Changing Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 2)

“I know.”

“That’s why you didn’t let me stay with you. That’s the real reason you wouldn’t tell Alyssa about my existence. Not because you were afraid of what she’d do, but because of what they’d do.”

He sighs hard, and I pull my knees up to my chest before hugging them.

“I never expected you to land in their laps or their beds, sweetheart.”

Just hearing sweet makes me sick because it makes me think of Thad. I want to hate him because it’ll make it easier when I see the hate he has for me.

“I was so drawn to him. I thought it meant something special.”

Liza gets up, probably feeling uncomfortable, but to my surprise, she stands in front of me.

“You care about him, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Our world is so fucked up, Roslyn. You can’t try to fit everything in the black and white areas, because it’s all one massive pile of gray.”

That’s not helpful.

“I know,” I mumble, wishing I didn’t understand because it’d make me less of a freak.

The humans have it so much easier. Right and wrong is laid out in law. Words of conduct are construed and punishment is implemented by a government of some sort when said laws are broken. Our world plays by different rules, and it’s survival of the deadliest.

“If you talked to him, it might keep them from looking for you. Your mother will try to fight them after what they just did, and you can’t blame her for that.”

So Liza is seriously interested in her well-being.

“I can’t. If I talk to Thad… I just can’t. They can’t find us. I did good at covering my tracks through the planes on our way here. And there’s a protection spell on the house. I made it stronger.”

She frowns while looking over at my dad, who is paying more attention to her chest. Fucking werewolf dick.

“Thad won’t kill her,” my father says while clearing his throat. “Gage made it clear that Thad has claimed you and named you under his protection. Which means anyone who messes with you incurs the wrath of all of them.”

Liza snorts derisively, and I look up at her.

“They just want to kill her mother.”

Okay, salt on the wound.

Since Dice is an incubus, according to Thad, that makes her a succubus. I don’t really see the family resemblance though.

“Not so much anymore,” Dad tells me. “Seems they realize now they made a mistake. They couldn’t understand her motives for helping, considering they haven’t seen her in quite a while. Now they do understand them. They thought Sadie was getting close to them to probe for—what the fucking hell is he doing here?”

Dad’s abrupt change and louder tone startles me, and I look up just as the dark angel walks out. The guy cocks an eyebrow, as if he’s daring Dad to say or do something.

“Healing your ex. What are you doing here?”

Dad stands, making himself look as tall as possible—an alpha thing.

“My daughter is here,” Dad snaps, then he turns his attention to Liza. “You invited Dray? His best friend is Kimber’s father. You don’t see the problem there?”

My blood chills to my bones, and I dive off the couch and into the bedroom, scrambling onto the bed to check on my mother. She sighs when I touch her throat, checking for a pulse, and a small smile spreads over her face as she stays asleep and peaceful.

My entire body relaxes, and I look back into the living room to see a bored dark angel, a furious alpha werewolf, and an annoyed succubus.

“I’m sort of a rare breed, in case you don’t remember,” Dray points out. “And I owe Liza a few favors. Plus she blackmailed me.”

“Believe me when I say he’ll want to keep some secrets… under the covers, so to speak. Right, Dray?” she asks.

He rolls his eyes before walking back into the bedroom, mumbling something about an annoying succubus being the death of him.