Poison's Kiss (Deadly Beauties 2)

"You can't touch me. I'm blocking out his power to keep Kane from becoming a pile of broken bones. If you touch me, it'll shock the fuck out of you."

He stops and glares at Kane with venom. "Maybe you should let Drackus finish them all before they have the chance to come after you later."

Kane growls, but I step between them. "Just shut the hell up and get out of the way. I'm losing my strength, and I won't be able to hold it much longer. I have to get him out of here."

Thad's lips tighten, and then Gage materializes in front of us, throwing out heaps of his dark energy to fold the night stalkers already crumbling under my father's power.

"This is almost too easy," he quips while falling in behind us.

"I can't believe you two called him," I scold, but Gage rushes up beside me, careful not to touch me when he feels the energy flowing through me.

"We had to. Desperate times and all. I refused to let you just die."

Kane grumbles under his breath, and his hold on me tightens. It's almost painful to be touching him without being tangled around him, but I have to keep my focus.

"How the hell is a light witch involved with Drackus to the point he would break out of his prison and come to save you? Please don't tell me he's in love with you," Kane says with a bit of a pained tone.

"Gross," I dramatically release, making Thad cough out his laughter.

"Well then, why?"

"Because he's her-"

"Because he used to be involved with my mother. That's why he sent Thad to help me out," I say to interrupt Thad.

My eyes cut to the blabbermouth changer who was so willing to expose my dirty little secret.

"Your mother? Callie Coldwell?" Kane asks, sounding confused as we briskly stride through the labyrinth of corridors.

This is so not the time for this.

Gage's eyes are locked on my hand that is entwined with Kane's, and his jaw clenches tightly as he throws forth another powerful shot of energy to blast the wall open to the outside.

"Shortcut," he says curtly, and Thad lets out a teasing chuckle as he stares at him.

Once outside, I see Kane's friends rushing toward us, with a wave of my hand, I blow them back, keeping them away from the point where I sense Drackus's power reaches.

"What the-"

"They almost tasted power they wouldn't survive," I say to interrupt Kane's angry question.

"Stay back," he yells as we close in on the line, sprinting toward them now. "You'll get killed if you come any closer."

Amy growls at me, her eyes flashing orange as she stares me down, her lips curled back in a defiant snarl. But her eyes quickly fall back to Kane, tears springing free as she takes him in and sees he's safe and alive.

The nagging pang of jealousy strikes when we reach safety and I release him only to see Amy leap into his arms. Her lips find his, and I'm forced to turn away.

"Damn it, Amy," he softly scolds, breaking free from her clutches and gently pushing her away. "Don't keep doing this to yourself."

I almost breathe out a sigh of relief, but I hold it back. She wipes her tears while shaking her head.

"Sorry, I just-"

"I know," he says a little softer, and then he gives her a kind hug. "I'm fine."

"I need to go help Drackus," Gage says to draw my attention away. Then he looks toward Thad. "Get her out of here."

"Drackus?" Sierra gasps while covering her mouth.