Page 135 of Halfblood Deceived

“So you were watching us for a while, yes?” Aylana asked, blessedly changing the subject.

Aella nodded. “You are awesome, Diana.”

It was her sister’s turn to blush. “Nah.”

Sebastian slung his arm over Diana’s shoulders. “She is awesome. Were we to have a real one-on-one fight, I am honestly not sure who’d win.”

“Thank the goddess that will never happen,” Diana said, nose wrinkling.

“Hear, hear,” Aylana agreed, tilting her head at Aella. “Would you like to join us and spar a bit?”

Aella bit her lip, giving Sebastian a sideways glance. “Um, I don’t know.” She didn’t feel uncomfortable at all around Sebastian. But she wasn’t sure she’d cope well with being too close to him in a defensive position, even if she knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

The vampire banished his sword with a flash of blue magic and a flick of the wrist. “I better get going.”

Aella felt bad at once. “You don’t have to. I interrupted.”

Sebastian gave her a warm smile. “No worries. I have places to be and business to conduct.” He kissed Aylana lightly on the lips. “Pass by my office before you have to go be a sexy spy, yes?”

Aylana chuckled, stealing one more kiss from her admittedly gorgeous boyfriend. “I am not a spy. And definitely.”

Sebastian grinned. “You do sleuthing while wearing that. You are a sexy spy in my book, and nothing you say will change my mind.”

Aylana’s clothes were not revealing at all, but they fitted her curvy, athletic frame perfectly.

Aylana bit her lip, her cheeks turning slightly pink. She kept her eyes on Sebastian until he disappeared into the forest, then shook her head and gave Aella a questioning look. “So?”

“You don’t have to,” Diana hastened to say, even though Aella knew her sister wanted her to train properly, just in case.

Aella took a deep breath. “I want to. But you’ll have to start with the basics.”

Aylana nodded. “Of course. If you are uncomfortable with anything at all, let us know, alright?”

“I will,” Aella promised.

Diana went to stand near the tree Aylana had been leaning against.

Aella turned to face Aylana fully as the werewolf-fey female took a fighting stance. She automatically copied the position, one foot in front of the other, fists raised, left one ready to block.

Aylana smiled approvingly. “Good. Now, attack me.”

Aella obeyed her.

CHAPTER 31

Thursdays were usually not as busy as Fridays, but it seemed as if the colder weather had prompted people to leave their homes and find refuge in Hecate.

It was almost time for Aella’s break. Despite her superior stamina, compared to a human’s, she was yearning for her twenty minutes of peace.

Weeks had passed with no other groping incidents, so Reese didn’t shadow Aella as much as before. Still, the handsome bouncer seemed to be close to Aella most of the night, unless they were helping to break up a fight, as they were at that moment.

It had to be a squabble between supernaturals, because Rod, Vaz, Jordan, Alec, and two other male bouncers were surrounding the small crowd.

Aella shook her head—half amused, half worried—as she made her way to a table occupied by a man with dark hair. If things got too out of hand, Kamilla intervened. Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch on such occasions. There were few things more entertaining than watching males of all species and sizes nearly faint in the presence of the stunning vampire princess. Her supermodel looks did nothing to soften the sheer aura of power she exuded without effort.

“What can I get you?” Aella asked the occupant of the table.

A muscle jumped in his jaw. His dark eyes transmitted open disdain as he swept them up and down her frame.

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