Crais(84)

I flinched as his lips grazed my ears.

“I have a way of bringing you to heel. Soon you will be begging for me.”

Eff. This.

Since he still held me off the ground I used his body mass to leverage my legs up, kneeing him in the jewels before continuing higher and kicking him in the chest. I added some of my power to it. I could see as we flew apart that he hadn’t been expecting my attack.

I was back on my feet in seconds, falling into a fighting stance, my energy sending flickers of light up and down my arms.

Fury moved to stand next to me, along with a dripping wet Talina, who was thankfully dressed in a swimsuit similar to my own. She must have exited the water during the fight.

The golden strands were swimming in my energy, wanting to connect to the power I could feel brewing in the girls. I struggled to keep them from emerging; we were trying to keep my conduit powers a secret, not wanting Que and the Seventine to know. The more they underestimated us, the better our chances of victory.

He bellowed as he charged at me. I held my ground, gathering energy. Not that I needed to worry about it. Just before he reached me, a blur flew in and smashed him away. The Walker flew to the side, and faster than my eye-blink Brace was on him. He had one hand around his throat, while the other punched into his cocky face. Brace’s black eyes never shifted from the Walker. I found it interesting that Brace mostly fought hand-to-hand in battle, instead of using his considerable power.

“Tell me what way you want to die?” He spoke in a cold methodical voice.

I tried to reach Brace mentally, but I was shut out in a wall of red rage.

“Brace is such an honorable man, giving him options like that. I just prefer to rip their intestines out through their nose.” Colton had appeared and was lazily observing his best friend.

Throwing him a derisive glare, I ignored his cavalier attitude and took a step closer.

“Brace!” I screamed. “Stop. It’s not worth killing him. You’ve made your point.”

This was why I’d tried to block him out earlier. He didn’t see reason when it came to me. I looked around for Josian or anyone who might help.

Unfortunately Brace was well known in the Walker community: Que’s son and one of the most powerful of their kind. No one would challenge him. I wondered if my dream power was strong enough to use in this setting with so many around.

I was just gathering my energy to try when Colton dashed in and slammed into Brace’s side. I followed him, diving in between the wrestling men. It wasn’t my smartest move. They could have torn me in two, but somehow Brace knew I was there. He snatched me up, placing his body in front of me protectively. He was growling these long deep grumbles.

“It’s okay, baby.” I placed my hand on his arm. “He never hurt me; no one hurt me.”

Brace’s black eyes flicked to my biceps where the burning marks were just starting to fade. His snarl echoed around the area. Half the Walkers hit the ground and were unable to rise again. I’d never seen Brace so angry. His power was leaking everywhere. There was no denying that the Seventine’s possession had changed my mate. He was so fiercely protective now.

“Brace.” My voice snapped as I tried a different tactic. “Stop right now or I will be the one kicking your butt. Some punk-ass full-of-himself Walker is no match for me. You’re overreacting.”

He stared at me. I glared back. The moment felt endless, but finally a sliver of brown bled back into his eyes and the slightest grin relaxed his features. He lowered his head and captured my lips in a kiss so scorching my breath fled my body and my head spun.

Damn his skills.

Once he’d kissed me senseless, he just turned and left to finish his duties. It took me a few minutes to regain my wits and by that time the Walkers were standing up and muttering amongst themselves. Brown-haired was still knocked out, and no one bothered to check on him.

Colton moved over to me. He wasn’t smiling, but his eyes were laughing.

“Well handled, Red.” He’d adopted Brace’s nickname for me. “Usually I just have to hang around waiting to clean the blood off the walls.”

I grimaced at the visual that produced. I still wasn’t the biggest fan of blood. Although I no longer wanted to faint every time I saw it, which was a good thing, considering my life lately.

“I’m going to remind Dune that no matter how much Brace annoys him, do not take him on,” Fury said, her gray eyes wide.

She’d secured her long white hair at the nape of her neck. Despite the fact it was thick and coarse in texture, it looked like shiny silver in the sunlight and contrasted nicely with the red of her skin.

Talina nodded. “I love that man, but he is seriously scary and impressive.”