Changing Beauty (Book 2) (The Deadly Beauties Live On)

Changing Beauty

The Deadly Beauties Live On

Copyright 2015 by C.M. Owens

Edited by Tonya Houle

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The story in this book is the property of the author, in all media both physical and digital. No one, except the owner of this property, may reproduce, copy or publish in any medium any individual story or part of this novel without the expressed permission of the author of this work.

Chapter 1

ROSLYN

“This is what college is like, huh?” I muse, smiling over at Jenny as she takes a seat at the bar.

Dutifully, I join her just as she grins up at me and answers, “This is what part of college is like. You’re new, so I understand staying in and studying religiously, but college can be fun times, too. Everything in moderation, Ros.”

Rolling my eyes, I sit down at the bar. Being twenty and just starting college seems odd to most everyone, but life has a way of controlling you instead of allowing you to hold the reins.

“We’re not old enough to drink,” I remind her.

She grins devilishly while motioning toward the bartender. He doesn’t bother asking for ID when she leans over the bar much farther than necessary, exposing almost too much of her heavy cleavage.

Sheesh. Those things are lethal.

He slides us two shot glasses with amber liquid, and she blows him a kiss when he winks at her.

“See?” she asks, clinking her glass against mine. “Fun. Easy. Nothing to it. Just relax.”

Before I can respond, a chill runs up my spine, almost as though there’s warning something is coming. I turn to see the doors of the bar opening, but what draws my eyes to a frozen state is the same thing everyone else is looking at.

It’s as though the entire bar has forgotten how to breathe as
they
walk in. Gorgeous, seductive, confident… It’s as if they’re an entirely different breed of human.

They own the bar and everyone in it when they walk through with a predatory prowess that has me watching without guile. But one has my attention the most.

His dirty blonde hair is intentionally wild and sexy, and it looks tempting enough to run my fingers through. His broad shoulders lead to a sculpted chest that I can tell is there even through the dark blue T-shirt he’s wearing. The narrow waist is lean and toned, but much wider than mine.

He’s sex and muscle wrapped in flawless perfection, and I’m just one of the many moths in here who is drawn to him and the other flames around him.

“Oh damn. They’re hot as hell,” Jenny says on a dazed breath, clutching my arm as though she needs the support, as the five of them move through the bar, their eyes shifting around the crowded room as though they’re looking for someone. Then I see a girl with long, blonde hair standing at the far back, waving them over.

One of the dark-haired guys reaches her first, and he pulls her to him for a kiss that almost makes me moan.
Damn
.

“I’m officially jealous of her,” Jenny groans.

My eyes drift back over to the blonde-haired guy just as he looks back toward the bar and begins to move this way. My mouth dries, my heart almost stops, and my tongue gets stuck to the roof of my mouth when his honey-colored eyes meet mine.

I stare like a damn baby deer who just found a wolf’s gaze for the first time, and I watch helplessly as a slow smile spreads across his face. His eyes seem to come to life, and I have to blink to make sure I’m not seeing things.

He makes his way all the way to me, crowding my personal space as he towers over me and leans across the bar, brushing his body against mine without subtlety when he squeezes between me and the guy on my left. His elbows hit the bar, his tight stomach hits my legs that are crossed at the knee, and his side touches my front. The hard lines are pressed against me, promising me I’ve never felt anything as amazing.

So this is heaven. I always wondered if it existed.

“Need a round of shots. Tequila,” he says loudly to the bartender, and I feel the deep vibrations move down to my core.

The bartender nods toward him, and the mystery guy turns to face me, scandalously running his eyes down to my chest where a decent amount of cleavage is exposed—thanks to Jenny.

Speaking of Jenny… She grows tired of my silent stare down with the blonde stranger.

“I’m Jenny Cliffs,” she says eagerly, knocking me sideways when she tries to wedge herself between me and the bar.

The mystery guy catches me before I completely fall off the stool, and he nods his head toward one of his friends as they walk up. The dark-haired guy, whose arms are fully sleeved with tattoos, flashes a breathtaking smile at Jenny, and she practically dissolves.

“Now that she’s distracted,” the blonde Adonis says, drawing my attention back to him and his lips that are still curled up in that devilish smile, “how about you tell me your name.” It’s not a request or a question; it’s simply a sexy command.

Breathe. How the hell do I breathe?

“Roslyn,” I whisper, silently cursing my voice for failing me.

His grin only grows, and I swear he’s laughing at me internally, though he has the grace not to do it aloud.

“You’re a little sweet, aren’t you, Roslyn?” he drawls, licking his lips while shamelessly looking me up and down once again.

Sweet? Is sweet good or bad?

The bartender hands him a glass that has dark liquid in it, but the blonde masterpiece takes it without looking away from me. I thought he ordered a round of shots. Or did he order something else?

When he tilts the glass to sip from it, all of my attention turns to his mouth again—his tempting, delicious mouth.

“Keep looking at my mouth like that, and I might just have a taste to be sure you’re as sweet as I think you are,” he brazenly states, forcing my eyes to snap up and meet his mocking gaze.

I’m not sure if he’s cocky or confident, but whatever it is, it’s definitely appealing.

No words will form. Everything I try to say merely catches in my throat as he watches me with unhidden amusement.

He leans forward, and my…
everything
goes crazy. I feel as though he has disassembled my body and exchanged my veins with electrical wires. When his nose gets close to my hair, I clutch the bar and the stool I’m on to keep from falling again.

He inhales deeply, and his friend behind me laughs. I feel as though I should be embarrassed, but I’m too entranced to react.

“I was right,” the blonde-haired word-stealer says as he leans back up, a small smirk on his lips. “Definitely sweet.”

“Come on, man,” the tattooed guy who has left Jenny in a puddle says to the guy who is still staring at me. “We have work to discuss.”

That guy walks off, but my blonde-haired captor continues to hold my gaze. “Probably for the best, love. You’re too sweet for an animal like me.”

He winks at me, further driving my heart to a hellacious frenzy, and he leans back just as another guy walks up and claps him on the shoulder.

“Thad,” a new guy with dark hair says, “didn’t know you were back in town.”

Thad
. So Mr. Sex-in-Jeans has a name.

Thad keeps my gaze, that damn cocky grin still on his face. He definitely knows how he affects women.

“Oh, I’m back. We all are. And we’re going to be in Pine Shore for a while.”

Yep. I’m screwed. He’s living here?

“See you around, sweet girl,” he tells me before winking and walking off.

One word. I said one damn word—my name. And I barely got that out. I’m the biggest idiot ever.

“We need to go to their table,” Jenny gushes, clutching my arm.

I shiver, but I look around, letting my eyes land on Thad as he slides into a large booth at the back where the gang of models have all assembled. Seriously, how do that many hot-as-hell people know each other?

“Um… No. Not me. You can, though,” I tell her, still a little breathless.

Thad’s eyes meet mine from across the room, and a wicked smile takes form when he catches me staring. Okay,
gawking
would be a more accurate depiction.

“Fine. I will,” she says, and I force myself to look away from the entrapping gaze.

She stands, adjusts her cleavage to be more pronounced, and she struts across the room to head toward their table.

Don’t look, Ros. Don’t look.

I look. I’m a weak, pathetic human being, so I look.

Jenny puts her hand on the tattooed guy’s shoulder, and he grins up at her before shaking his head. Apparently he lets her down gently, because she walks away with a smile on her face. Thad’s eyes meet mine once again, and I curse myself for looking like a teenage girl with a crush.

“His name is Zee,” Jenny says, plopping back down beside me.

“Whose name is Zee?” I ask, ripping my eyes away from Thad once again.

“The hot guy with all the tattoos on his arms,” she reminds me, tossing her red hair over her shoulder. “He said he’s working right now—even though I’m not sure how this is considered work—but that they’re having a party in a few days. We’re totally going.”

“Um… sure,” I croak, still rattled by Thad’s lingering touch that won’t seem to go away. My body shouldn’t be responding this much to such simple contact.

“This is going to be a hell of a year,” she gleefully adds.

I’m not going to that party. My focus will stray from the important stuff, and I sure as hell don’t need someone like Thad toying with me.

Sweet
. I’m sweet. And he admitted that’s not for him. No sense in torturing myself over someone who doesn’t find me all that appealing. Besides, Pine Shore may not be huge, but it’s big enough that I don’t bump into familiar faces too often.

It’s really unlikely I’ll ever run into him again.

Chapter 2

THAD

“You know you love me,” I tell Alyssa, making her smile despite the fact she’d like to rip me a new asshole right now.

She shifts in my passenger seat as I cut the wheel, slinging us around the curve, heading toward Kane’s old Pine Shore house.

“You’re an asshole. I can’t believe you told Ella that.”

Her anger is back, but I’m too damn charming for her to stay mad at for long. “Ella needs to get her freak on. She’s one of us—shifter. She has more creatures in her than any of us do. Well, besides you and Kane, obviously. Going to a nude beach will really help her get over that weird modesty thing. And sex is a must. Get over it.”

She glares at me, and I laugh loudly, knowing damn well she’d love nothing more than to cut my balls off.

“Kane is going to be furious.”

“Nah,” I say, swatting the air in front of me. “Ella’s too sweet and new to her change to go through with it. No worries. But she really can’t keep carrying around a robe every time she goes for a shift run. It takes the freedom out of it.”

“
I
still carry around a robe,” Alyssa points out.

That has me snorting out a laugh. “Only because you know Kane would kill someone for looking at your naked body. I swear. You’re all crazy. Once you’ve seen one immortal body, you’ve seen them all.” Then I purse my lips. “Well, that’s not correct. My body is by far more impressive than any other immortal’s.”

I wink at her for good measure, and she rolls her eyes, unable to stifle her grin. As soon as we reach the lake house, Dice pulls up behind us. It’s strange to be back here after all these years, but this is where the most attacks have been recently. Something’s brewing at the shore.

Kane’s house is mostly glass, but the dark cedar that frames it is what makes me like this house. And the fact it’s right on the lake. But all the glass offers too much exposure to someone like me. I need solid walls, blinds, curtains… all the coverage I can get for my shifts, because I shift a hell of a lot.

The line of other lake houses extend down each side, all of them prominently taking up the lakefront. Gage’s old house is right next door, which should be interesting. Kane is still not doing too well with the fact Kimber is with Gage—his wife’s ex.

Kane still views Kimber as his daughter, even though she decided to be his father-in-law’s daughter instead. Damn, our lives are crazy fucked up and confusing.

“Where’s Karma?” Alyssa asks Dice as he says something into his phone. I’m still reeling about the fact the incubus has a girlfriend—a demon/human hybrid girlfriend.

“Inside Gage’s house, I think,” he answers, distracted.

Dice walks up beside us, putting his phone away, just as Kimber walks out the door with Gage.

Alyssa starts to speak to Kimber, but the blonde beauty walks right up to Dice, fists a handful of his shirt, and jerks him to her for a kiss that leaves all of our mouths hanging open.

“What the…”

My words trail off, and my eyes widen when I realize Gage is probably about to kill the incubus for using his power against Kimber. But to my surprise, Dice shoves her off him, staggering backwards with fear and confusion blazing from his eyes.

“What the fucking hell, girl? Have you lost your damn mind?” he demands.

Gage, who is surprisingly calm, says nothing. But his jaw is tense.

“Good boy,” Kimber tells the bewildered incubus, and he tilts his head, studying her.

I’m fucking speechless, and that shit just doesn’t happen.

“Karma?” he asks, his eyes burrowing through hers.

Kimber grins and winks. “Yep. Kimber wants me practicing my possessions on immortals. She’s a slave driver, but she’s damn good at keeping someone focused. I got full control after five hours this time.”

Gage grumbles under his breath, then he rolls his eyes. “She’s going to kick your ass for that one.”

Kimber… Er… Karma shrugs, and she motions to the vacant air. “Well, that proves I have sole control. She wouldn’t have ever let me do that if she had any say. But I still haven’t figured out how to use my own powers to their full potential yet, and using hers are freaking impossible.”

Dice sags in relief, and runs a hand through his hair. “But at least you’re getting the hang of things,” he says, using a more serious tone than usual.

“Gates are tricky,” Gage tells her. “Not even Thad has them all figured out as well as Kimber does.”

Way to call me out, douche.

I just shrug it off. I’m not as skilled in gatekeeping because Kimber obsesses, and gatekeeping is one of her obsessions. I prefer living as opposed to obsessing.

“I’ve learned a few new tricks,” I remind him.

Karma goes on as though I didn’t just say something. “But we’re in Pine Shore, so should I be worried about accidentally opening the purgatory gate or something? Isn’t this the only place where it can be opened?”

“Yes, but it can only be opened by two gatekeepers, and it’s hard as hell on our bodies,” I say quickly, not willing to think back to the time we were forced to open it.

“But most all other gates can be opened almost anywhere. Some spots are hotter and easier to open gates than others. You mostly need to focus on possession. The quicker you can get control of a body, the better. It could prove hella useful in a fight.”

She starts to speak, but another voice talks over her.

“Why Kimber’s body?” Alyssa asks.

Kimber/Karma shrugs. “Because she’s one of the few who doesn’t have the anti-demon protection thing branded on her flesh. She just has a necklace that she can take off whenever.”

“You know what this means,” I say to Dice, smirking at him as he meets my eyes.

“What?” the reformed incubus asks innocently.

Having a girlfriend has stolen his edge. It’s sad, really.

“It means you can have a threesome without getting too exhausted.”

Alyssa groans, Karma/Kimber rolls her eyes, and Gage glares daggers at me. “Over my dead fucking body,” Gage growls, and I laugh loudly while clutching my side. He’s too damn easy. Always
so
intense.

Dice’s grin slowly crawls up. “Think you could get me a redhead? I’ve always had a thing for gingers,” he says.

Suddenly, a loud
whoosh
of air leaves him as he crumples to the ground. He never saw the knee Karma/Kimber aimed at his gut until it was too late.

“Too far,” he says through a painful strain, coughing as he curls into the fetal position. “I always take it just a little too damn far.”

Karma/Kimber smirks, but suddenly her eyes grow wide, then dull, and she drops. Before she can hit the ground, Gage is holding her, scooping her up and cradling her to his chest. Apparently Karma just vacated the premises.

“I’m going to kill her,” Kimber says meekly, spitting and gagging. “Right after I gargle a bottle of alcohol and bleach my lips.”

“Hey!” Dice yells, affronted, while climbing back up to his feet. “These lips are the gift of pure seduction and lust.”

“That’s sort of my point,” she mumbles, getting down out of Gage’s arms.

He tugs her to him, brushing his lips against her forehead as she pulls him down for a kiss. But he jerks back quickly. “Fuck that. You really do have to go bleach your lips first.”

That has me bursting out laughing as he grins down at her scowl.

“Does it weaken you?” Alyssa asks, bringing seriousness back.

“The possessions?” Kimber asks, shrugging. “Only for the first few minutes after she gets out. Then I’m me again. It’s a weird sensation. It’s as though I can watch everything she’s doing, but I have zero control once she’s fully settled in. She sure as hell pushed me to try though, once I realized what she was about to do with my lips. I hear her thoughts as though they’re mine. It’s really fascinating.”

Ah, fuck. That has me worried.

“Are you—”

“Fixated?” she asks in interruption, narrowing her eyes on me. “No. I haven’t really fixated on anything since the slave rings were broken up. Well, I haven’t fixated on anything besides Gage. He’s enough mystery to completely ensnare my attention, so it works.”

Gage releases a cocky grin before pulling her to him, and despite the incubus’s lips still lingering on hers, he kisses her—a little too inappropriately for the public eye.

“Ahem,” I say obnoxiously. “Back to the task at hand. How long does it take Karma to recuperate?”

Karma walks out as though she’s coming on cue. “That long,” she answers, her short black hair bouncing with her perky steps as she heads straight for Dice. At least possessions aren’t obvious to the human eye.

“Where’s Kane?” Alyssa asks when Karma reaches Dice and competes for worst public display of affection ever. Do they really have to make all those sounds?

“He’s not here yet,” Gage tells her absently.

“Damn. I hate this,” Alyssa says to herself. “He’s been off with some of the others searching for those twins. There have been whispers that they’re here, and he thinks it’s related to a lot of the attacks around this area and the neighboring towns. Edgebrook has been hit as well.”

I purse my lips, thinking about all the things we should be doing instead of
talking
about what we should be doing. Things would be so much easier if mortals weren’t around. Risking exposure is more dangerous than ever, considering the fact anointed weapons are out there and coming to life all over the world.

“This is either connected to the slaves we freed, or to the powers that ruled Gavin,” I muse aloud, sick of talking. Strategy doesn’t do any good if we’re not taking more action. “Tonight we’ll hunt, and maybe we can get a lead. They’ve attacked in the woods only, which means they’re lucid enough to shy away from exposure.”

Alyssa interjects, “Or they’ve been bound by something or someone to not expose themselves. Just like Gavin was bound to whomever.”

“Can we please stop speaking about my brother?” Gage groans, guilt clearly etched on his face.

Kimber soothes him with a kiss, and he pulls her in for something much showier. Really? Can’t they take that shit inside?

“Any threats to your blood banks?” Dice asks me, still halfway mauling his girl.

Rolling my eyes, I answer, “None. Which means they’re more into the hunt than the blood. I’ve pulled security to make it easier for them to break in. I’m leaning more toward savage creatures than the higher powers affiliated with Gavin. These kills are messy, gory, and there’s no order or reason. Gavin’s crew was clean and covert. No one has been able to find those rings for centuries.”

Kimber’s eyes turn to angry slits as she adds, “Until Sadie conjured up a spell that located all of them, conveniently enough.”

I’m with her on the suspicious side of that.

“Then she saved your life,” Dice points out, possibly sounding protective of the woman his mother has fallen in love with. But to me, she’ll always be the bitch who let Kimber stay locked up as a child. “And she also helped us take down Gavin,” he goes on.

Kimber rolls her eyes. “What better way to thwart suspicion than to befriend your biggest threat?” she asks, posing a damn good question. “Think about it. She shows up with this spell—one no one else knew about—right after we lost every one of our leads and they changed the locations of the rings. Then she helped us, further inserting herself into our very hard-to-reach circle of trust.”

Dice tightens his lips for a moment, then delivers a blow I wasn’t expecting.

“You do remember that you dated her, right?” he growls, turning on
me
! What the hell did I do?

Low fucking blow.

Kimber’s eyes cut toward me, hurt clearly in the depths. Gage growls low in his throat. Damn drama-stirring incubus.

“We didn’t actually date, considering I never even went out with her. I found out in time that she knew about Kimber’s capture. Before I learned that, I assumed—since Alyssa saw good in her—she had been nothing more than a misled pawn. I cut all ties to the bitch when I realized she played a hand in Kimber’s pain. We never even actually went on a date; I was the one to cancel because of some work stuff. Then I told her to go to hell the next day—after I learned the whole truth.”

It totally sounds like a guilty ramble, but for once, I’m innocent.

That relaxes Kimber and Gage, and Dice grumbles something that sounds like an apology. But then he takes one more opportunity to toss in some defense.

“I just don’t think we should be singling out Sadie as though we’re on a witch hunt—pun intended.”

I snort derisively, but Alyssa adds, “He’s right. If we focus on Sadie being the ringleader, then we’ll connect dots that aren’t really there to be connected, and we’ll lose sight of other possibilities when we use tunnel vision instead of warily searching our surroundings. We’ll tread carefully around her, but we won’t single her out as our only lead.”

Kimber relents, nodding in acceptance.

“I need a drink,” I grumble, moving away from them and heading toward Kane’s house.