Page 44 of Clash of Kings

“Sorry, but that gets my blood pumping.” He used a napkin to wipe the table, then wadded it up and set it aside.

Dakota pointed a fry at him. “Why? You aren’t going to be the one fighting.” She then dragged it through the ketchup and stuck the whole thing in her mouth.

Sebastian’s dick twinged as he remembered what her luscious mouth had done to him earlier. He didn’t need to get an erection sitting at the table with his cousins.Focus, damnit.“She’s right. I’ll need you and several others of our Clan backing me up, making sure the wolves don’t jump in to help King.”

“Well, damn, Son, that’s no fun.” Tony winked at Bas before taking another bite of his Reuben.

“Then again, Sloane will want his pound of flesh, so you might get your wish after Bas takes care of King,” Dakota added.

Tony set his sandwich down and rubbed his hands together, cackling. If Bas didn’t know his cousin, he would think the male unhinged. Tony scooped up fallen sauerkraut with a chip, and as he chewed, he looked over Sebastian’s shoulder. Bas gave him time to formulate whatever thought was floating in his mischievous brain.

Lydia pulled out her phone and placed it on the table. “How many Goyles are you thinking?”

Bas turned to Dakota. “How many fighters does the pack have?”

“As far as those who are adult alphas and betas? Roughly one hundred? But anyone King calls on would have to participate.”

“Do you think he’d do that? Ask omegas and children to fight?”

Dakota sighed. “No. He’s an ass to me, but he’s not a bad Alpha.”

Tony took a sip of soda before chiming in. “Kody, how many of those in the one hundred are female?”

“Off the top of my head, I’d say ten.”

“If they’re shifted, is there a way to tell them from the males?” Bas asked.

“Yes. They’re a lot smaller.”

“Okay, so four of our females and twenty males to be on the safe side. Lydia, make sure all the females know to wear those fancy bracelets.” Anthony pointed to their cousin’s arm.

Dakota leaned forward, staring at Lydia’s arm. “What’s special about those?”

Lydia looked around as did Bas, knowing what Lydia was going to do. He didn’t see anyone in the area. Lydia whispered as she angled her arm to the side, and the bracelet became a small dagger.

“What in the hocus pocus is that?”

Lydia grinned. “Exactly that – magic. Tony’s aunt, Lily, along with her twin daughters are witches. They spelled the bracelets to become whatever weapon is needed.” Lydia shook her wrist, whispering once again, and the dagger went back to being jewelry. “If I need a sword, all I have to do is say the words. If I want a pair of sai, I can have those as well, although I’m not as proficient with them.”

“What are sai?” Dakota asked. Lydia described the weapons while pulling up a photo on her phone. Dakota oohed upon seeing the blades and asked Sebastian, “Can I get some of those?”

“Do you know how to use them?”

“Sure, you just slip them over your hands, and voilà!”

Bas knocked his shoulder against his mate’s, grinning. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I am, but you lo… uh, like me anyway. And no, I don’t know how to use them, but I can learn, right?”

Sebastian wanted to tell Dakota he did love her but not in front of his cousins. “You can. Zuri would probably be the best teacher for you.”

“I concur,” Lydia added. “But Z is off in New York right now.”

“Again?” Anthony asked.

“She’s working on a showing for Connor,” Lydia explained. Zuri, or Z as the younger generation called the female, was Connor’s assistant for his art. The world knew the artist as Rico Di, but to the Clan, Connor was a brilliant doctor and scientist, having learned at the feet of his grandfather, Jonas Montague.

“When we get this mess with Kingston straightened out, Dakota and I are going to visit my parents. Maybe we can catch Z while we’re there. But speaking of magic, since when did you learn how to set your blades on fire?”

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