Haru pointed into the woods, looking entirely too composed for the subject matter with his neat short hair and slim breastplate armor hugging his chest. “The gate. Evie’s grandmother and her protective spells were the only thing keeping underworlders from escaping. Now that it’s cracked open, Evie is our best chance at keeping our world from becominghell on earth.”
Me?
Fuck.
“The underworlders are the most vicious and nasty creatures you can imagine,” the long-haired warrior, Reo, stated. “If they want to rule Earth, there’s little that can stop them.”
Double fuck.
Standing from the chair, I started to pace, and Brock began to pace right along with me, nearly nipping at my heels.
“Can I have some space?” I snapped, regretting my tone as soon as the hurt crossed his handsome face. He backed off and leaned against the side of the house, cutting me with a glare.
‘I’m sorry,’I mentally projected to him.
‘That came to me,’Cass said.
Dammit! I didn’t know how to work this freaking pack bond yet. I needed a remote control to change channels or something. There were too many voices inside my head.
‘I’m sorry. I’m just overwhelmed,’I pushed again, hoping this time it went to Brock.
The alpha’s amber eyes met mine and he nodded.‘It’s fine. I understand.’
Relief poured through me and I focused on the warriors again. “What do I do? How can I stop this from happening? I’ve been lied to my whole life, so I have no idea how to be some gate-guarding kitsune.”
Reo smiled. “That’s why your father sent us. We’re here to train you. Our associate, Tianna, a powerful fae-witch, will join us tomorrow. She’s an expert in mixed-breed magic.”
I raised an eyebrow. Did he just call me a half breed?Motherfuc—
Cass’ little ears perked and his black eyes glittered with sudden alertness. “Fae?”
Reo nodded, his shiny black ponytail bouncing. “Tianna’s half fae, half witch. She’ll be able to safely train Evie to use her witch powers.”
Whoa.A half fae, half witch. I’d never heard of such a thing!
Cass swallowed hard and adjusted his little gold booty shorts. “Well, I look forward to meeting her.”
Ewww. Still, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Cass was so predictable, especially when it came to the fae—his favorite delight.
Brock cleared his throat. “What exactly will this training entail? Her doctor will need to approve any exercise.”
A sigh escaped me and I had to suppress a groan. Of all the wolves out there, I had to fall for an alpha. I couldn’t just pick a nice, mid-level dominant guy that’d allow me to breathe once in a while?
Reo didn’t appear intimidated by the alpha. “She’ll need to train daily with her katana and her magic, and of course she’ll need to practice demon slaying.”
At “demon slaying,” Brock’s eyes bulged. “No way,” he declared, as if his word on the matter was final.
Sabine stepped forward and cleared her throat, casting wary eyes at our alpha. “As long as she doesn’t suffer any hard falls, and there’s no blunt force trauma to her abdomen, I think amodifieddemon slaying routine is acceptable.”
Reo didn’t look like he was fond of a “modified” training routine, but he simply nodded, probably figuring now wasn’t the time to test the alpha werewolf. Brock’s amber eyes flicked back and forth between my warrior protectors as if they were the enemy.
I was about to suggest we head down to Gran’s cabin to talk some more when my phone rang. Looking at the screen, my brow furrowed. It was my vampire lawyer.
“Hey, Croft.” I answered on the second ring.
“Hello, Evie. I wanted to extend you the courtesy of informing you that the seethe has voted to split, and I’m now the head of the North Eugene Chapter.”
A grin tugged at my mouth. “That’s great. Congrats!” Maybe our little bust-up the other night had actually turned out to be a good thing.
