Page 76 of Destined to Fight

“You all are funny. Why you’d play a joke like this on Christmas, I have no idea, but nice try.”

Kade let out a growl, frustration evident. Kelly looked at him and saw his fangs descend and his eyes turn amber.

Her father looked at him and went utterly still for a millisecond. Then he stood, drawing his gun, pointed, and fired at Kade with the determination and precision of a practiced marksman.

Kade could have stopped him, Kelly knew that, but part of her father learning about all of this was coming to terms with the fact that his gun could not save him.

Kelly’s ears rang from the noise, and a hole appeared in the upper left chest of Kade’s cotton shirt. Damn it, she’d really liked that one.

When Kade didn’t budge, two more shots were fired, and two more holes appeared.

Still no movement from Kade as the bullets fell from his chest.

Another shot fired, this time a hole appeared in the center of Kade’s forehead. A small amount of blood welled, then his body pushed the bullet out, and it clanked to the floor.

She stood in front of her father’s gun and stared down the barrel. “Enough!”

The gun lowered immediately.

“Kelly, move!”

“No, I will not. You can stop shooting him. Your bullets will not do any harm, and he won’t hurt you. Not to mention, my ears can’t stand another shot.”

Her father’s mouth moved, but no words came out. Gently, she reached out and took the gun from him. “Sit down, Dad.”

A few stutters followed, but he sat with little grace.

Kelly turned to Kade and placed her hand on his forehead, where only a small amount of blood remained. She hadn’t seen the healing abilities of a vampire until now, and they amazed her.

Giving her a reassuring smile, he took her hand and gently lowered it, weaving his fingers within hers. “I’m all right, lass.”

She turned back to her father. His eyes were wide, and beads of sweat shone on his forehead.

“Will you please listen now, Dad? I need to know more about our family so I can get some answers about my abilities.”

Her father was utterly still.

A wicked grin spread across Ginna’s face. “Show him what you can do, Rookie. Call some water and splash his face with it.”

If anyone else had suggested it, Kelly would have asked if they were serious. Ginna was absolutely serious. Kelly had learned in just a few days that the woman was slightly off-kilter and loved shenanigans.

Ginna raised her eyebrows in a “come on, then” gesture.

Sighing in exasperation, Kelly let go of Kade’s hand and relaxed her arms. Closing her eyes, she focused on her power and called it to her fingertips. Before, she hadn’t noticed the movement of water, she’d only controlled it based on feeling. Now, she reached out farther, sensing her surroundings, too.

She felt the water as it left a nearby vase and made its way to her. It traveled across the floor, then up to her hands, collecting in a ball between them.

When she felt complete control of it, she opened her eyes and looked at her dad to make sure he was paying attention.

He stared at the water between her hands in amazement.

Kelly tossed the water in his face and watched it splash on him like a slow-motion water balloon video.

If it was possible, her dad’s face looked even more shocked as he wiped the excess water from it.

“I’m a mage, Dad, or I will be. Now, help me by getting over your shock and talk to all of us about our family.”

Still nothing from her dad.

---