Death and Sweet Temptations (Alex Bain Book 1): An urban fantasy romance within a paranormal thriller by Kristen Coar

Author:Kristen Coar [Coar, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

In the aftermath, their breaths came in labored gasps, their bodies a map of cuts and contusions. Alex stood, Talon still clutched in her hand. Her eyes, finally having shed the Hellish black, returned to their human hue. Looking around her, scanning for more enemies, she noticed Lucas wavering unsteadily on his feet, gaze staring unfocused out into the distance. She rushed to him before he could stumble and fall, sliding an arm under his shoulder to steady him. He leaned heavily against her, his wounds manifest and seeping.

Izzie, gun still in hand but now lowered, swept her gaze across the shadows that lingered beyond the light. Her body was etched with defiance, her spirit undimmed despite the injuries that marred her skin.

They had survived, but the night’s ordeal had exacted its toll, and in the heavy silence that followed their victory, Alex found herself grappling with more questions than before.

“Alex, you good?” Izzie’s voice cut through the silence, her eyes probing Alex for any lingering darkness.

Alex managed a weary nod, her voice a hoarse whisper, “Yeah, back to normal.” Then, her strength flagging, she and Lucas sank slowly to sit on the soft, short grass of the driving range. A laugh bubbled up from her, tinged with hysteria and relief at being alive. “I could really go for some rare steak right now. I hope Argo’s got the sense to prep the kitchen.”

Izzie chuckled, a sound mingled with relief and lingering adrenaline. “Sounds perfect. Mind if I crash that meal?” She holstered her weapon with practiced ease, the metallic click a punctuation to the night’s chaos. Presumably, Mary had made herself scarce after the arrival of the first vampire.

“You’ll have to negotiate with Argo. He’s touchy about his kitchen privileges,” Alex replied, her giggle fading to a contented sigh.

“True, true. I’ll probably have to beg,” Izzie agreed, rolling her eyes playfully.

Lucas, still resting against Alex, furrowed his brow. “What, who’s Argo? And why’s he cooking for you?” His voice, though weak, carried a hint of jealousy, an emotion absurdly out of place given the gravity of their situation.

Alex and Izzie exchanged a glance, and then, as if on cue, both burst into unrestrained laughter. The sound was a release of the night’s pent-up fear and panic.

Lucas looked at them, bewildered, his frown deepening at their mirth. “What? What’s so funny?”

“Oh, Lucas, no, no,” Alex gasped between laughs, “Argo’s my corgi. It’s… it’s an inside joke.”

“A corgi, making you dinner?” Lucas echoed, skepticism painting his tone. “That’s an odd joke, but given tonight, I suppose odd is relative.”

As their laughter died down, the reality of their situation seemed to settle over them. They were out of immediate danger, but the implications of the night’s events hung in the air, an invisible but palpable presence.

“Any chance we can just pretend this never happened?” Lucas asked with a weak attempt at levity, now sitting upright without needing Alex’s support. The sudden loss of his warmth and the press of his body left Alex feeling inexplicably colder, as though a vital source of heat had been snuffed out.

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