I looked up and saw the man with the bright grey eyes standing in the doorway. Carlos moved ever so slightly underneath me, bringing my attention back to him.
His face was marked from the last kick. Why did I feel guilty for that? He’d had Ethan by the throat.
“No one touches Ethan. Ever. Got me?” I punctuated my words with a poke to his very hard chest.
Carlos nodded slowly, and I rose from him. I backed up a step and glanced at Ethan, who sat on the ground rubbing his throat. He gave me a thumbs-up. When I turned back to Carlos, he was standing, too.
“If he has more bruises from that, I’m coming after you.”
“I will let everyone know Ethan’s under your protection,” the grey-eyed man said. “Though, we’re all family here, so I don’t think that’s even necessary.”
“Really?” I said. “Was that an example of how your family treats each other? Some family.”
“Carlos misunderstood the situation when the boy patted your backside.”
The man’s worry carried a hint of humor with it. I didn’t find anything funny. I glanced at Carlos. He was so damn hard to read, but I was pretty sure he didn’t find anything funny, either.
“Ethan knows me. He knows my limits and what I need. There are no situations to misunderstand because when it comes to Ethan, he’s none of your business… unless he’s giving you advice about what not to do around me. Then, you might want to listen. He’s trying to save your lives.”
“I think they get the idea,” Ethan said.
I doubted it. Ethan had pushed me to the edge more times than I could count with his persistent interference. There’d been times I’d wanted to strangle him myself. But love always stopped me. And even when angry, I always knew, deep down, he was saving me from myself.
I turned to look Ethan over. There were new marks on his neck. I narrowed my eyes, and Ethan grinned at me. He knew what I wanted to do.
The mountain would go down for those marks.
“We sparring or not?” I said, focusing on Carlos again.
He lifted his hands. Good. I was ready to make good on my promise. Behind me, music started playing, and I flicked Ethan a dirty look. If he didn’t cut it out, his body was going to hit the floor.
I turned, shifted my balance, and began. Putting my fists up, I edged forward. At the last minute, I kicked out and connected with Carlos’ side and thigh in rapid succession. He tilted his head and studied me as I hopped back and guarded for his attack. Nothing came. Clever. He was learning my moves.
He wouldn’t learn much, though. I wasn’t going to keep this routine. I darted in and clipped his jaw with my damaged hand. He didn’t even try to block the swing. I wanted to follow up with a swing from the other side but wasn’t sure my wrist could take it. I would be a mess if I started to rely on my fists.
The music changed to violin pop. I grinned. Ethan was telling me to use my legs. He knew. Fine. I shifted my balance again and went for Carlos’ head. He let one kick through but blocked the next. My momentum didn’t stop. I twisted and kicked again.
When we were younger, Ethan recorded our fights so I could see how I moved. He compared it to a dancer. I compared it to a cat. Either way, I moved while in the air, looking for an opening and lashing out with feet, knees, or elbows.
Carlos started to block them all. His moves were different from Ethan’s. Softer somehow. It didn’t mean he was less of a fighter. He moved incredibly fast. There was something else to his touch each time we connected; it was like he was trying to maintain the contact, hold onto me.
Sweat trickled down my back, and I noticed a slight glisten on Carlos’ forehead. Good. The music changed again.
I moved faster, spinning and bending, dodging and striking. Carlos and I moved together. It was as if he could read my mind. He met each move and pushed for more with his dark gaze. Several times, I unintentionally left myself open and felt the drag of his fingers on my cheek or sides. Was he just playing with me?
My breathing shortened from the exertion, but I didn’t slow until Ethan called for a break. Someone had brought us water. Ethan handed me a glass. I knew better than to gulp it. But I took a healthy drink.
“Can I borrow that?” Carlos said from right behind me.
I turned and saw he was looking at Ethan’s phone.
“Sure.” Ethan handed it over, and Carlos walked away for a few moments. When he turned back, he tossed Ethan the phone.
“Play that.”
Ethan looked at the screen, frowned for a minute, then caught my gaze and grinned.
“Back in there, kitty cat.”
I gave him my glass and turned just in time to block a quick jab from Carlos. Why did that make me smile?
Music started behind me. It wasn’t a song I knew, but I listened to the words as Carlos and I went through the motions. The beat was perfect and the lyrics inviting. He wanted me to come with him to lose myself tonight. And I did.
The coiled tension that I hadn’t managed to fully exorcise with Brick began to ease as I fought Carlos. The relief made me smile as I kicked yet again. Then, Carlos changed the game. His hands closed over my ankle and held me there. His thumb rubbed a slow circle on the exposed skin. Something ignited in me. It wasn’t anger. And it scared me.
I pulled myself from his hold; and without a word, I turned and left the barn. Though my steps were measured, I was all over the place in my head. What the hell had he been trying to do in there? He’d ruined a perfectly good spar, the best I’d had in a long time, by being touchy feely. Idiot. Hadn’t he listened to a word Ethan had said? I breathed deeply, just a normal, human cleansing breath, and focused on my surroundings.
Outside, the light was starting to fade. Across the yard, the three vehicles were still parked in front of a small house. Ethan and I were stuck with these people. We had no car to get away from them. And, honestly, unless they proved to be a threat like those other things chasing us, I was starting to think we might be better off with them on our side. Except for Carlos. He’d gotten under my skin in there.
I headed in the direction of the house, glad I’d landed a few shots in the beginning that would leave a mark. The feel of his fingers lingered on my ankle, and I began to doubt why he hadn’t landed any hits. Like Ethan, I had a feeling Carlos hadn’t wanted to. Something about that thought had my stomach flipping weirdly.
“Wait up,” Ethan said, jogging to catch up to me. “I thought it was a good fight. But you’re acting like it wasn’t. What’s going on?”
I rolled my shoulders. I was tense again, but not because of an overload.
“I don’t know. I’m drained.” In that regard, the fight with Carlos was the best match I’d ever had. But something about him bothered me. Probably the way my stomach was acting. Then again, I hadn’t eaten anything after emptying it.
“I think I just need some sleep and something to eat.”
“I’ll find the food. You see if you can find a shower. You need it.”
I snorted and shook my head at him.
“You love my stink.”
“I do.” He grinned and pulled open the door for me.
Everyone was in the kitchen when we walked in. A few sat at the table but most leaned against counters or lingered in doorways. Their anxiety, fear, and impatience made me itch as much as their sudden silence and regard. Ethan moved close to me and threaded his fingers through mine.
“Are we interrupting something?” he asked.
“No,” Bethi said. She sat at the table along with Luke. His gaze flicked down to Ethan’s hand wrapped around mine.
“We’re just waiting around for Isabelle to let off enough steam so we can talk.”
I eased my hand from Ethan’s and pulled out a chair.
“The steam’s been vented. So talk.” I sat. Ethan stood behind me.
Bethi glanced around the room.
“We should probably start with introductions and the basics.”
“Sounds pretty smart,” I said. I didn’t quite manage to keep the sarcasm from my voice, and the man next to Bethi narrowed his eyes.
“How’s the face, ginger?” I asked him.
Bethi reached over and laid a hand on his leg.
“This is Luke. My Mate,” she said, watching me closely as if waiting for a reaction.
“I have a feeling you’re not using an English term for friend.”
“No. I’m not. Most of the people in this room are werewolves. A few of us are like you. Gifted humans.”
“Gifted? I’d like to return mine. It sucks.”