His lips ravage mine in that instant, and he lines himself up, ready to surge in and end my misery.
Suddenly, the glass to the front door shatters, and we hear the screams from outside.
"Alyssa! You have to get out of here!" Sierra's voice blares.
"What the fuck?" Gage gripes while standing up and jerking his pants back into place.
I only thought I was hurting before. Now I know the true definition of tortured.
Flicking my wrist, my clothes appear on my body as Gage helps me to my feet. We walk like normal people to go investigate the infuriating disruption.
"What's going on?" Gage harps, scooping me up before my mortal feet touch the broken glass surrounding the doorway.
He carries me outside, and his touch burns through me, making me crave his taste all the more.
"I'm sorry, but your barrier wouldn't let me in. I had to shatter the glass so you could hear me. You have to get her out of here. Castine is coming, and damn she's coming with a vengeance. She's got Kane."
White noise buzzes in my ears, a heavy mass presses against my chest, and my heart sinks to the ground as Gage stands me up. I look at her in shock, my lips quivering instead of spilling out the words I want to say.
"How?" Gage urges.
"He went after her the night after the two of you were at the house. He read something that prompted him to rush. He was going to wait until tonight when there was no moon, but whatever he read made him run headfirst into a trap. We can't find him, but we just got word she's on her way here - for Alyssa. She'll use her against Kane."
"If Castine has had him that long, he's dead," Gage counters, rushing back inside.
No. Please God, No. Don't let him be dead.
My tears well up, but Sierra counters his claim, offering me a little reprieve.
"He's not dead. Castine loves a drawn out, sadistic death. Whatever she has lined up for him, Alyssa is part of it."
"Fuck," I hear Gage growl from another room. "I won't let that bitch touch her."
"Do you still have that book?" she asks hopefully, and I cringe.
"No. I gave it back to my aunt so she could return it along with another book we made copies of."
"Shit," she murmurs while gripping her head.
"Sierra can come in," I almost whisper, and then I wave my hand to reseal the shattered glass to the door.
I push it open, and she follows me inside, staying directly on my heels as I start throwing my stuff in a bag.
"That book was supposed to help him, not hurt him, damn it," I gripe, shoving more shit into my bag than it can hold.
"I don't know what he read. I've been trying to figure it out, but he deleted all the pictures Zee took with his phone.
"He went after her alone, but he wasn't ready. He fucking knew he wasn't ready! She masked their scents, and I can't track them. Amy and Zee are out there trying to see what they come up with. I came back to warn you. If she needs you, I don't want to think about what she has planned."
I swallow hard, doing my best to process what she's saying. Then Gage steps up.
"Where was she seen?" he asks.
"Alyssa's old house. It won't take her long to track you here. Mask your scents. I have to get back to Deke. He's called in Dray to see if he can help us track down Kane."
She's gone before we can say anything else, and Gage pulls my hand to his lips, leaving a soft kiss behind.
"Alyssa, whatever you do, don't use your magic in front of Castine," he says, his nerves slipping free and rattling his usual composure. "It's highly unlikely she knows you're a witch, or she wouldn't have waited this long. Mortal witches are her favorite cuisine."