Page 27 of A Vampire in a Pear Tree
“Kind of, but with no gloves.No dragon claws, no vampire fangs, and no godly powers,” Aisling answered.
Owain shifted his gaze to Christian, who made a wry face for a few seconds before admitting, “We have found it to be useful in the release of tension.”
“Oh, you love joining the fray, and we all know it,” Allie said with a smile shared with the other women.“Because there’s only a few of the men present, Becket and Yrian set up a special space for the guys to duke it out.I know they would have loved doing it at night, but maybe now would be a better time to get rid of some of the animosity, so we can all talk later, when feelings aren’t running so high.”
Berry looked at him, her eyes searching his, but for what, he wasn’t quite sure.Perhaps it was assessing his mental state, but she smiled again, and once again he felt as if he’d been standing in the full sunlight.“What do you think?Are you up to taking on a couple of dragons and vamps?”
“Dark Ones,” both Finch and Christian murmured.
“Would you enjoy it if I was to participate?”he asked her, feeling a sudden, and unquenchable, need to show her his fighting prowess.“My grandsire taught my brothers and me well in the arts of warring, so I am not opposed if it would please you.”
“The urge to say ‘those are fighting words’ is strong, but since I’m not the one doing the beatdown, I’ll keep quiet,” Aisling said to Ysolde.
“Trust us on this,” Ysolde told Berry, taking her by the arm in order to lead her away from him.“It’s great fun.”
The females left together en masse, all of them but Tatiana reassuring Berry that while it sounded like something out of a Quentin Tarantino movie, it was actually beneficial to everyone involved.
Owain, watching as the dragons filed out after them, turned to Christian.“Isit beneficial?”
Finch gave a brief laugh, then strolled after the women.
“For Dark Ones?”Christian hesitated, then gave a quick smile.“Not really.It’s been my experience that the dragons are much more volatile, emotionally speaking.Dark Ones have better regulation over our emotions, but I will admit that there is something satisfying about their style of fighting.I am not often afforded opportunities to indulge in such, and the dragons are excellent opponents.”
“I suppose it is no different to using a punching bag,” Owain said, falling into step alongside Christian as they left the house and followed the others to a large structure resembling a barn.“The lord of our Hour provided Rhain one when he kept breaking down the walls of the stable whenever he’d go into a rage.I will participate, but after that, we will leave.I can’t allow the dragons to possess that which could mean my incarceration.”
Christian was silent for ten steps before he answered, “If it comes down to that, we will naturally support your claim.I cannot help but hope, however, that we are able to regain the relic without disturbing the dragonkin, especially Yrian.He has a great deal more power than is apparent, and I would not relish going against him.”
Owain’s gaze went to the man in question, a slow smile curling his lips.
He might not be a dragon demigod, but he was a thane.
It would be enough.
EIGHT
BERRY
