Page 108 of Poison's Kiss
"I've never looked back. I all but cut Drackus out of my life. The first night stalker who attacked me had been hexed by someone who was an ally to Drackus. He wanted vengeance. The second one wanted vengeance as well. I don't know how he knew who I was, but he did. Drackus had done something to his coven. I never got the details - never really needed them. It was enough to know Drackus would only ever bring me harm. Until this whole ordeal with Castine, I hadn't spoken to him since I was ten."
He brushes my hair from my cheek, his green eyes burning into mine. He isn't even looking at me any differently. How is that possible?
"Airis, eh? I sort of like it."
I laugh lightly, considering that's not even close to being what I expected him to say.
"Well, don't get used to it. Airis is dead - as far as everyone's concerned. Besides, Airis is the name that ties me to Drackus's darkness. I prefer the light. Alyssa is all you get."
His eyebrows cock up as a sweet smile floats across his lips. "So I get Alyssa? Sounds good."
I shake my head, feeling foolish for my wording. "That's not what I meant. Let's go in before they send out a search party."
"I suppose that would give new meaning to awitch hunt."
I laugh involuntarily, and he snickers, too, as he pulls me to him, keeping his arm over my shoulders as we head toward the lobby. This feels so much like it did when we were together, but I'm more relaxed now than I ever was then.
That's so stupid. I'm more relaxed now that I know he's a night stalker? Sheesh.
I'm comfortable with Kane, more so than I thought possible after the rude awakening, but I'm also comfortable with Gage. Both of them are extraordinary in their own ways.
We enter the lobby, making everyone think we're a happy couple as Kane keeps me close to him. I'm cold, so it's nice to have an immortal's warmth. Then something strikes me as we get on the elevator.
"Isolis was cold to the touch, freezing actually. Why? How?"
His lips tighten.
"Too much witch's blood. I've seen it happen before. If a night stalker starts living primarily on the blood of a witch, he or she suffers the frosty touch. How much did he touch you?"
I shiver, making Kane tense. "Enough to know I'm glad Dice showed up when he did."
As the numbers start ticking up, carrying us to the fifth floor, Kane surprises me with his random turn of conversation.
"What's going to happen when Gage shows back up? Are you going to be with him even though it feels so right to be with me?"
My stomach twists and turns like an agitator in an old washing machine. I dread finding out what the answer to that will be. Fortunately, I don't have to voice my concern because the doors to the elevator open, revealing a smirking Dice.
"I assumed the lot of you would be a few minutes longer," he teases, his odd English accent irking me.
"Where are you from?" I ask curiously.
"Up north, though I couldn't give you an exact state. There weren't states then. Why?"
"Your accent... it's different. It's almost like I'm listening to an old movie."
"Ah, well, that's because you should have askedwhenam I from as opposed towhere. To answer that, I'll just let your imagination wander. Not all of us are too keen on giving away such intimate details."
I laugh lightly as he gives me a wink, but Kane just rolls his eyes at the flirty incubus. He pulls me toward the room where Zee is standing in the hallway, waiting on us.
"What's going on?" Kane asks.
"The human girl was here. We found her stuff, but we can't find any pictures. We did, however, find plenty of things we can use to track her. Sierra and Amy are almost here."
Kane frowns, looking down to me, and I shrug. It's not like he has to apologize for them. It's not his fault the two are such bitches to me.
"The spirit tried to hold us. We think the witch was after one or both of us this time," Kane says, sighing in exasperation. "It's strong to have such power without a body."
"How the hell did you get out of that?" Dice asks, falling over himself to come and stand in front of Kane.
