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“Show me what you’ve got.” I roll my shoulders and take my stance. Magnolia takes one I instantly recognize as the same one Rainey uses. Makes me wonder if Drex hasn’t been training with the youngest Astor.
Magnolia swallows hard and lunges forward. I dodge, barely missing a fist, then spin and slam mine into her side. She grunts and stumbles forward, breathing ragged.
“Don’t pull any punches, Mags. Your enemies won’t, and neither will I.”
A brief nod, and she sweeps her feet out. I jump, barely managing to remain standing as she gets up and spins, kicking out. That one lands, catching me in my left thigh, and I stumble forward, a smile plastered on my face.
She charges again, so I push forward, dropping my shoulder and slamming into her gut. She grunts and falls backward, me on top. I adjust, pinning her to the ground beneath my knees. “How did you learn to fight like this?”
My mother’s death. Hunter blood. A death threat if I didn’t have magic.“I worried that one day I might not have magic to protect myself. So, I trained, hard, and learned to be more than what I was.” I stand and pull her to her feet. “You’ll get there, too.”
“If the training doesn’t kill me first.” She laughs and follows me over to the mini-fridge stocked with water and my favorite—orange Gatorade. I offer her both, and she chooses the water, so I take the latter. “Drex isn’t this hard on me.”
“Because Drex lets his emotions get the better of him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He cares for you, too,” I tell her. “And he doesn’t want to risk hurting you.”
“But you don’t?”
“It’s because I care that I won’t go easy on you. The world sure as hell won’t.” My lighter thoughts are replaced with much, much darker ones. “There’s no telling what you’re going to have to face in life, and take it from me, it’s so much better to be prepared. The alternative will likely mean your death.”
“Is it like this for everyone?”
“What do you mean?” I down some Gatorade then set the half-empty bottle on the table.
“I mean, do all witches have all this to deal with? Since I came into my magic, my family was murdered; I was kidnapped and very nearly handed over to Lucy so she could bleed me out; then it’s been one fight after the other. First Lucy, then the councilman coming after you. Surely not every supernatural has all of this to deal with.”
“No, this is not normal. This is what you get when you hang out with the Astors,” I say with a wink. “A very exciting, highly combustible life.”
“I guess you’re right.”
Something in her voice, the wistfulness makes me stop. “If you want a peaceful life, Magnolia, you can have one. You and Drex both can skip town. The councils are not aware of your involvement, so you’ll be safe.”
She doesn’t miss a beat. “No. I can’t leave.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I have this feeling that this is where I belong. I know that probably sounds ridiculous, but—”
“That doesn’t sound ridiculous, at all. This is where you belong, but that pales greatly when compared with whatyouwant.”
“I’m not entirely sure what that is.”
“Well, until you figure it out, I’ll kick your ass on a daily basis.”
Magnolia laughs. “You are the only one who doesn’t treat me like a kid.” She meets my gaze, her eyes misty. “Thank you.”
I can’t help but beam at her. Truthfully, I see a lot of myself in the young witch, and it’s because of that I feel the incredible need to make sure she’s prepared for whatever this life throws her way. “You’re welcome.” I take my stance. “Now. When you come for me, be sure to use your body weight to your advantage. You’re small but mighty.” I wink, and she laughs.
“Small but mighty. I’m going to get that tattooed on me.”
She takes a step forward, hands raised in preparation, and I watch. Just before she strikes, her gaze flickers to my right side, so I take a chance and block. Unfortunately for me, she doesn’t attack the right side, and her fist slams into my jaw.
Pain explodes along the side of my face, and I rub it.
“Oh no! Are you okay? I’m so sorry!” Magnolia rushes for me, so I drop my hand and force a smile despite the very real pain.
“You did good, Mags. Keep throwing them like that, and no one’s going to screw with you.”
She grins widely. “Really?”
“Really. That was a powerful punch.”
“I might have used a little magic to beef it up some.”
“While I commend that, let’s refrain from using it on me. I do have a date tonight, and I’d rather not be bruised up.”
Magnolia laughs. “Deal.”
