Dark Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 1)

He tightens his lips before sucking in a ragged breath. His silence is my answer.

“That’s what I thought. You of all people should know how dangerous someone can be when the power consumes them and turns them into something like we become. I’m not risking her life.”

He looks up at me, and I see the man who once took me under his wing. Everyone hated him. Everyone feared him. But in all honesty, he was the first person to genuinely give a damn about what happened to me.

“I think she’s in love with you, Gage, and that will drive her to the ends of the earth to protect you. Do you understand that? She fixates on things important to her. I can only imagine what she’ll do to save you. And whether you realize it or not, she’s damn good at finding things no one else can. If she finds Gavin before you, what then?”

That won’t happen. “I have his records,” I tell him, pointing to the scrolls. “He had them hidden in one of the offices, but I know him. I know how he thinks. I spent half a century with him. I wanted to change, and he didn’t. Two centuries ago, I thought I killed him. I thought I had freed Morgana from her ties to him, and I left him for dead. Now he’s back, and he’s going to come after me because I’ve once again defeated him. It’s going to get nasty, Drackus. Kimber will be so much safer far away from me.”

He snorts derisively. “You think she’s far away?” he asks incredulously. “She’s in town. She’s staying at a hotel, and she’s already closer to learning what he’s after than you are.”

My brow furrows in confusion, and I take a step back.

“What do you mean?”

He rolls his eyes. “I told you that she’s better at tracking down leads than you are, and she has Karma with her. Karma knows people. They’ve already found Kya, and now they’re on their way to finding twin creature gods—the thing Gavin is after. Well, two of the things.”

“Fuck,” I hiss, grabbing my phone and keys from the table.

“Where are you going?” he asks me as I open my front door.

“To make sure your daughter stays the fuck out of harm’s way. You really should have sheltered her,” I grumble.

“You called me an idiot for doing that to Alyssa.”

I turn to face him as I open my car door. “You’re an idiot for taking my advice.”

He smirks as I get into the driver’s seat, and I send a text to Dice to ask him where I can find the stubborn girl I wish I didn’t fucking miss so much.

Grabbing my phone, I dial Alyssa. She answers with a confused tone, and I don’t bother with nonsensical pleasantries.

“What would you do to keep Kimber safe?” I ask her.

She pauses for a beat, then finally answers, “Anything. Why?”

There’s only one way to keep Kimber from running headlong into danger. “Then I need a favor. You have something that will help. I’m coming to you right now.”

“O…kay. I’m staying close. Kane has a house two towns over. I’ll text you the address. But be careful, and don’t tell Ella why you’re here. What do you need exactly?”

My mind falls back to the night the gates of purgatory were opened, and the small child Kimber was then.

“Something that is really going to piss her off.”

Chapter 22

KIMBER

Stepping out of the shower, I wrap up in my towel, and I study the foggy mirror absently. I never realized how much it sucked being alone.

Sighing, I walk back into my room, and start digging through my drawers for something to wear. Just as I pull out a pair of underwear, my door bursts open, and I spin around, clutching my towel, and meet the very angry eyes of the dark user who broke my heart.

“What the fuck are you doing, Kimber?” he growls.

He’s wearing a black T-shirt, dark jeans, and black biker boots that suit him all too well. My eyes ride up his body, and a fever sets in. His inky black hair shags straight and brushes the tops of his eyebrows, and his lip rings bring back memories.

His eyes drop to my towel, and his lips tighten as he groans. That gives me a touch of hope.

“I’m getting clothes, Gage,” I say dryly, trying not to act rattled. “What does it look like I’m doing?”