Chapter21
Alyssa
The hangover from hellwakes me up with the most ruthless touch I've ever felt. When did I get drunk?
As I sit up, a wave of memories or dreams wash over me, stinging me, stealing my air, and burning my mind as they ravage me and place themselves at the roots. I gasp for air, and then I scramble in the bed, searching for the body that's not here.
"Kane!" I scream, praying that was a rush of memories and not dreams. "Kane!"
"Hey," he says, running into the room.
I launch myself from the bed and he catches me midair. I sob for so many reasons as I cling to him, and he holds me almost too tight.
"I'm here. I'm okay. Shhh," he soothes, smoothing my hair with his hand as he kisses my forehead. "You controlled it, baby. You used it the way it was meant to be used."
"And you went without me," Chaz's voice says, coming from behind Kane.
Kane puts me down and steps aside so I can see the frustrated duster who doesn't look very happy with me right now.
"Kind of, sort of, um—no real choice, Chaz," I mumble, making him smile against his best efforts not to.
"You fucked up an entire fucking valkyrie ring, broke into the council's prison where no one has ever escaped, and you took on a horde of banshees. Impressive for a girl who can't control her powers," he says, sounding smug. "Did I mention you didn't kill anyone because they didn't deserve to die?" he asks, smiling bigger.
Kane smiles, too, and suddenly the hexer's words rush through my head.
"Kane, oh fuck. Kane, you're like me. If you kill—"
"I know," he says, a salacious grin growing. "It was a fucking shock that floored me, but I found out in the prison." His grin falls to make room for a frown. "A little girl told me. I couldn't get out. I couldn't save her. She said something about going with a woman in white. We're trying to figure out who she is."
"The hexer. She saw her in a vision. Maybe she can help us."
He purses his lips, and I'm sure his reason for pause has something to do with the fact he's spent a long time believing the hexer cursed him for reasons other than to save his life.
"Chaz called her already. She doesn't know her identity, and the little girl never would tell me."
He seems focused on all the important stuff, but like the fool I am, I'm focused on the one thing that doesn't have anything to do with surviving. I look at him expectantly, waiting on him to say something about our supposed destiny. Kane's a rebel. He doesn't like being a part of destiny's plan. He'd better not even think about leaving me.
"You okay?" he asks softly, studying my eyes.
I ignore him, and instead, I ask, "What all did that little girl tell you?"
His smile comes back, and he leans down to just barely brush his lips against mine. Chaz groans as he starts walking away, and Kane deepens the kiss for just a minute before pulling back and saying, "She told me that fucking dark user wasn't meant for you. She told me you were mine, but let's face it, I told you that a long time ago."
My grin floats happily across my face, and I stifle a girl giggle just before the front door slams.
"Alyssa!" Mom yells, probably having a bit of a panic attack, considering the madhouse it has been here.
Kane tugs at my hand and leads me into the living room to meet my—parents? Why the hell are they covered in blood?
They're splattered in red, their hair is matted by the sprays, and their clothes are tattered and well—bloody, of course.
"What happened to you?" I gasp, covering my mouth as I gape at them. It looks like they ran through a massacre.
Drackus mutters something too low for me to hear, but mom loudly hisses, "A group of bottom-feeding night stalkers." She looks up at an almost smiling Kane, and then her gaze drifts over to Zee and Deke who are also stifling their grins. "No offense," she adds, not sounding sincere at all.
Kane chuckles, unable to bite back his laughter anymore, and he sits down in a chair. I don't need an invitation. Without any hesitation, I settle onto his lap, still waiting on my mother to elaborate as my night stalker wraps his arms around me.
"They found the black diamond of Roth," she grumbles, eyeing Drackus.
