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His eyes move to Alyssa, expecting an apology, which she doesn't offer. She doesn't know what she did to him. I intentionally left that out.
He frowns when he realizes she's oblivious, and his eyes come to meet my warning ones. I shake my head once, letting him know not to bring it up. I'll tell her eventually, but not now—not tonight. The fact she hurt Gage was upsetting enough to her. She doesn't need to know she hurt Dice, too.
She stands first, and I follow, snaking my arm around her waist and feeling the thin sheet of silky material that covers her body. As soon as we're alone, I'm startled by her pulling me down to kiss her.
Her kiss is needy, not hungry. I'm not sure what's going on, but I pull her closer, letting my tongue slip in and tangle with hers before picking her up and dropping to the bed with her in my arms.
"Thank you," she murmurs when she pulls back.
"For?" I ask, still reeling from that powerful kiss I want to go back to.
"For being here for me—again. You—it's like you—I don't know. I don't deserve it. You have no idea how harshly I've judged the bitten fey, especially night stalkers. I don't deserve to have you—someone who is so understanding of the monster I really am."
A few tears creep out despite her attempts to restrain them, and I wipe one away with my thumb before kissing her softly. Her robe has fallen open enough to show me her veil has resumed, covering the scar that goes deeper than the surface.
I stroke the smooth skin that holds a tragic secret, and then I lean down, kissing her there. Her breath hitches for a minute and she stiffens, but not because she's scared of me. She's insecure because of what that son of a bitch left behind.
"I'll always be here, Alyssa. I've told you that before," I murmur before dragging my lips up her neck in a slow, sensual motion.
Her chills make me feel rewarded by telling me I've said or done something right. Her fingers start running through my hair as she lets me continue tracing the line of her jaw with my lips.
I smile when I see her smiling with her eyes closed, relaxing completely under the promise of my words and the love in my touch. She's mine, just as I'm hers.
Chapter 9
Alyssa
There's nothing worse than waking up with a vicious headache while the sun blares through the wall of windows in the room. I know what my first housewarming gift to Kane will be—curtains.
A hushed but heated argument is going on just outside the door, and I climb out of bed to listen. I scoop my robe up from the floor and tie it into place as I strain my hearing to hone in on the exact words being shared.
"I won't fucking do it. If you try to put her in a cage, I'll rip your head off your shoulders!" Kane yells in a whisper.
"Do you really think I want to do this?" Gage says a little louder, his tone incredulous. "I have been searching for anything at all to avoid this, but I can't find a better solution."
"Kane," Deke grumbles, keeping his voice lower than Gage did, "he's right. Do you think I like locking Sierra up? I hate it. It makes me feel sick to my stomach every time I lock that door, but we both know it has to be done. The red moon is dangerous to anyone with an animal-related creature inside them. Alyssa has all of them, making her all the more dangerous."
I swallow hard. It's me they want to lock up. Was it that bad? Are they all that scared of what I'll do? I can't blame them, I suppose. I'm scared of what I'll do.
"No! This discussion is over!" Kane hisses.
I frown as I use my magic to clothe myself with some of the few things I have in my bag. They're right. I need to be caged like all the other beasts in the fey world. It's a sobering reality I never thought I'd have to face. I'm paying penance for my past judgments on others. Karma really is a bitch.
I step out, startling them all into guilty silence when they quickly realize I've overheard. Kane shakes his head the second he reads my eyes.
"No," he asserts, refusing to budge on his stance before I even deliver my argument.
"Kane, they're right. If this is happening because of the red moon, it's too risky. It's not like it's every night. I'll be fine in a cage for a few nights here and there."
Gage looks down, probably feeling like an ass for wanting to lock me up, but I understand. I'm dangerous. I'm even more dangerous than all the deadly beauties I've condemned over the years. It's a fitting punishment for my small-minded ways.
"I said no, Alyssa," Kane barks, walking away from me as he heads into the kitchen.
I sigh as I follow, leaving Gage and Deke in the living room. Kane is pouring a cup of coffee when I walk around the small dividing wall. He turns and holds his hand up before I can speak.
"Don't. You can't make me lock you in a cage. I won't do it. Would you do it to me?"
My heart folds over itself a few times to think of such an option, but he's not dangerous like I am—frigging irony.
