“Hey!” Shaz protested.
Arys continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “If keeping humans from harm is your goal, allowing them to become addicted to the rush of the bite is hardly the way to do that. Everyone in that place gets off on giving, taking and f**king.”
I made a frustrated sound that was mostly a growl of expletives. “I get it. The place is seriously bad news. I still believe something can be done with it. Even if it takes turning it into a church, I will change that place.” Arys smirked, and I pointed a finger at him before he could open his mouth. “You stop being right. And, don’t get used to it. That streak will run out eventually.”
“Hey, I don’t give a damn about that place or the people there, other than the two of you. It’s a den of weakness and addiction for everyone that delights in the naughty backroom playground. It’s a candy bowl of pills with something for everyone. Up, down or sideways.”
The Wicked Kiss had a way of seducing even the most strong-willed. Vampires readily got their fix of fear, blood and violent sex while humans got off on the rush of screwing a vampire and playing in a dark world that would only consume them. Adrenaline can be just as addictive as anything. Why skydive or bungee jump when you can let death taste you?
I didn’t want to encourage destructive behavior among the human clientele, but I had to ask myself, if they weren’t finding a thrill in the vampire’s bite, would they be on the streets sticking dirty needles in their arms in a desperate attempt to find that rush? Which was the lesser of two evils?
“I don’t care. I’m not making any snap decisions. It’s f**ked up, but who’s to say what those people would be doing if they weren’t consorting with vampires?”
“Fine,” Arys said, stretching like a lazy cat. “You call the shots. I really want nothing to do with the place.”
With thoughtful intrigue, I studied him. “You don’t want much to do with anyone or anything outside your personal little bubble. Do you?” I was thinking about how Arys had refused to work with Shya.
“Not particularly. I prefer to look out for number one, and that doesn’t include demons pulling strings in the underworld or vampire junkies in tacky nightclubs.”
“Then what does it include?” Shaz suddenly looked exceptionally interested.
Arys smiled, secrets dancing in his eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
There was a lull in conversation. The perfect moment for me to tell them what had happened outside the club. I still had the crossbow bolt sitting on the passenger seat of my car.
“So, uh, there’s something I should tell you both. Someone took a shot at me tonight.” I launched into retelling all of the events of my evening. As I spoke, I could feel the atmosphere in the room shift.
This was the first time Shaz had heard about the hit. He paled but said little, nodding thoughtfully as I spoke. Arys’s temper quickly flared, and a muscle in his jaw twitched.
“You shouldn’t have gotten involved with the dreamwalker, Alexa. You can do nothing for him. Hell, you can’t even keep yourself out of trouble.”
“What?” I stared at him, unable to believe what I was hearing. “That’s what you focus on out of everything I’ve said?”
Arys looked annoyed. “This is demon stuff you’re messing with. Shya isn’t going to put up with any shit. If he wants the kid, he’ll have him. You have bigger problems, like almost taking a bolt to the head.”
“I can’t help but wonder what things would have been like for me if Shya and Veryl hadn’t lured me in. I can’t stand by while they do it to someone else. Don’t make me feel bad about that.” It wasn’t worth arguing with him, but my feelings on this were valid.
Arys scowled. “I don’t want to lose you. Why must you hold that against me?”
“You know I don’t. But, this is my life, and I’m tired of having it manipulated by others. I can make my own decisions. They may not be the best ones, but they are mine to make.”
“The dreamwalker’s life is not yours to save.” Arys’s tone was low and smooth but deadly. “You won’t be any help to him or anybody else if you’re dead. Or worse. I don’t control you and neither does Shya. If you want to run around alone taunting people to take a shot at you, go right ahead. Maybe f**king up a few too many times will cure you from your insane obsession with death.”
“Don’t be a dick, Arys,” I warned. I looked at him through wolf eyes, staring intently until he shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest.