Again, there were several moments of silence.
“Fine. I’ll give you some of my blood, but only if you’ve told me everything I need to know. Are you keeping any other secrets from me?”
“Just one, and it’s in the same vein.”
“Tell me.”
“Your step-grandpa, Hex, is also working on a new jinn serum to reintroduce to you. He thinks because it was separate from your regular magic, that it might not cause such a violent reaction in you.”
“My jinn powers were much stronger than his, don’t you remember?”
“Yes, but he still believes he can do this.”
“So, you’re saying you want blood to send to him in Sedona, too?”
“I am. Are you sure you’re okay with all this?”
A wry laugh escaped her. “Not even a little. What if you figure it out? What if you’re successful? You can’t have forgotten that you crave my blood above all else. If you reinstate my powers, I’m a sitting duck. If you drink from me, you’ll be reestablishing that blood lust connection. Is that what you really want? To constantly be tempting yourself with the very thing you’ve worked all these years to avoid completely? Synthetic blood or not, the fact remains that you’re still a demon warlock and you thrive on the blood of fresh-blooded witches.”
“I’ve been living with a fresh-blooded witch—one that smells surprisingly like you—for the last eighteen years. I haven’t bitten her once.”
“Tell me the truth, Vance. How many times have you fantasized about drinking from our daughter?”
“Don’t be sick!” Disgust radiated through his voice. “I have never thought about hurting her—ever. Not since that moment of surprise and weakness right after she was born.”
“You trained her awfully hard; and I know it was to protect her from you. That suggests you fantasized about her.”
“I fantasize about you, dammit! Are you happy, now? Her smell reminds me of you. If anything, it makes me remember drinking from you and how that made me feel. I’d never hurt Kenna. Never!”
A defeated sigh escaped my mom. “I believe you. But you just proved my point. Are you really sure you can survive with two fresh-blooded witches in the house?”
“Let’s ask your grandma’s coven—who, I might remind you, I’ve been living around for years and have yet to drink from, except for blood they’ve supplied during emergencies. I can do this, Portia. Trust me. Things are much better for me, now, than they were back then, and I still managed to keep it under control. Please just let me try this. Can you imagine what it would be like to do actual magic with your daughter? Not just tell her about it or show her what to do, but to actually participate in it with her? She’s incredible, baby. You’d love feeling how strong her powers are.”
“I’ve seen how talented she is.”
“She gets it from you, you know.”
“How do you figure?”
“Because I still have mine.” He teased, and I heard a playful slap against his arm.
“There’s that spousal abuse making an appearance, again.”
“Whatever! I know that didn’t even hurt you. It probably felt like a fly landing on this big ole bicep.”
Something between a growl and chuckle escaped my dad. “If you like that big muscle I have others I’d be happy to show you.”
This was my cue to leave . . . and to avoid the kitchen area for as long as possible. I was headed for the grand staircase when the doorbell rang, so I altered my course to answer it.
“Oh. Hi, Kyle,” I said, swinging the door open wider so the handsome, dark haired doctor could step inside. Dr. Kyle Peck, who was also a fresh-blooded warlock, was like family. Dad met him while doing his internship in medical school, and the two had formed a fast friendship. Once Kyle found out about my dad’s condition, he wanted to help him find an easier way of life that wouldn’t require him to drink blood from other witches. Together they invented a synthetic blood that kept my dad from having to drink real blood.
When I asked my parents to let me go to high school, Kyle had encouraged them to let me try it. He even helped dad pick the location and then decided to join us, as well, settling for a job at the same nearby Boston research facility as my Dad. In addition to their blood research, they’d worked together on many different types of serums for multiple diseases. I knew their work had been very influential in helping many sick people. Kyle was also helping on Dad’s “secret” project—looking for ways to reintroduce my mom’s magic back to her.
“Is your dad home?” he asked.
“He’s in the kitchen . . . uh . . . with my mom.”
Kyle raised his hand in a gesture for me to stop. “Say no more. I understand. I’ll be sure to call out before entering.”
Giggling, I rolled my eyes and he nodded with a smile. He knew the drill. If my parents were alone together, one should always announce themselves before entering a room, just to make sure the coast was clear.
Going up the giant staircase, I entered my bedroom and placed the stack of schoolbooks I’d acquired on the desk, and sat down. Sighing, I stared at myself in the mirror behind it. What an intense day. And now I was going to fight a guy. What could be weirder?
Glancing at the clock, I decided I better dive into my homework or I wasn’t going to get to go anywhere.
Chapter Six
I was pacing by the time the doorbell rang and practically vaulted down the stairs to get it. Yet, my dad still managed to beat me to the punch. Grinning wickedly, he grabbed the knob and swung it open, revealing Seth standing there looking very fine in a t-shirt that showed off the muscles in his arms and chest. His hands were shoved in his jeans and he looked a little nervous.
Immediately, I felt my dad’s hackles rise and a strange force enveloped him.
“Dad, this is Seth Masterson,” I said, trying to break up the energy in the air. “Seth, this is my dad, Vance.”
“You can call me Mr. Mangum,” my dad said in a no-nonsense tone and I had to force myself not to roll my eyes. What was the deal with him?
“Mr. Mangum. Pleased to meet you.” Seth extended his hand, which my dad simply stared at for several moments. It wasn’t until Seth started to pull his hand back that Dad suddenly reached out and grabbed it. Shaking it slowly, he maintained contact as he heavily scrutinized my new friend.
“What are your plans with my daughter?” he asked; and I could tell his grip was growing tighter. I suddenly had a vision of my dad melting Seth with his powers as he stood right there in the doorway.
“Dad. Enough.” I broke in, shoving myself between them so it interrupted their handshake. “I already told you he asked me to dinner. What time do you want me home by?”
“You’re ruining my fun.” His voice entered my head.
“Be nice,” I replied in the same fashion.
“It’s a school night, so I think ten o’clock is plenty late. Midnight on weekends.”
“Thanks. I’ll be home by ten, then.” Moving back inside, I grabbed my bag from the table in the entryway and skipped out the door, hooking my arm through Seth’s and dragging him out of the line of fire . . . literally.
“Take care of her, Seth. Bring her home in the same condition you found her.”
“Uh, yes sir,” Seth responded as I continued dragging him down the sidewalk to his car. He had enough presence of mind to open the door for me, something I was sure would earn him brownie points. My dad was very old school that way.
“Kenna.” My dad’s voice filtered into my head.
“Yes?” I replied with a sigh, feeling a mental lecture coming on.
“I see you left out some crucial details about your new friend.”
“Really? And what’s that? That he’s a nice guy? Or that he’s extremely good looking? I didn’t really think that would interest you.”
“You don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?” I was starting to get frustrated.
“He’s a warlock.”
??
?Excuse me?” I practically shouted through my link, stiffening as Seth slid into the car beside me.
“Fresh-blooded, not demonic. I didn’t get the feeling that he means you any harm. Otherwise I wouldn’t have allowed you to go.”
“You’re sure about this?” I asked, still feeling incredulous.
“I’m a demon, sweetheart. A hunter. I could smell him coming up the sidewalk before he even rang the bell.”
“Dad, I’m just putting this out there in case it’s necessary. You cannot eat my friends.”
Loud laughter filled my head. “I promise to be on my best behavior.”
Seth started the car and pulled away from the curb. I was still in shock from my dad’s revelation and couldn’t think of one thing to say to him.
“Do you think he knows about us?” I asked my dad.
“Well, seeing how you didn’t know about him, I’m thinking he probably doesn’t know about you. I wouldn’t have known except I have the added advantage of being able to smell the fresh blood. Just be careful, and remember the things you’ve been taught. Don’t let your guard down. If you need anything, you know how to reach me.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’m sure I’ll be fine. See you later.” I didn’t wait for him to reply before raising the privacy wall between us. I did not want him eavesdropping on tonight’s event.
“So, you told your dad I asked you to dinner?” Seth asked, breaking the silence between us.
“Well, technically you did. Just not for tonight. But he doesn’t need to know that.”
“If you survive, I will totally take you to dinner.” He didn’t sound like he was joking.
“Sounds great,” I replied, meaning it. I was starving.
“Don’t do this,” he blurted out suddenly, staring at me. To be honest, he looked a bit washed out, like he might be sick. “I don’t have a good feeling about this. I’m afraid you’ve underestimated just how good Jett really is. And Jett . . . well, he’s just different. He’s . . . strong . . . with abilities and . . . stuff.”
I laughed. “Seriously, Seth. There’s no reason to be worried. I know what I’m doing. You’re going to have to trust that I can take care of myself.”
“I want to. I’ve just seen what he can do to grown men. He’s not a guy to trifle with.”
“Which is exactly why I need to do this. I can’t let him brand me as something I’m not. There’s no coward here, and I won’t back down. He wants me to prove something, so I’m going to, even if it’s at his expense. He’s the one who challenged. So he deserves whatever he gets.”
“You really believe you can beat him, don’t you?” Seth stared at me skeptically.
“I do.”
He sighed heavily. “Well, do you think you could possibly do it without getting any bruises?”
“Huh?” I was totally confused.
“Your dad said to bring you home in the same condition I found you. I’m pretty certain I don’t want to be doing anything that might incur his wrath—you know, like taking his daughter to fight in a cage match.”
Laughing, I stared out the window. “Relax, Seth. It’s going to be fine. Besides, if something bad happens, which it won’t, I’ll be sure to make you sound completely blameless.”
“Still don’t like it.”
“I know; and I appreciate you coming to get me—even if you do think I’m going to lose.”
“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I appreciate that, too.”
“Are you going to be able to fight in those clothes?” Seth asked, gesturing to my t-shirt and jeans.
“I have a tank top and leggings on underneath.” Glancing at him, I watched as he nodded; but I could tell he still wasn’t happy. He was latching onto any reason he could think of to convince me not to do this. And while I appreciated his concern, I wondered why it was so difficult for him to believe I was capable of doing this. I also wondered if he was ever planning on telling me he was a warlock.
That thought, however, disappeared and the first butterflies popped into my stomach as soon as I saw the words “The Ring” painted on the side of a square brick building. It wasn’t the building that made me nervous, but the dozens and dozens of cars parked everywhere.
“Word spreads fast around here, I see,” I commented dryly as he slid into a narrow parking space.
“You have no idea.” Turning off the car, he stared at the building. “Looks like Jett is already here.” He gestured over to a very sporty white Dodge Charger SRT8, with black racing stripes up the middle and equally black tinted windows, sitting next to the curb.
My attention drifted away from the vehicle to watch several more groups of teens entering the building. “I guess we should go get this over with. I’m ready to eat that dinner you promised me. I didn’t eat at home since I was supposed to be going out with you. So let’s hurry and kick Jett’s ass and get some food, shall we?”
A wry laugh escaped him. “I don’t know whether to cheer you on or cart you off to the asylum.”
“I’ll take the cheering,” I replied, reaching for the door handle.
“I’ve never met anyone like you.”
I smiled. “That’s because I’m one of a kind.” Before he could say anything else, I jumped out of the car and made my way into the building.
~~~
The air inside felt stuffy from the crush of bodies crammed into the small place, raising the temperature even more. Not that it really bothered me. Fire was a natural magic of mine and it always made me warmer.
Slipping the plastic safety guard into my mouth, I knocked my gloved hands against my protective headgear, making sure it was tight, before glancing toward the big burly guy standing between Jett and me.
“The only rule is that there are no rules. You can fight however you wish. First person to fall the other and pin them for eight seconds wins. All or nothing. Are you ready?”
I nodded and Jett growled, the two of us immediately circling one another.
“Take her to the mat, Jett!” some guy yelled. “Give it to her hard, like a real man!”
Laughter joined in with the taunting and I had to tune them out. Centering my sights on my opponent, I listened only to my own breathing and the blood pounding in my ears.
Jett led with a jab, and I dodged. The first thing my dad had taught me was that the best way to avoid being beaten was to not be there when the punch comes. I had trained my eyes to be quick about calculating the muscle movements of my opponent, and to anticipate the hit before it was ever thrown.
Jett and I continued to circle and he continued to jab at me while I dodged and studied his movements, watching for a possible opening. Then he lunged forward, jabbing first left, then right. I avoided the first punch, but rolled right into the second, allowing him to knock me to the floor as a collective gasp went up from the crowd. As soon as I was on the floor, I kicked my leg out, swiping his out from underneath him. The moment his body hit the mat I was up on top of him, straddling, as I pounded my padded fists against the arms that were covering his face. I managed to land a hit hard enough to the side of his head that it knocked his mouthpiece out. I hesitated, glancing at the referee, wondering if he would call time so Jett could replace it.
Jett took advantage of my pause, bucking hard beneath me, throwing me off balance and I slipped to the side. As fast as lightening, he grabbed my arms and rolled me over, pinning me beneath him.
“I’m impressed,” he said. “No one’s ever knocked me off my feet that fast.”
Arching my back I struggled to get away, but his heavier weight kept me adequately pinned. All around us the crowd was cheering wildly.
Jett leaned in closer. “Date me,” he whispered in my ear and I froze, staring up at him with wide eyes. What the hell was going on with this guy?
“What? No!” I replied in a muffled, nearly indiscernible sound due to the bite guard in my mouth.
“No?” He honestly seemed surprised, which caused him to loosen his hold enoug
h that I was able to yank one of my arms free. Swinging hard I punched him in the side of his head, sending him lolling to the side.
Quickly, I pushed him hard, climbing back on top of him and going for his shielded face, once more. What a jerk! He had a girlfriend, even, and he wanted me to date him? I didn’t care how hot he was. If he thought I’d do that, then he was an idiot.
Anger infused me from his suggestion and I punched him even harder, wishing briefly I could add my magic to it, but wanting to keep the fight clean.
“Pin him, girlfriend!” A shrill male voice screeched from somewhere in the chaos beside me, and I was sure it was Frankie. “Get his shoulders down!”
Attempting to break apart the arms covering his face, I slid my gloved hands between his elbows and leaned forward, trying to force them to the side. The gap between his forearms allowed me to see his face and he grinned, his eyes drifting to the scooped neckline of my tank top where I was sure I was probably flashing him quite the show at the moment; but I couldn’t afford to look away or try to adjust my clothing.
“Having fun?” he asked breathlessly. I didn’t reply. “Because I am. The view is great and I’ve never been so turned on in my life!”
As if to emphasize his point, he bucked underneath me. Our hips connected immediately, clearly showing the truth of his words, and I gasped as he rocked into me.
Rolling away, I stood—indignant over his sexual display right there in front of everyone. I spit out my mouthpiece as he rose to face me. “You’re a jackass. You know that, right?”
“I’ve been called a lot worse,” he replied, swinging for me and connecting with my shoulder. I used the momentum to strike with my opposite fist and clocked him upside the head, knocking him straight into the mat.
“He’s out!” Someone shouted. Sure enough, it looked like he wasn’t going to get up. Just to be safe, I went over and, lying across him, I pressed his shoulders into the mat as the ref counted down. As soon as he hit eight, the crowd cheered wildly and Jett’s eyes popped open, staring straight into mine.