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I charged her once again, this time going straight at her. She lowered her head, the intent clear in her turquoise eyes, but I wasn’t stupid.
I jumped high above her when she swooped her head lower, seeming to be attempting to skewer my stomach.
My teeth bit down on her horn and an electrical current ran through my body, making my jaw clamp down tighter instead of letting go like I’d wanted.
Fuck!I screamed in my head, and I heard Grayson’s roar follow, but nobody interfered as I fell limply to the ground.
Deciding to change my tactics, I stayed on the ground until she came for me, surprisingly falling for my act. Well, my sort-of act.
Her nose nudged my front flank, and I used her closeness against her. My paw with extended claws slammed into her legs and forced her front to fall forward. Without missing a beat, I was up on my feet and ramming her further onto the ground before I laid over her, biting lightly into her neck.
She dropped her head down and stopped fighting against me, which I took to mean she was tapping out.
I jumped off her and shifted back to my human form, surprised I didn’t have any visible bruises on me as I crossed my arms. “You fight dirty.”
Lia’s midnight-colored hair and umber skin came back into appearance, and she grinned. “So do you, which is what I was hoping. I wanted to make sure that when it came down to it, you’d do whatever it took to win.”
I reached forward and shoved her shoulder. “You know, none of my other opponents are going to have a horn that can electrocute me.”
“Maybe not, but they might have potions or enhanced powers gifted to them by a certain witch,” Lia said, and I caught her eyes moving to stare behind me. “So don’t you plot my murder, Demon-Wolf. I was doing your mate a favor.”
I glanced to find Grayson with his arms crossed and jaw clenched tightly. He didn’t reply to Lia’s comment, but I still chose to walk toward him.
“She shocked the shit out of me,” I said with a light smile, then added, “literally.” Except he didn’t find my words as funny as I did. “I promise I’m okay.”
His glare slowly softened as his eyes stared into mine. “Doesn’t mean I like seeing someone try to skewer you.” He gripped my hand and lightly kissed the top of my head. “Can we get back to normal training now?”
I patted his chest and grinned. “Sure thing, Mate.”
He pulled away from me, seeming less upset, but then he shoulder-bumped Lia when he walked past her.
Yep. The next few hours were going to be loads of fun.
* * *
As expected, Grayson was extra hard on me, but I’d needed it. With the new energy pumping through me, the extra exertion helped me control the magic I wasn’t sure what to do with.
We’d practiced a few things, but other than making my wolf bigger, faster, and stronger, there was nothing new that I seemed to be able to do.
Sammy and Ryder had also rejoined us just before we’d finished, and my favorite little boy played with my wolf with ease while his father sat rigidly by, unable to do anything about it without facing the six-year-old’s wrath.
After that, we headed back to the house for dinner, but now that the sun had set, it was time for our first late-night stroll through Fire and Fluorite.
We’d only been outside of Ryder’s territory twice since arriving—first when we’d fought Ethan and second when we’d made it to No Man’s Land. I wasn’t nervous about going out, but I was on my guard. There was also excitement at the prospect of getting to see more of my House.
Even if the people didn’t really know who I was or even accept me, I’d already begun to think of this place as home, which I hoped was a good thing and not something that could possibly add to future disappointment if things didn’t go as well as I hoped.
“Are you ready?” Ryder asked us when he got to the house.
I nodded and answered first. “More than.”
“Good, because it should be an eventful night,” Ryder said. “There are no doubts that you’ll be fighting tonight.”
“I’d have been disappointed otherwise,” I replied confidently.
Grayson stepped forward and stopped at my side. “Am I right to assume these fights don’t have rules? If someone challenges her and others step in, there’ll be no stopping me from doing the same.”
“There haven’t been proper rules for anything in this House for years,” Ryder answered. “You’re welcome to do whatever you want. Just remember, the more help Kinsley has, the less respect she’ll garner.”
