"How did you come across the girl the cop abused?" Zee asks.
"I had to hunt her down. It took some magic to even learn she existed, but I returned to the scene of the crime, saw the aura stain of fear behind the bushes. I knew she had seen something very terrifying. Then I had to use magic to get her to talk. She was on Alyssa's side."
"I have to be somewhere," Gage says while looking at his phone, interrupting the details I don't really want to hear. "I'll be back."
He hasn't said much to anyone today. As he walks away, Kane pulls me from the couch, wrapping his arms around me. He leads me to the kitchen, and I collapse to a barstool.
"We'll sort it out, Alyssa. Are you okay?" he asks, grimacing.
It's a terrible question, but I can't break right now. If I let the weight of what I've done fully settle, I'll crumble, crack, and be of no use to anyone.
"I'll be fine," I mumble. "We need to—"
"I'm not a fucking fairy!" Chaz blares from the living room, forcing Kane to choke on a laugh.
At least the feud Dice has struck up is a distraction from our drama.
"Fairy," Dice sings, following Chaz into the den where we are.
Chaz's face is red, almost crimson. No duster likes to be called a fairy, and Dice revels in driving someone mad.
"Call me a fairy one. More. Time," Chaz threatens, seething.
Dice smirks, a challenge in his eyes, and says, "Fair—"
His word is cut short and ends with a cat's meow. His eyes widen as a devilish grin spreads across Chaz's lips. A few flakes of glitter have gathered on Dice's lips, promising Chaz just used his duster magic.
Another meow bellows free in panic, and Dice clutches his throat, gasping as the sound continues in the place of his words.
"I like him," Kane says through his laughter, motioning toward Chaz.
Chaz smirks as he turns away from the crying cat—er, I mean Dice.
"Never thought I'd hear a night stalker say that."
I breathe out in relief, grateful for Chaz being here. With so many dark being my only allies, I was starting to wonder if any light beings were on the good side. It's a twisted world we live in.
Chapter 11
Gage
My hands actually hurt from wringing them so much. I hate being around that fucking night stalker who can't keep his hands off my girl. I'm sick of this. I need my proof, and this had better be it.
"It's about time you showed up," the dark voice charms from the distance.
"This had better not be a waste of my time," I growl, looking toward the shadows in search of my mother.
"I told you I'd find it," she says, stepping out to be where I can see her.
Any help she offers will come at a price, but I'll gladly pay it if this is what I need to make Alyssa see I'm the one she's meant to be with.
Mother holds up a scroll that looks tattered and beaten, but the glimmer of magic that shimmers over the surface proves it's legitimate and not a forged piece of uselessness. My heartbeat quickens, as do my steps, and I snatch it out of her hand, careful not to let the old scroll tear during the hasty exchange.
My heartbeat pounds in my ears, making me tingle with anticipation. I almost leap in the air when I see each and every bit of promise being delivered, just as I knew it would if I ever found the whole prophecy. Elation fills me. Finally—fucking finally.
I look up, dreading the price, but I ask, "What's this going to cost me? And where did you find it?"
Her lips pucker as though she's offended, but it's more mocking than sincere.
"Can't a mother do something nice for her son without there being a price?"#p#分页标题#e#
I scoff, "Only if there's a hidden agenda."
She pouts, but it's exaggerated and still taunting, as opposed to authentic. Crazy bitch. She has an angle, but I don't know what it is.
"No price, Gage. Go get your girl and keep her from destroying the world. This benefits me, seeing as I'll live. It's not as if you or Drackus will let me kill her."
If you know her, then you know that had the underlining promise of a threat in there. My blood almost literally boils from my surging anger.
"You come anywhere close to her, and I'll—"
"Oh, stop with the theatrics," she murmurs dryly in interruption while waving a dismissive hand in the air. "I would have tried by now if I was going to."
I still don't even know how she found out about Alyssa, but I'm sure I don't want to know either. My mother's magic is dark and powerful. There's no telling what force she tapped into in order to break free those secrets.