“No, Lex. It’s not like that.”
“Isn't it?”
“Please understand. I’m losing my mind here.”
It took all of the remaining inner strength that I possessed to push away from him.
“Then go back to the Kiss and find it.”
I did walk away then, and much to my utter horror, Arys didn't stop me. I held my head high and strode across the street. I’d drank too much to drive, and I couldn't hang around to wait for Ky and Jez. The dark walking path alongside the road would lead me home.
I refused to acknowledge the flurry of emotions that assailed me. Fuck it. Even as I walked away from him, the power urged me back. All I could think as I went was that I should have known, should have expected this. He was a vampire, and I was a woman with scars on my heart. Bad combination.
Chapter Fourteen
The town was so quiet. Not even the teenage crowd that partied wherever they could find a vacant spot was out and about. It was a little unnerving.
As I walked down the path toward home, I sent a text message to Kylarai telling her I’d gone home. If she wanted the details tonight, she could harass Arys for them. I could only assume he’d gone back into the bar after letting me walk away. Perhaps he’d gone to The Wicked Kiss instead. The thought made my wolf pace inside.
I mulled over the situation in my mind, unable to let it go. If Harley expected me to show and keep my end of the deal, I would. Then, I’d finish what I’d started months ago when Arys had stopped me. I could have killed Harley then. I wanted to. Other than the information he had, he meant nothing to me.
Would it hurt Arys if I killed his sire? Was that something I should allow to alter my decision? He claimed to feel nothing for Harley, but how could I be sure?
I hated that he might, which made me feel like the world’s biggest hypocrite. Arys could do whatever he wanted. Who was I to say anything? I did what I wanted, despite the many repercussions. I was no one to judge.
Knowing that didn’t change my way of thinking. I wandered the path home feeling broken, insecure and more than a little jealous. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get the image of Arys and Harley together out of my head. It made me hate Harley so much more.
I allowed myself to fantasize about the various ways I could kill him. Each one brought a smirk to my face. I was almost looking forward to seeing him again.
As caught up as I was in my thoughts, I was instantly aware that I was being followed. I sensed it before I picked up the wolf scent of my follower. It wasn’t a total surprise. I figured Dylan wouldn’t wait long before making his move. Predictable bastard.
Keeping a calm head was easy. I was already spoiling for a fight. This was the perfect time for him to try to jump me. I knew his buddy had to be out there somewhere as well. So far, I could only smell one, but I could sense the other. I continued to walk as if I didn’t know I was being stalked.
The sensation of their watchful eyes burned right through me. Instinct told me to take a stand and call them out, but common sense said to keep going. Kylarai’s place was closer than mine was. If I could get into the forest on that side of town, I could avoid a confrontation in town and hopefully have the home turf advantage.
Before I left the comfort of the streetlights, I needed to bang out a quick message to Shaz. I kept it short and to the point: being followed, headed for Ky’s. If I knew Shaz, he wouldn’t be far behind.
Resisting the urge to look for my stalkers was nearly impossible. I was torn between both physical and psychic responses. It was hard to focus, and I started to wish I’d never left the bar.
Deep breaths. Do I run? No. They’d just chase me down. Could I make it into a public place before they could grab me? Fuck that. I was the Alpha in this town. My town.
I watched my feet hit the ground, one after the other, and I concentrated on the energy in my surroundings. The power that Arys and I had just tapped immediately reacted to my desires. I wanted to know where these two wolves were located around me.
I wanted to see them.
I could feel them then with a keen psychic awareness of their auras. I read them with the ease of reading the morning newspaper. Just had to skim the surface to get everything I needed to know. It was so simple to bend the power to my will; I knew it was largely due to the confrontation with Arys. He had a way of firing me up. Oddly enough, it seemed to work in my favor. Also, it proved me right. Arys and I did need each other. It was no coincidence; my power and my control improved because of him.