Page 63 of Hybrid Heroics

Noon

Had I ever knocked an orc out? What kind of question was that?

I hadn’t, but I was always up for trying something new. Though now, I was wondering what it would take. A punch? I was a vampire, and with that came strength I often forgot I had. Could I choke one out? That sounded more complicated than necessary, and it left my back wide open.

Forcing the bloodlust to take over would make me stronger, but that would also put their lives at risk. So, that was a last resort. I really didn’t want to kill people who didn’t even know they were fighting someone else’s battle.

“How about some weapons, Palmer?” I teased.

But honestly, having a bat or two lying around wouldn’t hurt my feelings. It would be easier to knock them out and keep them down while Murphy did his thing.

“No weapons,” York stated. “Strictly knockouts.”

Palmer nodded. “Think of this as—”

“I swear. If you say training again…” Stone threatened.

“Practice,” the mage finished with a smirk.

“So, what? We just knock them down for… forever?” I asked.

I understood the task, but not the parameters. How long were we supposed to fight them?

“That’s not—Well…” Palmer shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Until we figure it out, let’s just hold them off,” Vaughn suggested.

“They’re after your mate,” Flint argued. “They won’t stop until they get her.”

I grinned at him, a little more deranged than I usually would. “That’s not going to happen.”

“If they make it inside,” York began, shaking his head.

“Then we kill them.” Stone finished.

“I agree,” Palmer mumbled, glaring into the distance.

Vaughn nodded. “Whatever it takes to stop them from getting her to Alric.”

“I’m really glad we’re going through this together.” Briggs glanced at each of us. “I don’t know what I would do if you guys weren’t here.”

“Uhhh. Yeah,” Stone murmured, agreeing but looking wildly uncomfortable.

“I hate that this is even a thing we have to go through, but yeah,” I responded. “If I had to choose anyone to fight with, you guys would be my second choice.”

The wolf scoffed. “I was trying to be nice.”

I held my hands up. “Trouble would be my first choice. Don’t get your feelings hurt.”

“That’s a given,” he confirmed. “She doesn’t count.”

“Are you really arguing about this right now?” Sterling asked.

“They aren’t arguing,” Murph told her. “That’s their way of flirting.”

Her gaze bounced between me and Briggs. He sighed, rubbing his middle finger up and down his forehead. And I cackled, throwing my head back before I could stop myself.

“Trouble is braver than I am,” I admitted. “I don’t want to die because of a dick.”