“They’ll start with you, human,” the Atua hissed at her, jolting me out of the shock of seeing Alice wanting to kill. Johnathan was showing emotion for the first time after I forced him to tell the truth.
My gaze narrowed on him.
“Oh yeah?” Slapping her hand on her cocked hip, she grinned at him like a crazed person. “They’ll have to go first through saber tooth on steroids over there, and then through Wonder Woman to get to me, buddy. All of you vamps can kiss my ass. You don’t stand a chance.”
A bark of surprised laughter burst through my mouth.
It was the trigger that brought the climax of the last twenty-four hours.
Johnathan got animated, hunching forward to glare at Alice. I felt Dominic tense since I was still hugged to his chest, and he unnoticeably glided closer to place us between the Atua and our human friend.
“They will drain you very slowly, human. They’ll use your blood like they’ll use your body, until your mind breaks. Only then will you be granted death, but not before you beg for it on your knees.” Spittle flew from his lips.
My hands clenched into fists.
“Dude, you are wrapped up like fresh sushi right now, if you didn’t notice.” Alice chortled in his face, but I noticed that she paled slightly. Stupidly, Dominic and I succumbed to our traumas and fell for his manipulation, but my friend was smart the way she tricked Johnathan at a great cost to her. “If the cat gives me my breadknife, I’mma file you like a fish, just so you know.”
My feet hit the concrete floor when Johnathan surged, and Dominic released his hold on me. The shifter intercepted him halfway to Alice and broke his neck with a sharp twist of his arms, the muscles bunching. The moment the Atua plopped in a heap on the floor, Alice dropped on her knees, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
“It’s okay, Alice.” I rushed to her, throwing an arm over her shoulders, and she huddled on my chest. “It’s over, and he won’t hurt you. You were so brave, my friend.” My other hand was rubbing her back, and I had to grind my teeth when it sent pain through me from the still-open wound.
“Brave.” Alice snorted, trembling in my arms.
“I believe you are Wonder Woman. You saved our lives; Dominic and I were too lost in our own heads to see what was happening.”
“I almost shit my pants, Brooklyn. You wouldn’t be saying that if I stunk up the place like a skunk.” But she stopped shaking, so I laughed, although it was weak.
“You did well, human.” Dominic squeezed her shoulder with a crooked smile playing on his mouth.
“Thanks, cat.” Alice ducked her head, her face darkening at the cheekbones. “As a payment for my bravery, you can kiss Wonder Woman once, since you deprived me the pleasure of seeing it back at the kennel.”
My brain was still trying to catch up with what she was saying when Dominic plucked me from the floor and his soft lips crashed into mine. I developed a glitch from some wires crossing in my mind because, next thing I knew, I was kissing him back. He tasted wild, almost feral, and it formed feathers to tickle the back of my throat. A strong need clawed inside me while he devoured my mouth in a life-altering way. I was well aware that something shifted with this, but I was too far gone to care. My fingers were clutching his shoulders in a bruising grip, even when he finally pulled away for air.
He’d never looked more sinful than that moment with his lips swollen and glossy from the kiss and his hair wild around his head. I assumed I didn’t look any better with my mouth tingling and his taste still on my tongue. My heart was pattering for a different reason, and to escape Dominic’s intent stare, I glanced at Alice.
She had a knowing smile ghosting over her face as she watched us unblinking.
Maybe she was indeed a witch. Because what she did sure looked like sorcery to me.
10
No one came after us at the warehouse, or on the train while we sat in awkward silence all the way back to Chicago. Dominic wouldn’t look away from me, and I pretended I didn’t notice. He positioned himself on the opposite side of the wagon we slipped into just to the right of where I sat with my knees hugged to my chest. At the same time, Alice had the widest smile plastered on her face, and she pointedly stared at both of us. Johnathan was the lucky one with a broken neck and no need to feel tortured. For the time being, anyway.
I was so angry that I fell for his bullshit that I couldn’t wait for the ass kisser to wake up. When he opened his eyes again, I’d personally rip his tongue out and serve it to him on a silver platter. Dominic made a great point. The Atua didn’t need the ability to speak. He had two hands, so he could write.
Stewing in my own anger, my body rocked gently from the tracking of the train. The vibrations coming from the floor were soothing to a point as they spread from my ass up my spine. With effort, I suppressed the urge to touch my lips, which were still tingling. I hadn’t been kissed for decades. Ever since Johnathan decided to betray me. It all felt knew, exciting, and scary as hell.
What were you thinking, Brooklyn? You don’t have time to pretend to be a lovesick fool. The Council is coming to kill your friend, and for your head. And your mother is alive somewhere.I pinched my thigh really hard to stop the onslaught of thoughts.
“Am I the only one excited about the kiss you guys?” Alice couldn’t contain her delight anymore. She was practically bouncing on her ass all over the floor. “No? Anyone? Tough crowd,” she muttered to herself and shook her head.
Eyes closed, I leaned my head back on a sigh. The shifters gaze was burning a hole on the side of my face, so I cracked my eyelids open and peered at him through my lashes. Subconsciously, my fist rubbed at the center of my chest when tingles erupted at my center from the hunger burning in his green eyes. I couldn’t remember anyone ever looking at me like that.
Goosebumps covered me from head to toe.
Dominic’s nostrils flared.
“Is it just me or is it really hot in here?” Alice piped in, nudging me. I lowered my eyelids again, but not before I saw the curl of his lips at my friend’s antics. It wouldn’t be the Syndicate, I realized at that moment as I was drifting off in an uneasy slumber.