Page 67 of Destined to Fight

She pushed him away, her hands on his chest. “Eww, no! He’s like an overprotective brother. That’s just gross.”

He chuckled. “Aye, and that overprotective brother will kill me if I hurt ye. At least one of us would survive.”

She couldn’t help the shiver of disgust that ran through her. “No, just no. Anything but that.”

“I dinnae want to die either.”

“Well, no, I meant…ugh…I meant him watching. But that too. I don’t want him to kill you.”

He laughed, obviously having set her up for that awkward moment.

She had to change the subject quick or she’d gag, still thinking about Fabian seeing them. “Where is Asta? I’m excited to see her.”

“She’ll be in tomorrow. She was held up with some business things.”

A loud thud came from the door, making Kelly jump.

“What the fuck?” came Ginna’s voice from the other side of it.

Kade reached back and unlocked it.

Ginna, Fabian, and Asmund came in, bringing a blast of cold air with them.

“Why would you lock the door?” Ginna asked, looking between Kade and Kelly.

Kade shrugged.

“Right. Good reason, vampire.” She looked between the two of them again. “Why are y’all just standing here?”

“We were just talking,” Kelly explained.

“Oh suuuure, talking. I used to talk with my high school boyfriend all the time.”

Fabian shook his head as he made his way into the house, ignoring the banter between them.

Kelly wanted to defend herself, but it wasn’t worth it. Ginna had a slew of smart-ass remarks locked and loaded. There was no reason to give her something to fire at.

Kade gestured for Kelly to go upstairs. She did, and he followed closely behind her.

They made it halfway to the second floor before Ginna let one fly.

“Y’all behave now. No hiding the weasel.”

“Oh my god. She’s the embarrassing mom I never had.”

“I heard that,” Ginna retorted.

Kelly couldn’t help it. “Bite me.”

She and Ginna laughed together then. This was what she needed. These people were like the perfect dysfunctional family she’d never had. Her family was dysfunctional, all right, but there had been no love in her house growing up other than her father’s. It had always been cold and tense in her house. This house was warm and inviting, and the people brought it to life.

Surprisingly, Kade followed all the way to her bedroom and closed the door behind him.

“I thought you said no.”

“I did, aye. And yer mentor down there made the rules perfectly clear. But I can keep ye company, can I not?”

She took her hair down and started to undress. “Sure, you can. But you better hope we find answers soon. I don’t like games, Kade, and I tend to go after what I want, despite the consequences.”

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