Darker (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 6) - By Trina M. Lee Page 0,38
your blood to break her curse,” he continued with a shrug. “I don’t know what to do. I just know I have to protect you.”
His desperation was so tangible that I pawed the grass and whined. It was unusual for him to show such vulnerability. If Shya caught a whiff of it, he would use it as a weapon against Arys.
Our eyes locked, and I peered into my vampire with hope that he would see how much his concern meant to me. Arys had always put my safety first. Unfortunately, that often meant hiding things from me or doing things without my knowledge. I did my share of things without making him aware, like I had tonight, but it was going to catch up to us eventually.
“I know you think I’m wrong about this, but Shya knows things that could help us. He has abilities we don’t. And, he wants the same thing we do.” The hardness was back in Arys’s enchanting gaze. “I made a deal with him, Alexa.”
That did it. That was all I had to hear; I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. I shifted so fast it hurt. In a fluid, smooth motion, I was standing there naked before him. Crossing my arms, I fixed him with my best take no shit expression.
“Are you out of your damn mind?” I asked in disbelief. “Please tell me that was just a ploy to get me to shift.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Arys’s gaze travelled over me, taking in my nudity with appraising interest. “I told him we’d co-operate with him until Lilah can be dealt with. We all play nice until we get rid of her. That’s it.”
“Too easy. There’s no way that’s it.” I shook my head vigorously. “He’s a demon, Arys. He can twist your words, take them literally or figuratively. Whatever. He can’t be trusted. Bottom line.”
“He offered protection for you, Alexa. Shya doesn’t want Lilah getting her hands on your blood either. It can be useful.”
I stared at him, incredulous. “Have you forgotten he’s the idiot that told her my blood would break her curse? That blew up in his face when she refused him. Now, he wants to save his own ass. This isn’t about you or me. Shya is in it only for himself. Trusting him would be stupid. This isn’t like you, Arys.”
Arys rose and came to stand before me. The spark between us flashed at his sudden close proximity. “I don’t trust him. In fact, I wish there was a way to kill two birds with one stone. Shya’s been pulling strings behind the scenes for so long. Now, he’s stepping out front and center, and that doesn’t sit well with me. If we get close to him, we can find out what he’s up to.”
Again, he looked me over, lingering where my arms covered my breasts. I was ready to argue now so oozing sensuality wasn’t going to work in his favor just yet. I stood my ground, prepared to let him have it.
“I can’t help but notice you keep saying we,” I observed. “I didn’t agree to pal around with Shya. You did.”
“That’s right. I did.” He nodded, fire smoldering in his eyes. “I told you I would do anything to make sure you’re safe, and you are not going to make me feel bad about it.”
Frustration shook me. I was ticked that he had gone behind my back to talk to Shya. After the night I’d just had, not to mention my week so far, this was the last thing I wanted.
“Safe? Until Lilah’s out of the way, and then what? Then he follows through with that little promise to kill me. Did you forget about that?” My words came fast and furious.
I remembered the demon’s sly threat very well. Shya was uneasy with me being the light half of a twin flame union. He threatened to kill me, so I would rise as a vampire, so Arys’s darkness would tip the precarious balance between us. Maybe there was more to it.
“Of course not.” Arys scowled. “You should really stop underestimating me, Alexa. I always get what I want. That won’t be any different with Shya.”
“Your cocky attitude is going to get us into trouble. One of these days,” I warned, “you won’t be right. And then, you’ll be sorry.”
We stared into one another with fierce intensity. Arys reached to brush the hair back from my face. A mischievous smile graced his lips.