Demons (Darkness #4)(20)

I was nowhere near ready, and Toa knew it.

I groaned.

“What’s up, Sasha? Cramps?” Charles glanced away from the intricate and awe-inspiring dance Adnan and Claudia were doing through the trees.

“Charles! I am not on my period!”

Jonas flinched. Charles said, “And you think I’m gross?”

“What, because I said period?”

Jonas sent me a disgusted glare.

“Oh really?” I shot back. “You talk about all sorts of disgusting crap, but I say period—stop flinching! Jonas, how the hell can you body-check a demon with a grin and a snarl, but flinch when you hear that word? It’s the real word for the thing!”

“Would you stop saying it?” Charles demanded. “Guys don’t want to hear about any of that.”

I threw up my hands.

Adnan, rivulets of sweat running down his face, had glowing arms in a soft red. He tore at Claudia, raking nails down her arm. He followed it up with a punch, then a kick, stamina holding strong. She was physically flagging, though. Aiming for any weakness she could find. Spells came next, blasting at him, forcing him to try and defend himself magically while she followed up with physical bombardment. Getting dirty to try and counter his limitless energy.

“See, bro?” Charles said, once again analyzing the fight. “Females are much better at multitasking.”

“It’s why a red is Second-Tier Watch,” Jonas remarked, agreeing.

“You guys have tiers?” I asked, flinching as Adnan took a hard hit to the chin. I opened up, immediately fighting the surge of power that rushed me. I felt everyone around me, their strong glow of magic within them, beckoning. Calling. Feeling mine and wanting to join. To take our small fires and create a huge blaze.

I focused on Adnan, knowing he needed a power boost. He was younger, after all. And it’s not like I was cheating. Charles did say that if he was with me, and on Watch, he’d be awesome. Well, here was some awesome-sauce.

“Why are you chuckling?” Jonas asked suspiciously.

Ann and I had finally played that joke on him a while back. His butt was glued to the toilet seat for three hours. He was so damn pissed. Afterward, whenever he was an extra big dick, I thought of it and chuckled heartily. Now, every time I randomly snickered, he got suspicious.

“Just marveling at my wittiness.” I focused on Adnan’s suffocated glow, the pressure of the fight making him tense up, cutting off some of his flow. Like a fan to fire, his magic felt my coaxing, burning it brighter.

His arms flickered, the red getting deeper. Deeper still. Matching Claudia’s now as he blocked a physical charge and lashed out magically, the spell jumping the short distance from his skin to hers, something only those stronger in magic could do, and even then, they usually needed the tattoos. I was the exception, as always.

With a growl she wiped her hand through the air, probably shaking whatever it was off. Too late. That stall had Adnan landing two intense kicks, one to her stomach, and one bashing against her thigh. Her feet saw sky. The dull thud of her body sounded like it hurt.

She struggled to get up.

“That’s enough,” I said in a firm voice. Claudia glared up at me from the ground. “Look, Claudia, you’re good, I’ll give you that. And you’d keep going, but I’ll need you here protecting things when we’re gone. I need you healthy for that.”

“I could still take him!” she seethed, staring hard.

My hackles rose at the same time as my confidence wavered. I could feel Jonas’ stare.

Yes, yes, I know—I’m supposed to lead.

Preventing myself from taking a deep breath, I returned the stare, magic crackling in my body. I felt Stefan through the link, feeling my tumultuous emotions and sending a blast of fire, fueling my courage.

In a breezy, calm voice, I said, “You reached for magic first, needing more than just your fighting prowess. You started to fight dirty first, looking for an edge. And now you’re hurt first. What’s more, you’re worn out. Dead tired. He’s a kid—he’s got the stamina of one. You’re beat, Claudia. Yield.”

Her jaw set firmly. Fists clenched and unclenched. Her weight eased over onto her right side. She couldn’t prevent herself from wincing.

Her nod was the best feeling I’d had in a long time. Triumph!

Suppressing my glee, I nodded back like it was commonplace and turned to Adnan. “Well done. But you’re not Watch material, yet. You have the talent, but you lack the experience. Keep working and someday I’ll be proud to welcome you in.”

A boyish grin lit up his face. He gave a deep bow. “Yes, Mage.”

I fought a grin—I was having a hard time not giggling in delight. With a final nod, and a bursting heart, I turned back to the mansion, and screamed in terror.

Chapter 7

Dominicous stood off to the side like a phantom, still and quiet, eyes scouring Adnan. His gaze dropped to Adnan’s tattoos, still glowing merrily. Then to me.

I did not realize anyone was behind me.

For the first time, I saw Dominicous as everyone else did. He was Stefan’s height, cresting six-and-a-half feet, but with a sleeker build than Stefan—not as muscular and robust. He held himself with the same confidence and authority, though, in charge of all things, living or dead, within his world. The master of his universe. The alpha to this warrior species.