“Where’s Karma?” Alyssa asks Dice as he says something into his phone. I’m still reeling about the fact the incubus has a girlfriend—a demon/human hybrid girlfriend.
“Inside Gage’s house, I think,” he answers, distracted.
Dice walks up beside us, putting his phone away, just as Kimber walks out the door with Gage.
Alyssa starts to speak to Kimber, but the blonde beauty walks right up to Dice, fists a handful of his shirt, and jerks him to her for a kiss that leaves all of our mouths hanging open.
“What the…”
My words trail off, and my eyes widen when I realize Gage is probably about to kill the incubus for using his power against Kimber. But to my surprise, Dice shoves her off him, staggering backwards with fear and confusion blazing from his eyes.
“What the fucking hell, girl? Have you lost your damn mind?” he demands.
Gage, who is surprisingly calm, says nothing. But his jaw is tense.
“Good boy,” Kimber tells the bewildered incubus, and he tilts his head, studying her.
I’m fucking speechless, and that shit just doesn’t happen.
“Karma?” he asks, his eyes burrowing through hers.
Kimber grins and winks. “Yep. Kimber wants me practicing my possessions on immortals. She’s a slave driver, but she’s damn good at keeping someone focused. I got full control after five hours this time.”
Gage grumbles under his breath, then he rolls his eyes. “She’s going to kick your ass for that one.”
Kimber… Er… Karma shrugs, and she motions to the vacant air. “Well, that proves I have sole control. She wouldn’t have ever let me do that if she had any say. But I still haven’t figured out how to use my own powers to their full potential yet, and using hers are freaking impossible.”
Dice sags in relief, and runs a hand through his hair. “But at least you’re getting the hang of things,” he says, using a more serious tone than usual.
“Gates are tricky,” Gage tells her. “Not even Thad has them all figured out as well as Kimber does.”
Way to call me out, douche.
I just shrug it off. I’m not as skilled in gatekeeping because Kimber obsesses, and gatekeeping is one of her obsessions. I prefer living as opposed to obsessing.
“I’ve learned a few new tricks,” I remind him.
Karma goes on as though I didn’t just say something. “But we’re in Pine Shore, so should I be worried about accidentally opening the purgatory gate or something? Isn’t this the only place where it can be opened?”
“Yes, but it can only be opened by two gatekeepers, and it’s hard as hell on our bodies,” I say quickly, not willing to think back to the time we were forced to open it.
“But most all other gates can be opened almost anywhere. Some spots are hotter and easier to open gates than others. You mostly need to focus on possession. The quicker you can get control of a body, the better. It could prove hella useful in a fight.”
She starts to speak, but another voice talks over her.
“Why Kimber’
s body?” Alyssa asks.
Kimber/Karma shrugs. “Because she’s one of the few who doesn’t have the anti-demon protection thing branded on her flesh. She just has a necklace that she can take off whenever.”
“You know what this means,” I say to Dice, smirking at him as he meets my eyes.
“What?” the reformed incubus asks innocently.
Having a girlfriend has stolen his edge. It’s sad, really.
“It means you can have a threesome without getting too exhausted.”