Page 5 of Danny's Dance

Hesitantly, my eyes shifted from JP to Regan, the thought of losing one of them clouding mymind.

“Hey, Danny, d-don’t go t-there.” JP snapped my attention back to him as he placed his hands on my cheek. “You’re n-not going to l-loseus.”

Chesca gargled loudly. “Is that why you have two boyfriends? So you have a spare lying around for when I kill the next? Silly Danielle, one day you’ll run out of men who want you. Ipromise.”

“Shut up, you witch,” Regan hissed, tightening his grip on her until she flinched in hisarms.

“Ouch, this one is strong. But not strong enough. One little nick could have him bleeding out in your arms, just like I did. Remember, nobody is immortal!” she taunted, her words slashing into me like awhip.

“She’s s-still playing g-games, don’t listen to h-her,” JP warned in my ear, trying to reassure me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to face Chesca oncemore.

“I’m sorry for what happened, but you need to stop chasing us. You’re still alive, Chesca. Do something with it instead of wasting it on achase.”

The girl in front of me threw her head back and her deranged laugh filled the empty forest. “As long as I live, I’ll come for you, Danny. One day, one day you’ll be alone. Unprotected. Scared. And we’ll continue our game from today without your nasty men interrupting us. And I will kill you. Or even better, you’ll kill me all overagain.”

With eyes big as saucers, she flashed me and JP a smile. “Goodbye, suckers,” she grinned and with the snap of a finger, she vanished in thinair.

“Damn it!” Regan growled in frustration, slamming his fist into a nearby tree. No match for his power, the poor tree crumbled under his assault and crashed on the dry ground. The eerie wind blew through the open spot, playing with the leaves and twigs as it twirled aroundus.

For a moment, we waited. For the tree to fall, for the wind to blow, and for Chesca who might return. It wouldn’t be the first time we fell for thattrick.

But nothing. Her menacing aura seemed to have cleared up for real and once again, we werealone.

Chapter Three - Muscles

“That was way too close,”JP said, breaking the silence and I nodded. He was right. Chesca came way too close to killing me tonight. I turned around to my oldest friend and lover and pressed myself softly into him, his familiar scent of dried parchment and honey comforting me like it alwaysdid.

“I was so scared,” I admitted, melting in his warm embrace. His arms were slender, but I could feel the hidden muscles roll underneath his skin. JP was a lot stronger and tougher than he looked, something I always admired about him. His hands rubbed soft circles on my back as he let me hide myself and my fears into hisembrace.

“Are you okay, Danny?” Regan asked, shaking his hand as it reddened from the impact. I turned in JP’s arms and faced my mate. His face was warped in pain and concerned, I took his hand in my own. His fingers were swelling and the telltale bursted red veins let me know that he’d have a bruised hand for at least a goodweek.

“You need to be more careful,” I warned him, but Regan just brushed my concern away. He pushed up my chin with his good hand and stared deep in myeyes.

“I’m fine. You’re the one who’s really hurt,” he muttered, his voice strained. He was really fucking pissed off and if I wasn’t around, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to take down a couple moretrees.

I pushed his hand away and pulled my shirt up to my nose. “I’m okay,” I mumbled, hiding the tender spots on my neck. Chesca got me good and I was sure she left some nice blemishes on my skin. I just hoped I could avoid mirrors for the next couple of weeks and not be reminded every time I saw my face how close she came to robbing me of mylife.

I shivered. What if she’d actually succeeded in killing me? Unlike her, I wouldn’t resurrect into a next life. No, for me, death was rather permanent. Without the rather. It was just permanent. And not something I was particularly looking forwardto.

Although...

No. I needed to stay alive. There were still so many things I had to do and me dying wouldn’t really benefit or accomplish anything. Except stop thewar.

“We’ve got to move,” I muttered as the adrenaline of the fight wore off and the markings on my neck started to hurt. I needed to get them wrapped in hot bandages and hope my wolf healed it before we were back aroundpeople.

I turned on my heels, ready to get out of the forest, but JP caught mywrist.

“H-Here,” he motioned, waving a rather large tissue in front of my face. I frowned, wondering what he was on about. Did he want me to blow mynose?

“Ummm...” I hummed, looking at himquestiongly.

“I t-thought you could use it as a s-scarf... But it’s s-stupid. You’re n-not going to w-wear a tissue. Stupid,” JP muttered to himself, his cheeks flushing red. I felt my first smile break through on my face as I took the tissue out of his hands. He was so thoughtful and sweet. How I landed a guy like him, I would neverunderstand.

I gently pressed myself into him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. He sighed in relief and gently brushed the strands of hair away from myface.

“Thank you, love,” I whispered against his lips, drawing a chuckle fromhim.

“Always, Danny. You know that, right?” he muttered, peering deep into my eyes. I bit my lip as I melt under his gaze. There was just something irresistible about guys with long eyelashes and warm eyes. And JP hadboth.

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