question. Hell, even I’ll admit that your moves are impressive.”
Surprise etched her expression at the admission.
“But you refuse to use your elemental powers,” he added. “That makes you weak.”
Her nostrils flared and she tilted her chin upward. “Tossing around a few fireballs won’t necessarily win our war.”
Declan’s lips curled at the dig, but he let it slide. “Afraid of your powers, Jenna?”
“No.”
The flames flared higher. “So show me.”
“Screw you, Declan. I don’t have to prove anything to you.”
“I beg to differ. You protect the hybrid witch our enemies are after. They reach her and the balance of nature is screwed.”
“Yes, but the balance has nothing to do with this. With us.” She waved a finger between them. “I protect the woman you love, so for you it’s personal.”
“What are we? Fifteen?”
“I get that being an overprotective ass is your default setting, but Kate is my witch and I will die before letting anything happen to her, just as you would for Sienna.”
Declan scowled at her, the muscles on either side of his jaw twitching.
“You think I don’t know what I’m up against protecting Kate?” Jenna said, her tone clipped with irritation. “I live with a permanent sense of dread, knowing what’s at stake if I fail, and I don’t need you constantly pushing me, taunting me, and giving me crap every day trying to prove that I’m worthy. We’re supposed to be on the same team, dammit!”
“Because you’re all about teamwork, aren’t you, Blondie?”
“When it comes to protecting Kate and Sienna, I am.”
“I can’t be on team you until I can trust you can handle this.”
“Rather unfortunate considering Hazel’s showing presence again. And don’t for one moment think she won’t sniff out a divide between us.”
“As easily as she’ll sniff out a weakness.”
“I’m not weak!”
He raised a brow and pegged her with a challenging glare. The fire reared higher, the crackling muffling her soft curse.
“Declan,” Archer said, stepping forward. “That’s enough.”
“No.” Ethan took his arm. “Leave them.”
Archer frowned. “She’s right, Declan’s being an ass.”
“I think she’s had her fair share of dealing with asses. She can handle this one too.”
Archer paused and glanced at Jenna. A moment later, his pensive expression relaxed and he gave a single nod.
Silence engulfed them, the air sizzling with tension.
It was Declan who broke their standoff. Flames still burning, he swore loudly and shook his head. Turning around, he walked away.
A warlike cry shattered the silence as Jenna launched through the air, breaking through the blaze. She collided with Declan and exploded into a series of martial arts manoeuvres that triggered another fight.
This time, there was more rage, more determination, and they moved so swiftly that it was near impossible to follow them.
Declan fought back with a viciousness that matched hers, but something in his eyes gave him away.
She’d surprised him.
Ethan grinned.
In the end, Jenna creamed his brother in a swift pace that had them gaping at her. Declan was a skilled a fighter as any, but Jenna possessed a natural fighting skill that topped his. In battle mode, the woman was damn near faultless.
Ethan caught Archer’s gaze, not missing the flash of satisfaction in his brother’s narrowed one.
Delivering a final, vicious kick that connected with Declan’s nose, Jenna backed off. Declan cursed as blood splattered and he glowered at his opponent. They were both breathless, bloody, bruised. A fierce silence followed and Jenna circled the warrior, fists up, ready for his retaliation.
Which never came.
Instead, Declan lowered his fists and spat out blood. Breathing heavily, his gazed locked with Jenna’s. “It’s not quite the display of magic I’d hoped for, but …”
“You’d be a fool to underestimate me again, Declan.” A smirk softened her anger. “Kicking your butt just proved that.”
Declan swiped at his mouth with the back of his hand, his lips twitching.
Ethan’s grin widened. She’d impressed Declan and he wasn’t easily impressed – or surprised. In a matter of moments, she’d accomplished both.
Damn right.
Jenna lowered her stick. “You have a right to be worried, Declan. We’re all worried. But you’re forgetting one thing. You’ve met Hazel twice. Twice. I lived with her and her merry band of evil for two years. I know what we’re facing more than you will ever know, so choosing not to be on team me is … stupid.”
With a final glare, she turned around and left.
The opening of the restaurant coincided with the school’s annual parade, one of the town’s many traditions. Each summer, the high school seniors hosted the parade, an event that had grown so popular over the years that it attracted tourists from all over.
The main road hummed with activity, the restaurants crammed with visitors. The aroma of fried donuts filtered through the air, sweet and enticing. Children ran between the crowds of people that walked the streets, lined with vendors selling homemade crafts or fresh produce. Others lay sprawled on picnic blankets in the central garden. Their laughter and voices mingled with the music played by the band.
The celebrations for Ethan’s restaurant opening were in full swing. A joyous occasion that did little to shred Jenna’s uneasiness.
Darkness was near. She could feel it.
They all could, but in a world where their kind lived in secret and social obligations like restaurant openings and festivals couldn’t be avoided, events that surrounded them with friends determined to celebrate, they had no choice but to mask the worry and pretend that Rapid Falls was the perky, safe little town everyone thought it was.
What a load of crock.
Jenna scanned the street again before going into the restaurant. She slid into an empty seat at the end of the bar and
