Chapter 22 #2
It turned out that when you put Barbie and me in a ring with the heirs, certain differences became glaringly apparent.
They relied on technique; we played for blood.
They pulled their punches; we used claws, teeth, and nails.
They fought with honor; our favorite move was a well-aimed knee to the nuts.
And we giggled without remorse every time a punch landed true while they bent over.
“What’s wrong?” I asked innocently as Louis limped away, clutching his ribs and calling it quits.
“I’ve never met girls meaner than you two,” the vamp complained, keeping a safe distance. He was used to bride candidates swooning and spoiling him rotten. “You yell, howl, and throw insults nonstop. Mental warfare isn’t supposed to be this literal, ladies.”
“Don’t forget the groin shots they’re so fond of,” Cade added, wincing at the memory.
“It’s called dick hunting,” I clarified.
“It shouldn’t be a sport,” Cade retorted. “It should be banned.”
“You two are the most gorgeous females in the realm,” Silas chimed in, “but you kick the hardest! And you bite.” He held his hands protectively over his junk. “No one needs that kind of stress. Especially not now.”
I blinked with exaggerated confusion. “I think there’s a big misunderstanding here.”
“What happens here stays here,” Barbie added, biting her lip as she eyed the heirs. “Sy and I have reputations to uphold. We can’t have everyone thinking we’re not nice and sweet.”
“Your reputations are already in tatters,” Cade said, though he was laughing. “No one in the realm believes you’re nice and sweet.”
“I’m not quitting,” Rowan declared. “To show you how this is done, I’ll wrestle with Sy. Just Sy.” He gave Barbie a pointed look. “The rest of you can take on Barbie. Be careful. She can be aggressive.”
That was an understatement, but my mate was a gentleman.
Barbie narrowed her eyes, but Rowan was already guiding me onto a mat that Underhill had provided at a moment’s notice. We circled each other, a dance of feints and flirtation, and within minutes it became clear this was less about sparring and more about something else entirely.
Soon, the scent of our arousal hit every supernatural nose in the clearing as we rolled across the mat.
“Fuck,” Silas groaned, his shifter senses the most acute. “This is the most disgusting and disturbing wrestling match I’ve ever watched!”
“It’s gone too far,” Cade called out. “Someone stop them.”
“Agreed!” everyone shouted in unison.
Wild magic swirled around Barbie, eager to do her bidding. She and the magic were thick as thieves, and for the first time, I felt like a third wheel. It was profoundly unfair.
A guttural and primordial roar thundered across the clearing, slicing through our banter.
Everyone froze. We turned as one toward the far end of the field where Killian had been training alone. What stood there made my jaw drop.
Killian was now ten feet of monstrous fury. Sapphire scales sheathed impossible muscles. Horns curved from a skull that was both dragon and man His face hardened into something prehistoric, beautiful and terrible at once. His eyes, storm blue mixed with dragon gold, crackled with lightning.
When he opened his mouth, fire poured out in a controlled stream that turned the very air to plasma.
“Shit,” Barbie breathed. “That’s my mate.”
The chaos king had achieved a half-transformation. In this hybrid warrior form, he could match Ruin strength for strength. That was the plan: he would keep the god occupied while we destroyed his army. Then we would all pile on that fucker and pray it was enough.
“Killi...Killian?” Barbie called, her expression dreamy, aroused, and worried all at once.
“M—mate!” The voice was gravel and power. Killian was still in there.
“Don’t worry,” Barbie answered, a slow smile spreading. “I have a thing for monsters.”
Killian beckoned her with a clawed hand. “Come!”
But a piercing shriek cut through the moment.
“Barbie! Barbie!” Pucker zoomed through the thorned bushes, his phantom form more agitated than I’d ever seen. He’d been on scout duty, using his incorporeal nature to cover ground faster than any living being.
“They’re coming!” Pucker gasped, unnecessary for a ghost, but he loved drama. “Ruin’s army is less than an hour out! Less!”
“Three days. We were supposed to have three more days!” Rowan snarled.
“Ruin activated an ancient leyline! He’s bringing his abominations through!” Pucker cried.
“To war!” Killian roared, his hybrid form storming toward us. Barbie ran to meet him.
“To war!” the heirs echoed, their voices a unified roar of fury.
“Rally your men, brothers!” Cade shouted. “We meet at the Veil!”
The heirs raced from Underhill to muster their warriors.
Killian kissed Barbie, hard and desperate, and then he was gone.
Rowan turned to me, his eyes holding a thousand unspoken words.
I gave him a fierce, encouraging smile instead of clinging to him like I wanted.
War was here. My man needed to focus. Romance would have to wait.