He starts pulling me behind him, and I shiver against the chill of the air that settles around my skimpy attire. The toasty house has been tainted by the cool night, and now we're heading back outside where the frost has already started to cloak the ground.
At least the frigid air is icing my raging, messed-up hormones right now. Gage pulls me to him. I feel the cool touch of his lip ring as he kisses my forehead on the way to the car.
"I can feel you shivering. I swear I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. You know that, don't you?"
I smile, my fingers interlocking with his as he opens the passenger door for me.
"I'm shivering because I'm wearing a shirt with teeny-tiny straps and a pair of shorts in the cold air. I know you won't let her get to me without a fight."
He tilts my chin up and his soft kiss finds me just before his tongue slips through my parted lips, surprising me with the unexpected arousal. The metal in his tongue is as warm as his delicious mouth, and I let a small moan free as he grips me tighter. Before I know it, he has me pressed against the car beside the forgotten open door.
My legs slide around his waist, and then he releases a strangled groan, as he drops me back to the ground. His whole body protests his actions, and I cling to him.
"We'll pick this back up when I've got you somewhere safe."
My mind falls to Kane. Even though he's the monster who enjoys ripping me to shreds, I still love him. What's worse, I want to find him. I can't let Castine carry out whatever foul plan she has in store. I know it's just this stupid bond, but I'll give my life to save him.
Disgusted with myself for exuding more concern than he deserves, I duck into the car. Gage shuts the door, and then he materializes in the seat next to me to crank it up and make the engine roar as he squeals out of the garage.
He pulls his bag out of the backseat as he uses his powers to steer the car. I smile when he pulls out a jacket and hands it to me.
"Here," he says, moving his eyes back to the road
I smile appreciatively while tugging it on, and then his phone rings. He waves his hand over it to put it on speaker.
"Yeah."
"The blond lycan chick just showed up at my house and told me to get lost before Castine shows up and forces me to tell her where Alyssa is. What the hell?" Thad grumbles.
"Just do as she says. I'm taking Alyssa as far away as I can get her right now. Castine has already been to her house, and we're about to drink scent maskers. If she hasn't yet discovered you're next door, she'll figure it out soon. Meet us in Edgebrook. I'll call you when we get there."
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"That's not too far away."
"No, but it's a start. I've got some friends bunked out there. We'll need some help."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll call Drackus and tell him what's going on. He might have some insight to share on Castine."
Gage frowns, glancing at me once. "Don't tell him-"
"Believe me, I won't. He'd kick my ass for letting you hang around. Especially if he knew how close you've gotten with his daughter."
Gage sighs and then ends the call before pulling my hand in his.
"Why are you so opposed to letting my dad know you're helping me?" I ask, too intrigued to ignore it any longer.
He turns a sharp curve, never once pressing the brake, and we slingshot into the next one with the same overexerted velocity. I grip the door so tightly that my hand almost cramps. At that very moment, I decide to fasten my seatbelt.
After a breath, he finally murmurs, "Your dad likes me, but he doesn't want me near you. He's worried about your decision to join the light, but he doesn't want you joining the dark either. He thinks I would bear influence over you and push you into a decision you should be making for yourself."
That strikes me as odd.
"First of all, I've already chosen light. I practice light magic, though technically I'm not immortal. I realize until I choose light in my immortal form I can always shift sides, but why does he think you would change my mind."
"Because I'm... it's a long story. Let's just leave it at that for now. Your dad reads too much into old prophecies and such. At the moment, we've got more to worry about than that."
He squeezes my hand as a show of encouragement, but I don't like the feeling he's holding back. I lean into him, and decide to make the air a little lighter. All of this gut-wrenching intensity is tying my stomach in knots.