I could easily rip free, but he's right. If I fight with Gage, it's just going to put more burden on Alyssa. I hate dilemmas. I'd really love to thoroughly kick the dark user's ass.
"Where the hell were you?" Gage growls, sneering at Deke who has now overheard everything.
"With the girls. I try to stay close in case Sierra breaks free. Stop looking at me like that. It's not like I haven't already figured out Alyssa is more than a meager witch. Her eyes flip the hell out pretty regularly. I admit, this is—confusing, possibly a little overwhelming, but Kane is right—she needs control."
Deke's eyes lack the conviction of his tone. He's only siding with me because he would never go against me. He too believes Alyssa should contain her darker gifts. Unbelievable. Do they not know how amazing she is? She can do this. She can be the goddess instead of the monster.
"You're both fucking idiots," I hiss, ripping free and walking away, ignoring the frown Deke offers me.
Gage looks confused by my words, since Deke took my side, but I know my friend better than he does. If Deke knows, it's only right I talk to Alyssa about telling Zee. Zee will be on our side. He'd better be.
It's starting to feel like it's just me and my girl against the rest of the world—they want to wrap her up in a straightjacket. They're condemning her for being different because of the mistakes others have made in the past. I can only imagine what will happen when others find out –people who don't give a damn about her. They'll kill her. Or try to. I sure as fuck won't let it happen.
I rarely use my secret powers no night stalker should possess. But I'll break free hell's wrath if they fuck with her.
Deke walks up behind me, patting me on the shoulder. "Sorry," he murmurs under his breath.
"Just shut the hell up," I mumble, staring out the window as Zee argues with Dice.
I can't hear the words, but I can see the incubus throwing his hands around angrily as the argument becomes heated. Alyssa has been driving him crazy since he first learned she was immune to hischarm.
A smug grin comes to play on my lips just thinking about that. It's washed away when I think of that first day. So many times she kissed me after our divide, and it was all I could do to pull away each and every time. That day—I barely let her go.
I thought it was just her kissing me. I wanted to kill that slimy dick for forcing her against me and crushing another piece of my soul with false hope.
Nothing has ever hurt so much as learning she was a witch. Not because she was a witch, but because I thought I had just been a pawn in yet another scheme to draw out Castine. So many people have tried using me in the past. Being Castine's favorite was horrible enough. Having my life stalked by numerous fey just so they could get close to her made it all the more like hell.
When I thought Alyssa was just like the rest of them—it hurt worse than any physical pain I had ever felt. I wish—damn, I wish I had just talked to her, listened to her all the times she tried telling me the truth. My stubbornness and pride nearly cost me the only girl I've ever loved, but I'll be damned if I ever lose her again.
A dark storm brews in the distance, drawing all of our attention to the road that stretches into the thick woods we're surrounded by. My heart flutters, knowing the reason behind this unusual storm.
"It's her," Gage says, coming to stand beside me, tensing and reeking of fear. "I'll go to her."
"The hell you will," I snap. "You're fucking trembling inside. She doesn't need to taste fear. Predators drink it up, revel in their prey's terror. Her darker side will look at you like a toy to play with. You need to leave. I'm not afraid of her."
He narrows his eyes, clenching his fists when his hands begin to shake from anger and fear.
"I'm not afraid," he lies, acting as though he can fool me. "It's me. I'm the one who is meant for her. Only I can help her stop this shit."
"You'll only provoke the darkness. With you, she'll feel in-control and powerful. With me, she'll want something, I'll give it to her, but I'll keep the upper hand. This is how you play the game. You don't know the first thing about teaching someone to deal with the demons that come with the thirst for blood."
"You don't get to—"
I lose it. Before he can finish that pointless statement, I've unleashed my hidden power, knocked him against the wall, and dropped him to the ground. He writhes for a breath of air until he passes out. I release him from my unseen hold before I accidentally kill the stupid fool.
Deke groans, rolling his eyes. "There will be hell to pay for that later. You can't keep showing a Somage member how strong you are. It's a game of fire. You're going to get fiercely burned."
As the trees begin to bend and bow, I turn my attention back to the storm coming toward us with dark hair and glowing silver eyes. Damn, she looks like she's been up to something she'll regret.
She's less than three-hundred feet away now, and Zee and Dice have stopped arguing long enough to gawk at her in disbelief.
"I'm not worried about the Somage, Deke," I mutter, listening to his jaw try to unhinge as he stares at the deadly beauty stalking toward us with the sexiest strut I've ever seen. "I'm worried about my girl."
I step out onto the balcony of the stilted house, and I stare down at the precious gem the world fears. Dice stumbles backwards, drenched in horror, but Zee just tilts his head, seeming unafraid. His naivety is his saving grace because he doesn't understand the importance of the silver eyes she shows so boldly.
Now Dice—Dice is in trouble. I can smell his fear from here. She'll eat him alive. Not literally—hopefully.
Deke follows me out to the balcony, wisely not making a sound, as she lifts her hand to reveal her powerful symbol. The red and blue swirl around her palm, becoming a strong show of dominance when Zee's eyes glow blue, his fangs slip out, and he drops to his knees. Dice's eyes turn a glowing green and mix with swirls of red as he also drops to the ground.
