Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers) - By Michelle Rowen Page 0,98

spent a ton on my costume.”

Bishop gave me an exasperated look, which almost coaxed a smile from me despite everything that had gone so horribly wrong.

I shrugged. “She says she has a costume.”

“I’m Cleopatra,” Jordan said, as if that explained everything. She cocked her head. “Wait a minute. I think I’m remembering something important.” Then she inhaled sharply. “When Stephen first found me, before he knocked me out, I told him about the party. He seemed...interested in going. As if it might make him feel normal again. He said we could go together.” Her eyes moved back and forth rapidly as if she was remembering the moment in detail. “I mean, obviously he was just playing games with me, trying to get closer so he could grab me. But still, maybe he’ll show.”

“Where’s this party?” Bishop asked, his voice measured and almost too calm.

“It’s Noah’s party.” Jordan looked at me. “You’re invited, too, right? He has the hots for you, FYI.”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah, well, the feeling isn’t mutual.”

“Gray-girl’s curious charm doesn’t seem to be lost on many,” Kraven drawled, amused. “Hobbits are hot.”

“It’s not at his house,” I said, remembering what Kelly told me in the school hall yesterday. “He found another place?”

“Yeah, an abandoned house in a private area on the far east side of the city—at Oak and Peters. Thinks it’ll add a spooky touch. Figures it might be busted, but that’s supposed to make it more exciting.” She crossed her arms. “I’m going.”

I watched Bishop carefully for his reaction to the stubborn redhead. “Connor, like I said, take Jordan home safely. What she does after that is entirely up to her.” He shifted his gaze to his brother. “Kraven, go with Roth to this party and keep an eye open for our gray friend. Connor can meet you there later.”

“And if we see him?” Connor asked.

“Detain him. Any way possible.”

Connor’s eyes narrowed and there was a hard set to his jaw. “With pleasure.”

They didn’t wait. They left, Jordan sending a glance back toward me, but no goodbye. It would have been easier for her if the angelic influence had worked. Whatever made her different, that gave her the supernatural intuition, had prevented her from being influenced.

She would remember everything she’d seen, everything she’d learned.

It was dangerous information for a seventeen-year-old. I should know.

When they left, Bishop looked at Cassandra. “You’ll go with Samantha back to her house. Wait for her outside the church, all right?”

“All right.” Cassandra glanced at me, then left the two of us alone.

“And where will you go?” My chest clenched at the thought of saying goodbye to him again.

“The others want me to stay away from you. I think we’ve already proven how dangerous it can be when we’re too close.”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah, very dangerous. So where are you headed?”

He held my gaze. “To your house.”

My brows rose. “What?”

He snorted softly at my surprised reaction. “I honestly don’t care what anybody says, I’m not letting you out of my sight right now. Understand?”

I just nodded, stunned he was even suggesting this. He could have easily let Cassandra take me home and joined the others at the house party.

But he wanted to stay with me.

He took hold of the small dagger now lying on the top of the empty wooden desk. He wiped the blade on his jeans to clean it of Roth’s blood.

“I believe this is yours.” He handed it to me. When I took it from him, our fingers brushed against each other.

I returned it to its sheath under my skirt. “Thank you. I’m sorry about what happened—”

“Don’t apologize. And Kraven’s wrong. It wasn’t your fault. What Stephen did to you...” His expression darkened. “I could have killed him for that.”

“Killing isn’t always the answer.”

“I know that.”

I swallowed hard. “I saw you kill Kraven. In your memory.”

He turned away, but I caught his arm.

“It wasn’t you,” I said firmly. “It couldn’t have been. There has to be some other explanation why you’d do that.”

When his gaze met mine again, this time it was stormy. “It’s funny, you seeing that memory.”

I laughed this time, a dry, humorless sound. “What’s so funny about it?”

“Because...a lot of the details are a blank for me. But I guess, somewhere in my head it’s all still there, crystal clear.” His brows drew tightly together. “What happened with Kraven...he was my brother. We had our problems, sure, but—I remember the cold certainty that came over me that night. The knowledge that he had to die