"Earlier, when I used my magic, I wasn't forcing you into the arms of another. I was drawing you to me. I wouldn't have actually done anything, but you shouldn't have gone to him. It's been bugging the piss out of me since then. How did you do it? It's like you channeled my power and guided it to one you trusted instead of me. I've never seen that done before."
I'm a little taken aback by his close proximity and grilling demeanor. After distancing myself to present an even more feasible gap between us, I try not to laugh.
"I don't trust Kane. He's a night stalker. I'm a witch."
"You trust him. I can see it, feel it, and almost taste it. It's sort of my thing. You might not want to admit it, but you trust him more than any person here. All I want to know is how you channeled my power. I've been around for a long, long time, so very few things surprise me."
I shrug, not sure what answer he wants. "I didn'tdoanything. I thought you did that. When I attended a party hosted by an incubus and succubus, there were apparentlya lotof people channeling, because they were all over each other."
He lets a laugh slip free and shakes his head. "They would have been projecting, not drawing. There's a difference. We feed off sexual energy by exerting our own, and then we soak in what you put back off and fuel ourselves with it. It doesn't cause harm, just hormonal overdrive. When we draw you in, you want us, not someone else."
This is awkward, and I'm ready to go. I'm almost excited when Zee comes to interrupt us.
"Let's go. Kane said you could ride with him again. I'll be driving Stud over here."
"I'd rather ride the pretty blond," Dice says, his eyes dancing with menace.
"You better mean ridewith. Kane is pissed enough as it is," Zee growls. "Sierra's a bitch for guilt-tripping him like that. She knows how devoted he is to this coven. She had no right."
I pat his arm. He's more protective of Kane than I realized.
"So you're with the night stalker? Yet you try to claim you don't trust him?" Dice asks, his head tilting to emphasize his confusion.
"I'm not with him, I'm with-"
I stop, instantly remembering I can't let someone working for Drackus know I'm...enjoying Gage's company. I can't believe I can't refer to him as anything. I suppose I'm not omitting any facts, since there aren't any to omit.
"With?" Dice prompts.
"No one. Let's get out of here."
"Gage?" Dice asks, his dark smile spreading larger. "I was wondering why he was hanging around down here. I kept hearing Mr. Powerful was sticking around in Pine Shore instead of out on the road - where he prefers to be. It makes sense now."
"You can't tell Drackus," I quickly counter, hearing the pleading tone in my voice.
"Why is that?" Zee asks, now teaming up with the pushy incubus.
"Because... I'm... Calypso's daughter and everyone remembers how close Drackus was with her."
That'll do.
Zee purses his lips, weighing my explanation and finding it feasible enough to head on to his car without further interrogation.
"Well then, light one, let's find out who's trying to get to you before Drackus turns me into a pin cushion for failing," Dice chirps, a suspicious gaze in his eyes as he slowly walks away.
I have to work on my lying skills. This is starting to give me a headache.
Kane has driven us herein silence, not making any attempt to start a conversation. His hands are shaking more frequently, and I'm starting to worry he's in pain. He refuses to let me help him though, and it's starting to piss me off.
We step out of the car, and I walk up beside him as he gauges the wild party going on inside the small lake house.
"I'm sorry about all of this," I murmur softly, trying to give him an outlet for his anger.
He loves taking out his fury on me, so I can be an emotional punching bag if that's what he needs right now
"It's not your fault, Alyssa. Sierra needs to learn Amy isn't mine to take care of. We're not like her and Deke. She keeps thinking we are, and she's only messing up Amy's head that much more. If anything, she should be the one getting her ass reamed by me. Not the other way around."
My hand slides up his arm, a comforting motion... I think. "I'm sorry you're hurting. You can vent on me. I've grown an extra layer of skin, so take your best shot. I won't tell Dray."
