The hididng place, p.23
Skin, page 23
“You are hyperventilating, Keira.” Lucas told her as Conrad tried to gather her from the car.
She instantly started struggling when her beta pulled her from the car. She didn’t want to be touched, didn’t want to be held. She didn’t want to feel constricted. When he let her go, she tumbled to the cracked asphalt and tried to follow Lucas’ breathing instructions. Deep inhale, hold it, slowly let it out. She did it over and over until her heart slowed down enough for her to breathe normally.
Conrad had kneeled down next to her. He didn’t touch her, but let her know he was there and she appreciated that. When she finally stopped quivering, she looked at him with an ashen face. “I’m sorry.” She croaked. “I felt smothered.”
He shook his head. “It’s okay.” He told her and stood up with his hand outstretched. “Can I help you up?”
She nodded once, a small jerk of her head, and put her hand in his. When he pulled her to her feet, she leaned into him for support. He put his arm around her shoulders and she sighed. “I saw Cain.” She murmured, suddenly feeling exhausted.
“I assumed so.” Lucas commented carefully as he walked behind them back to the club. “Are you feeling better now?”
She shook her head, but didn’t say anything else on their trip down to Lucas’ room. Once they were in the room, she sat down on the bed and put her hands in her lap. “I killed Noah.” She announced, voice devoid of any emotion.
Lucas sat down next to her while Conrad sat down on the ground by her feet, his hands on her knees. “Did Cain see?” The vampire prodded softly.
She nodded. “But, before that Noah confessed when I was Cain. He said that he was sent to kill me,” she turned tormented eyes on Lucas. “Do you know what that means, Lucas? He admitted to Cain that he tried to kill me! Why would he do that if Cain is the one who planned it?”
Lucas bit back a sigh. He had not wanted her to learn of the truth in such a way. “Keira, we had an inkling that perhaps Cain was not behind your attack.” He said softly.
“What do you mean?” She asked and then looked down at Conrad whose eyes were wide like a frightened puppy. “What does he mean, Con?”
“At the pack meeting I had a suspicion that Cain might not have had anything to do with your attack,” he mumbled. “He was so upset by your death. It’s hard to fake such raw emotion, Kee.”
She leapt to her feet and backed away from them. How could they keep such a thing from her? “You two knew?” She breathed, her heart slamming into gear again.
“No, Keira, we did not know for certain,” Lucas calmly explained as he slowly stood up from the bed as well. “We had no way of knowing for sure, but we were going to tell you our suspicion after you killed Noah.”
“Why wait?” Kee demanded, pushing away from him when he tried to pull her into his arms.
“Whether it was Cain or someone else, would you not have still gone after Noah?” He asked seriously. “Would you not have still killed him for trying to do the same to you?”
She clenched her jaw. “Of course I would have.”
“Then telling you beforehand would have done nothing but distract you,” he pointed out. At her angry, betrayed look, he sighed. “We were going to tell you, Keira, I promise.”
“Well it doesn’t matter now!” She huffed and pushed her hair back from her face angrily. “I now know for sure that it wasn’t him!”
“And how does that information make you feel?” Lucas questioned with a carefully placed blank face. A part of him was nervous for her answer. They had grown close the past month and the idea of her and Cain getting back together infuriated him.
“It makes me feel relieved, Lucas,” she admitted breathlessly. “My heart feels lighter knowing the man I love didn’t betray me.”
Conrad frowned and glanced at Lucas. He liked Lucas. The vampire was hard to read most of the time, but he was reasonable and supportive. But, more than anything, he cared for Kee more than he let on. It must have stung for him to hear her say those words about Cain.
“Lord Lucas, there’s a problem at the front.” Giovanni interrupted from the other side of the door.
Glad for the distraction, Lucas tore his eyes away from the fuming Keira and pulled open his door. He looked at his second-in-command with a neutral expression. “What is it?”
“A werewolf has pushed his way past security throwing a fit about seeing Kee. He’s scaring some of the patrons in his hybrid form.” Gio replied and then flinched when he heard crashing in the kitchen upstairs. “It seems he’s coming.”
“Cain,” Lucas surmised and then looked at Keira. Her eyes were wide and he could practically taste her anxiety again. He sighed and glanced down the hall behind Gio when he heard cursing and stomping coming down the stairs. “What do you want to do, Keira?”
She cringed when an animalistic growl echoed down the hall, a hot power thrumming in the air around them. “I don’t know.” She answered honestly.
“Stop there, wolf!” Dante shouted as he finally caught up to the werewolf after being thrown aside earlier.
Cain snarled at him as he stood tall in his hybrid wolf form. Dark brown, almost black fur covered him from head to toe, his dark blue eyes practically glowing as he glared at the dark skinned vampire that stood in front of him. He lurched at him, grabbing his arm when Dante tried to shove him back.
Kee moved towards the door when she heard the bangs and scuffles of a fight. She gasped when she saw Dante and Cain fighting, each one landing blows and trying to subdue the other. They wrestled on the floor, fists and feet flying and connecting with the other person. She didn’t like this. She didn’t want them hurting each other.
“Lucas, stop them! I don’t want them hurt.” She pleaded as she turned towards him. All anger momentarily forgotten, she put her hand on his forearm in a pleading gesture.
“If you stop Dante, the wolf will come.” Gio warned her with a serious expression.
“It’s fine,” she mumbled softly, her fingers tightening on Lucas’s arm. “I have to face him eventually.”
“No, you don’t, Kee,” Conrad finally said from behind them. “You killed Noah because he tried to kill you. You owe Cain nothing.”
“But he has no idea what happened to me, Conrad. He heard Noah admit to being sent to kill me, but I murdered his best friend right in front of him before he could ask any questions.” She defended. “He deserves to know why I’m killing his pack members.”
“Noah’s confession should be enough to explain it, Kee.” Her wolf interjected. “You don’t have to face him.”
“Yes, I do.” She shook her head and looked at Lucas. “He needs to hear it from me.”
Lucas stared down at her. “This is what you wish to do? Think hard because if I call off Dante, I will not call him back to help should Cain get out of hand.”
She straightened her spine. “That’s fine, I’ll handle him.”
He stared at her a few seconds longer before turning back to the fight. “Dante, let him pass.”
Dante hesitated for a moment before rolling away from the wolf’s claws. He leapt to his feet, but pressed his back against the wall, leaving the hallway clear. He crossed his arms over his chest and sneered at the wolf when Cain rose to his feet and stormed past him. He watched as he ventured closer to Lucas’ room and frowned. “Do you want me to stay?”
Lucas shook his head. “No, we will take care of it. Resume your position at the front.”
“Yes, sir.” He replied dutifully before heading back up the stairs to the club.
Lucas’ eyes stayed on Cain as he closed the distance between them. He nodded at Giovanni to leave and then stepped aside to let the werewolf into the room. He closed the door and watched carefully as Cain swung his head towards Keira, his claws flexing. “Kee.” Conrad warned as he took a step towards Cain.
Lucas held up his hand to stop Conrad from advancing further. “Let’s see what he does.”
Kee stared up at Cain’s wolf face, her heart thrashing against her chest. Her eyes met his and she took a single step back when he released a low growl. She lifted her hands into a defensive position when he started to move towards her. She was ready to fight him, ready to defend herself if she needed to. She opened her mouth to warn him, but snapped it shut when he shifted back into his human form and dropped to his knees in front of her.
“Kee.” Cain breathed, his voice a strange mix of helplessness and relief. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his face to her stomach, letting out a shaky breath.
He hadn’t been dreaming earlier. She really was alive. He had barged into Byte with an agonized rage, wanting answers to fill some of the emptiness he felt. But seeing Kee again washed away his anger and filled his hollowness with relief. “You really are alive.”
Her face softened as he held her almost desperately. She slowly lifted her hands and placed them on his head, petting his hair. He had trimmed his hair again, the sides shorter while the top was a bit more grown out. His facial hair was still longer than a stubble, but it was even and well groomed. Besides earlier that night, it had been over a month since she saw him.
“Yeah.” She said softly as she stroked his hair. Her chest constricted when he looked up at her with glistening eyes.
“No fucking thanks to your wolf pack!” Conrad suddenly shouted, hands balled into fists.
“Conrad.” Kee warned gently.
“Conrad?” Cain echoed as he looked at the fuming, blonde man next to Lucas. He inhaled deeply, catching the man’s scent. His eyes widened in surprise. “You’re in your human form?”
“Surprise.” He replied sarcastically.
Cain climbed to his feet and stood at his full naked height, towering over Kee as he glared at Conrad. “You,” he sneered and bared his teeth. “You knew she was alive and didn’t tell me? You’ve been with her all along, haven’t you? You saw me at the pack meeting and didn’t think to tell me?”
“Why would I tell you when I thought you were the one who did it?” Conrad shot back with a growl.
“Did what?” He growled low, his aura expanding in warning.
“Leave him alone, Cain.” Kee reprimanded.
He didn’t ease his aura. “No, tell me, Conrad, what do you think I did?”
“Orchestrated the attack on Keira, of course.” Lucas explained evenly when he sensed the wolves getting ready to attack each other. He respected Conrad, but he knew Cain would win in a fight. Cain was born to be an alpha, Conrad he wasn’t so sure about.
Cain whirled to face the vampire with a snarl. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I would hurt her!” A tremor went through his body when another wave of anger hit him. “And you! You lied to me! When she first disappeared, I came to you and asked if you’ve talked to her! When you said no, I asked if you knew what happened to her and you still replied no!” He gestured at Kee with claws protruding from his human hand. “Well, here she is with you. She’s been here the whole time, hasn’t she? You son of a bitch!”
“Yes, she has been here.” Lucas answered with a smooth shrug. “And, I did not lie to you. She was unconscious when you came to me, still fighting for her life. So, I did not, in fact, speak to her, nor did I know at the time what happened to her. We wanted everyone to think she was dead, but I did not lie to you.”
“Don’t act like a damn fae, Lucas! The fae weave truths around lies, not vampires!”
“Wait, wait, Cain came looking for me?” She asked, looking at Lucas suspiciously. When he simply nodded, she glared at him. “When? And why didn’t you tell me?”
“He came the day after you were attacked,” he admitted, a knot forming in his stomach. “And I did not tell you because you were unconscious.”
“That’s a bullshit excuse!” She snapped. “You could have told me when I was awake! You’ve had a month, Lucas!”
“For what reason would I have told you? You were a ball of unstable, torrid emotions, Keira. You were setting up your plan to get your revenge and you did not need the interference.” Lucas’ eyes narrowed when she growled at him. “I did it with your best interest in mind.”
“You mean like how you and Conrad chose not to tell me how you guys started to doubt that Cain had set the whole thing up? What if I had killed him tonight? What then, Lucas?” She accused angrily. “If I killed him when he was innocent, I never would have forgiven myself!”
She was suddenly mortified.
Oh gods, I was going to kill him.
“Why do you think I would have tried to have you killed, Kee? Why would any of you think that? I love her, I wouldn’t hurt her!” Cain defended himself as his clawed hands fisted at his sides.
“But have you not already?” Lucas shot back with a knowing scoff. “I seem to remember a scuffle that ended in a broken phone.”
She felt Cain’s aura expand with a snap of energy that shocked her senses. Before she could put a hand on his arm to stop him, he shifted into his hybrid wolf form and launched himself at Lucas. “Cain!” She shouted incredulously.
Lucas was ready for him. The werewolf may be taller than him by over a foot in his hybrid form, but Lucas was faster. He caught Cain’s furry wrist and spun around to kick him hard in the back. Cain faltered forward from the impact, but remained upright. Cain turned back to his opponent and lurched at him again. Lucas moved back, but Cain had a longer reach in his current form. He punched Lucas in the face with his right hand, and then in his stomach with his left.
“Stop it!” Kee shouted as she watched the two men fight. Her heart was constricted. She felt torn as she watched the two of them go at it. She didn’t want either of them to get hurt. They both meant too much to her.
Lucas snarled and blocked the third hit. He ducked under Cain’s arm and tackled him. They skidded towards the couch, knocking it over before they hit the floor. Lucas sat on Cain’s chest and returned the punches without holding back. He felt Cain’s cheek bone crack under the force from his first hit, his snout dislocating on the second.
Undeterred, Cain snapped his jaws at Lucas’s neck, teeth sinking into his throat. He clenched down and tried to shake his head, but Lucas’s hands gripped Cain’s furry neck to hold him in place. Lucas tightened his grip, choking the wolf as Cain bit down harder. Lucas was strangling Cain to keep him from ripping his throat out, but he would break the wolf’s neck if he had to.
“Stop!” Kee cried as she flung herself at Lucas’s back. “Let go! Both of you!”
Neither one could talk, but the glares they gave each other spoke for them. They were at a standstill. Either Cain would rip Lucas’ throat out, or Lucas would snap Cain’s neck. Neither one wanted to give in first. Neither wanted to be the loser. Cain bit down harder making the vampire cough up blood. At the same time, Lucas tightened his hold, the werewolf’s body shuddering from lack of air.
“I said stop!” Kee screamed. She fisted her hand in Lucas’s hair while sliding her hand over his shoulder to grab a handful of fur on Cain’s face. She gave each grip a firm pull. “Let. Go.”
“Kee, no one wants to be the first one to submit.” Conrad explained, staying back from the power struggle. “They’ll stay that way until the other hesitates.”
She sneered down at them. “Are you kidding me? Stop this fucking pissing contest! When I count to three you both let go at the same time. If you kill each other, I will never forgive either of you. Do you understand me?” They both growled and she took it as affirmation. She released their hair, but remained molded to Lucas’ back in case their egos got ahead of them.
She counted to one and the two men glared at each other, their eyes blazing with hate for the other. She got to two and their holds on each other flexed as if daring the other to do something. When she got to three, they simultaneously released each other.
Kee sighed in relief and pulled away when Lucas stood up from Cain’s body. She frowned at the blood flowing from the gaping wound in his neck, flaps of his skin hanging from where Cain had torn his teeth away. She quickly covered the wound with her hand, trying to stop the bleeding.
She looked at Cain as he shifted back to his human form. Her brow furrowed when he started hacking and gasping for air. His cheek was swollen and blood gushed from his nose. “Cain, are you okay?” She asked as he sat up and put a hand to his neck.
“I’ll live.” He growled, his voice rough.
She gave him a relieved smile and then looked at Lucas when he put his hand on her wrist. “And what about you?” She questioned softly.
“I will survive,” he answered as he pulled her bloodied hand away. “But I have to find Aubrey. I need to feed to fix this.”
Something twisted in her stomach at the reminder of his feeder. Was that jealousy?
She stepped back from him. “I didn’t know she was here.”
“Even if she is not, I need to feed from someone.” Lucas replied pointedly. He could feel her irritation through the bond and couldn’t help but scowl. She had no right to be jealous when she clearly still had feelings for Cain. “Unless you are offering yourself up?”
“You mean so you can almost drain her like last time? Fuck no.” Cain snarled as he got to his feet. “Or do you not remember attacking her in her home? Leaving her almost empty on her bed?”
Kee put her hands on Lucas’ chest, keeping him in place when he tensed like a snake about to strike. “Don’t,” she pleaded and then shot Cain a glare. “Don’t start up again, Cain. No more fighting.”
Cain pursed his lips together and looked away, but his expression was still angry. “He made a jab at me for hurting you when he’s guilty of the same thing.”
Conrad growled at Cain. “But his people didn’t try to kill her; yours did.”
Kee sighed when Cain went rigid and looked at her with a confused stare. “It’s true, Cain.” She blushed when he moved closer to her, his nakedness making her eyes wander. “I’ll tell you about it, but let me give you these clothes.” She murmured as she gestured at the baggy clothes that were still on her. She looked back up at Lucas when he shifted away from her. “Will you be back?”
