Changing Beauty (Book 2) (The Deadly Beauties Live On) (10 page)

“Hell no. You wanted me here; now I’m here. And I need to speak to everyone.”

Zee walks in, his eyes zeroing in on Gage, and he bursts out laughing as Gage curses under his breath. He dematerializes, taking Kimber with him, and he rematerializes almost immediately with both of them wearing clothes.

Kimber’s hair is definitely just-fucked, and Gage looks like he wants to rip me in half. After interrupting me earlier, I know the feeling.

“Told you he’d pay you back for that shit,” Kimber says, mocking Gage who grumbles something too low for even me to hear as he jerks her against him.

“What’s going on?” Chaz asks with a knowing grin as he walks in.

Gage rolls his eyes while sitting down on the edge of the bed, drawing Kimber into his lap. Ella walks in next, shutting the door behind her. Kane and Alyssa can’t be here. It’s too risky to have them around this many people. Dice and Karma haven’t returned from trying to locate Dice’s mother’s lover.

“Ah, shit,” Ella groans, wrinkling her nose as she goes to lean against Chaz. “It smells like sex in here. I’m crashing with you tonight, Thad.”

I crack my neck to the side. “Probably don’t want to be with me tonight. I’m going to finish what Gage interrupted.”

Ella looks between me and Gage, then she bursts out laughing. “Ah, so that’s why Gage looks like he’s ready to kill you. Payback’s a bitch.”

Kimber laughs with Ella, as Gage mutters something about neutering me.

Dick. That’s so dramatic.

The door opens, allowing room for Sierra and Deke to come in. Amy doesn’t join us, because we still don’t know or trust her night stalker enough to bring him in on the important meetings. And she’s more loyal to him than us, so she never comes to the meetings he can’t attend unless Kane makes her.

Not to mention, Amy is out scouting the woods with her night stalker right now. It’s better. She’s not here to object to what I need Sierra to do.

“Is this something we need to call Dice in on?” Ella asks, hopping up to sit on top of her dresser.

Chaz leans back against her, and she props up on him. Most people would confuse their closeness as something romantic.

“Probably,” I say with a sigh. “He might have some insight. But don’t call Kane or Alyssa.”

That gathers a few suspicious eyebrow raises.

Alyssa could order me not to do what I want to, and I honestly don’t think I’d listen to her. I start scratching my arm, feeling the beasts trying to escape and get back to Roslyn. This is really annoying.

“What’s wrong with you?” Kimber asks as Gage dials the incubus.

“I’m losing my damn leash,” I growl, feeling more frustrated by the second. “I feel like a newbie all over again. I swear my beasts are trying to claw their way out of me right now.”

“Sex was that good?” Deke asks, a taunting smile in his voice.

I really hate night stalkers.

I glare at Gage instead of the smartass night stalker, though. “There hasn’t been any sex yet.”

“Hashtag—Thad’s having performance issues.” Dice’s voice draws everyone’s attention to the phone in Gage’s hand, and I roll my eyes. Why did I think he’d be helpful?

Gage looks all too amused and cocky right now. Bastard.

“Not performance issues, jackass.” I take a breath, trying to calm down. “I’m fairly sure purgatory has unleashed the mating shit again. It’s the only way I can explain it. It seems to only be getting worse by the day”

Sierra steps up, her head already shaking in objection, while Gage pales.

“No. Lycans and a few others have ‘mates’ but not changers,” she says thoughtfully.

“Tell that to all my beasts. There’s no telling what all was set free from purgatory. I’ve heard old legends about changers having mates. The stories are pretty gory, because the mates became overly aggressive and possessive of each other.”

“Hashtag—that shit’s not good,” Dice says, adding nothing to the conversation. Seriously, why did I want to call him?

“No, it’s not,” Gage groans, cursing as he runs a hand through his hair.

You can tell who has heard the stories and who hasn’t. I’m not sure if I’m right, but if I am, then I pity any fucker who touches Roslyn. Just the thought has me wanting to shift, and I have to fight the urge down once again.

“I think we’re being a bit dramatic,” Dice finally says, leaving out his damn hashtag shit. “What if animal boy has just finally started liking a girl for more than a night?”

“I’m having murderous fantasies at just the thought of someone even accidentally touching her,” I point out, which causes Zee to shift away from me.

“Remind me to stay away from the pretty brunette,” Chaz says, but I swear the asshole is mocking me. This is not funny. At all. And I know, because
funny
is my middle fucking name.

“Okay,” Dice drawls. “So change her so we can tell her what’s going on. Or see if it’s the same after she’s changed.”

And that’s what I came up here for.

“That’s insane!” Kimber and Ella both bark in unison.

I should have left them out of this meeting.

“It’s not insane. Will you do it, Sierra?” I ask, turning toward her. Even though it’s phrased as a question, she can see I’m pretty much demanding it. Now.

Her eyes widen, which confuses me. She seemed perfectly fine with this when I mentioned it the first time.

“Mates? This is a whole new level of concern,” she says. “You just admitted to wanting to kill someone for accidentally touching her. Amy went crazy when Kane wouldn’t accept their bond, but that was a fucked up situation in its own right. If I change her, what if she doesn’t accept you? She’d be lycan. And she’d probably eventually bond with a night stalker. It’s just our way.”

Deke punctuates the point by glaring at me over the top of her head and tugging her closer. He’s stupid if he thinks I’m scared of him.

“I won’t hurt you. It seems to be the thoughts of other men touching her that affects me. And I’ll just kill whatever night stalker she bonds with before he even gets to touch her. See? Simple.”

Zee snorts derisively while shaking his head, and Ella slaps me hard on the back of my shoulder as she materializes at my side.

“You’ve lost your mind,” she growls.

“Hate to point out the obvious,” Dice says, enjoying the hell out of this, “but I think that’s the entire reason we’re having this meeting. He’s losing his mind, and he’s asking for help.”

Ella glares at the phone like Dice can see her, then she looks at me. Good thing looks can’t really kill someone.

“You can’t do this. It’s too risky. She might not even survive the change, Thad. Then what?”

A lump forms in my throat, and I force it down. “She’s strong. She’s lived through hell and is still standing straight. She can handle it. And I’ll be there to make sure she does, along with Dray. Where the hell is Dray?”

“Hashtag—Dray’s getting laid. For reals. Just saw him and some dark user not too long ago. He’s supposed to be helping us track down my mother.”

“I’ll call him,” Gage says, but then he gets slapped by Kimber. What is with these mean women and hitting? Totally uncalled for.

“You won’t. We’ll figure this out. You can’t turn a person immortal on a whim. She needs to be talked to, have this thoroughly discussed with her, then given the option of what she wants to do. We can always dust her memories if she doesn’t want to do it.”

As if I’ll fucking let her memory of me be wiped. Hell no. I’m keeping her.

“Give it a few days,” Gage says to me, sighing. “Let’s see if it works itself out of your system. With all the new rules—or lack of rules, rather—we don’t know what’s really going on. You could be wrong about this.”

I might be wrong, but it doesn’t change the fact I’m not giving her up.

“Fine. I’ll wait a few days. Then someone’s changing her. I’d have already done it if I was bitten fey.”

For the first time in my immortal life, I actually envy the bitten.

Chapter 10

ROSLYN

“I don’t like being touched,” I tell the asshole who keeps putting his hand on my hips, trying to dance with me even though I’ve made it clear I don’t want to dance with him.

Jenny is the worst “friend” ever. She ditched me and left with that Alex guy that came back for something he forgot—the guy who was with the huge beast of a man who made the weird crack about the
queen’s circle
. Now I’ve been down here for way too long without anyone.

I glance toward the door when I peel the jerk’s hand off me again, and I debate running out of it. Then I see a girl with short black hair walk in with a dark-haired guy close behind her. She sniffs the air, looking like a damn dog, and then her gaze lands on me.

Weird. Freaky weird.

Oddly enough, she seems pissed when she sees me once again trying to escape the clingy grasp of the jerk who just doesn’t understand the word
no.

“One dance,” he slurs.

I try to move away from him, but he clutches me tighter. If I get pissed enough to pass out, this could end badly for me. I don’t trust this creep around my incapacitated body.

“Get your fucking hands off her,” a girl’s voice growls.

I look up to see the dark-haired girl—the sniffer—in front of me. The guy backs away, seeming a little scared of her. Frankly, so am I. She’s not that big, but she has wild eyes and an I-fucking-dare-you sort of attitude she emits without effort.

Her eyes settle back on me, and I really don’t like the look.

“You’re Roslyn,” she says, surprising me as Mr. Annoying finds a new girl to maul. “Thad’s girlfriend?”

I clear my throat, trying to talk over the music, but finding it to be a little harder to do than she did. “We’re just talking about dating,” I say lamely, and I inwardly cringe at how stupid I sound.

She rolls her eyes, looking behind her at something, then turns her focus back to me.

“It’s not safe for you to be here. Come on. I’ll take you home. You should stay away from Thad. Trust me.”

What the hell?

“No offense, but I don’t even know you. And I’m a little creeped out that you seem to know me. Jealous ex?” Yeah, I’m stupid. This girl could hit me, I’d get pissed, I’d pass out, and she could kill me. Why am I picking a fight exactly?

Her lips twitch; she looks more amused than pissed.

“Sorry. I’m Amy. I’m a friend of Thad’s. Well, sort of. We work together. Right now, I’m the only one here who is looking out for you. I know you because he pretty much explained how you look, and I smell him all over you. He might as well have pissed a circle around you.”

The hell is she talking about?

“Umm… I’ll just stay. Thad is—”

“Right here.”

His voice elicits chills all over me, and I feel him before I see him. His arms wrap around my waist, drawing me back, and I immediately relax against his touch. He really does smell good.

“Problem, Amy?” Thad asks her, sounding more bored than irritated, yet his hands on me grip a little tighter.

Amy glares at him, and I decide I really don’t like her. I wish I could kick her ass without passing out. Fairly sure I’d lose badass points for fainting during a fight.

“Just talking to your girlfriend. This really isn’t a good place for her.”

It really isn’t any of her business.

Calm down, Roslyn. Calm down.

“You’re right,” Thad says, and my heart breaks a little. Until he adds, “Which is why we’re leaving. You can handle my shift tonight.”

She looks like she’s ready to kill him as he starts tugging me away from her. I feel a little smug. That’s right; I almost feel empowered enough to flip her off. Almost.

Thad keeps his hands on me, holding me close all the way out, so even if I had the lady balls to flip her off, there’s no way I’d be able to do it without forcing him to let me go. And that’s not happening.

“What was all that about?” I ask as the door shuts behind us, dulling the obnoxious music. A bitter taste rises to my throat, and before I can stop myself, I add, “Is she an ex?”

He flashes a grin, and I immediately wish I could take back those words.

“Is that jealousy?” he asks, giving me that damn cocky grin I love and hate. I’m thankful that we’re away from the brighter lights as we walk toward the lake.

My lungs take in the fresh air with gratitude, happy to be free from the alcohol tinged atmosphere and sweaty bodies. I decide to ignore his question, considering he ignored mine. Obviously that makes me curious. I thought he was almost too honest, and now I’m curious as to why he’s stalling.

“Fine,” he says, a teasing lilt to his voice. “The answer is
hell
no
. Amy and I have not and will not ever be a couple.” He shudders dramatically, and I fight back a smile. “She hates me
almost
as much as I hate her. And it’s not the sexy kind of hate either. She hates Alyssa, and I’ve got Alyssa’s back. Long story short, we don’t get along, and she doesn’t like a sweet girl like you hanging out with a not-so-sweet guy like me. It’s her thing—butting in, I mean. She inserts herself into everyone’s business with her self-righteous bullshit.”

He shrugs, acting as though it’s not a big deal. I really hate her now, and I don’t even know her. I’m normally not like this.

He pulls my hand to his lips, kissing it softly before winking at me. The moonlight is the only thing illuminating his face now, and it makes him look dangerous and sexy at the same time.

There’s something about him that draws me in, and I love it. I’m also a little scared of it. Thad’s not like anyone I’ve ever known.

“You ready to get back to my place?” he asks, his voice sounding sexier than I’ve heard it yet.

I should feel rushed, because he’s made it apparent what he wants, but I don’t. Still, I can’t help but tease him a little.

“What if I said I want to take things slower?” I ask, hiding my smile.

But to my surprise, he doesn’t miss a beat. “Then we’ll just go to my place and sleep. I’ll keep my hands in the safe zones.”

Yeah... I can’t stop smiling.

“Safe zones?” I muse.

He slides his arm back over my shoulders, tucking me against his side as he steers us down the quiet path.

“I’d say I’d keep my hands to myself, but that would be a lie. I have to touch you, but we don’t have to have sex.”

I smile while leaning against him. I swear I’ve never been with someone so honest. It’s refreshing.

In a moment of sheer abandon, I tell him, “I want you to stray from the safe zones.”

He groans while picking me up, and the next thing I know, my legs are wrapped around his waist, his hands are on my ass, and his stride quickens as he briskly walks us back.

“Thank fuck,” he whispers softly before kissing me.

Annnnd… I giggle. Yep. I’m a big goofy giggler. Shit.

He smiles against my lips, and I slide his hat off before moving it between us, so I can fist handfuls of his blonde hair and pull him to me to kiss him harder. His soft growl has chills spreading up me. I swear he sounds so feral and sexy when he makes noises like that.

“I think you love testing my control,” he says in a deep tone that has my core warming up.

I sure as hell love the fact that I test his control.

“Are you going to carry me all the way back?” I ask, giggling again when he speeds up even more.

“Yep.”

I glance over my shoulder, surprised by the fact we’re not too far away, and I can’t fight back the smile that spreads across my face.

“FUCK!” a guy yells from somewhere close by.

I jolt in Thad’s arms, startled, and a girl screams as something loud crashes inside a house. Oh shit. That sound is coming from
my
house.

Thad quickly puts me down, cursing under his breath as he sprints toward my house with unnatural speed. My heart thuds in my ears as I run as fast as I can, trying to catch up.

Just as Thad jerks open the door, a guy goes sailing outside, looking as though he was just catapulted out of the house. Thad narrowly dodges him, and his eyes light up, seeming to glow yellow as he stares inside.

My eyes flick to the guy who is lying haphazardly on the ground, and my stomach roils when I see his body. His veins are black, and there’s a knife in his back. What’s worse is that I recognize him.

That beast of a man left with Alex and Jenny.

***

THAD

Jenny is sobbing in the corner, curled in a ball amongst the wreckage as Wendy the bitch smirks at me. Her unkempt red hair is disheveled and even wilder. Blood stains her hands, her necklace is glowing, and she looks like she’s hungry for more blood.

The motherfucking anointed. I just found the slayer. Fuck me.

I really,
really
did not see this shit coming.

“Here, boy,” she says, whistling and acting like she’s talking to a dog. “Been waiting for you.”

Fucking bitc—

“Thad!” Roslyn’s voice has me whipping my head to the right, and my eyes widen as she races toward me.

“No!” I yell, but something suddenly slices through my stomach.

I jerk out the knife and toss it away just in time to dodge the hand flying at my face. Thank fuck she wasn’t holding the knife. I’d be suffering the effects of poison if she had stabbed me with it instead of throwing it at me.

This bitch took out an ogre, sent him flying from the room, so I’m not surprised when the fist I dodged smashes through the wall. Speed and strength like an immortal.

Fuck.

I don’t usually hit women, but…

I swing, but she’s fast, and she kicks me in the stomach. My breath leaves in a rush as a sense of weightlessness catches me off guard. It takes a second to realize I’m soaring through the air until I crash against the far wall, feeling it moan and buckle against the impact.

Oh yeah. I’m gonna kill a bitch.

All I see is a flash of red hair, and my eyes widen too late, seeing the knife come down. Just as I prepare to shift into something else, another flash of hair catches my eyes. Only it’s not red hair. It’s almost-black hair.

A garbled cry resounds through the living room, and I roar as I leap up, standing behind Roslyn. Wendy stumbles backwards, her eyes wide in horror as Roslyn’s back stays to me.

“You should… No… Why aren’t you…” Wendy’s words trail off, but I zero in on her, taking advantage of her distraction.

Something inside me snaps, and in less than a blink, my hands are on Wendy’s neck. She gasps, struggling to breathe, and I hiss when she stabs my hand with a knife I never saw coming.

The blood spills, and red taints my vision. Pain sears through me, and I start losing feeling in my right hand as my veins slowly start to feel the bite of the poison in her touch. I’m forced to drop that hand, which causes it to rip when she keeps hold of the knife still attached to it.

Biting back the burning pain, I use my other hand to twist her neck, snapping it with barely any effort. I growl as the life fades from her eyes, and I immediately regret ending her life too soon.

I’d love nothing more than find out how many more out there are like her. Jenny is her fucking cousin, so I need to be worried about that.

I glance down at my hand, watching in relief as the black veins slowly disappear, and the piercing pain dulls. At least the poison dies without the touch.

“Roslyn!” Jenny screams from behind me.

I spin around just in time to see Roslyn drop to her knees. My heartbeat echoes in my ears, and my blood grows cold in my veins as a heavy, sinking feeling settles on my chest. Blood is flowing from her stomach where a knife is sticking out. I never knew she’d been stabbed.

In all the chaos, I never smelled the sweet scent of her blood amongst the fear, rage, and death that is tainting the air. All the beasts inside me rage, beating against my skin to be unleashed as I rush to her side.