Forget About Midnight (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #9)

I lay there staring at the closed closet door. He was wrong. “Didn’t I? We’ve been killing together, and we’re too damn good at it.”


“We are, aren’t we?” His low laugh tickled the sensitive spot on the back of my neck. It was a sexy sound that, combined with the scent and feel of him, shot off a blast of excitement in the pit of my stomach.

“It’s not funny, Kale.” My attempt to sound serious failed. The touch of his lips on the back of my neck and shoulder made my tone weak.

He hugged me close, pressing against me so that there was no place that our bodies didn’t touch. “Eva was my sire. A necessary evil in the life of every vampire. You are my wake up call. You make me crazy, but you also make me want to be a better man. I never cared as much about that as I did after I met you.”

A sharp pain racked me, an emotional stab that felt physical. Kale was one of the most generous, caring people that I knew. I couldn’t help but wonder how great he could be without me holding him back.

“You keep talking about her in the past tense. As if she’s dead or something.” I kept talking, saying anything but what I was really thinking.

“She is dead. Shya killed her.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, spewing silent curses at Shya. “That’s how he got to you. Figures. Definitely sounds like his style.”

“At the time I was just happy to be rid of her. I didn’t know then that I’d just exchanged one evil for another. It was all worth it though. It’s all led to this moment. And as fucked up as it’s all been, this moment feels pretty damn perfect.”

He was right. Lying there in his arms did feel pretty damn perfect. It was comforting. That connection let me know that I wasn’t alone. I focused on the subtle hum of Kale’s aura. It was soothing, lulling me back to the brink of slumber. I fell asleep in his arms, feeling safe and loved.

And yet, something was missing.

Chapter Four

Looking in the mirror always felt as startling as it had the first time. I supposed I should have been grateful that the old stories were false, that vampires did have a reflection. But I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps it would be better to never have seen myself like this.

I wasn’t so different. Not really. Yet, I was. Seeing myself with wolf eyes at the age of sixteen had still not been as shocking as seeing myself with vampire fangs was now. They were nothing compared to wolf fangs, and still I could not stop running my tongue over them. It gave me a jolt each time to find them there. Constantly there. The deathly white pallor to my skin gave me a porcelain appearance like a creepy doll. I hated it.

I muttered to myself as I applied black eyeliner. Focusing hard on the line I drew along my upper lid didn’t draw my attention away from the color of my eyes: blue, the same blue as Arys’s eyes. I hoped that would cease when I grew more accustomed to having this much power roiling about inside me without having the top of my head blow off. That part was nice. I sure didn’t miss the headaches and nosebleeds.

The red lipstick in my makeup bag seemed to call my name. No matter how many times Jez had forced it on me, I rarely wore it. Maybe it was time for a change. Besides, my pale complexion could use the added color.

With my eye makeup thicker and darker than usual and my cherry red lips, I almost didn’t look like me. I kinda loved that. Black leggings and a loose fitting tank top with “Las Vegas” on the front allowed me comfort and mobility. I was ready for a fight, and I expected one.

I’d awoken with the blood hunger raging, twisting my thoughts into something maniacal and fun. My plans for the evening involved sating that hunger. But it wasn’t a random victim I wanted. I had someone specific in mind.

“Are you sure you want to go out alone?” Kale’s voice came from the hall as he approached the open bathroom door. “Where exactly are you going anyway?”

“Just going for a drive. I need some time by myself. There’s something I’ve been meaning to take care of. I won’t be long.” Finished with my makeup, I turned to face Kale, finding him leaning on the doorframe.

He looked like himself again in dress pants and his long, leather jacket. The grey shirt he wore was open at the collar, teasing me with a glimpse of his chest. It took effort to keep from touching him. With the power and bloodlust riding me as it was, all I wanted to do was ravage him.

Kale’s eyes widened as he took in the sight of me. “You look good, more dramatic than usual, but I like it. Sexy as hell.”

The spike in his energy was palpable as he reacted to me. I could feel his desire. It almost ripped away the little self-control I possessed.

“Thanks, sweetness. You’re looking pretty hot yourself. But you always do.” I blew him a kiss before slipping by him and escaping into the kitchen.