Page 54 of Destined to Fight

“It is always the quiet ones,” Fabian thought out loud.

“Tread lightly in your search and inquiries from here; there are big players in this game. Hide her at all costs and trust no one.”

Kade nodded slightly at him. “Thank ye, friend. We are in yer debt.”

Luther smiled. It was a genuine smile that seemed out of place on his hard features. “Someday, being on your side will be payment enough.”

With that, Luther stood and left the table.

Kelly had so many questions, they were making her head spin. She somehow knew not to ask them here, though.

Desperate for something to calm her anxious mind, she reached for the old fashioned and took a large sip.

Kade and Fabian were silent, sipping on their own drinks.

They all sat there, deep in thought, for what felt like an hour. When Fabian finally finished his drink, Kade put a couple bills on the table and stood. He held out his hand to help Kelly up, and she took it.

Fabian led them out, Kelly at his heels, and Kade behind her with his hand gently on her waist.

The process to leave was as painstaking as the arrival, and the snap of the cold air on Kelly’s skin was a welcome feeling when they finally made it out the front door.

Kade opened the door to the SUV for her, but Kelly took an extra moment to enjoy the cold before getting in. She felt like she knew nothing in that moment. Some governing body had known about her from birth, had watched her and possibly manipulated her to be the person she was today. The cold was real though, sort of like the pinch a person gives themselves when they’re sure they’re in a dream.

Kade touched her arm gently. “Are ye all right, lass?”

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded, climbing in the front seat.

Kade and Fabian were inside the car in seconds.

As soon as their doors closed, the dam she’d been holding in place broke.

“What the fuck? I mean, for fuck’s sake, they’ve known about me my entire fucking life? They’ve known I was out there, and just let me be? Why would they have someone watch over me but not teach me anything? And how far up does this go, anyway? Who was it that watched me my whole life? Were they manipulating me? Am I even my own person? What—”

“Enough,” Fabian said, in a calm yet stern tone she hadn’t heard him use before. “Calm your mind, or fall victim to it, but stop your rambling either way.”

“A little harsh, Fabian, don’t you think?” She spat back.

“No, I do not. You must not trap yourself in your own mind when there are important matters at hand.”

She sighed in exasperation. “Look, part of processing information for me is talking through it. If I can talk it out, then I’ll be able to think clearly and solve the problem. If I don’t talk it out, I get lost in my own head.”

“Learn to save it for later, when you are safe.”

“We’re in the car, and there isn’t anyone else here. How are we not safe?”

Kade cut in, supporting Fabian but being kinder with his words. “Fabian is right. An Arcane of any race could attack us between here and the house, and we couldnae do anything to stop them. We’d have to fight, and that means he and I would need to protect ye. I ken Luther just turned yer world upside down again, but try to stay alert until we’re at the house.”

Responding to the two of them seemed pointless, so she didn’t bother. Instead, Kelly watched the city pass by as they drove home.

They arrived at the house without incident. Part of Kelly wanted to tell them both they’d been ridiculous to worry, but a bigger part understood that their fears had merit. She had only experienced small disagreements between Arcane, but the books she’d read told her that what she’d witnessed was child’s play.

Kelly got out of the SUV without a word and went inside the house. The excitement it held before was gone, and she couldn’t care less which room she got. She even left her bag in the front hall as she passed through.

Asmund was the unlucky soul that Kelly happened upon first. “Asmund! Where is the library in this place?”

He looked at her for a moment. “You want the library? Now?”

“Yes.” She didn’t bother with an explanation.

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