My blade slices through his neck, cutting off any more bullshit threats.
I turn to see if Aydin needs help, and find him leaning against the hotel wall. He stands there his arms crossed, one foot on the pavement, the other on the stucco of the wall. He looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Well done, Little Badass, you went right for the kill each time, no hesitation.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I’ve been doing this since I was fourteen, but I’m glad I could entertain you.”
Aydin rubs the back of his neck and takes me in. “You’re this fucking powerful, and you don’t even have your full magic yet,” he shakes his head and snorts. “Are you going to keep running, or can we move past that and go the fuck home?”
I stare at him not sure what the answer is. It’s clear by now that running is only delaying the inevitable. I may hate how this whole situation played out, but I’ve lived most of my life wishing I had answers. The road to understanding is laid out in front of me, but it’s paved with an asshole of an uncle and his half hostile coven of paladin.
I start walking toward the bright lights and bustle of the Vegas Strip.
“Where are you going?”
“My apartment. You going to come help me pack, or what?”
11
Ipush the button to call the elevator. I usually take the stairs, but after the night I’ve had, I’m dead on my feet. The doors open, and I drag myself in. My floor lights up with a ding, and moments later I’m stumbling into the apartment. There’s a black duffle bag on the kitchen table, and I walk over to it and unzip the top. There’s a note inside.
Little Warrior,
Here’s your cut. Sorry I couldn’t stay, but business calls. I’ll be out of contact. I’ll call when I’m back.
Talon
I huff out a sigh and look around. I’ve lived here for five years now, but it still doesn’t feel like home. When Talon offered me the deal to train and fight for him, he did it on the steps of this building. It wasn’t a difficult proposition to accept. Not a lot of options existed for girls in my circumstances, and working my ass off was infinitely better than selling my ass.
When I agreed, he walked me up to this apartment, and I’ve lived here ever since. It was fully furnished when I moved in: towels, linens, dishes; it had everything, which worked for me because I didn’t have shit. The only things I’ve added over the years are clothes, books, and some hiding spots for money. I chuckle to myself, after five years of staying here I still don’t really have shit.
“What’s so funny?” Aydin asks me, as he lumbers through the doorway.
“Nothing.”
I groan and scrub my tired face with my hands. I drop the duffle bag of money by my hiding spot in the bookcase. A knock pounds on the door. I run my hands through my hair and stare at the door like the harbinger of doom that it is.
I open the door silently and wave the four tired looking paladin in. Judging by their haggard expressions, they haven’t gotten much rest, and their age is showing. They take in where I live and look at me like they expect me to bolt any second. I trudge over to the living room, and they trickle in after me. We all stare awkwardly at each other and around the room, no one eager to break the silence.
“Nice place," Evrin offers, always the one to lose the silent standoff.
For someone who looks like a tatted up badass, he seems awfully nice. It’s that, or he can’t stand awkward silences.
“It’s not mine," I monotone.
“Uhh…you live with someone?” he pries, scrambling for something to say.
“No.”
I know I’m confusing him, but I don’t care, so I don’t elaborate.
“Look, I know this probably feels overwhelming and confusing, and a little out of nowhere--”
“Oh, youknow? Is that how you felt when all of this happened to you?” I snark at Keegan, unable to rein in my inner grumpy bitch.
He turns to Lachlan, who just watches me.
“We aren’t going to leave you behind. Like it or not, you are now a part of this coven, and it’s not safe for you to be on your own," Lachlan tells me, his voice a smooth calm I haven’t heard him use until now.
