Page 44 of Poison's Kiss
I just laugh, and then I lean against the dresser in the room.
"Well, this girl needs answers. The only place I can get answers is from the night stalker the tattooed, pierced boy just forbid me to see. Care to be rebellious with me?"
He lets out an exasperated gust of air as he drops back to the bed.
"No. Absolutely not. There's nothing you can say or do to convince me otherwise."
"I can't believe I letyou talk me into this," Thad gripes as we pull up to Kane's house.
I let a laugh out at the easy-to-fold changer.
"Well, I need answers, and you have to admit you're curious, too."
"About a guy who ties your father to Kane? Not in the least. What I want to know is if your ex-night stalker has any clues as to how long it will take Castine to recover. Your dad will serve me to an ogre if I lose you to her again, so I need to be prepared."
"Youdidn't lose me, technically."
"He can't know Gage is involved, and I can't keep you safe without Gage's help."
We get out of the car, slowly making our way to the beautiful cabin full of enormous windows. I see Kane with his back to us, unaware of our approach, as he speaks to someone I can't see.
Butterflies form in my stomach, reminding me how much stronger the bond is when I'm around him.
"Why can't Gage be around me? He's only keeping me safe, not that Drackus really cares."
Thad glances around, checking our tails to make sure no one is following us. I'm sure he'll be paranoid for a while.
"It's a long story I've only barely been briefed on, but as far as your father goes, you're only alive because he cares. You need to stop viewing him the way the rest of your kind does. Drackus only stays in that hole because of you, and you know it. If he didn't care about you, why would he stay there?"
True, but then again, Drackus is as unpredictable and confusing as any male. He could have ulterior motives I don't know about.
We continue in silence as Thad tenses beside me. I've seen him shred a night stalker under the full moon, but he knows Kane is stronger, and he hates it.
I ring the doorbell, considering knocking would be pointless. The surprise on Kane's face says it all as he comes to open the door for me.
"Why are you here?" he almost snarls, shattering the small illusion I had.
He seemed so caring, so concerned in that dungeon, but now he's back to callous and cold, disgusted with the sight of me.
"I need to ask you about-"
I halt my words as the dark hair and tame eyes fall into view. It's Dray. He's here.
He plays coy as he walks toward me; his beautiful face disarming and misleading... just like all the dark wielders. His black, leather jacket resembles the long duster my father wore during the battle with Castine, a signature look for the oldest of fey creatures.
His dark denim jeans and black button-up shirt complement the darkness lurking within, though I can't pinpoint what he is. His eyes refuse to give me any inkling.
"Dray," I murmur softly, and Thad squirms a little more, feeling the dark aura exuding from the mysterious creature in front of us.
"Alyssa, right? How lovely to see you again. Can I ask why it is you're here?"
He's acting as though this is his house, and he's even going so far as to pretend not to know me at all, when he clearly knows exactly who I am.
"I came to speak to Kane."
"There's nothing to speak about, Alyssa," Kane murmurs very coolly. "What happened in that dungeon was out of desperation. I was starved, you were hurting. We both needed something from the other. That's all it was. You need to do what you have to and sever this bond."
I wince at how icy he is so shortly after I believed him to actually care about me. I knew better then, and now he's proving me a fool for wishful thinking.
