His eyes widened, flashing an intense red glow as they traced me. His lips curled into a grin, and he headed straight for me.
Chapter Six
REESE MADE HIS WAY to me along the wall. Bracing myself, I balled my hands into fists by my side, forcing myself to stay planted. My Charge Dagger was sheathed in my boot, just beneath the back of my bustle. I didn’t want to make a scene, but if he started a fight, I wouldn’t have a choice.
I scanned the club, quickly locating Lana, Nick, and Jace. None of them were aware of Reese…yet. There was no way the Narco was here alone, but I hadn’t seen his friends. Reese’s eyes found mine, their red flames bright as he stopped right before me. I cursed myself for shaking. But at least it looked like our diversion plan was working.
He raised his hand, and I jerked back. Then he stepped closer and took my hand, bringing me toward him. “I’m not trying to scare you
, Shythe Girl. I’m only here for a dance.” He pulled me into his arms. “That is, if you can refrain from threatening me tonight.”
My face heated, and I bit down on my lip as his hard chest pressed against me. He was patronizing me. Had he known I was Shythe last night when he first danced with me? “What do you really want?” I took a step back, putting a couple inches between us.
Hitching an eyebrow—which I noticed for the first time was pierced with a small copper stud—he gave me what he probably thought was a sincere smile. “Honestly? Just to dance. I feel bad about how things went down before. I don’t want to fight.” He held me closer, his glowing red eyes boring into mine, and gently ran his fingers along my arm. Heat rippled across my skin.
He ducked his head close to my ear. “You look amazing, by the way.” Brushing his hand across my back, he spread warmth over my bare skin.
I ignored his comment, looking past his shoulder, but kept dancing. As long as no one was attacking, I didn’t mind being near him. Although, the heat was distracting. Before last night, I’d never been touched by a Narco. It wasn’t painful, but I imagined it could be…if he wanted.
“Why are you here?” I asked flatly. “And don’t give me that Peace Act crap. You didn’t act like you wanted to be friends earlier today.”
He pulled back, tilting his head to the side. “It’s too loud. If you want to talk, let’s get some air.”
Yeah right. “Sure, let me go grab my stupid stick, and I’ll be right behind you.” I glared up at him. “Answer the question.”
He halted dancing, then grasped my hand and led me to a corner where the lighting was dimmer and the steam billowed out, creating a wall between us and the crowd. My stomach sank. How stupid was I? He could off me right here and be out the door before anyone noticed I was missing.
Reese held his hand out to me. I rolled my eyes and took it. He pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me. “Now I can hear you better.” His lips twisted into a grin. “Though, I think I liked seeing you better…for the sake of dancing, of course.”
“Answer my question,” I said. “What are the Narcos doing here?”
Reese swayed us back and forth. “We’re trying to live peacefully among your race. The Treaty Act only put an end to the war. This new contract will ensure the Kythan survival.”
I squinted, confused. “And what’s your role in all this? You’re not a Council member. And today you were picking a fight with Jace.” I shrugged. “Your claim of wanting to live peacefully feels false for some reason.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Jace, huh?” He laughed. “Yeah, that guy needs some serious anger management.” I opened my mouth to retort, but he continued. “I guess I could back off a little. He just rubbed me the wrong way.”
“You had me pinned against a wall. How was he supposed to rub you?”
His eyes flared, illuminating, as he smiled at me. “You’re so damn serious.” He cocked his head. “It’s cute.” Then his eyes trailed over my neck. “I see your neck healed up. That was Jace’s work, right?”
I huffed and turned to leave, but he clasped my waist. “Sorry…sorry.” He pulled me back to him, continuing our dance. “Last night you shocked me. I was startled. My anger got the better of me for a moment, and then”—he smiled—“you got so mad. It was hot. Kind of turned me on.”
Was he serious? Our kind didn’t mix. The trial repopulation test was the only time, to my knowledge, that our two races had ever mingled. The thought of a Narco and Shythe getting together was simply unheard of. More than that, it was blasphemy in Haven Falls.
Then something he’d said interrupted my thoughts. Shocked? “Wait.” I shook my head. “What do you mean by shocked? Like my attitude shocked you?”
He raised both eyebrows. “No, like you physically shocked me. It hurt like hell. So yeah, I was a little pissed.” My mouth dropped open as he continued. “But, I figured out later that since you haven’t gone through the change yet, you probably didn’t even realize you did it. Or am I wrong?”
I shook my head, pondering. I stopped dancing and stared down at my hands. How the…? “I’ve never heard of power coming before the change,” I said absently.
Reese resumed our dance, swaying me in his arms. “The Shythe Council really keeps you in the dark, huh? Look, its normal.” He half-shrugged. “I accidentally melted my communicator before I shifted.”
“Huh,” I scoffed. Then something else occurred to me. I shocked him! That could mean I was going to have Shythe Charge. I smiled. “Hey, I have to go.” I turned, ready to get out of there—excited to go tell my mom.
“Wait.” Reese moved in front of me. “Dez, right? So when do you shift for the first time?”
I was growing impatient. “Um…the day after tomorrow.”