Page 10 of Fastlander Fallen

Idiot.

Ace tensed his muscles to break his massive arm, but a deep voice cut through the jeering crowd. “Stop.”

The moment he realized who had said that, the red melted away from the corners of his vision.

Damon Daye stood at the edge of the ring of now-silent shifters around them. He stood tall and lean, his silver eyes glowing, the elongated pupils looking so unsettling. His dragon was near the surface, then.

He wore black suit pants with a dark blue dress shirt, and had his hands in his pockets.

Ace released Captain in a rush and scrambled away from him. He stayed on his knees with his neck exposed to the blue dragon.

Captain did the same beside him.

A laugh escaped someone, and Ace dragged his attention over to Gunner, who stood on the edge of the crowd with his arms crossed over his chest. Corey and Hallie were beside him. “Next time you fight Captain, don’t show him mercy. Break his arm.”

“Fuck you, bro,” Captain spat out.

“Why are you even here?” Gunner barked out, and now the clearing was getting heavier.

“As a favor!” Captain exclaimed.

“A favor for who?”

“Our parents.”

“Oh geez.” Gunner rolled his eyes heavenward and blew out a steadying breath. “I would rather piss on an electric fence than let you in my Crew. Go home. Ace, stick around.”

There was an order in Gunner’s voice that drew a snarl from Ace’s throat.

Gunner rounded on him. “You got a problem with that request?”

“My animal does,” Ace growled. “Obviously.”

“You’re sure about that one?” Gunner asked Damon Daye.

Damon didn’t so much as twitch. He looked like a stone statue, staring at Ace, unblinking.

Gunner waited a couple loaded seconds for an answer, and then threw his hands up in the air. “Great.”

“See you at work,” Captain threatened as he stood.

As Captain walked toward the woods, Ace stood and spat blood from his split lip.

The crowd was dispersing, but Corey was still hanging around.

“What?” he muttered, feeling his jaw to see if it was broken.

“Are you some sort of ninja shifter or something?”

Ace frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You were in a fistfight, and then you were on the ground blurring into some move I’ve only seen in UFC fights.”

“Uhh, I used to wrestle.”

“I have one of those ice packs that you pop and shake up in my car. I’ll go get it.”

He gestured to the clipboard in her hand. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

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