I lifted my hands as the boy dug out his phone and started playing some obnoxious music about bodies hitting the floor. She didn’t seem to like the music selection either, based on the dirty look she gave him before putting her fists up and edging forward.
I wondered if she’d use the same jab, jab, uppercut rhythm she did with the boy. When she shifted her weight to her back foot, I knew she wouldn’t.
She kicked out and connected with my side and thigh in rapid succession then hopped back. She kept her guard up, waiting for my counter.
She’s testing you, Grey sent me.
No. She’s trying to learn me.
She darted in, suddenly, and clipped my jaw with her damaged hand. The music changed to something lighter, classier, but still with a beat. She grinned, and her weight shifted to her back foot again. This time, she kicked me in the damn head. I let her have that one but blocked the next. She didn’t stop. She twisted and kicked again. She moved while in the air, looking for an opening and lashing out with feet, knees, or elbows. She was graceful. Beautiful. And happy. She moved faster with me than she ever could with the human.
After the kick to the head, I blocked every attack. It didn’t deter or frustrate her that I caught her foot, fist, or leg each time. It grew harder and harder to let her go, though. While she was clearing her excess energy, I was learning every dip and curve. Every smooth move. Every tell.
Before long, sweat beaded on her skin and ran down her temples.
Can someone bring her some water? I sent Grey.
I’ll ask. Having a good time?
I was, but didn’t let Grey distract me.
After a few songs, the music changed to something faster, and Isabelle responded to it, spinning and bending, dodging and striking. I moved with her, reading her moves as she made them. She started leaving herself open, taunting me to strike back. Instead of my fist, she felt the drag of my fingers on her cheek or ribs.
“Time to stop for a water break,” the boy said. “She’ll go until she collapses if you let her.”
She bounced back a few steps and lowered her hands before taking the glass he held out for her. I followed.
“Can I borrow that?” I asked the boy, looking at his phone.
“Sure.”
I moved away from them and searched for the song I wanted before returning the phone.
“Play that.”
He looked at the screen, frowned for a minute, then looked at Isabelle with a grin.
“Back in there, kitty cat.”
She handed him her glass. As she turned, I aimed a jab at her face, testing her. She moved fast to block it, and her lips curved up in the corners, proving what I’d begun to suspect. She loved fighting.
The song started. I waited to see how she’d respond to the smoother beat and the lyrics. It was a blatant invitation to move with me. Within moments, she seemed to lose herself in the spar and the music. She relaxed and started to smile each time she went for a hole in my guard.
She was sexy, smooth, and mine. I closed a hand over her ankle and held her there. She waited, watching me as my thumb rubbed a slow circle on the exposed skin. Then, I saw it. The spark of acknowledgement in her eyes, right before they brightened with anger.
She jerked herself from my hold, turned, and left the barn.
“Thank you for helping her,” the boy called as he hurried to follow her.
Grey leaned against the door, watching me.
“I wondered how long you’d hold out. You did good. But I think she’s going to be a handful.”
“I have big hands.”
He laughed and clapped me on the shoulder.
“I think that’s the first joke you’ve ever made. She’s good for you. You just need to watch out for her friend. Messing with him will get you in serious trouble.”
So I’d learned. We left the barn together. Outside, the yard was empty and the light was starting to fade. From the house, I could hear Bethi mention introducing everyone.
“How’s the face, ginger?” Isabelle asked.
We stepped inside as Bethi reached over and laid a hand on Luke’s leg.
“This is Luke. My Mate,” she said, watching Isabelle closely.
“I have a feeling you’re not using an English term for friend,” Isabelle said, giving Bethi an opening to explain about us.
Tension coiled in my shoulders. I wanted her to understand the term and what she meant to me. However, I didn’t think her reaction would be a positive one. Not yet.
She’s not ready, Grey sent me, stating what I already knew.
“No,” Bethi said, answering her. “I’m not. Most of the people in this room are werewolves. A few of us are like you. Gifted humans.”
Behind the wall, a surge of relief and regret formed that Bethi was steering the conversation away from Mates.
“Gifted? I’d like to return mine. It sucks,” Isabelle said.
Bethi smiled wryly. Probably because she could identify with Isabelle’s sarcastic attitude.
“Mine, too. I die just about every night. Fun stuff. Anyway, to your right is Jim. Then, Thomas, Charlene, Michelle, Emmitt, Winifred,” Bethi turned to her left, “and Sam. Gabby and Clay are upstairs.”
“She’s still out?” Isabelle asked.
Bethi nodded but didn’t say more about them.
“Behind you are Carlos and Grey.”
Isabelle turned and studied Grey, without glancing at me. It didn’t upset me. She’d felt something out in the barn because of my touch, and she wasn’t ready to acknowledge it.
“Grey,” she said. “Your name I’ll remember. The rest of you might need nametags for a while. So, why am I here?”
Definitely like Bethi.
“Because you’re one of six Judgements,” Bethi said. “We’re here to keep the balance between three races. Humans, werewolves, and Urbat. Urbat are the ones you met in the hotel room.”
“Okay. Sure.” Cynicism laced Isbelle’s words.
“I know you don’t believe any of this,” Bethi said. “I didn’t either. Not until I started having the dreams. I’ve dreamt of our past lives, some so long ago we still wore animal-skin clothes. Isabelle, I’ve already started dreaming details of our current lives. I saw the day you and Ethan met on the playground. I saw you walk him home the day he came to school with a black eye. I saw you cry when you brought his father to the floor.”
We all smelled Isabelle’s complete shock.
“I’ve been in your skin, felt how tight and angry you get. I’ve cringed with you over the bruises you gave Ethan when you sparred as children. And, I’ve felt the shame you carried in the belief that you were as bad as his father was.”
Guilt clouded Isabelle’s scent and started bowing her shoulders. I shifted my weight to move toward her, but Grey put out his arm to stop me and nodded toward the boy.
“That’s enough,” Ethan said angrily, defending Isabelle like I’d wanted to. He gave her hair a gentle tug. “She’s way prettier than my dad. A better fighter, too.”
Isabelle snorted and focused on Bethi.
“Fine. You dream. I suck emotions. Which one levitates?”
Bethi smirked.
“Michelle is the lotto. She has premonitions that make other people rich,” Bethi said, continuing to summarize what we knew about their abilities.
“Why couldn’t I get that one?” she said.
“It’s no picnic,” Michelle said. “If I don’t share the information, it’s very painful.”
“Imagine putting your brain in a microwave,” Bethi said. “It sucks, too. Gabby can see us in her head. Like an old sonar. And Charlene can control people with her mind.”
Isabelle turned to stare at Charlene.
“If that’s true, control me. Make me stop absorbing everything.”
“I’m sorry,” Charlene said, looking troubled. “I can’t. We’re not like normal humans. Ethan I could control easily—”
“Hey,” he said indignantly.
“—but we’re different. Just like the werewolves are different.”
“The five of us make up Strength, Hope, Prosperity, Wisdom, and Peace,” Bethi said.
Silence held the room for a moment while we all waited for Isabelle’s reaction.
“Do I look like I eat bullcrap with a spoon? What are you on? Seriously. I want some.”
“She’s as bad as you are,” Luke said to Bethi.
Bethi grinned at him before focusing on Isabelle.
“I wish I was on something. It might make some of my nights a little easier to bear. You asked why you’re here. You’re here because all six of us need to be together to pass Judgement on the races and end this cycle.”
“Cycle?”
“We’re reborn every one thousand years,” she said as if it were an inconsequential point. “Isabelle, I think ending this cycle will turn off our abilities. Completely.”
Isabelle leaned back in her chair and studied Bethi for a moment.
“All right. I’m in.”
I had a hard time believing she so quickly believed everything Bethi had just told her.
“Just like that?” Bethi asked.
“Just like that.”