Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers)
Read Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers) Online
Authors: Michelle Rowen
MY KISS CAN KILL.
I used to be ordinary Samantha Day, but that’s changed. Now,
after one dark kiss from a dangerous boy, I can steal someone’s soul...or their
life. If I give in to the constant hunger inside me, I hurt anyone I kiss. If I
don’t...I hurt myself.
Bishop is the one whose kiss I crave most, but if I kiss him,
I’ll kill him. Then there’s another boy, one I can’t hurt. One whose kiss seems
to miraculously quell my hunger. They’re both part of a team of angels and
demons that’s joined forces in my city to fight a mysterious rising darkness, an
evil that threatens everyone I know and love. I just wonder if I’ll be able to
help Bishop—or if I’m just another part of the darkness he’s sworn to
destroy....
“Why are you here, Samantha?” His deep voice, edged with
displeasure, came from right behind me.
I clutched the railing tighter and squeezed my eyes shut,
trying not to breathe at all, but that was kind of impossible. Even soulless,
voracious monsters like me needed oxygen.
When I inhaled this time, his familiar scent—warm, spicy and
totally devastating—slid over me.
Finally I forced myself to face him and my breath
caught.
I’d almost forgotten how effortlessly he affected me.
Bishop’s dark brows were drawn tightly over intense
cobalt-blue eyes. He towered over me—a full foot taller than my short five-two.
Broad shoulders. Sinewy muscle rippled down his arms
under his long-sleeved
black T-shirt, which was drawn tight
across his chest. His mahogany-colored
hair was messy tonight.
I had a sudden urge to slide my fingers through it
to push it off his forehead. I fisted my hands at my sides to keep from
automatically reaching toward him.
The angel had had that effect on me from the first moment I
met him. Uncontrollable. Compulsive. Irresistible.
Praise for
Dark Kiss:
“More, please! Gorgeous angels, suspense and romance...this
book has everything I love. I was pulled in from the very first
sentence.”
—Richelle Mead,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Vampire Academy series
“Awesome story line, awesome characters...I highly recommend
Dark Kiss
as a must read.”
—
I Heart YA Books
“A must read for all you angel/demon lovers out there... An
outstanding start to this fab new series.”
—
The Book
Hookup
“Fantastic writing style, a sweet romance and...original and
intriguing angel/demon lore.”
—
diminutivemimi.blogspot.com
Books by Michelle Rowen available from Harlequin TEEN
The Nightwatchers series
(in
reading order)
DARK KISS
WICKED KISS
Contents
Chapter 1
Crave used to be a prime hangout for dangerous
monsters, but tonight I seemed to be the only one here.
A week ago, I lost my best friend in the whole world in this
very club. Literally lost her, in a swirling black vortex that opened up and
swallowed her whole, and took her...somewhere else. Somewhere horrible.
I didn’t know how yet, or when, but I clung to that small yet
resilient hope that had taken firm root inside of me: I
would
find her.
Carly had loved this all-ages nightclub and came here every
weekend like clockwork, dancing till the place closed down. If I shut my eyes I
could still see her on the dance floor, the one place she could forget her
problems and let the music become her entire world.
Damn, I missed her.
But I had to come back tonight. I couldn’t wait any longer.
There was somebody I had to find who used to hang out here a
lot. Somebody I’d been searching the city for. Somebody who’d stolen something
from me that I needed back before it was too late.
I had no real idea when “too late” was going to be. But I had a
sick, gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach that we were getting really
close.
“You look
way
too serious, Sam,”
Kelly said lightly from across the booth. “And you’re not even listening to
anything we’re saying.”
“Sorry,” I began, my head still in a fog. I forced a smile to
my lips and looked at Kelly and Sabrina—both blond and perky cheerleader types.
I wasn’t blond, nor was I particularly perky or cheerful. But they were both
good friends of mine, anyway.
Well, maybe
good friends
was
pushing it. We usually ate lunch at the same table and we had gym class
together. I think they liked me. That totally counted.
After their invite earlier today, I’d decided to join them here
for a “girls’ night out.” At least, that’s what they thought it was. For me, it
was an excuse to be here on the off chance I might find the boy who’d literally
stolen my soul.
“Yeah,” Sabrina agreed. “Like, earth to Samantha. What’s up
with you?”
“Nothing. I’m just a bit distracted tonight.”
Understatement, table for one.
Kelly took a sip of her Diet Coke and eyed the remains of the
nachos that sat on the table between us. There wasn’t much left, thanks to
me—just a bit of cheesy sludge and a couple soggy tortilla chips. A single
jalapeño pepper remained, lying there mournfully after the battle its friends
had lost.
I couldn’t help it. I was really hungry tonight. And when I was
hungry I needed to eat so my
other
cravings didn’t
kick into overdrive.
Unfortunately, the plate of nachos hadn’t helped a bit.
“FYI, we were talking about Halloween,” Sabrina reminded me.
“Do you know what you’re wearing to Noah Tyler’s party?”
“Noah’s having a party?” I asked absently, keeping my eyes on
the club over her shoulder while still trying my best to appear attentive.
“Yeah. And he did tell me that he
really
wants you to be there.” She grinned. “I think
somebody’s
got a crush on you.”
It took me a moment to clue in to what she meant. I cringed at
the thought, and also the vague realization that Noah had been checking me out
lately. I’d tried to ignore it. “He doesn’t.”
She shrugged and the girls shared a knowing look. “Whatever you
say. But you’re coming, right?”
“Wednesday night?” I forced a look of interest as well as a
cheery smile though I felt anything but. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
I was definitely going to miss it. No question.
They discussed their costumes. I half listened. The jalapeño
pepper died a quick and painless death.
Then I stayed behind as a song came on that they got incredibly
excited about and they made their way to the nearby dance floor. A sprinkle of
colorful lights fell across their faces as they joined the swell of other kids
dancing to the throbbing beat of the techno song—from a close bump and grind to
a frenetic waving of arms and legs. I used to do a kind of uncomfortable shuffle
thing when it came to dancing. I had always been hyperaware that somebody might
be watching, judging, laughing. All of the above.
“Dance like nobody’s watching,”
Carly always insisted.
“Did you see that embroidered on a cushion
somewhere?”
She’d give me a grin.
“Probably. But it’s
still true. Gotta enjoy every moment because you never know when it’s going
to be your last.”
The memory of the eternal optimism of Carly Kessler made my
throat too thick to swallow down another gulp of my ginger ale. I returned my
full focus to scanning the club, the entrance, the dance floor.
We’d been here for an hour. An hour to consume a plate of
nachos, chat with a couple girls who generously tolerated my company, watch a
couple hundred kids having a good time on a Saturday night, remembering that I
used to be one of them, and to realize that this wasn’t getting me anywhere.
The scent in the air was intense and it made it increasingly
hard to think. Not sweat or perfume—something else. Something deeper that
slithered around me like a boa constrictor, squeezing painfully tight.
While I might look like a normal seventeen-year-old girl to
anyone who didn’t know otherwise, without my soul I was now a “gray,” someone
that had the ability to steal someone else’s soul through a kiss.
It was a mistake to come here. It’s only
getting worse.
“Relax,” I commanded myself.
But it was hard to relax when you couldn’t let yourself breathe
deeply. Shallow breathing was the best way to maintain control in a busy place
like this. I’d come here to find a missing person, not to pick out a potential
victim.
Finally, desperately needing to keep my mind off my unnatural
but growing hunger, I pushed away from the booth and moved toward the brass
railing that surrounded the dance floor and separated it from the seating area.
I gripped the smooth, cold metal hard enough to make my knuckles turn white.
After a few moments, my aching hunger finally eased off.
And then it spiked back up to maximum.
“Why are you here, Samantha?” His deep voice, edged with
displeasure, came from right behind me.
I clutched the railing tighter and squeezed my eyes shut,
trying not to breathe at all, but that was kind of impossible. Even soulless,
voracious monsters like me needed oxygen.
When I inhaled this time, his familiar scent—warm, spicy and
totally devastating—slid over me.
Finally, I forced myself to face him.
Bishop’s dark brows were drawn tightly over intense cobalt-blue
eyes. He towered over me—a full foot taller than my short five-two. Broad
shoulders. Sinewy muscle rippled down his arms under his long-sleeve black
T-shirt, which was drawn tight across his chest. His mahogany-colored hair was
messy tonight. I had a sudden urge to slide my fingers through it and push it
off his forehead. I clenched my hands into fists at my sides to keep from
automatically reaching toward him.
“Why am I here?” I forced myself to say it casually. “Why
wouldn’t I be? Crave’s a great place to hang out with friends.”
“You’re looking for Stephen.”
I shrugged a shoulder, tore my gaze away from his and studied
the dance floor.
“Samantha.”
The way he said my name always made me shiver. Still, this time
my gaze shot back to his with more annoyance than nonchalance. “I know you want
me to stay home every night with the door locked, but I can’t do that. Besides,
I haven’t heard from you in a few days. I figured I was on my own again.”
Bishop’s expression remained frustratingly neutral. “I’ve been
looking for him.”
“Found him yet?”
His jaw tensed. “Believe me, you’d be the first to know if I
had.”
“Well, if you haven’t found him, then it sounds like you need
help. That’s why I’m here.”
He hissed out a sigh. “Seriously, Samantha. You need to go home
and let me handle this.”
Hot anger ignited inside of me, helping me resist my automatic
pull toward him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Bishop’s brows were drawn together, but a smile now tugged at
the corner of his lips. “Feisty tonight, aren’t we?”
“Define feisty.”
“Samantha Day. Seventeen years old. Normally a realist who
knows right from wrong, but is currently glaring at me like she wants to punch
me in the stomach.”
“Good definition.” Something suddenly clicked for me. “You seem
strangely okay tonight. What happened?”
The smile fell from his lips completely. “I’m not okay. But
I’ve found another way to deal with my problem when I have to.”
“How? I didn’t think your particular problem came with a
multiple choice solution.”
“Neither did I.”
He might look like a gorgeous eighteen-year-old boy, but Bishop
was actually an angel who’d been sent here to Trinity to take care of the gray
problem. But something went horribly wrong when he left Heaven. Another angel
who wanted to sabotage his mission had made him a “fallen” angel—one with a
soul. The soul was a punishment to those truly fallen. It wreaked havoc with
their mental stability, causing them to go slowly insane. But it was also
necessary for their ongoing survival. A soul to a fallen angel was a true
double-edged sword. It messed up their minds, but without it they would
perish.
I’d kissed Bishop once and taken part of his soul—it had been
the most amazing and horrible kiss of my entire life. Now I instinctively wanted
more. And part of him—like any gray’s victim—wanted to be kissed again.
Yeah. You could say it was a complicated relationship.
“Well, I’m glad,” I said. “I guess now I know why I haven’t
seen you lately. If you don’t need me to help you find your sanity, then you can
focus on the mission instead. Sooner it’s completed, the sooner you can find a
permanent solution to your problem. Right?”
“You think that’s why I’ve stayed away? You don’t think it’s
hard for me to be this close to you right now?” He leaned dangerously closer.
“Remember, it’s not just you suffering here.”
My hunger level shot through the roof.
Oh, yes. I remembered.
When his hand closed on my wrist, a shiver of electricity
zipped across my skin. My eyes snapped to his. “You really shouldn’t touch me if
you don’t need to.”
“I know.”
The rest of the club seemed to fall away so there was only he
and I left behind.
Right now, Bishop was too close and smelled way too good.
“I haven’t had any slipups since I last saw you,” I said, my
voice strained. “I can control this until we find Stephen.”
“I know you’ve been on your best behavior.”
I looked up at him, confused. Then clarity dawned. “Wait. Are
you saying you’ve been watching me the past few days?”
“It’s not always me. And it’s not all the time.”
I gaped at him, the thought that he’d been monitoring me made
me feel like a potential shoplifter. “You don’t trust me.”
His brows drew together. “This isn’t about trust.”
“Sure it is.”
“If Stephen tries to contact you when you’re alone, then I need
to know.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m worried you—or one of the others—is
going to find him first and stick your dagger through his chest with no
questions asked. One less gray to clean up later. But that can’t happen. I need
him alive, so you need to back off.”
That painfully sexy smile touched his lips again as he studied
me. “Yes,
definitely
feisty tonight.”
I snorted softly, but refused to let down my guard completely.
“I need my soul back. I can’t live like this.”
“I know.”
The music shifted to a new song, even louder than the one
before, if that was possible. The ground shook with the nearby dancers stomping
on it. A waitress holding a tray of fried appetizers moved past us.
“Are you here alone?” I asked.
He glanced toward the far corner of the dark and noisy
nightclub. “No. Brought some backup to help with the search while the others are
out on regular patrol.”
I looked to see who it was and cringed at the sight. Someone
tall and blond and familiar.
Kraven worked with Bishop to save the city from things like me.
At first glance I would have guessed that Kraven was another angel.
Nope.
Heaven and Hell worked together very occasionally on problems
that threatened the integral balance of light and dark, good and evil.
Soul-eating monsters were just such a threat.
Kraven represented the dark side of the scale.
He was with a girl off in the corner and it was obvious that he
was hitting on her. Heavily. He braced his hand over her shoulder, creating a
partial cage she looked in no hurry to escape from. She grinned up at him as if
in love. For all I knew, maybe she was.
As I watched him warily, wondering what his plans for that
innocent—or not so innocent—girl were, he glanced over his shoulder at me. A
cool smile curled the corner of his mouth.
“Yeah, he looks like he’s really helping the search,” I said
with disdain. “If you’re searching for slutty girls.”
“Distractions happen.”
I chewed my bottom lip and looked up at him. “I’m surprised
that out of the whole team you’d pick your demonic brother to spend the evening
with.”
Bishop’s expression tightened.
When he finally released his hold on my wrist, I grabbed the
front of his shirt before he could move away from me.
“Are you ever going to tell me more about the two of you?” I’d
come up with no reasonable explanation of how one brother became an angel and
the other a demon, despite the tiny breadcrumbs of info I’d collected along the
way.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Yeah, right. How about you at least tell me the name you had
when you were human? I know one thing for sure—it wasn’t Bishop.”
