Page 132 of Destined to Fight

She told him everything. From Ginna’s faked kidnapping, to her stopping time, to the fight with the dead. Then she told him about the Council and how badly she’d fucked everything up. When she was done, tears streamed down her face, and her sobs made it impossible to talk.

“Jesus, Kiddo. Why didn’t you call me sooner? You know I’m here to listen.”

She collected herself so she could try to talk. “I know you are, Dad. It’s just that this is all so new, I don’t even know what the fuck I’m doing.”

His chuckles rumbled through the phone line. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re doing either, but I can at least listen and tell you you’re doing it well.”

“I don’t know, Dad.”

“Kelly, knock that shit off. You’ve never put yourself first. You’re always thinking of others and making sure everyone else is happy before you’re taken care of. I knew damn well you were living out of your car for months, and I knew why. I may be old, but I’m not naive. You’ve always put the mission and the people involved ahead of your own needs, and you haven’t apologized yet. Don’t you dare think of apologizing now.”

She contemplated what he’d said. She’d been so careful not to clue him in to the fact that she’d been living out of her car. And how did he know she was putting others first now? She hadn’t told him how she felt about the Council.

“You’re wondering how I figured all this shit out, right?”

Twenty-six years and her dad could still surprise her. “Yep.”

“Let’s just say it’s obvious when someone is living out of their car and leave it at that. As for you putting others first, I just know you. You never go into anything accepting things the way they are. You always look at the situation and see all of the improvements that can be made in the interests of the people. There’s no reason this new world would be any different.”

He was right, she hadn’t given him nearly the fatherly credit he deserved.

“What should I do, Dad?”

“Just be you, Kiddo. Everything else will follow.”

Wishing she could hug him in that moment, she managed a simple, “Thanks, Dad.”

They said their goodbyes, and she promised to come see him when they were back in town. Now that the Grand Master had given her protection, visits with friends and family would be much easier to achieve.

With the phone calls out of the way, she reached out to Kade, feeling where he was in the house.

He sat hard at work in the office, which was nothing new.

Kelly went up to the middle floor, walking slowly to his office. He would feel her coming closer, and she wanted to give him time to wrap up his work before she barged in.

She didn’t knock on the door—there was no point. Instead, she gently turned the knob and let herself in, closing the door behind her out of habit rather than for privacy.

Kade didn’t welcome her, which showed just how angry he was. She’d felt his anger at her through their link, but she’d expected him to at least be willing to talk.

She sat in one of the chairs facing his desk, and he pretended to read something important.

“Mind shutting your computer for a few?”

“Aye, I do.”

“Well then, you can sit there and pretend to read an email while I speak.”

He glanced at her for just a split second, his eyes beginning to turn amber, then he looked back at the screen.

Shame threatened her, but she pushed it back and replaced it with frustration. “You know what, no, you can’t sit there and pretend to work. You can shut that damn computer and talk to me! Why the fuck are you so angry?”

He slammed the laptop shut, then, and she heard something crack. “Ye just dinnae get it, do ye? The entire group has worked so hard to protect ye, day in and day out. We’ve sacrificed to make sure ye survive and have yer chance at bonding. Then ye go in front of the Council and throw us all to the wolves because ye cannae stand for someone else to be in control.”

What the hell was he talking about? “I didn’t throw you to the wolves, I told them what happened. Okay, I was a smart-ass, but I didn’t speak for the rest of you.”

“BUT YE DID!” he yelled, slamming his fist down. “By speaking yer mind and disrespecting the Council, ye spoke for the people who fight by yer side.”

“I won’t apologize for who I am, Kade, and I won’t stand for what the Council represents. I’m going to become a mage, and when I do, I’m going to make it my purpose to replace them with a more balanced system that considers the common Arcane. If you don’t want to stand with me, then you’re free to separate ties now. I’ll find my own way, and Fabian can help me get where I need to go. You don’t owe me anything, and I’m thankful for what you’ve done so far.”

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