Page 141 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

He stared at her with eyes so wide, he almost looked dead. Thankfully, the glare on the windshield didn’t allow Harley to see his face. Otherwise, she might have called the cops or an ambulance, depending on how she interpreted his expression.

“Bro, you’ve got to tell her,” I said, unbuckling my seatbelt.

“I know.” He whined the last word like a heartbroken wolf.

We got out of the truck and walked toward Harley. She leaned against the railing and gave us a blinding smile, prompting Waylan to let out a lovesick sigh.

I nudged him with my elbow.

“I know, I know,” he muttered.

“Where’s Kirsten?” I asked.

Harley hooked a thumb toward the backyard. “Behind the house, practicing her magic on Tank.”

Waylan and I shared a look, then rushed around the side of the house to see the damage. As we circled the building, the spectacle made both of us skid to a stop.

Kirsten was jumping around, pumping her fist in the air. “Yes, yes, yes!”

Ten feet from her, Tank lay on his back, blinking at the sky overhead. The front of his shirt was singed and smoking.

Her excitement sent her magic rolling off her in waves, and the intoxicating sensation it ignited in me nearly knocked me off my feet.

Waylan slapped my shoulder. “You better get used to that, buddy.”

“What is going on here?” I asked.

Kirsten spun around, beaming at us. “I just kicked Tank’s ass is what’s going on here.”

“She ain’t lying, boss,” Tank moaned, rolling over onto his stomach and struggling to heave himself to his feet. He cast an embarrassed glance toward Kirsten. “I may have gone easy on her. You know, to be nice.”

Kirsten rolled her eyes. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

Tank’s face went red, but he didn’t say anything else. I gripped his arm and tugged him to his feet.

“Are you gonna tell me exactly what you did to him?” I asked Kirsten.

The wicked little smile she shot me was a little disconcerting. “I’d rather show you.”

“Don’t worry,” Tank grumbled. “It only hurts really bad for a second, then the agony sets in.” He patted my shoulder. “You’ll do fine.”

Swallowing hard, I faced Kirsten. “I’m guessing you’ve learned something new?”

“Not so much new, but a different way of going about things,” Tinsley spoke up.

I was so focused on Kirsten and Tank, I hadn’t noticed her sitting on the porch, sipping on a glass of lemonade.

“Really?” I looked from Tinsley to Kirsten and back again. “And what is that?”

“Before, we were only doing long-range spells. Firing away at you while you charged me,” Kirsten said. “Tinsley helped me focus my magic to my palms and fingertips, shooting spells at you like bullets from a gun. Today, we tried close combat. Like, hand-to-hand stuff. It works best with the lightning spell I’ve figured out. Come on,” she added brightly, waving me toward her. “Try to take me down.”

I breathed in deeply and looked to Waylan, who now stood with Tank and Harley, all three of them watching with interest. Couldn’t back out now. I’d look like a coward.

“Okay, fine,” I said, walking toward her. “Tell me if I get too rough. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Kirsten only raised her eyebrow as though I’d just said an unfunny joke.

Waiting until I was four feet away, I leapt forward, using my enhanced speed to close the gap, and grasped her wrists. I began to smile and prepare my sarcastic remark when I yelped in pain. Pain jolted through my hands and fingers as if I’d shoved my entire hand into a giant light socket.

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