chapter Twenty
“Arys, get your ass out of that shower before I’m forced to flush the toilet and scald you out.”
I swiped a hand through the steam layering the mirror, but my reflection was still hazy. I saw calm brown eyes staring back at me. My hair was long and loose, falling down my back in a wave of ash blonde. Smoky black liner and mascara was all the makeup I wore. It created a dramatic cat eye effect, just the start of the drama for the evening.
“Why don’t you get your ass in here and soap up my… back?” he chuckled. “Don’t make me rub one out without you.”
“Alright, that’s it.” I reached over and flushed the toilet, giggling when Arys shouted a litany of curses.
“Not cool, Alexa.”
Ignoring him, I left the bathroom and rifled through my closet. Yoga pants and a simple black tank top made up my casual but easy to move in outfit. I knew I’d be fighting for my life in a matter of hours and couldn’t shake the sense of urgency. Having to wait until midnight to hit up Lilah’s party of mayhem and doom was making me impatient. I wanted to rush in and save my sister. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be that easy.
I took a slow, steady breath. Remaining calm and focused was in my best interest. It was just so damn tough.
Arys’s notebook lay on the bedside table. I had woken up to the sound of a pencil scratching against paper. Arys’s long buried artistic flare had recently come back to life. It was good for him; he needed an outlet that wasn’t blood and death.
Curious, I picked up his notebook. He’d been drawing a wolf. It stared off into the distance, seeing something beyond the boundary of the page. The wistful expression it wore was painfully familiar. The wolf wasn’t me; it was clearly Shaz.
“It’s not my best work,” Arys’s voice came from behind me.
I turned to him with a smile. “It’s beautiful. Really.” And, it was. It also caused a pang of longing so fierce my chest ached.
Arys readied himself as I watched. In jeans and a t-shirt, he looked comfortable but prepared to fight. His wet hair had dried into the sexy mess it always was. The few silver piercings he often wore were absent, the jewellery left on the bathroom counter. I drank in the sight of him, wanting to hold on to one of our last moments alone together until this was all over.
“We have time for a quickie,” he teased, poking the ticklish spot in my side until I laughed. He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “Are you ready? I don’t want to send you in there alone.”
“Yeah, I’m ready. The wait is killing me. Besides, I won’t be alone. Jez will be with me.” I hugged him extra tight, and a small sigh escaped me.
The drive to the city was tense. I was tightly wound; the anxious energy building in my core had me vibrating with the need to unleash it on anyone who dared to harm my sister.
Jez and Willow were waiting for us outside The Wicked Kiss. Arys tentatively suggested that we go inside and find ourselves a willing victim, something to take the edge off, but I liked my edge right where it was. I wasn’t hungry for blood tonight, only for vengeance.
“Should we say anything to Kale?” Jez asked, gesturing to his car in the lot.
“No,” I shook my head and regarded the door cautiously. “He’s got his own problems to deal with. I think he would be more of a liability than anything.”
A shadow of absolute hate passed over Arys’s face at the mention of Kale. I would definitely be doing all I could to keep them from having a further encounter.
I opened the Charger’s trunk and stared at my dagger. The Dragon Claw, just a nick, was exactly what I needed to take out Lilah.
“There’s no way she’ll let me get in there with this,” I mused.
“I’m going to try getting past her guards with this.” Jez slid the hairpin out of her golden locks, showing me the blade attached. “It’s pure silver.”
“Nice.” I nodded, regarding her with curiosity. “Does it hurt you at all?” I couldn’t help but wonder. It would take some time to adjust to the idea of Jez being half demon.
Jez tucked the hairpin back into place and smoothed out a few loose tendrils. “Nope. That’s the beauty of being mortal.”
Sure she was mortal, but if someone got a hold of that thing and plunged it into her, what would it do then? I wasn’t going to undermine Jez’s choice to bring it; I just hoped that no one would use it against her.
“I can get that in to you.” Willow pointed to the Dragon Claw. He had been relatively quiet. I wondered if it was because he was also relatively sober.
“Really? You can bring something like that when you do your little teleportation thing?” I wasn’t sure if there was a more accurate term for what angels and demons did. They could pop from place to place and lurk unseen. Teleportation just didn’t seem to fit.
Willow laughed, a musical sound that produced a sense of peace. “There are many terms for it, most of them fabricated or incorrect. Let’s just call it a translocation jump. Seems to be the best way to describe it. And yes, I can take objects with me. Unfortunately, that’s about all I can take. No live beings or anything like that.”
“Perfect. Thank you.” I lifted the dagger from its velvet-lined box and passed it to Willow, careful not to let it touch either Jez or Arys. “Wait until the right time, if you can figure out when that is. Too early or too late, and I’ll never get a chance to use it.”
“I’ll stay out of sight until I feel I’m needed.” Willow turned the dagger over, examining the demon blade with distaste. I handed him the scabbard, and he promptly slipped it inside before tucking it into his knee-length leather jacket.
“So, now we wait,” I said, my impatience growing. I pulled out my phone to check the time, and it rang in my hand. The hard rock sound of Guns N’ Roses was loud in the quiet parking lot. It was Briggs.
“Shit,” I swore before answering. “What do you want, Briggs?”
“Have you heard from Juliet? When she didn’t answer any of my calls I went by her place. There were signs of a struggle, and she’s nowhere to be found.”
I had a split second to decide between the truth and a lie. “Someone took her. Someone who wants to use her as leverage over me. She’s alive. I won’t let anything change that.”
“If you know where she is, O’Brien, you’d better give me a little more information than that. I’ll have a team ready in minutes.” He covered the phone to bark orders at someone in the background.
“No deal. I’ll handle this. Your people would only get her killed.” I braced for the threat of government authority.
Briggs scoffed and swore. “Dammit, I am not in the mood to play these games with you. Not everything is a power trip. She’s a member of my team, and I am genuinely concerned for her well-being.”
“All things considered, I’m glad to hear that. You’ll be the first to know when she’s safe again.” I hung up before he could reply. Having the FPA all over this would only increase the level of danger.
I stared at the phone, remembering Briggs boasting about tracking it. Turning it off should prevent that. Still, to be on the safe side, I would have to leave it here at the club.
When it was almost time to leave, Arys pulled me aside. “Be careful and most importantly, stay calm. Don’t let her drive you to make decisions based on anger. Your short temper is dangerous.”
“Who are you to talk?” I punched him playfully, trying to keep the moment from getting serious. It didn’t work.
He kissed me with an intensity that stole my breath. “I promised Shaz I would keep you safe. Please don’t do anything to make that a lie.”
“I’ll be fine.” I touched his face, and he leaned into it, rubbing his cheek against my hand. “You’re always with me, even when you’re not actually with me. No worries, ok?”
By the time Jez and I clambered into her Jeep for the drive to Lilah’s, I was frightfully calm. I’d awakened with fear and apprehension, but that faded, replaced by a solemn assurance that, no matter what happened, I was going to find a way to protect Juliet. The wolf paced restlessly inside me. It, too, was eager to make Lilah hurt.
“That worked too well,” Jez commented with a smirk.
We watched as Arys drove away in my car, followed by a grey BMW sedan that pulled out of the grocery store lot across the street. Easing into traffic behind the Charger, it had to be the feds. Briggs thought he could send a tail after me? Please. He’d be sorry when Arys led them on a wild goose chase and sent them back with punctured veins, if he sent them back at all.
A few minutes later, we pulled into traffic, heading in the opposite direction. I watched closely in the side mirror for any sign of another FPA car. We were clear.
Turning in to Lilah’s posh neighborhood got my pulse pounding. I clenched my fists and gathered my thoughts. The power boiled over inside, spilling out like a sieve despite my attempt to rein it in. I could do this. I had to.
“You need to tone that down, Lex,” Jez remarked. “I think you’re starting to give me static cling.”
She patted her hair, smoothing it in jest. I focused hard on containing myself. Anticipation and wrath had me on overdrive.
We parked a block away and walked to the house. Guards waited for us at the edge of the property. The small group of muscle consisted of both vampires and a demon. The temptation to hit them all with a hell of a blast was great, but I resisted. They weren’t worth it.
“You were supposed to come alone,” grunted a vampire with a beefy build and an ugly sneer.
“The invitation didn’t specify that. I doubt having a shifter at my side is going to make much difference. Lilah clearly has an arsenal here.” I raised my arms and spread my feet when he started to frisk me; I had nothing to hide.
One of the other vamps frisked Jez while the demon present merely oversaw the process. Maybe they were ignorant or maybe they were just men, but nobody thought to check Jez’s hairpiece.
They didn’t hold us up with wannabe bad guy talk. However, they also wouldn’t let us go further until sending and receiving word from Lilah that Jez could enter, too. Of course, she allowed Jez to pass. Lilah had something concrete on me. I could bring an army, but as long as the bitch had my sister, I’d have to play nice.
We continued down the stone walk to the front door. There were no hellhounds to greet us this time. No. It was far worse than that.
Falon swung the door open. He stood there with a self-righteous grin that didn’t quite reach his ice-cold eyes. Dressed all in black with his silver wings flared, he stepped back and motioned for us to enter.
The doors slammed shut with a deafening bang. Immediately, several vampires flanked each of us. Again, a demon stood off to the side, just watching. I was beginning to think the demons weren’t there for us but, rather, for Willow or others like him.
“I am going to enjoy this,” Falon said. His smile had vanished, his expression now stony and unreadable. “Follow me.”
He turned his back on us, expecting we’d follow. What choice did we have? I eyed the fallen angel suspiciously. He was playing a dangerous game here. I couldn’t be sure if his loyalties lay with Shya or Lilah. Who was he here to help? His power would have a hand in determining the outcome of this little party.
Falon led us down a hall on the far side of the foyer, past the library we’d seen previously. The vampires were hot on our heels. I paused to give them all a once over. Unrecognizable, every one of them. I found some small relief in the fact that they were not patrons of my club.
At the end of the hall, a demon stood guard in front of a pair of closed double doors. He scowled at Falon but moved aside to let us through. Falon threw the doors open and strode through like he owned the place.
I hesitated in the doorway, peering inside. The vampires at my back shoved me over the threshold. I wasn’t all that surprised by what I saw inside. The fact that I was growing accustomed to demon gatherings was troublesome.
The room was large even for a small mansion like Lilah’s. The only windows were high up on either side of the arched ceiling, high enough to keep sunlight from hitting the lowest part of the room during the day. Careful design, fit for a vampire.
The hardwood floor shone as if freshly polished. The room was open with little clutter. In the center was a sunken circular couch. Several scantily clad bodies moved upon it, both men and women, human and vampire. They created a powerful energy that reeked of blood and lust.
I shielded against the onslaught of seductive energy. So, this was how Lilah enticed vampires into her fold. I had a sneaking suspicion the humans here were not present of their own free will but were instead victims of the vampire influence.
At the far end of the room stood three elaborate armchairs. Lilah sat in the middle with Gabriel and Juliet bound and seated on either side of her. My heart surged when I saw my sister, bruised but alive. Small cuts adorned her wrist and neck, evident of Lilah’s curiosity. Juliet’s blood hadn’t worked. She wasn’t a Hound.
Shya sat in a chair off to the side where he had an ample view of the entire room. Despite being bound in silver, he still wore his constantly amused smile. His grin broadened when he saw me, and a chill crept down my spine. Far too many demons were in this room for my liking.
I followed Falon around the couch, stopping in front of Lilah. Jez was at my side, tense but ready. Meeting Juliet’s eyes, I nodded, hoping to encourage her. She stared back at me, expressionless.
“You came,” Lilah said, crossing one leg over the other. “I’ve got to admit, I almost thought you might leave your sister to fend for herself.”
“No, you didn’t. But, why save her for last? Why kill Zak and Zoey?” I stared hard at Lilah, ignoring the demon that stood behind her but noting that Brook was not among those present.
Lilah did her best to look bored. It didn’t work. She was thrilled to see me. “Because I wanted to. I only wish it had been easier to track down the white wolf.”
I repressed the sudden surge of venomous hatred. I wanted so badly to slap her with a blast of power. Cool and calm. That’s how I had to do this.
“So, what now? You bleed me and let my sister go?” I asked, indignant and refusing to show fear.
Lilah pretended to consider. She looked more like the Lilah I knew tonight. Her flame-colored hair was in a tight braid, and she was dressed to fight. I eyed her sturdy army boots, certain I’d take one in the face before the night was over.
“Are you in a hurry, Alexa? I’m not keeping you from anything, am I? Another hush-hush meeting with the FPA, perhaps.” She shot a snide look Shya’s way. He shrugged but remained silent.
“That’s a pretty cheap tactic for someone as old and experienced as you. Isn’t it?” There was a light touch on my mind from Arys. I let him in, seeking reassurance in his presence.
Lilah raised a hand to Falon, a wordless command. The a*shole angel came to stand before me. It was so damn hard not to step away. His pale eyes were vacant of any emotion. Without laying a hand on me, he grasped my energy and jerked hard, stripping power from me.
The pain was immediate and agonizing. I screamed and went down hard on my knees. Falon grabbed my hand and pulled me up. The more solid connection intensified the pain. It felt like he was tearing me in half. Instead, he tore all the power that I’d gathered in readiness from me as if it were a limb from my body.
He whispered to me, using the sound of my shrieks to ensure nobody else heard. “You f*cked up. I tried to help you.”
I sagged against him, and he let me go. Jez caught me before I hit the floor again. I gasped for breath, drained to the point of exhaustion. The leopard inside Jez crawled to the surface where it tried to offer me some comfort. I drew on her energy, taking just enough to stay on my feet.
“How was that for a cheap tactic?” Lilah asked, her steely, burnt orange gaze upon me.
My mind raced as I tried to figure out what Falon had meant. When the hell did he ever try to help me?
‘When he dosed you with his power,’ Arys supplied. ‘You came for her, and you failed.’
Shock settled in to fuel more questions. If that were the case, it would mean Falon wanted me to take out Lilah. I regarded him suspiciously, and he carefully avoided my eyes. As far as the angel was concerned, I couldn’t afford to assume anything.
“Can we just get this over with? Or, do you plan on torturing me further?” Maybe I was asking for it, but if I could get Lilah busy kicking my ass, Willow might get his chance to pop in.
“Honey, I haven’t even begun to torture you.” Lilah rose and walked around my sister’s chair, trailing her hand along Juliet’s arm as she did so. “Where is your vampire, Alexa? Surely he wouldn’t let you walk in here without him.”
“He doesn’t know I’m here. I’m not willing to risk my sister like that. Lilah, seriously, just take what you want from me and let Juliet go. Please.”
“I gave you the opportunity to make an ally out of me. You chose Shya instead.” Lilah’s angry gaze landed on the demon who grinned, infuriating her further. “Naturally, I’m feeling a tad betrayed. I worked at your side for years. I saved your ass, yet you trusted him over me.”
She was jealous of Shya? Really? I would have rolled my eyes if I hadn’t been so sure she’d knock them out of my head.
“Hey, it’s not personal. Remember?” I threw her own words at her. “I didn’t come to stroke the ego of an insecure, washed up demon. Stop wasting my time.”
Jez stiffened beside me and gave my arm a warning squeeze. Lilah’s slow calculated actions were unnerving. I wanted to piss her off enough to shake her control, to throw her off her game somehow.
Lilah’s eyes narrowed, but she held herself together. Without taking her eyes from me, she grabbed Juliet by the hair and jerked her head to the side. Dragging a sharp nail over Juliet’s jugular, Lilah practically purred.
“It’s personal now.” She dug that nail in just enough to bring a bead of blood to the surface. Slow and languid, Lilah bent to run her tongue along Juliet’s slender neck, capturing that drop of crimson.
I shuddered and bit back the urge to shout a useless stream of ugly curses at the demon bitch. The scent of my sister’s blood wafted to tickle my nose with its heady Were aroma.
“You’re a f*cking nutcase,” I said, clenching my fists at my sides. “You’re completely mad, aren’t you?”
A light went on as another puzzle piece fell into place. Lilah straightened up, shoving away from Juliet. She took a few steps toward me but kept a safe distance. I was aching on the inside from Falon stripping my power, yet she still feared me.
“I suppose that’s a matter of perspective.” A small smile played about her lips. “Aren’t we all a little mad?”
I shook my head, doing my best to ignore the steady throb in my skull. “It’s not that. It’s him. The separation from your twin flame, it has driven you crazy, made you desperate. Because you know the longer you try to exist without him, the farther you’ll fall into insanity.”
She moved fast. The fist she threw landed like concrete, and I went down hard on my ass. This wolf knew how to take a few hits though, and I was back on my feet going after Lilah before I could rethink the reaction. Falon intercepted, throwing me back with little effort.
“Wrong, you presumptuous bitch,” Lilah seethed, baring fangs. “See here’s the thing about Salem. He and his angels, they were the ones who locked me in a cage. They ensured that if I ever got out, I’d be cursed into this godforsaken form. It was his pathetic attempt to control the way my darkness affected him. At full power, I’m a bigger force than he is. Battling the darkness was driving him mad. So, he took drastic measures.”
I swiped a hand across my split lip, finding it bloody. Bleeding in a room with several unfamiliar vampires was not a good thing. If Kale’s reaction to my blood was any indication of the effect it had on them, there was a chance they could lose control.
“And, you think getting your power back will change that?” I laughed bitterly. “Bleeding me might break your curse, but it will never break your tie to him.”
Lilah’s anger scorched the atmosphere. She seemed flustered. Turning away, she spoke quietly to a tall, brawny demon lingering near the captives. He vanished, leaving me to worry about where he had gone.
I considered reaching out to the vampires in the room, stealing their energy. I could take them all out and have a hell of a load of power to throw at Lilah. Except, until my sister was free, I couldn’t risk it. Drawing on my link to Arys was possible, but his silence had grown, and I no longer felt him in my head. The first trickle of fear slithered through me.
I felt frustrated without any power, but I knew I could do this. I was a wolf, a Hound, whatever the hell that meant. I could do this powerless.
“You know, I hadn’t intended to drag this out. That smart mouth of yours is making me reconsider.” Lilah paced a slow line from Juliet’s chair to Gabriel’s and back again. Both captives stared straight ahead, unflinching and numb. I feared what might have happened to them already.
I stared at the demoness, steady and unafraid. As long as the bitch was talking, it bought us time to get out of this. I shrugged, running a tongue over my cut lip. It had swelled quickly.
“Do what you gotta do,” I said.
Noise at the door drew everyone’s attention. The demon who had just left dragged in an angry, curse spewing Arys.
Lilah’s lips were pressed into a tight, thin line. “You’re a terrible liar, Alexa. Did you expect me to believe your twin would not come? Now, he can watch you bleed.”