Page 24 of Destined to Fight

Fabian did his hands thing where he used them to motion downwards, telling her to cool it. “You have been doing it in a human world. When we arrive in Scotland and settle in, Kade and I can show you what it is really like to go up against a powerful immortal.”

She squared her shoulders at him. “Bring it on.” He could try to intimidate her all day long, but she would never back down.

His light eyes met hers with excitement, a slight smile on his face. “As you wish.”

Kade interrupted the promise of challenge that passed between them. “Before we get to that, ye’ll be meeting with three potential mentors shortly after we arrive. I want ye to choose the one ye like best.”

Her blood began to boil now. “Kade, I have not made any decisions, and you told me I had time to think. Now, you’re trying to force me into this.”

“I ken ye havenae made yer decision, and I am nae trying to force ye into anything ye dinnae want to be a part of. Ye have to understand, ye need to have all yer options in front of ye in order to make the best decision. Ye dinnae have to sign one of the mentors, just tell me which one ye prefer in case ye do decide to come to our world.”

She gritted her teeth and balled her fists, her nails cutting into her palms. “Fine, I’ll meet them. If you sign a contract or agree to something behind my back, I’m gone. I’ll take a damn cargo ship back to the US if I have to. Why do you care so much, anyway?”

His gray eyes met hers, and he seemed to search for the right words. When he finally spoke, she could barely hear him over the drone of the plane. “Ye practically landed in my lap, Kelly. And between my intuition and Fabian’s foresight, I ken there is something special about ye. Someone has to help ye, or someone else will hurt ye. Those are the only two ways this will go for ye. I’ve been in this world for far too long, and I ken what people will do for power. Call me selfish for wanting ye on my side, but I truly want what is best for ye. I have the means to help, so I might as well, and I will nae bend yer will to do my bidding along the way.”

“So what, you lock me away in your house and bring me food while some person teaches me how to be a mage? Then what? What kind of life will I really have with you? I’m not going to waste away while I learn about all of this shit for years upon years. I have a life; I was finally making something of myself.”

Kelly’s words were strong, but inside she started to crumble. She wasn’t making anything of herself. Six years of college had done nothing for her, and now her big story had turned into something that would land her in a mental hospital. The more she was exposed to normal comforts—or extravagant ones, in Kade’s case—she realized how difficult living in her car had really been. She was sick and tired of working her ass off and pinching pennies for her next meal. For as long as she could remember, her tough exterior had been a mask that hid what was really going on inside. She desperately wanted to be that strong, successful, and independent woman, but she wouldn’t take handouts to get there. Kade promised so much that she couldn’t afford, and she refused to pay him with favors and other things some women used to get what they wanted.

There was a hint of shock on Kade’s face, and he spoke with a defensive tone. “I would nae lock ye up. I want ye to travel with me, to see the world. Ye can go wherever I go, and yer mentor and Fabian can accompany us too. Fabian and I would teach ye how to fight, and yer mentor would teach ye about our history and how to become a mage. Ye could come and go as ye please as long as Fabian is with ye. I would stand firm on ye being protected at all times.”

“Kade, I can’t pay for all of this. I know you said you would, but I don’t take handouts or free rides, and I don’t pay with my body. So that leaves me with nothing.”

His face showed hope. “We can work out a loan then, to be paid after yer bonding.”

“I don’t do debt, and you said it could be years, decades, until my bonding.”

“If yer worried about debt and handouts, we can figure something out. That is the least of my concerns,” he said.

“It may be the least of your concerns, but it’s at the top of mine.”

He seemed frustrated now. “Above yer life? Ye’d let debt or pride stand in the way of ye living another day?”

Fabian stood between them then, the ever-dependable mediator. He put his hands up, palms facing each of them. “Enough. Neither of you means harm or ill will to the other. We are stuck in a small space for the next six hours, so get along.”

He seemed tired of their bickering, and she couldn’t blame him. Kelly was reaching that point too.

Kade spoke, visibly trying to be kind, “Please just meet with the mentors and tell me of yer preference. If ye decide to accept my offer, ye can let me know when the time comes. I’ll keep them on retainer until then.”

Not wanting to dismiss his efforts to quell the argument, Kelly agreed and went back to the bed. She patted the spot in front of her, coaxing Clyde to her, and turned on the TV at the foot of the bed. Maybe some mindless entertainment could help quiet her mind for the time being.

10

The rest of the flight to Scotland was uneventful. Kade seemed to bury his head in his work, and Kelly lay in the back of the plane with Clyde, watching re-runs of Friends.

When the plane taxied to the hangar after landing, a black SUV just like the one they’d had in Dallas was parked and waiting for them. Asmund and Fabian transferred everything to the car while Kade walked Kelly over to it.

Scotland was freezing compared to Dallas, and she was shivering before they even made it the short distance to the car.

Kade placed his jacket over her shoulders. “Just take it, please. Taking a man’s jacket doesn’y make ye weak.”

That made her smile a little. Maybe he was starting to understand her.

After he helped her into the car, Kade went around to the other side instead of sitting in the front seat. Kelly looked over at him in surprise. “Doesn’t Fabian have to sit back here with me?”

“Nae, he can sit in the front. As long as he is in the same car, yer safe.”

She pulled his jacket more tightly around her, still shivering even in the heated car. “It’s fucking cold here.”

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