Deceived (Burned Book 2) Read online

  "You know I don't like doing any of that. It's just part of the job—"

  "Bullshit. You don't like doing it, but have you ever considered why? Have you ever asked? Or does he snap his fingers and you jump? The obedient lap dog." Her eyes lit with humor, amused with some joke I wasn't privy to.

  Shame and fury battled within me at her words. The faces of the victims flashed in my mind, each one seared forever. Their screams, their begging echoed in my ears.

  "Stop," I whispered. Whispered because my only alternative was to scream, and screaming would draw too much attention.

  A chatting couple walked by as the hostess seated them three tables over. Close, but not so close we needed to stop this conversation.

  "Alejandro needs to keep ahead of his competitors. Needs to make sure there are no traitors," I hissed the word at her, "maneuvering into the House. He's held the area for a century, but vampires always hunger for more territory. He's just holding onto his own—"

  "You eat up his lies don't you?"

  "He doesn't lie to me."

  She threw her head back, her laughter loud and uninhibited filled the room. The seductive sound turned several heads. "He lies to everybody."

  "No one lies to me," I snapped.

  Her eyes shot to mine. Their intense focus narrowed. I swallowed as I could practically see her calculating, weighing the options.

  "So," she purred. "That's your superpower, huh?" A smirk twisted her lips. "No wonder he keeps you close."

  My silence answered for me. I'd already said too much. It was getting to be a dangerous habit.

  The gallop of my racing heart was loud in my ears, drowning out the sounds of the diners. I pushed my wilted salad further from me as nausea churned.

  She shot up in her chair, the legs scraping against the floor. Her eyes focused behind me.

  Fear grabbed my throat, as a startled gasp caught. I spun my head around. My eyes searched the faces on the sidewalk, my dread growing.

  A familiar face caught my gaze, widening my eyes. I sank back into my seat, relief weakening my knees.

  Spencer. It was just Spencer.

  "You're a smart woman." Kyra leaned forward on her hands, her intimidating stance caused sweat to slicken my hands. "He lies with every breath he takes. He just does it in a way that gets through your guard."

  She rose, yanking a pack of crushed cigarettes out of her back pocket. Tapping out a cancer stick, she brought it to her lips. "Watch him." Her knowing gaze met mine. "Because you need to figure out which side you'll be on when the time comes."

  The tip flared, the acrid smoke burning my nose.

  "Hey!" a server shouted. "You can't smoke in here."

  She held out her hands, palms forward and she strode out of the restaurant. Eyes followed her dramatic departure with rapt attention.

  I dragged in a sluggish breath, my heart pounding in my chest. If she was right, if this really wasn't some messed-up paranoid delusion caused by a psychotic break—which was certainly possible—what would my answer be?

  Which side would I choose? The devil I knew, or the unknown forces that opposed him?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  I was making a mistake. There was no question in my mind.

  My heels clicked on the pavement as I rushed from my car in the dimming sunlight. The skin on the back of my neck prickled as the tiny hairs rose. The heavy weight of feeling watched had me whipping around, searching the sidewalks for the source.

  Nothing.

  An occasional car drove by, but the sidewalks of the subdivision were barren. Nothing stood out as unusual. The lights from the overhead streetlights flickered to life.

  I shouldn't be here.

  I continued up the paved walkway, following it as it curved to the side door. The overhang shrouded me in shadow.

  I shouldn't. But I wasn't able to stop myself.

  What did that say about me? That I was still the selfish bitch Kyra accused me of being?

  I swallowed, clearing the lump in my throat. I lifted my hand, my fist poised to knock. The door swung open before I could make contact with the smooth wood.

  Wide eyes the color of the sky met mine. "Ari?"

  My name was a caress on my skin.

  "What are you—"

  "Can I come in?" The unsettling sensation of being watched never left me. I wanted to escape behind solid barriers.

  "Sure. Right." The words stumbled from his mouth, tumbling over one another in a rush.

  I smiled, warmed at his fumbling. The weight vanished from my shoulders with the click of the lock.

  "I'm here to talk." And only talk. I lied to myself.

  "Beer?" His eyebrows rose, the dark slashes stayed floating on his pale forehead. I'd shocked him with my unexpected presence, my willingness to talk. Not surprising since I'd done everything to avoid him since the gala. Longer than that really. If I was honest I'd been avoiding him since I'd slipped up.

  "One." I didn't want to stay too long.

  The smooth microbrew was different than before. The aftertaste was tangy, like cranberries. "I think you're turning me into a beer lover."

  "You just had to find the right beer." He settled next to me on the couch. His leg leaned against mine, sparks danced along my skin at the contact.

  I shifted, putting distance between us. I didn't want any distractions while I had one of the most awkward and dangerous conversations of my life.

  "Alejandro is not human." I rushed out the words, admitting them aloud for the first time. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a nail in my coffin.

  Zak sat ramrod straight, muscles tense. His attention focused on my every word.

  "He's a vampire."

  His eyes widened and he drew in a sharp breath. I wasn't sure what he expected, but that wasn't it.

  "Vampire?" His eyebrows shot up.

  I nodded, unsure of his response. Muscles stiff, I wiped my damp hands on my skirt.

  "Don't tell me werewolves are real too?" He attempted to joke.

  I sagged into the couch, meeting his gaze. "They prefer to be called shifters. And they aren't just wolves."

  Surprise flared in his eyes again, but he took it in stride. "Makes sense then." He collapsed into the cushions. His fingers dove into his hair, musing the strands. "Son of a bitch."

  "Pretty much all the myths are real." I toed off my heels and crossed my legs as I drew them under me on the couch. "I've even met several fey."

  "Fey? You mean fairies? With wings and wands that grant wishes?"

  "Not exactly as cozy as Tinkerbell. They come in a lot of varieties, some more pleasant than others. Interactions with them can be…" I searched for the right word, "challenging. As for wishes, you're thinking of the Djinn."

  "I don't even want to ask."

  "Better not to." I'd never met a Djinn, and from what I'd heard, I didn't want to.

  He rose and paced across the wide expanse of his living room as he struggled to come to terms with the new reality I dumped on him.

  "Let me get this straight. You're telling me that all the creatures in the movies are real? That there are vampires, shifters," he glanced at me sharply, "fairies, and other creatures just walking around?"

  "Fey," I corrected. "But yes."

  He stopped in front of me and squatted down. His eyes, alive and buzzing, met mine as he clasped my hand in his. He cradled them like a delicate orchid, precious and fragile. "What about you?"

  What about me? My mind spun in a thousand different directions.

  I knew it would come to this. How would he feel once he knew?

  "I'm different." I swallowed thickly, clearing my throat when I choked on the words.

  "It won't change anything." His warm eyes caught me in their snare. "It won't change how I feel about you."

  I held my breath and waited for the lie to show itself. And waited.

  Nothing. His smooth skin remained unmarred. My hands trembled in his.

  "I see lies." The words I've
never admitted to anyone rushed forth.

  "What do you mean?"

  My heart raced. I shook my hands from his and stood. It was my turn to pace.

  "I am incapable of being lied to. I see the lies that people tell." Since I was no longer faced with his steady gaze, my voice was strong. Clear.

  His silence was deafening.

  This was a mistake. My legs trembled. The desire to run out the door rushed over me.

  As I turned to flee, he spoke to my back. "That must be an incredibly difficult gift to bear." The heartfelt words chipped at the ice that encased my heart.

  The first tear trickled down my cheek. My chin quivered under the onslaught of emotion that almost brought me to my knees.

  "It is," I choked out. A sob broke free as tears fell unbidden.

  I was surrounded by warmth. His arms wrapped around me, giving me the security I needed in that moment.

  No one understood the burden that came with knowing the truth, seeing how often people truly lied. Parents, teachers, friends, clergy. Each time was devastating to a young child struggling to come to terms with her power. Over and over, my heart was shredded as lies slipped so easily from others' lips.

  I'd lost my family, my faith, and finally my human existence as I was thrust into the only world that understood. Alejandro's world. A world where I was powerful and useful. But nothing more than a tool. An instrument wielded by a power-hungry monster.

  I wept as he held me, cradled in his strong arms, accepted and loved.

  ***

  My arm hung over the side of the bed, my fingertips brushing the floor. The fibers of the thick, springy shag carpet teased my skin. It was different from the expensive elegance of my condo. The tile floor in my bedroom was covered in a posh rug, the intricate pattern pleasing to the eye, but not nearly as soft.

  Everything was different from the place I called home. It was lived-in, comfortable. Zak didn't have a housekeeper that wiped away all traces of his existence every day, one that essentially erased him. Sure it was fabulous not having to clean, but at the same time, it didn't feel like anyone lived there, like I lived there.

  When I was little I was afraid of monsters. Particularly the one I was convinced lived under my bed. I was certain with the conviction only a five-year-old feels that monsters were real. If I left a limb exposed and hanging over the edge, it would crawl out from under my bed and drag me underneath and into its world.

  Despite outgrowing the fear, I had been right. Monsters were real. I was dragged into their world, living my nightmare. And if I made the wrong move I was dead.

  Zak stirred beside me. The warmth of his body shifted with him as he rolled, exposing the expanse of his back. My fingers shook, aching to follow the line of his spine. I gave in, tracing the dips and ridges in his smooth skin. It was silky and warm under my fingertips. Drawn to his warmth, I scooted closer and ran my nose along his neck. My heart raced and I breathed him in. He smelled of Ivory soap and citronella, clean and innocent. Human.

  He felt real. This felt real.

  But what was this?

  I was dragging him into my world, into a nightmare he didn't belong. Nothing could come of this except heartache.

  "Mmmm." The rumble of his chest vibrated along my fingertips. "I could wake up like this every morning." His scratchy voice woke something inside me.

  I could too. A stabbing pain tightened my chest. Desire for what couldn't be stole my breath. I wanted that—wanted every morning to start this way.

  Sunlight peeked through the shutters, a clock ticking down the time. I didn't have long. Alejandro was away on business, but he'd be back by nightfall.

  Zak turned, grasping my hand in his, and ran his fingers along mine, again and again. The rhythmic motion soothed my racing heart. I curled into his arms.

  The bed shifted as he stretched to reach his nightstand. The muscles slid and bunched with his movement, the line of his body taut.

  I made a sound of appreciation and drew my hand down his chest, fingers rolling along the dips and valleys of his abs. "Nice."

  He chuckled, an earthquake under my fingertips.

  "I wanted to give you this earlier, but you kept avoiding me." He pressed something in my hand, closing my fingers around it.

  I held my fist in front of me, curious, but drawing out the moment. It was small and light in my hand. I opened my fingers, each movement deliberate, revealing the gift a piece at a time. I savored the unveiling.

  A simple leather cord wrapped in a coil around a shiny charm. I unraveled the leather cord and gasped at the exposed silver. It was a woman. She stood tall and proud despite being blindfolded. A scale hung from one hand, a sword from the other. Speechless, I lifted my eyes to Zak.

  "I thought of you the moment I saw it. She is Themis, the goddess of justice." His cheeks were brushed with pink. "It's simple, nothing like your fancy watch."

  The watch, my ridiculously expensive gift from Alejandro, felt like a heavy shackle, a chain that kept me tied to the House, to Alejandro. I ripped it off and threw it onto the floor. "I hate that watch."

  His smile was radiant, blinding in the ever fading sunlight. Wrapping the cord around my wrist, he secured the bracelet. The leather cord was comforting against my skin. "Thank you."

  He brushed his lips against mine. His breath mingled with my own. My fingers dove into his hair; the shaggy strands were silky against my fingers. Pulling away, he chuckled. The bed shook with the movement.

  "So. Vampires, shifters, and fey." He shook his head and dragged in a deep breath.

  "Yup."

  "How do we get you out of this?"

  "This meaning …" I turned, waiting for him to explain. A heaviness weighed down my heart.

  "Away from Alejandro. The vampire."

  I shook my head at him, fear making my pulse race. "There is no we. You sir, are one hundred percent human. You," I stabbed a finger into his chest, "aren't doing anything."

  "It's not like your power will be much help against a vampire."

  "It's kept me alive so far," I snapped.

  "Only because you haven't tried to leave."

  The acrid taste of bitterness filled my mouth. Anger tightened my lips, only to be diffused by his swift kiss. He was right.

  "Tell me about them."

  And I did. We discussed the structure of the House, how strong it was integrated with the fabric of the human political system. I revealed things no human, no one outside the House, should ever know.

  "What are their weaknesses? What kills them? Sunlight?"

  I tensed, startled at the thought. I hadn't really considered that Alejandro would have to die for me to escape. The tightness was back in my chest.

  "Churches are a myth, so are holy water and garlic." I smiled as I remembered the last time I ate with Petre. He had a particular fondness for garlic bread. The huge vampire had wolfed down half a dozen pieces the last time I ordered food from the Italian restaurant near the condo. I always had to get a separate order just for him, or else he'd eat all of it.

  "Sunlight can hurt them, but it won't kill them. The older they are, the less the burn of the sun affects them." I pulled at the frayed edges of the sheet. "Alejandro lives in the two floors above mine. The windows are huge and the magnificent views a draw for investors. The glass has a special polymer that was developed by one of Alejandro's companies. It allows the rays of light to pass through harmlessly, not affecting even the youngest of vampires."

  It had made Alejandro millions and increased his position in the hierarchy as a whole. Vampires from across the globe wanted access to the special glass. Sunrises and sunsets were a gift that many hadn't seen since they were human.

  "Stake through the heart?" Disappointment colored Zak's words.

  "I really don't know. It's not like I got a crash course in How to Kill Vampires when I joined the House."

  "What about fire?"

  "It's deadly, but I'm not sure it's always a permanent solution. I don't kno
w how we'd be able to pull it off though. He'd see us coming from a mile away." I shivered. "Fire was his favorite way to torture information out of people."

  He flinched at my admission, pulling me into his embrace. "If there are vampires, surly there are vampire hunters."

  I frowned. I hadn't thought of that. "You're crazy." I sighed heavily, the beginnings of a headache forming behind my eyes. "This isn't an episode of Buffy."

  "What?" He shrugged. "It makes sense."

  I couldn't tell if he was serious or not.

  "I've never seen him kill another vampire. Torture and maim, yes." I jerked upright, my irritation growing. "But I don't know anyone powerful enough to go up against—"

  I gasped as realization dawned. I might not know how to kill a vampire, or have strong powers. But I knew someone who did.

  I needed Kyra.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  "Looks like your backhand could use a little work."

  The snide comment came from the other side of the bushes bordering the tennis court while I tied my shoe.

  Kyra.

  I hid my snort behind a cough.

  "You okay?" Zak called from the other side of the net.

  "I'm going to go to the restroom." I held my breath waiting for either Sarah or Tanya to volunteer themselves as my tag-along. I didn't understand why girls always wanted company when they went to the bathroom. Growing up it was one of the few spaces I could get some privacy, no matter how brief. One bathroom for nine kids made privacy of any sort a premium.

  I shuddered at the memory.

  They were both so focused on Zak they dismissed my announcement and surrounded him like ants on a sucker.

  "I didn't know you liked tennis." My eyes met Kyra's in the mirror as I washed my hands. Arms crossed, she leaned against the bathroom wall, her sneer firmly in place.

  "I've pretty much played every sport at some point. I usually stick to solo activities though. I don't play well with others."

  I could believe it. Her coiled muscles hid their real power. She was stronger than she appeared. "Why am I not surprised?"