Page 111 of Destined to Fight

Eric chuckled. “A deal is a deal, Mage.”

That seemed odd, Kelly thought, he called her a mage and she wasn’t bonded yet.

“Right, what now then?”

“We have a car out back waiting for you.” He gestured behind him to the back of the warehouse. “Right this way.”

He was so smug it almost made Kelly sick. She rolled her eyes and started her walk of shame.

She was about to give in to this new reality when her mind began working full force again. Kade, she could reach Kade. She had to buy time, though.

“Wait, I’m not going with you until I have confirmation that you released Ginna.”

Eric’s head snapped back in exasperation. “How in the hell do you want me to prove that? I just called my guy and told him to release her.”

“You could have called anyone. A photo of her leaving them, something. I want to see it now.”

“You know, I could just take you by force.” His tone said he was seriously considering it.

“You aren’t sure if you can take me. Show me or I’m out of here.”

Eric tapped his phone and typed furiously at the screen.

Kelly reached out to Kade with full force. KADE! I fucked up, I fucked up really bad. Please help. I’m at the abandoned warehouse at the train tracks downtown. The one where the child trafficking ring was busted a few years back. I’m so sorry, please help.

Kade staggered back as her message hit him with full force. The worry and anguish he felt at her absence hit her just as hard, and she had to make an effort not to show it to Eric. He was relieved to know she was in contact, though. That was something. Then, a bit of anger came through with the realization that she’d purposely left.

We’re coming. How many are there?

I don’t know. Eric is the only one I can see, but he wants to leave now. I’m trying to stall him. Is Ginna there? Did they let her go?

Aye, she just walked in the front door. Damn it, Kelly! Pure anger seeped through their link like poison.

She pushed his anger aside, trying to focus on the issue at hand. She opened her mind completely to Kade so he could see Eric.

“It’ll be a minute. I just asked for confirmation. You know, to an Arcane, a person’s word is their bond. When it comes to making deals, we don’t lie about things.”

“Forgive me if I don’t trust you. You’ve been after me from the moment Kade’s plane landed in Edinburgh.”

“I have, but I never hid that from you, did I?”

No, he hadn’t. “I still don’t trust you.”

His shoulders raised in a shrug. “I don’t really care if you trust me or not. Frankly, I’m just not in the mood to overpower you in a fight you think you can win.”

“I’ve won before, haven’t I?”

He laughed. “No, your Guardian came to rescue you. He’s not here now, though. Let me guess, you planned this just right so they wouldn’t stop you? You don’t have your phone on you, and you didn’t take one of their vehicles. You wanted to make sure they wouldn’t interrupt your plans to save your precious mentor.”

Someday, she’d make him beg for his life. Someday. “Yep, congratulations are in order. You read me like a fucking book. I’m fresh out of candy and cookies, rain check on your prize?”

“I don’t deserve a prize for that. You were raised in the human world, and they’re all the same. Emotions always cloud their judgment because life is so short. They’re always sacrificing themselves for the greater good, whatever that is.”

Kelly felt Kade’s bitterness over Eric’s words.

Eric’s phone chimed, and he glanced at it.

“Here”—he held it up for her to see—“your mentor walking away from the car. She’s flipping them off, if you can’t tell. That’s proof it’s her.”

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