Darker (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 6) Read online

  Brook smiled and held out the envelope to me. “Consider this her next move.”

  I approached him warily. The bitch hadn’t waited long to make a move. Trepidation gripped me. I snatched the envelope from Brook’s hand, careful not to touch him.

  “It’s in her hands,” Willow said. “You’ve done your job. So get out.”

  “Not so fast.” Brook shook his head and adjusted his wings. “I have to see her open it.”

  I tore open the envelope with a sudden surge of hatred. Perhaps I should have been grateful Lilah hadn’t left me another body, but when I saw what was inside the envelope, I went cold.

  I pulled out an invitation. One that stated my attendance was required for a special event the following evening. There was something else. An item that assured I would be there whether I wanted to or not. A lock of blood-spattered curly brown hair, Juliet’s hair.

  “She has my sister?” My voice was deadly calm, a direct contrast to the storm building inside me.

  “She does,” Brook confirmed. “She’s alive. For now. I’m sure I don’t have to give you the rest of this song and dance.”

  “No. You don’t. Tell Lilah I’ll be there. And, if she lays another hand on Juliet, I’ll guarantee she suffers in ways that will make her wish for a death that won’t come.” I hauled off and punched Brook square in the nose. “Pass that along, too.”

  Blood streamed from the demon’s nose. He reached to touch his face, glowering when he saw the blood on his hands. There was little satisfaction in it, though; he would heal within minutes.

  “Feisty little charge you’ve got here,” he directed the comment to Willow. “They really made you pay for your indiscretion with the human.”

  Willow snapped. I never saw him move. He was on Brook, knocking me aside as he launched himself at the demon. He rained down blows that held the power of an immortal. Those wounds would likely linger.

  I gaped as the two of them went hard at each other with both physical and unseen blows. The atmosphere quickly grew strained with the heavy, suffocating sensation of their immortal power. I backed away from the brawl, casting a glance about the room and finding the only other person present was Justin, who stood watch near the door.

  This wasn’t my fight, and I couldn’t contribute in any meaningful way, so I watched. I was definitely intrigued by Brook’s words, though; could watching over me be part of Willow’s punishment?

  He threw Willow off with a nice hit that had the fallen angel crashing into a table that promptly collapsed. Willow was up with a flare of silver wings and eyes shining with a strange light.

  “She must have really got inside you. You’re acting like an animal.” Brook smiled, a taunting grin intended to provoke.

  “That’s right.” Willow nodded, his expression filled with raw, untamed emotion. “I fell for love, not so I could act as a lapdog for one of Satan’s mistresses. Forbidden love maybe, but it’s what we are. Love. Have you forgotten the power of it? How it feels burning in every part of you? Or, has it been too long since the spark in you went out, demon?”

  Brook’s hand curled into a fist. A black wisp of smoke trickled between his fingers. “Still preaching after being cast out, Willow. Well aren’t you the loyal one? No matter how you paint it, you’re still one of us now. Guiding a Hound won’t get you back in. Once you’re out, you stay out. You know that.”

  Brook released the mist within his hand. It weaved an erratic path through the room, targeting not Willow but me instead. I braced for it, tapping my power, which did nothing to help. The murky demon assault burned its way through my energy shield and choked the breath from me. Brook’s intent wasn’t to kill by any means, merely to incite Willow’s reaction.

  He put himself in the path of Brook’s attack, and the painful pressure quickly fell away. I could breathe again. The force that Willow exuded was as calming as it was strong.

  The angel and demon faced off, a deadly staring match that bred palpable tension. Then, as fast as it had started, it was over. Brook backed off, hands raised in surrender.

  “It’s been nice catching up with you, Willow. I’d like to stay, but I have a cute little brunette werewolf to keep company.” Brook grinned and winked at me. With the ruffle of feathers, he was gone before I could react.

  “What the fuck was that?” I shouted, staring at the lock of hair I held in disbelief. “What is he going to do to my sister?”

  Willow diverted his gaze, and that was enough of an answer for me. I stared at Juliet’s bloody hair. Her wolfish scent wafted from it. Beneath that was the human scent of my sister. My baby sister.

  Slowly, I crumpled, falling to my knees. My chest heaved as I struggled against the threatening panic attack. Targeting my wolves had been the perfect way to shake me up. Going after Juliet, this was how Lilah would destroy me, and she knew it.

  Silent tears slid down my cheeks, falling to stain my hands red. I had no crushing pain, but I couldn’t escape into safe numbness. Despair overwhelmed me with the certainty that I’d failed.

  “Alexa, get up. You have to face this.” Willow knelt before me. He gently took the envelope and its contents. “She’s trying to cripple you. Don’t let it work.”

  “Everyone talks about power. Who has it, who wants it. Harley, Shya, the goddamn FPA, they all said I have it, but I have nothing. A powerless demon has proven that everything I share with Arys doesn’t mean a damn thing.” As the words poured forth, I wiped at the tears, but they kept coming.

  “That’s not true.” Willow pulled me up and sat me down in the closest chair. “There is nobody on this earth quite like you. Sometimes it’s not about power or authority. It’s simply about who wants it more. Lilah is desperate. She has nothing left to lose. You do. So, you have to want it more.”

  The truth rang in his words, but it didn’t penetrate through the fog of desolation. I had no hold over this city. Evil ran rampant, and I was powerless to stop it. The voice in my head whispered my weakness and futility.

  “I don’t think I can do this,” I said.

  Willow took my hands in his and gave them a soft squeeze. “You have to. You can and you will. What you need to defeat her is already inside you. Trust that.”

  His green eyes searched me, and I saw the worry within them. His wings lay tucked against his back, the tips resting on the floor from the way he crouched before my chair. I reached tentatively to touch one of those silver feathers. In that moment, I saw an enchanting creature that I once believed never existed. I needed to know he was real, that this was all real.

  My fingers brushed against a feather, and I gasped as a jolt of pure, beautiful energy shot through my hand to tickle my palm. The feather was soft but strong. Upon such close inspection, I saw that each fiber danced with the colors of the rainbow.

  I dragged my gaze to Willow’s; I needed to know. “What Brook said about me being your charge, is that true? Am I a job for you?”

  “You’re a friend,” he replied, brushing a stray strand of hair off my face. “I don’t have the power to be a guardian. Not anymore. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t honestly care about what happens to you. I’m happy to help in any way I can.”

  I nodded, swallowing hard. “Thank you, Willow. I appreciate that. I think I need to speak with Shya. He’s the only one I know, other than Lilah, who has power over Brook. I can’t let him touch my sister.”

  “I understand. You feel desperate. Don’t let that desperation lock you into a deal. Lilah won’t kill your sister. She knows it’s the only way to make you walk back in there willing to compromise.” Willow went to the bar and grabbed a glass. He returned with some ice water that he pressed into my hand.

  I sipped the water. It should have been refreshing, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I shoved the glass across the table in front of me and shook my head.

  “Maybe you should go. I don’t want to drag you into this mess.” I pulled out my phone and opened the contact list. My gaze strayed to the dragon on my forea
rm. I was sure there was a way to use it to reach Shya but wasn’t sure I wanted to know how. So, I hit the number I had for him and waited.

  I got the voicemail. Both relief and disappointment crushed me. “Shya, it’s Alexa. Lilah has my sister. I need to see you.”

  I hung up and stared at the phone. My mind ran through several people I could contact. Jez, Kylarai, Brogan. Only one stood out as the one I needed now. It would take the simplest act, a touch of my mind to his. I couldn’t do it.

  “You shouldn’t be alone tonight, Alexa. You should be with Arys.”

  I tapped my nails against the table for a minute before shoving the chair back to stand. The screech of chair legs was loud in the quiet, empty nightclub.

  “I don’t know how to be with Arys anymore. Things are… complicated.”

  “Since when is that a reason to give up?” Willow challenged. He stuffed the invitation and Juliet’s hair back into the envelope and tossed it to me. “If you need me, I’m here for you. But, you’ve got to figure your shit out. Take the rest of tonight, do what you need to do, whatever that is. Be ready tomorrow. I’ll have your back. And, you’ll walk out of there alive.”

  I chewed my lip, mulling it over. He was right; rushing in would not go my way. “Well, I’m glad one of us thinks so.”

  Willow seemed hesitant. “Do you want me to stay? We could hang out, go for a walk, share a bottle of the good stuff. Whatever you want.”

  “No. I need some time to meltdown. Alone. I’ll be fine though. Really.” I had a hard time meeting his eyes. I didn’t want him to know what I planned to do.

  Willow drew me close for a hug that enfolded me within his wings as well as his arms. There was so much warmth and comfort in that embrace I almost started to cry again.

  “Alright,” he said. “Think about contacting Arys. I’ll see you soon. Remember, you don’t have to do this alone.”

  I forced a smile so he would feel okay with leaving. He lingered as if unsure. Then, he was gone.

  I shoved the envelope into my bag and headed for the door, pausing to talk to Justin. “Lock down the building. Anyone currently in the back can stay, but nobody else comes in.”

  He nodded, his ebony eyes taking in the dried blood tears on my face. “Just say the word, boss lady, and I’ll be with you tomorrow night.”

  “Thank you, Justin. I’ll keep you posted.”

  I crossed the parking lot to my car where I took a few minutes to clean the bloody smears from beneath my eyes. Digging around in my purse, I produced some red lipstick, which I generously applied. I tore my skirt shorter and finger combed my hair. A glance in the visor mirror revealed bloodshot blue eyes.

  I didn’t have to go far to find a seedy area ripe with the kind of activity I sought. I left my car in an empty grocery store parking lot and walked the few blocks from the decent streets of the downtown core to the filthy, crime heavy district. With an extra swing in my step and a toss of my hair, it didn’t take long for the johns to roll up.

  The first two I sent away with a shake of my head and a half-assed excuse that I was waiting for my pimp. I was looking for something specific. Wedding rings and families were not it. The third guy fell easily into my eyes, answering my questions almost hypnotically. No wife and no kids. He was disappointed that I was as old as I was. The pervert was cruising for underage girls. He was the one.

  I got into his old pickup truck, wrinkling my nose at the smell of old McDonald’s wrappers littering the floor. My chosen prey stank of booze and too much cheap cologne. It could have been worse. I directed him to the nearest sleazy motel, finding with each passing moment another trace of doubt had vanished.

  “Take your clothes off,” my victim said as soon as stepped inside the dark, dank motel room. “I want to watch you undress. Do it slowly.”

  The room was tiny and simple with one bed in the center. The blanket held old stains that could have been anything from food to blood. An adjoining bathroom that stank of mildew completed the suite. I would have preferred to be in a five star joint with a suit and tie kind of guy, but this would have to do.

  I could have killed him in a matter of seconds, but half the fun was the build-up to the moment he would bleed for me. So, I played along.

  I peeled my top off slowly, taking the opportunity to drape him in the lusty thrall of my hunger. His eyes took on a glazed, mesmerized glassiness. He was pushing fifty, a little on the thin side with a scraggly bit of beard. He watched me eagerly.

  Sliding my skirt down my legs, I stood before him in my bra and panties. Without waiting for him to give me another command, I climbed into his lap, straddling him with a lascivious smile on my red lips.

  “What’s your name, gorgeous?” He mumbled into my cleavage. His hands were hot on my waist.

  “Whatever you want it to be.” I caught his hands before he could slip them any lower. Pushing him down on the bed, I ground my groin against him and leaned down to drag fangs across his jugular.

  I half expected the erection he pushed against me to bring about an ill feeling. The surge of confident control and illicit desire felt rejuvenating. It was intoxicating, seducing me as I seduced him. I drew on the sex-charged energy vibrating through his deliciously human body.

  My nails lengthened into claws, sharp points that poked into the flesh of his wrists. He stared up at me with a look of strange wonder, as if he were seeing something or someone else. I felt no hesitance. No second thought or regret. The sensual high was teasing, an indication of what came next. My succubus nature fanned the flames of his lust. Releasing my hold on him, I let him reach for my breasts. He wasn’t going to live long enough to try anything else. My patience was thinning.

  “Your eyes are fascinating,” he said dazedly. “Has anyone ever told you that? It’s like there’s something weird there. Something…”

  He trailed off, shaking his head slightly, unable to find the word. I brought his hand to my lips, turning it over to expose his wrist. Placing my lips to the pulse there, I breathed deeply of the scent of blood so close to the surface. Just a prick of fangs away.

  “Inhuman,” I supplied. I dragged my tongue over his skin, eliciting another rush of arousal to feast upon. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”

  Unable to hold back, I closed my eyes and bit into his wrist. The blood flowed and I sighed. A light flashed behind my eyes, and I felt myself fall into Arys’s head. For a startling moment, my actions were exposed to him. I opened my eyes and found my victim grabbing hungrily for me. He either didn’t know what I’d just done, or he didn’t care. He was entirely under my thrall. All mine.

  I knew Arys saw what I saw and felt what I felt. His presence was heavy in my head but quiet, watchful. I considered shoving him out, but the dark side of me entertained a naughty thought: What the hell, let him watch.

  Dropping the john’s arm, I rose up over him and pushed his head to the side. Exposing his neck brought a groan from me. I ran a claw over the pumping artery there. He would bleed out fast if I went for the carotid. Going for the jugular might give me a bit more time. I let the question echo in my mind. Arys’s preference came in the form of a feeling rather than a clear thought. He wanted me to tear the guy apart.

  The john tried to pull me in for a kiss. I teasingly shook my head and gave a coy smile. I wasn’t sure if prostitutes really had a no kiss on the lips rule, but I didn’t intend to let him touch me more than necessary. My head already spun with his lust, but that was the tip of the iceberg. I needed more. Blood and death.

  The hand on my breast grew aggressive. He strained against me, demanding what he thought we’d come here for. Arys’s tension permeated my thoughts. Again, I thought about shutting him out, but it was too late for that.

  “Let’s have a look at what you’re hiding here.” The john fumbled to get my bra off.

  I grabbed his arms and roughly pinned him. “I know you’re used to having your way with girls that should be home with their families. That ends here. So, try to
enjoy what happens next.”

  I forced him to look directly in my eyes as I pulled him deeper under with my heady vampiric influence. Having him kicking and screaming would have been the icing on this madhouse cake. As easily as I’d pulled him under, I could set him free. He would fight and shriek. A thrill of excitement rocked me at the thought. Of course, having him beg for more while I killed him sounded pretty damn good, too.

  ‘Decisions, decisions.’ Arys’s voice echoed in my head.

  I ignored him, refusing to allow him to sway my choice. If I acknowledged his presence, the emotion bound within me might break free. I was here to escape that emotion, to find freedom from the torment. I would find that freedom in only one way.

  I unleashed the short rein I had on my control. In a violent attack, I sunk fangs deep into the john’s neck. He grunted, and his arms went around me. His blood spurted into my mouth, and I devoured it. The abyss of dark pleasure rose up to swallow me, and I leapt in head first.

  I lost myself. Everything that happened next was a blur. I saw nothing but crimson, tasted nothing but ecstasy. I tore into the pervert beneath me, and he enjoyed every minute. Only when death approached did he snap out of my spell and begin to fight, far too late.

  Arys’s wicked satisfaction lingered inside. It fed my vicious hunger. When I finally came back to myself, I was sitting on the floor beside the bed, wiping blood from my mouth and trying to focus on the room around me.

  A euphoric cloud lifted me, and I floated along it with a lazy grin plastered on my face. Then, I pushed Arys away. I closed my mind to him so as not to let him bring me down sooner than I’d like. I was going to ride out this high for all it was worth. Tonight, I would embrace the darkness, for tomorrow I would need to be the light. Somehow.

  I washed the blood from my face and hands in the dingy bathroom. The tap only produced cold water, which was fine with me. It was refreshing.