Sunset to Sunrise (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #7.5)

As they spoke Alexa’s voice shook. She blinked back happy tears and my resolve shattered. I was hers. No truer words had likely ever passed a demon’s lips. Shya had declared it and standing there watching her try not to cry, there was no denying it.

“Kylarai’s getting married,” I observed after she’d hung up. “How wonderful for her. She’s the kindest soul I’ve ever met. I hope they find much happiness together.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“I guess some people get their happy ending after all.” I didn’t mean to hit her with heavy shit the moment she got home. It slipped out, uncensored. I needed her to know I shared her longing.

Refusing to take the bait, she changed the subject. “I want to renovate. This place needed work before you trashed it. So we might as well take advantage of the mess and turn it into something better.”

“You saw the Vegas club and felt inferior, huh? That’s ok. I get it. I’ve seen it. So, what did you have in mind?” I chuckled. She was so transparent.

Alexa glared, her face flushed with embarrassment. “I don’t feel inferior to the Vegas vampires. I just think the place needs a makeover. Will you help?”

I studied her, wondering why she would want me working any closer with her on anything than necessary. Like I said, I can’t say no to her. “Sure. Why not?”

She was shielding hard, trying to shut out my energy, which meant she was tempted by whatever she sensed. I was no stranger to her hunger. She could pretend it wasn’t there, but we both knew it was a lie. Curiosity blazed in her pretty brown eyes. She wanted to ask me something. Instead, she moved about the room to avoid me.

“Good,” she said. “We can start with the club and work our way back here. That should keep you busy.”

I watched her attempt to escape me by retreating into a room with no other way out. Like flipping a switch, the dark side of me resurfaced, recognizing her fragile mortality for what it was. A delicious tease.

“Right. Because keeping me busy will change things.”

“I’ve had the worst week ever. The last thing I need is to come home to your crazy ass spewing ugly promises. Can’t you let it go?”

“Let it go?” I repeated. “You’ve made a slave of me, and you want me to just get over it? That’s not how this works, Alexa.”

Being antagonistic wasn’t my intent. There was so much I needed to say to her. Though this wasn’t the best time for that, it had to happen before I did something I could never take back.

“Evidently.” She sighed, a broken sound that cut deep. “Kale, please, you have to understand that I would never have intentionally done anything to hurt you. Things are happening, big things that I can’t control. I need you with me, not against me.”

I was sick of being so easily manipulated by her. With just that one ragged breath, a simple sigh, she had me wrapped around her little finger.

“Well, if the queen needs something, then who am I to deny her?” It came out harsher than intended. I was in conflict with myself. Kiss her or kill her. I wanted to do both.

My name slipped from her lips, a tortured, breathy sound. “What can I do to change this vengeful need you have? We were friends once. Partners.”

I had fully expected her to tell me off. It was in her nature, and I deserved it for throwing this at her as soon as she walked in the door. Her emotional reaction was unexpected.

“We were lovers too. Once. For a brief moment. I’m sorry it is the way it is. You claimed me. You drew me in, and you made me yours. It was purely intentional, and we both know it. There is no changing something like that. It is what it is.” I stared at the floor, unable to bring myself to meet her eyes, afraid of what I might see.

I didn’t mean to sound so accusing. Being near her made the bars of my cage that much more visible. Again the desperation surfaced, convincing me that I needed either freedom or death.

“You’re right. I’m a selfish bitch as far as you’re concerned, Kale. And I don’t know why.” Alexa’s unexpected admission struck a nerve.

“You know why. You will probably never admit it to either of us, but you know why.” I laughed bitterly. “Arys must just fucking love that you want me as bad as I want you.”

She rolled her eyes and pursed her lips in that sexy pout that drove me crazy. “So that’s it then? You carry on this game of crazy vampire until I get sick of it and stake you?”

“Something like that.”

“I don’t understand why.”

“Don’t you? Think about it,” I demanded, needing to paint her a picture of the hell I was going through. “Think about belonging to someone with every part of your being. Think about needing someone so bad and never being able to have them. There is no moving on for our kind. Humans are gifted with short-term memories and fickle hearts. But us, when we love, it is always forever.”