus,” I tell her, unaffected.

“And Gage has knocked him back to hell a time or two.”

That makes me smirk as we get out of the car.

“We can’t use a demon—not a whole demon. They can’t be trusted,” Karma hisses.

“This one can,” I tell her. “Drackus has leKyage on him. So Shaylan can be trusted as long as Drackus has what he does.”

She doesn’t argue, but I can see the worry in her eyes. Kimber lets go of my hand as we head to the house, and I tilt my head to question that action.

“Kane and Drackus are both in there. The last thing we need is focus on us when there are much bigger issues at hand right now,” she explains.

I don’t like the explanation, but I have no choice but to accept it because she’s right about the fact it will detract from the more important matters. I swear I have the worst luck with timing.

We walk in, and immediately the conversations start. Alyssa walks over to Kimber, inspecting her with an endearing touch. I remember a time when I couldn’t stand being in the same room as her because it hurt. Now… I’m not sure what’s changed, but it doesn’t bother me that she’s standing so close.

Kane barely offers me a glance, but he crosses his arms over his chest as he talks to Dice. It looks like everyone is here.