He takes my hand in his, flipping my wrist over so that my faded mark shows–Castine's locator mark.
"This. I'd seen this mark in the past on several of her victims, but I didn't know what it meant. I quickly began reading, furiously searching to find out what it stood for. Then I found out it meant that she could find you anywhere, especially when she was close. I was pissed you didn't leave like I told you, but I don't know if it would have done a bit of good with this thing strapped on you. I would have died if anything had happened to you because of me."
I kiss his chest, feeling close to him again—even closer actually.
"Alyssa, there's something...I've been trying… damn," he grumbles.
The doorbell interrupts him before he can continue—a frantic dinging sounding out repetitively.
"Showtime," Deke calls out.
Kane never bothered to put his shirt on. I'm sure that's partly to rub it in Gage's face what we've been doing. I hate that he's doing that, but maybe it'll make Gage more inclined to leave me alone.
"I'll be back. You can put the leather pants back on, but otherwise, I want you just like this," he teases before kissing me softly and climbing out of bed. "You'll have to let him in. I'm sure he's figured out by now that he can't just materialize in here."
As soon as the door shuts behind him, I wrap up in the sheet and move to listen in. It's pathetically cowardly of me to hide like a mouse from a lion, but he shouldn't be here.
Gage can come in.
"Where the fuck is she?" Gage blares as the door slams shut behind him.
I cringe at the fury in his tone. He's acting possessive, more so than he should be. I didn't plan this out too well. Of course, I didn't plan out any of this at all.
"She's in bed... resting," Kane says with his smug tone.
I roll my eyes at the pissing contest in play.
"Get her out here right now, or I'll go in after her."
Crap.
"This is my house, the last time I checked. You try to go in and I'll drag you out. She asked me to handle this."
With a wave of my hand, the abandoned clothing appears on my body. If he comes in, I sure as hell don't want him to see me in a sheet. It would only hurt him worse.
"Kane, I'm only asking nicely once more," Gage growls through what I assume is gritted teeth, not sounding as though he's asking nicely at all.
"You're welcome to try something. I'm faster than you realize, and I can pull you out of a vaporized state before you can attempt to zap her out. As a matter of fact, I can remind you just how strong I am."
"Try it. I wasn't prepared for you last time. I am now," Gage seethes.
Realizing I can't continue hiding, considering they're on the verge of throwing fists around—or magic—I finally open the door. Zee tilts his head curiously and Deke joins him in bemusement.
"It's blond again?"
Gage doesn't even acknowledge the question as he vaporizes past Kane and wraps me up in his arms. Kane's jaw clenches audibly, and I cringe against the contact.
"I've been worried to damn death, Alyssa. Your dad called and asked me if I was with you. I let him know you were here the second someone answered a fucking phone," he says, ending on an irritable note as his eyes fall back on my fuming night stalker.
"Gage, I'm fine. Just go. I still don't want to see you," I grumble while pushing him away.
Kane relaxes a little, though his hands are still fisted at his sides. I know he's only holding back because of me.
"Alyssa, I know it's scary, but it's only half of the prophecy," Gage murmurs while stroking my cheek with his thumb. "Don't freak out and run back to him simply because you're scared."
Kane's whole demeanor changes as pain sweeps his eyes. Gage is doing his best to be vague and misleading.
"That's not why I'm here, and I'm not fully convinced that prophecy is about me. I don't care what any of you say."
Deke starts fanning himself beside Kane as sweat forms on his brow. Zee seems to be burning up, too, along with Kane and Gage. I'm not hot.
"Is Dice with you?" Zee grumbles, wiping away some of the sweat.
"He's in the car," Gage says dismissively, never breaking eye contact with me.
"I'm going to go tell him to put his power away. I know he loves a good conflict between old lovers, but this shit is ridiculous," Zee continues, walking toward the door.
"We're not old lovers," Gage corrects. "Alyssa just won't accept the truth."
"Alyssa, what's he talking about?" Kane finally asks with pained eyes, unable to bite back his questions anymore.