Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series (35 page)

BOOK: Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series
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“I guess you should leave,” Kaden woefully acknowledged.

“If you should ever need my help…”

“I won’t,” Kaden cut her off.

Reysa wanted to plant her fist in his face again. No one aggravated her like this obnoxious vampire. “You really are an ass. I shouldn’t have wasted my time helping you.”

“I tried to tell you that, but you refused to listen. I’m not worth it.”

“You could be, but you choose not to be.” Reysa disappeared before Kaden could respond.

Kaden wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. He raced back to the house, hoping to find her before she left for good. As he approached the house, he scented her in Julian’s study, but she was not alone. He initially assumed she was with the jaguar, but no, that was not the other scent. This one was even more familiar.

Julian stood next to Reysa with a heavy backpack on his shoulder. He turned to his brother and smiled.

“Where are you going, Jules?” Kaden’s tone was neutral, but one could not miss the threat in his tone.

Julian was not concerned. “That’s none of your business.”

Kaden turned to face Reysa, who was clutching a small bag. Clearly she was leaving, but did Julian plan to leave with her? Kaden would not allow that to happen.

“Reysa, I need to speak to my little brother alone. Would you give us a minute?” Reysa just stood there looking back and forth between the brothers. “Please Reysa.” Reysa looked to Julian, who nodded in agreement. Kaden seethed. “You need his permission?”

“I need no one’s permission. I can feel the heat of your anger and I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I don’t trust you not to hurt Julian even though you have no reason. You don’t seem to need a reason.”

Kaden was taken aback by that comment. He knew Julian and Reysa had spent some time together this week, but he had not realized that Julian spent most of that time telling Reysa sob stories about his horrible older brother. “Leave now before you give me a reason,” Kaden threatened.

Reysa marched up to Kaden and faced the brooding vampire. His body heated up more, but not from anger. “I don’t take orders from you. I will go, but I won’t be far in case my help is needed.”

“Are you Julian’s bodyguard now?”

“No. I’m yours,” Reysa gently caressed Kaden’s inflamed cheek. “I’m going to protect you from yourself.”

Kaden watched as Reysa dematerialized, leaving the place on his cheek where her warm caress had touched suddenly cold from the loss of her.

“You got it bad for her although you don’t want to admit it,” Julian acknowledged.

Kaden ignored that comment. “Where are you going, Julian?”

“I thought I answered that question already.”

“Not to my satisfaction.” Kaden circled Julian like a predator eying his prey.

“Your satisfaction is all that matters – right, brother?” Julian questioned. “That’s all you’ve ever cared about.”

“No, but I understand why you think that way.” Kaden sat down on Julian’s desk. He knew he could never make things right with Julian, but he needed to say the words he had come to New Paltz to say before all the craziness ensued. “Julian, I came here to find you so that I could tell you how sorry I was for Helena. Not just for Helena. For everything. I know I’ve hurt you and you have every reason to despise me forever. I’m not asking for your forgiveness.”

“Good, because I have none to offer.”

“Fair enough, but if what you have to offer is revenge – then, brother, I urge you to reconsider,” Kaden warned. “I will not let you use Reysa to get to me.”

“I don’t use people, Kaden. That’s your specialty.”

Kaden dismissed the insult. “Reysa is not a pawn in your revenge game.”

“You’re paranoid. I offered to help Reysa find Yasmine. Considering she saved our mother’s life, the least I could do is help her find her friend. If you weren’t such a selfish bastard, you would have offered the same.”

“Nice try, Jules, but even you’re not that altruistic.”

Julian smiled. “Well, if Reysa wanted to show me her gratitude for my help, then I certainly would not turn her down. She is magnificent and more importantly, unclaimed. Reysa’s fair game.”

Julian was goading Kaden to stake a claim that Kaden would not allow himself to make. “I think her half-breed baby daddy might disagree.”

Julian shrugged nonchalantly. “Christian is no threat. Besides, she’s worth the challenge.”

“Don’t do this, Jules.” Kaden’s body simmered from his fury.

“If you won’t, then I will.”

Kaden shoved Julian to the ground and planted himself on top, not allowing Julian to flee. “I don’t want to hurt you, Julian, but I will if you push me too far.”

“You took my love away. It’s only fair that I take yours. I would certainly treat her better than you treated Helena.”

Kaden squeezed Julian’s throat. “Helena was a malicious whore who never cared about you. She used you. You should thank me for saving you from her.”

“Thank you. Now I can be with someone better, like Reysa.”

Kaden squeezed tighter, but Julian just laughed. “She’s not for you.”

“That never stopped you from taking what you want,” Julian taunted. “Go ahead and snap my neck, Kaden. Mom will hate you and Reysa will surely hate you forever. Let her see the monster you really are. She would never trust you around her child, her family, or her friends. You’ll wind up alone, just the way you deserve.”

Kaden relaxed his hand just as Reysa appeared with her sword, ready to strike. “What’s going on here?” Reysa demanded.

Kaden stood up, showing no hint of his previous ire. He turned to Reysa. “Julian and I were discussing the trip.”

“What trip?” Reysa questioned.

“Our expedition to find Yasmine.” Kaden faced a frigid Julian. “I’m going to help you and Jules find her. Considering all that you’ve done for me, it’s the least I could do for you.” Kaden turned on the saccharine sweet charm when he needed it.

Reysa’s eyes shone brightly at the unexpected kindness of Kaden. “I don’t know what to say.”

Kaden clutched her and stared intently into those shimmering green eyes he could easily lose himself in. “There’s nothing to say. I owe you a debt of gratitude.” Kaden faced a fuming Julian. “Are you ready, Jules?”

Julian threw his pack on his shoulders. “Oh, I’m ready, brother. I just hope you are.”

BOOK: Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series
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