September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)

“Anyway,” I continued, “I can’t keep wasting time chasing after something that could be hidden on the other side of the planet for all we know. There are rebel vampires to deal with. I’m not letting them fuck shit up for me.”


“And Arys?” Jez pulled a napkin from the dispenser and began to tear small pieces from it. “Sounds like he’s fucking shit up too.”

I didn’t want to discuss that, not with Kale present. It was just too awkward. “I’ll deal with Arys.”

“Alrighty. Let me know if you need me to hunt down some rebel vamps.” Jez barely looked up from the small mountain of napkin bits piling up in front of her. The girl was a jittery mess.

“What I need is for you to come try on bridesmaid dresses tomorrow afternoon. Kylarai will be expecting us.”

“That’s tomorrow?” With a crooked smile Jez pushed a golden lock out of her eyes. “No problem. I’ll be ready. I can also stay at my own place alone until then too. If you guys can possibly let me out of your sight.”

She laughed like it was a joke, but I could tell that she was upset. Too bad. I was not going to apologize for wanting to make sure she was safe after how we’d found her.

“We’re done then?” Kale asked, pulling car keys from his pocket. “I’m going to take off. I’ll drop Jez off at home.”

“Going out to get your freak on before sunrise?” Jez snickered and elbowed him teasingly.

“Something like that.” Kale rose with the sound of creaking leather. He seemed to be in a hurry to leave. Considering how strained things had been with us recently, I couldn’t blame him. He paused to wait for Jez to gather her napkin mess. “Alexa, don’t try anything crazy. Please.”

A laugh burst out, and I almost spat coffee across the table. “Are you telling me not to do something crazy? Really, Kale. I don’t think you’re qualified to make that call.”

I probably shouldn’t have said it. Immediately I regretted it. Without another word Kale stormed from the coffee shop.

“Yikes,” Jez giggled as she stuffed the napkin bits into her empty coffee cup. “Way to go, Lex. Now I get to sit in that car while he broods. Good job.”

I felt like an ass. It was too late to take it back. “Be ready tomorrow afternoon at three. I’ll pick you up. If you need help staying sober, call me. I mean it. Any time.”

Jez’s smile faded, and she gave a tight nod. “Thanks. I’ll be ready.” She leaned in for a quick hug before following Kale out. The click of her heels was loud in the quiet coffee shop.

I said to Willow, “I’m going to head home. If I’m not up and ready on time, Kylarai will have kittens.” I gathered up the garbage left on the table and carried it to the trash container on our way out.

Willow and I stepped into the parking lot in time to see Kale’s black Camaro vanish around the corner with a squeal of tires. I listened to the roar of the engine as it faded in the distance. He was pissed and rightfully so.

“I’m coming with you,” Willow said, heading for my car. “I’ll stay until sunrise. Don’t tell me not to because I’m the guardian and you’re the one that has to mind me. So get in the car.”

His feisty attitude coaxed a smile from me. Though I didn’t believe I was in any danger sitting at home, his concern was appreciated. Sunrise would steal him away.

“Arys isn’t here yet.” I breathed a sigh of relief when I pulled into the driveway. “He’ll come.” What I didn’t say was that I planned on kicking Arys’s ass off my property when he dared to show his face.

“Is that going to get nasty? From the look on your face, I presume that it is.” Willow followed me inside, pausing to survey the large, dark yard. “It’s really beautiful out here. You can actually see the stars.”

With a brief glance skyward, I nodded. The stars called to my wolf, and I longed for the forest. I pushed the door open and began to flick on lights as I went through the house. It provided a false warmth that made the big house feel a little less empty.

“Yeah, I’m sure nasty is a pretty good word for what’s going to go down.” I dropped my keys on the island before shrugging out of my jacket and removing the dagger from my waist. “Our relationship is built around conflict. I know that’s what they say happens to twin flames. But it doesn’t make it any easier to accept.”

Willow slid onto a stool at the island. His gentle gaze followed me as I fetched a snack from the fridge. He held up a hand in polite refusal when I offered him some apple pie. I devoured some leftover takeout, hoping it was still good. I was too tired to cook.

“Then don’t accept it,” he said. “You don’t have to be a victim of circumstance, Alexa. Conflict may haunt twin flames, but that is only one side of your union. The other side is love. Don’t forget that.”

Something Lilah said rose up in my memory to haunt me with the truth. “Lilah once said the twin flame bond is a curse, not a gift. I wanted so badly to believe she was wrong. But some of the things she said, they’re true.”