Angel Seduced (12 page)

Kye's eyes widened as she sat up. “Stay here.” No way did she want to explain him.

He grabbed up his pants. “When you open the door, invite her in before she feels the barrier.”

“Hold on a minute, Mom,” Kye called out as she hastily pulled on her clothing. It was ten in the morning. She opened the door, and her mom gave her a soft smile. “Come in.”

“I woke you. I'm sorry. I forget that you stay at that awful nightclub so late.”

“Half of my client base goes there,” Kye said for the umpteenth time. “Is everything okay?” Her mom rarely stopped by unannounced.

She inspected the apartment as she always did, probably finding several things she didn't like within her first few steps. This time she didn't mention them. She sank to the sofa, twisting her ring. “I haven't fully supported your…gift. I had hoped for something more respectable.”

“Like talking to the dead,” Kye said.

The haughty tone returned when she said, “It's a lot more respectable than divining people's sexuality.” She shook her head. “I didn't come here to denigrate you. I came…for help.”

Oh no. Please don't ask me about your sex life.
“I don't think I can—”

“I might be in love with another man.”

Kye's protest dropped like a heavy stone. “What?”

“I want you to read my feelings for this man. He's come to me for a few readings to talk to his deceased wife. We have become friends, and I have developed feelings for him. Right now it's just friendship, but he makes me laugh. I feel good when I'm with him. I need to know if these feelings will develop into something romantic. If so, I will back off.”

Kye could barely process it. Beyond the fact that her mother seemed on the verge of a possible affair, she'd come to Kye for the first time. If Kye could help her, she could show her mother the validity of her gift. Maybe she would say “gift” without the pause.

And Kye didn't have her ability.
Please, please come back just for a few minutes.
Kye sat down next to her and took her hands. “Think about the man.”

Usually the feelings tingled through Kye's hands, pooling into her in waves of colors she could see in her mind's eye. She tried so hard to tune in, to coax the feelings. All she could think about was Kasabian in her bedroom, him in angel form. Him. Damn it.

She considered lying and telling her mother that yes, she'd picked up romantic love. That it would be foolish and dangerous to pursue a relationship. Of course, she was thinking of Kasabian again. She simply couldn't focus on anything but him when it came to romantic feelings.

Kye's eyes opened. No way could she make up something. It went against everything that was in her, everything she subscribed to in regard to her profession.

Her mother was waiting, worry on her normally placid expression. “Well?”

Kye released her hands. “I can't read you.”

Her mother blew out a frustrated breath. “The one time I need your ability and you won't—”

“Can't, Mom. I can't, because my Zensu ability is not working. I can't pick up anything at all.”

Her mother narrowed her eyes. “The only time you have trouble with that is when you've been romantically involved with a man.”

No way could Kye explain what had happened. “I'm a little tangled up about someone right now,” she admitted in a soft voice.

“Who?”

“You don't know him.”

Her mother's gaze went to the duffel bag tucked to the side of the living room. “He's here, isn't he?” She shot to her feet. “He's here, and you let me go on about my personal issue. I am beyond mortified.”

Join the crowd.
Kye didn't think it was possible to shrink anymore, but she did. “I'm sorry. I just didn't want to get into that situation with you.” Kye had seen that disappointed look so many times, yet she never became inured to it.

Her mother planted her hands on her hips. “Well, bring him out of hiding, where he's been listening the whole time.” She called down the hallway, “Come out.”

Kye wanted to drop through a hole. Instead, she said, “Kasabian.”

He stepped into the hallway from her home office, still shirtless, his hair tousled. She tried to view him through her mother's eyes. Bad boy, with his confident gait and smile that failed at being anything but sexy. Even though he hadn't come from her bedroom, it looked as though they'd recently had sex. And she saw the exact moment her mother realized he was Caido.

Kasabian held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Rivers.” He briefly kissed the back of her hand and then gestured to himself. “Sorry for the lack of attire.” He ruffled through his bag and donned a shirt. “I was checking my stocks.” He gave Kye a guileless look. “Sorry, love, I didn't know anyone was here.”

He was good, assuring her mother that he'd heard nothing. Maybe he'd tuned out once he'd heard the reason for her visit.

Her mother's mind was clearly grinding through all the possibilities, and she didn't like any of them if her eyes were any indication. “Kye, walk me to my car.”

Kasabian gave Kye the slightest nod. He'd be watching over her.

“What have you gotten yourself into?” her mother hissed the moment they walked away from her door. “He looks like all kinds of bad news. And he's a Caido!”

“I knew you'd disapprove, like you disapprove of all of my life choices.” Kye glanced back to find him watching from the distance, surveying the surroundings.

“He's all wrong for you.”

“I know.”

“He's dangerous. I can see it written all over him.”

“I know.”

Her mother stopped next to her Mercedes-Benz. “Are you in love with him, or is it infatuation?”

“It's lust.” That's all it was, right? Just as he'd said, combined with their bond and the lure of his Shadow. “I don't plan on marrying him, but I feel a connection to him I can't explain. I did from the first time we met.” That was true, having nothing to do with their bond.

“What does he do for a living?”

“Of course you'd ask that. He's a bartender at the Witch's Brew. And he volunteers at a youth center.”

Her mother sneered. “A bartender.” She didn't comment on the second part. “You know what kind of men tend bars at clubs like that?”

“Men like Kasabian. He has a good heart. He volunteers with disadvantaged kids.”

Her mother clapped her hands in front of her face. “Snap out of the spell. Men work at bars because they're looking for one thing.”

Kasabian did want one thing—to feel emotion. But Kye couldn't exactly explain that. “Uh, yeah…income. He excels at his job. He's entertainment, the way he mixes the drinks and flips the bottles.”

“But is he worth giving up your abilities for? You've told me and your father how much your precious abilities mean to you, how helping people is more important than even your self-respect. Or ours.” She flicked her gaze to the apartment building. “Now something else is more important.” She shook her head. “A Caido,” she muttered, getting into her car.

Kye stood there as her mother pulled away, feeling again like a fourteen-year-old who'd just discovered she'd inherited the wrong kind of ability.

“You all right?”

She spun to find Kasabian behind her, a sympathetic expression on his face. “No, I'm not all right. I finally had the chance to show my mother the value of my abilities.” It stunned her, that her mother had come to her. “And I couldn't help her. Because of you.” She pushed at him, needing to vent. Her hands connected with his hard chest. He barely took a step back. “You came into my life and messed everything up. Just like you said.”

He clamped his hands over hers. “Your mother's right. You're caught in a spell. You can't resist any more than I can. And we're going to drown in it.”

A breeze blew a lock of her hair across her cheek.

“She's not right. She's self-righteous and prejudiced.” Kye brushed her hair back with her hand. “I'm sorry I took it out on you. She's been making me crazy for so long. I just wanted to prove to her that I have value.”

He started to step forward, perhaps to put his arms around her, but visibly pulled back. “You do have value, Kye. Not because of your abilities. Just for yourself. Don't listen to all of that denigrating stuff she says.” Before her heart could fully open to those words, he went on. “But she's right about me. I am wrong for you. I am dangerous. She probably senses the darkness in me. I'm trying to keep the balance between my humanity, my angel, and the Shadow, but where you're concerned, I'm mostly the hungry, possessive Shadow. I couldn't stop us from giving in to this desire between us. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't even want to. If I hope to have any control, any sense of right and wrong, we have to stop this.”

She saw the agony in his expression, felt his regret. Control. She had lost hers, too, and they both needed it now more than ever. She walked to the apartment. He followed, but she kept her gaze straight ahead. The moment the door closed behind him, she turned to him. “How do we stop this pull we have? Even losing my abilities doesn't keep me from wanting you.”

“The only way is for us to stay away from each other. You need to remain here until I determine it's safe.”

“And where are you going?”

“To the Bend. If Jonathan ended up with my father, he may have come through this supposedly safe community. I need to find out everything I can about the place.”

“Then that's where I'm going, too.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “Uh, no, you're not. Remember, we just agreed it would be best to stay apart.”

“I saw your dream, Kasabian. I was
in
your dream, and I saw what those kids went through. What they're probably suffering now. If you think I'm going to sit in this bubble while you figure it out, you're sorely mistaken.”

The moment Lyle's eyes lit upon Kasabian, he rushed forward. “Did you find him?”

“Yes and no.” Kasabian told him everything. “Hayden is making it his top priority to find him, I promise you that.” Kasabian introduced Kye. “We're working on another angle, and we need to get into the Bend. You've been there. Tell us the best way to get inside.”

He jabbed his chest. “Me.”

Kasabian shook his head. “The people I'm dealing with are very dangerous. One of them has dark powers. I can't afford to get you involved in this.”

“Didn't you just tell me that sometimes you have to let others help? I kept thinking about that all night, how you offered to help me. I didn't want to let anyone into my problems. My life. But I need help, and it's stupid not to take it when it's offered.”

Kasabian couldn't help meeting Kye's gaze, and yeah, she was gloating.

“He's right,” she said.

He focused on Lyle. Nothing like having a mirror thrust at you in the guise of a young man. “I can't endanger a minor.”

“It's the Bend, a gated community. How dangerous can it be? I can get in because my mother lives there. You can accompany me because of your affiliation with the Harbor.”

Kye's face lit. “Smart kid. Kasabian, you can pretend to be his guidance counselor. He's having problems in school.”

Lyle lifted one shoulder. “That's the truth. But you know why.”

Kasabian leaned toward Kye, sensing her body heat, her scent.
Distance.
They had to maintain distance. He moved back. “Lyle's been spending every spare minute of his time looking for Jonathan. So what's your role?”

“I'm his therapist.” She brushed her hand over Lyle's unruly hair. “I'm sensing some behavioral issues stemming from his brother's absence. Perhaps we can get some answers, resolution.”

Kasabian was surrounded by brilliance. “All right, we'll start there.” As long as they didn't look too closely at her credentials, considering that she was a sex therapist.

Cory, who was leaning against the door, said, “There won't be any danger, right? I can't send one of the Harbor kids into an iffy situation.”

Lyle stepped forward. “The Bend is nothing compared to the places I've been looking for Jonathan. If I can get a clue, just a clue, to where he is, I'd go to the Dark Side.”

Where demons lived in a plane adjacent to this one.

“He won't be going to the Dark Side,” Kasabian assured Cory. “I'll protect them with my life. Can you work up some business cards that show we're affiliated with Harbor?”

Ten minutes later, Cory had printed out a page full of cards for Kasabian and Kye. “If they call, I'll cover for you.” His expression grew somber. “Be careful.”

“It's a gated community,” Kasabian said. “What could go wrong?”

Kasabian borrowed one of Harbor's vehicles, since the Lotus had no backseat, and they had lunch at a little Cuban café before heading to the Bend. It took fifteen minutes for the gatehouse to clear Lyle, and they were sent directly to a building that looked a bit too secure and foreboding to be the community center it pretended to be. The receptionist seemed benign enough as she told them to wait in the lobby for Paul Porter.

A tall, older Deuce came out, his gaze on Lyle. The man seemed unassuming, but his eyes were sharp and calculating. “Yes, I remember you. Your mother has been very worried.” He focused on Kasabian and Kye. “Lyle ran away soon after his mother relocated here. He's clearly a troubled young man.” Porter spread his arms. “To run away from all this.”

What if Lyle's mother insisted on keeping her son with her? After all, she could provide a safe environment for him now, at least on the surface. The Mundane courts would certainly deem her fit, as would the Crescent government. The thought struck deep in Kasabian's stomach. He would not let them keep this kid.