September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)

“Shya’s really tripping red flags for me these days,” I said, watching the activity on the other side of the room. “I want to know what he’s up to.”


The Wicked Kiss was almost finished undergoing renovations. The task was so much bigger than I’d anticipated. The nightclub was still open despite the many changes taking place. We were doing our best to work on one area at a time. It was difficult, but things were starting to come together.

The new flooring looked great. Non-slip luxury vinyl was a must. It was grey and designed to look like natural wood. The dance floor and bathrooms were done in the same material with a faux stone design. Deep red walls fit the bloodletting theme of the club without being bright or garish. Various types of fantasy artwork adorned the walls. From dragons to warriors and even vampires, the artists had finely crafted each piece.

I sat back against the new booth seat, enjoying the way it squished beneath me. The hard seats we used to have had been replaced with soft leather couches in a U shape. Not only was it more comfy, it made more use of the space, allowing for more people at one table.

As cozy as the new booth seats were, they were nothing compared to the sofa sets filling the space to the right of the bar, near the back hall entrance. Several L shaped black couches surrounded a large center table. It was early yet, but they were already occupied.

“I’d like to know what he was up to.” Jez nodded toward the doorway where Kale had just emerged from the back. “Obviously it was more important than having our backs during a demon hunt.”

My gaze narrowed as I watched him swagger through the club. Kale had done a great job of avoiding me recently. He paused to watch the guys working on the new stage. The last one had been destroyed while I was away. Kale wouldn’t tell me how, though I could imagine.

“Guess he needed a fix.” I should have shielded so as not to feel the saccharine energy Kale exuded. The truth was, I wanted to feel the flutter in the pit of my stomach, the intrigue, and even the hunger for him. Despite our twisted relationship, I enjoyed all of it.

He eyed the patrons hungrily, on the prowl again already even though he most likely had just left a victim in his bed. In black dress pants, a dark shirt, and leather duster, Kale wore sex and blood like a fragrance. Alluring and unbearably gorgeous, his presence demanded my attention.

Our eyes met across the distance. He paused, as if considering the best way to avoid me now. Screw that. I was mad, and he was going to hear about it. With a wicked glare plastered firmly on my face, I beckoned him over with a finger.

“I didn’t expect you ladies back so early,” he said, sliding in beside Jez across from me. His pupils were huge, and his energy hummed with a high frequency. He had definitely just been feeding.

“Where the fuck were you?” Jez snapped. “You were supposed to watch our back while that flesh-eating demon tossed us around like dolls. Oh wait, no, you were supposed to keep that from happening. Way to drop the fucking ball, Kale.”

With a shrug, Kale leaned back in the booth, feigning casual. Only the tension in his energy betrayed him. “You both look just fine to me. I assume you killed that thing.”

“What the hell was it?” I asked. “Tell me what you know. And God help you if you’re keeping secrets for Shya.”

“Are you kidding me?” he scoffed. He pinned me with brown and blue eyes, managing to appear both hurt and irritated. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. Shit, Alexa, I thought you knew me better than that.” When I stared stonily at him, he continued. “Some kind of hybrid demon. A slave race or something.”

“What was it doing here?” Jez jumped back in. Together we fixed Kale with our best no-nonsense glares.

Kale held his hands up. “Whoa, settle down. You’re asking the wrong person. I don’t ask Shya more than I need to.”

I studied him, wondering how much he was keeping from me. Instinct told me it was more than what happened to the club when I was away. There was something else.

“Why did you bail on us, Kale? We used to hunt as a team all the time.” My phone vibrated in my shoulder bag, but I ignored it.

“Yes we did,” he agreed, glancing between Jez and me. “Things have changed. Neither one of you should trust me at your back now.”

“But we do,” Jez insisted, looking to me for support. When I dropped my gaze into my lap and remained silent, she snarled, “Ah, I see. This is more weird shit with you two. Well you know what? Get the fuck over it. You guys are ruining the group, and I really need you both right now.”

Both Kale and I stared at Jez in surprise.

Her lower lip quivered ever so slightly. “I need a drink,” she muttered, all but climbing over Kale to get out of the booth.