Page 75 of Destined to Fight

“I’m going to go help set the table. You guys keep visiting until everything is ready,” she said, excusing herself. Kade and Fabian could handle the conversation.

She was starting to get nervous about telling everything to her dad, so she decided to help with the preparations to keep her mind occupied.

Asta helped her set the table, and the others brought pans of food in, lining the center of the table with meat, beans, bread, slaw, sides, and barbecue sauce. A red wineglass was placed at each seat, just opaque enough to hide the true contents. They had this all figured out; she never should have doubted them.

When everything was ready, Asta called the other men in, and they all took their seats with Kade and Fabian at the head and foot of the table.

Just before sitting, Asta and Asmund brought two wine bottles in, and they strategically worked between the vampires and other races of the room, filling everyone’s glasses. Fabian occupied her father while they poured the drinks, and he was blind to the fact that over half the room was drinking blood instead of wine.

“I do hope ye’ll forgive the catering, Mr. Hart. None of us are cooks, but we still enjoy good food.”

“Oh, no, this looks great. Thank you for having me.”

Fabian raised his glass, and everyone followed suit. “May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.”

“Slainte,” Kade replied, and everyone else echoed as they clinked glasses.

They all dug in to the food, piling their plates and passing pans of food around. She was surprised to see the vampires take food, too, since they wouldn’t have to put on a show much longer, but she didn’t say anything.

Dinner passed by without any awkward moments. It was a miracle in Kelly’s book. Her dad even asked about the lack of Christmas decorations, and Asta quickly explained that they didn’t celebrate any holidays in order to respect each individual’s practices and beliefs.

The vampires strategically picked at their food, making it look like they were eating, but they never took a bite. It really was an art.

When everyone who was actually eating finished, Fabian invited them all back into the living room for a drink while Asta and Kelly put the leftovers away and cleaned the dishes.

Kade stopped by to whisper in her ear and make sure she was okay. Kelly brushed it off, telling him she’d gotten things under control and she’d tell him more later. He didn’t press her but gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Asmund poured Scotch for everyone, and they all sat and talked about nothing and everything for a while.

When the conversation died down for just a moment, Kelly’s dad took the reins. “So, you all were going to tell me what your business is all about.”

Oh, how Kelly could use Kade’s reassurance right now. Kade sat across the room from her. Asta and Ginna were on either side of her on the couch. While she loved these women, Kade or Fabian would do better to protect her from her father’s rage. Or maybe they would need protecting. They’d all find out soon enough.

Her dad was looking to Kade for an answer, but Kelly gave it to him instead.

“So, Dad, about that,” she began, steadying herself. “Uh…” she broke off, at a loss for words.

“We arenae really a business, Dave. We’ve taken Kelly in because she has specific abilities, and we want to help her improve on them. Some of them are genetic, and we were hoping ye could shine some light on where they could have come from.”

Her dad beamed with pride. “Well, she’s always been as special kid, but I don’t know where it came from specifically. I’d like to hope it’s from raising her right.”

Kade smiled at him, reflecting his pride somewhat. “With respect, Mr. Hart, I mean more than her being a good kid. As she grew up, there had to be things you noticed about her; abilities, inexplicable jolts of shock, strange reactions from water or metals. Does her mother share in any of those things? Have ye ever noticed anything different about her mother?”

Her father bowed his head for a moment, then righted himself and acted like things were just fine. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

Ginna spoke up. “You don’t have to lie to kick it, Mr. Hart. We know there is more to this, and we want to help your daughter.”

Her father looked at all of them with a glint of knowledge in his eye, refusing to give them any information.

“Did you know, Dad?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“Know what, kiddo?”

“Oh, for the love of all things, your daughter is a mage. I’m a mage, her boyfriend is a vampire, blondie over there is a fae, and the rest of the people in this room are vampires, too. Don’t play dumb, old man. You’ve known there was something special about her from day one.” Ginna summed things up nicely.

A huge smile spread across her dad’s face, and he burst into a laugh, spitting Scotch in the process.

When he’d finally calmed down, he was met with seven pairs of very serious eyes, Kelly’s included.

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