“Like you had her before?!” He steps toward Kairhyse, his eyes beginning to glow a bright azure. “You took her to a snake’s pit and hoped they were docile. You bet on her life, for what?”
I’m not at all surprised when Kai slams a fist into his face, and as Alaric disappears, my shoulder jumps with a single chuckle. The moment I’m ready to keep walking, Alaric is flying past me and punching Kairhyse square in the jaw.
As I’m about to drop the bitch over my shoulder, I feel a weight settle over us. It’s not just that—the world goes dark. It’s the middle of the afternoon, the sun’s out, but suddenly, it’s gone. An eclipse casts its shadow, drenching us in a darkness that feels like the Beyond has opened its gates and swallowed us whole.
Alaric is before me when he turns his gaze to me, a questioning look about him. As if he thinks it’s me that is doing this.
I’m not.
“I don’t like you.” When Kayn speaks, I now understand what is happening. I hadn’t lied to Kairhyse when he asked if I’d known a many Vampire. The truth is I’ve met only a handful, conversed with even less of them. However, I’d done as much research on them as I had on Shifters.
Kayn, he…Holy fuck, they were said to have gone extinct.
An Umbraen. They bring on the night, cast out the sun in a several mile radius.
“You’ll not touch either of these two,” he continues.
Umbraen pair best with Veilsidian because their power thrives in the shadows. The red of the covered sun deepens into the darkest twilight, amplifying their reach.
“That includes present, and in the future.”
Alaric turns his head, his fists clenching.
Kairhyse is a Veilsidian.
The moment I swallow, my monster is emerging from the casted shadow of the Fallen. His bright red eyes glowing as he grabs hold of Alaric, and yanks him down into the darkness.
I look around, my heart beating a million miles a second. Belial himself, it was as if the shadow itself swallowed them both.
“Where did—” A loud crash has me turning slowly, the taxi we had stolen now bent inward right down its center. Alaric’s arm twitches as it pokes from the metal.
A soft gasp filters in from the house, and I can tell that it’s Sydni. Three sets of feet come rushing toward me, and I sigh. I don’t want them interrupting, because this is sexy as fuck. I’d like to watch in peace, my monster throw around the Fallen as if he is a godsdamn rag doll.
Kai emerges from the shadows and grabs at Alaric’s ankle, beginning to peel him from the wreckage. The scraping of the metal tears into the Fallen’s sides, and as he hisses, his hand grips onto Kairhyse’s. His foot swings up before he can fall to the ground, barely missing Kai’s face.
“Stop it!” Niyla screams, rushing past me.
Desiray is being such a good girl, not squirming or making even a peep. If it weren’t for her racing heart, I’d think she was dead.
“Rhysie-poo, don’t do this! We are supposed to be working together.”
Sighing, I lean my head against Desiray’s body. Kai, with what looks like minimal effort, tosses Alaric off to the side and turns his gaze over to me.
I can fuckinghearhim thinking. “See? Not glass, little demon”.
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. “Do you have a basement?”
Kayn chuckles, moving forward and stepping between us and Alaric. “Unbothered mistress, I absolutely love it,” he croons.
“I’m just trying to protect you, Xera.” Turning my back on him, he continues. “Don’t be reckless. It isn’t just your life that hangs in every choice you make.”
I take pleasure in ignoring Alaric, watching his fury rise along his skin. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll realize I’m too much for him and finally fuck off with his delusional quest to create a superior being.
Bouncing Desiray on my shoulder causes her to let out a whimper, and I pat her thigh. “You’ve earned yourself a meal. Thanks for being a good little bitch while I watched.”
Chapter 40
Kairhyse
