Dark Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 1)

I cock an eyebrow. “You think Kimber is going to leave those people in there regardless of any decision made?”

He frowns as he looks ahead. “Ella neither. I guess there’s really no decision to be made, considering it’ll be made for us.”

Just as we reach the brink of the clearing, he thoughtfully adds, “I wonder what they wanted out of purgatory.”

Drackus didn’t want to deal with this topic just yet, but it’s been plaguing me.

“I’m not only wondering what they wanted, I’m wondering who else they were working with, and if they’re still after whatever it was.”

***

KIMBER

A body materializes beside me, and I look over to meet the green eyes of my sister—well, for all intents and purposes she’s my sister even if she’s technically my niece.

&nbs

p; “Perimeter is sound. We’re heading toward the house now.”

Chaz nods, and steers me north, while Ella loops her arm through mine.

“Where’s Gage?” she asks.

That’s an answer I’d like to know. “He went to his car for something, and then disappeared.”

He’d better not be changing his mind about us already. Not after having already dealt with Kane and Drackus. Surprisingly, that all went way better than I expected. Drackus usually explodes when I confess to dating someone.

“I wonder if he had anything to do with Sadie telling Zee she couldn’t stay here. She left and went to town to stay instead.”

Chaz smirks for some reason, and I tilt my head. “So I don’t have to stay in the house with her?”

I almost sag in relief.

“Guess not, but our lives are tied to her. Zee said not to worry, but how can I not worry?” Ella says, frowning. “As much as I’d love to see her anywhere but near our family, she literally holds the key to us surviving right now. If she dies—”

“Don’t worry, Ella,” Chaz says, still smirking. “If Gage allowed her to go, then I can promise you’re safe. He’d already have her back here otherwise.”

Ella studies him, as do I, and he looks down at us like we’re idiots. “He’s falling for Kimber. I may not know him very well, but I do know he’s devoutly loyal and very possessively protective. He’s not going to let anything happen. Whatever is going on, I can assure you that Sadie is very, very safe.”

I exchange a worrisome look with Ella. “He wouldn’t… I don’t know, bury her in cement or anything, would he?” Ella asks.

That has me swallowing hard, because I don’t know the answer to that.

“Nah,” Chaz says, answering carelessly. “He’s one of the good guys, remember?”

All the words that were resting on the tip of my tongue die in my mouth when I see the house come into view. When he said secluded house in the center of the forest, I was picturing a cabin-in-the-woods theme. This… this is something out of a magazine.

“Dark users have some serious style,” Ella says in a reverent breath.

The house—if that’s what you can call it—is three stories high. Dark wood rests in the crevices of the windows, but for the most part, it’s all glass. It stretches at least the length of a football field, and the roof peaks like a large triangle and is covered in copper-colored tin.

The dark wood porch wraps around the house, and the furniture on the porch looks inviting. I see why he comes out here now, because I definitely want to return.

But the beauty of the house becomes forgotten when I see Gage inside. He’s shirtless, and he’s walking around on the top floor, moving toward a bed as he uses a remote. His jeans hang loose on his hips, and I stare like a fool.

“You’re drooling a little,” Ella teases, but I can’t even find the strength to blush. I shouldn’t be growing more and more attracted to him, but I am.

“Guess we know which room you’re staying in,” Chaz says as we draw a little closer.