“It didn’t hit her heart,” I heard Arys say, though he wasn’t speaking to me. “But, she’s losing a lot of blood, fast. I think I can slow it.”
The room grew deathly quiet. The ceiling above me was blurred and seemed to grow farther away. A warm sensation started within the wound itself and expanded to fill my entire body. I recognized Arys’ energy, flowing through me with a healing touch. There was a sharp pang in my chest, which was quickly replaced by a soothing sensation.
It got easier to breathe as Arys pushed his energy into me. Closing my eyes, I could feel my body knitting itself back together under his influence. I was fatigued from the blood loss, but my strength was returning. My mind was beginning to form thoughts again.
“What the f**k was that all about?” My voice cracked, but I got the words out. “Did you know that bastard?”
Arys shook his head, his expression grim. “No. I hate to say it but I’m not surprised this happened. I knew something like this was coming. It was inevitable.”
“He said things to me,” I said, struggling to sit upright. “They didn’t make any sense.
Something about refusing to be a slave to a werewolf.” I shook my head and frowned. “I don’t know. It means nothing to me.”
Kale stepped forward from his place in the doorway. “You’re unique, Alexa. And powerful, you’ll be even more powerful when you do rise as a vampire. Perhaps some see you as too powerful. A threat.”
I looked from him to Arys, finding matching expressions on their faces. Shaz sat heavily on the bed beside me and reached for my hand. He shook his head but remained silent. I was sure he was cursing the fact that I ever met Arys. Being the wonderful man that he was, he didn’t give voice to those thoughts.
I stared at the burn mark on the carpet, the spot where Harley had perished. It was never going to get easier no matter what I did. Blood bonds, gaining control and skill or wiping out a master vampire up to no good, none of it was going to save my ass.
I couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like if I’d remained a good little werewolf, minding my own business and hiding the natural power I’d been born with. I didn’t share the stream of questions running through my mind. I simply mulled them over, knowing it wasn’t about what might have been but rather, what was.
“I don’t think you should be here anymore.” Arys’ jaw was clenched, and he paced the length of the room.
“What difference does it make? I can’t sit at home watching TV every night just to avoid the occasional shithead vampire. Be realistic, Arys.”
Kale sighed and shrugged. “Girl’s got a point.”
Arys shot him a dark glare, and I ignored them both, lifting my shirt to check out my injury. They could argue all they wanted. I wasn’t going to be controlled by anyone.
The stake puncture still hurt, but it had almost closed completely. My bra and shirt were bloodstained, as was my skin. I reached a tentative finger to touch the pink scar tissue lightly. Arys was a miracle worker.
It was too quiet. I glanced up to find all three of them watching me. I was immediately self-conscious. Tugging my shirt back into place, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and got up. A wave of dizziness hit me, and I wobbled unsteadily. Shaz steadied me with a hand on my arm.
“You need to rest, Lex,” he said. “We should go home.”
“She needs blood,” Arys stated with a pointed look at Shaz.
“Fine. She can take mine.”
I met Kale’s eyes while Shaz and Arys were giving each other telltale looks. He and I shared a thought. He seemed to know what I was feeling as I sat there with my two over protective lovers.
He gave me a slight nod, and I smiled. Much as I loved both Arys and Shaz, there was a side of me that just didn’t come out with either of them. It came out when I was hunting and killing with Kale and Jez.
“Just get me home and into a warm bath, please?” My hand went to my sore ribs, and I allowed Shaz to support my weight with an arm around my waist.
I paused to give Kale a friendly hug before slowly making my way out of the room. I made a mental note on the way to have Harley’s room completely renovated. As it was, it gave me the creeps.
Kale returned to the main part of the club to try to maintain a semblance of normalcy. I could just imagine what the patrons were thinking.
The sound of moans, laughter and even shrieks from the back rooms accompanied us as we left through the rear hall exit. The Wicked Kiss … hell of a place. It was part of my life now. And, I’d be back.
Epilogue
The air smelled like spring. It wasn’t far off now. I was happy to say goodbye to the snow for another season. Traces of ice and snow remained here and there in the shaded spots beneath the trees, but most of it had melted away.