Page 25 of Torn Between Two Worlds

He clenched his fist and shook his head at his carelessness. Never again. They were going to sit down and have a good long discussion about a safety plan. One he'd had plenty of time thinking about while waiting for the date that had turned disastrous. He sure as shit didn't care if she didn't like it either. Her life was more important for so many reasons. No one had mentioned super powers, and he was pretty damn certain he'd seen her shoot fire from her hand. Who knew what else she could do.

Well, he had a pretty good feeling that smug asshole who’d set it all up knew. It figured that he could count that guy out as a source. Fucker hadn't bothered to disclose it, and it had seemed to shock her, so obviously it wasn't a part of the package type of thing. Didn't matter. He wasn't letting her get that close to the danger again. If they were in her world, they could go to his and vice versa. That had been mentioned—the traveling back and forth, so they were going to use it.

She’d tried to pull some last minute shit there about it being just sex, and it rubbed him the wrong way. Fine, if she thought it was a one day thing between them he would let her, for the time being. However, sooner or later he was going to force her to listen to what she meant to him. He wouldn't lose out to some idiot human who’d left her here. Not a shot in hell, but clearly she wasn't happy with herself for her actions and bringing it up too soon would have his ass flung back into the tacky demon bar.

Satisfied, after walking around, that nothing was lurking in the bushes and that an assault wasn't coming, he headed back to the apartment. “I'm coming in, and so help me, if you're naked...” Grinning he pushed open the door. He couldn't help himself sometimes.

Much to his libido's disappointment, she was clothed and sitting on the small black couch, TV remote in hand and something he couldn't make out on the screen.

“Sorry to disappoint, not happening, and we aren't discussing it. If I wasn't so freaked by what I did, I wouldn't even be having this conversation with you. It's a business talk, the business of keeping my ass safe because I'm not immature enough to think I don't need protection.”

Sitting next to her, he raised a brow. “Is your tirade over, sweetheart?”

“It's not a tirade, and my name is Ciara, not sweetheart.So help me, if you chuckle at me one more time, I'll throw this remote at you.”

His chuckle turned into a snort as he tried to clamp his mouth shut. It didn’t work, and true to her word, the remote sailed at his chest, bounced off and landed on the table, causing the back to pop off.

“Are you certain it's not a tirade?” The smirk still played at his lips. This was supposed to be serious, but she was so damned cute when she was trying to act as if it meant nothing to her.

“Just talk. I assume, being War's Second, you’re fantastic at strategizing.”

His eyes narrowed into slits. “I am more than just that, and I'll remind you that you said so yourself just yesterday afternoon. So cut the high and mighty bullshit, sweetheart, or I will prove to you why I'm feared.”

She didn't budge.

Good, she wasn't afraid of him anymore. Progress.“But, to address your remark, I am quite good at it. First things first, you killed a man yesterday. I'm not going to pretend like you didn't, and you shouldn't either. He was going to do the same to you, so forget about it. There are always casualties in war, and he most likely won't be the last. I'll do what I can to protect you from having to do, well whatever it is you did, again. But I don't make promises I can't keep, so all I'll promise is if you don't get your head around it, you're going to get yourself hurt. You'll freeze and won't be able to defend yourself. Understood?”

War was emerging. He could feel it. Generally, they could control the summoning of their Horseman, but sometimes it simply came out. The battle shit always made it happen, and he was thankful for it, so even then, he wouldn't question if it were right to be so blunt with her. Her slow nod of the head was all he needed to continue.

“And just what the fuckdidyou do? And why was I not told about it beforehand? That little party trick would come in handy if I knew I could use it, or if I can even use it again.”

She scowled. “I have no idea. So you didn't know because I didn't know. Tough shit. By the way, how do you think I feel about it? One minute I'm trying to hit someone with a rock or something, and the next I'm like ‘hmm let's flick my wrist at him like I'm fucking Spiderman.’”

Her voice was shrill, laced with hysteria, and he reached out and pulled her to him. She fought at first but quickly relaxed against his chest. His hand stroked her hair down her back as the tears burst out. It was about time she faced the killing and better to do it when she wasn't alone.

He must have sat there with her like that for about twenty minutes. But it was what she needed. The fact that she'd allowed herself to be held by him made him certain she was going to accept him as hers. Just a little more time because he was pretty damn sure the minute she realized who was holding her, she would freak out.

“Ciara, not to be a jerk, but this kind of breaks your no touching rule.”

He offered her a gentle smile, and she sat back, snorting snot and wiping at her eyes. He did his best to hide his smile but was fairly sure she saw it.

“Thank you.” She paused to clear her throat. “I apologize for being rude. To say I'm upset about yesterday as a whole would be a massive understatement.”

He went to comment on that, and she raised her hand to stop him.

“No, we aren't going to discuss anything, but my safety. Nothing. I don't know what happened yesterday. I know I'd seen Alcott fight that way more times than once. Rarely did he do it, but he wasn't opposed to that level of violence and pain if he had to.” She sniffled again. “I need to learn how to do it. How to do more of it. If I even can.”

He nodded. The defeat and worry in Ciara’s voice pierced his heart. He'd always wanted a warrior as his mate. Ciara was damn sure not one, but she had a strength that he couldn't help but admire.

“Good. That's not the most reassuring idea, but better that you're aware that it may never happen again. I want you to learn hand-to-hand defense. I can tell you've never done more than slap or kick someone, it's time to fix that.”

“I agree. I am not saying I plan on killing again, no matter what you say, but I need to learn basic defense.”

She bit her lower lip and rolled it in her teeth, and he cursed his cock as it stirred.

“Will you teach me?”

His smile was genuine. Reaching out to him that way was just the key to earning her trust before explaining what she was to him. “I was going to, whether you asked or not, sweetheart. Your safety is in my hands, and while that coat wearing jerk’s schedule didn't say what the penalty was if you fail, I have a pretty good feeling I won't like it. And that's not all. Since I've gotten here, you've mentioned a few firsts. Like me touching you without your knowledge. If I can do it, you damn well better assume anyone can now, probably always could and you just didn't know. Maybe it's because you're older and things are becoming more real for you.”

---