Blood Lines: Kallen's Tale (Witch Fairy #3.5) (11 page)

I cannot help but smile.  “Because, my little Witch Fairy, you have a nasty temper and I know what happens when you get angry.”

Her brows rise.  “You mean all those arguments we’ve had have been you trying
not
to make me mad?”

“Did you say Witch Fairy?” Kegan asks in disbelief.  He quickly moves to anger now.  “You brought the Witch Fairy
here
?  Where every Pooka Fairy wants her
dead
?”

“That was my thought exactly,” Xandra grumbles though that had
my
position on the matter.  Not hers.

“Yes, it needed to be done,” Grandmother says in her matter-of-fact way.  “She is the only one who can stop the rebellion.”

Kegan is not appeased.  “How will she do that if she is dead?  How is she supposed to protect herself?” 

It is done.  He is not going to change anyone’s mind.  Especially now that Xandra has learned the real reason behind Xenia wanting her dead.  “You have spent time with her.  Does she in any way resemble a delicate flower to you?  I believe she is quite capable of protecting herself.  She may not be able to clothe herself, but I would bet on her against the entire Pooka rebellion.”  Her power is growing stronger every day.  There is truth in what I am saying.  Unfortunately, though, it is not just strength that wins a war.

“But, what if she’s ambushed?  She can’t be on guard every minute of the day.”

 I chuckle.  Being able to defend herself from ambush is one of the things she does very well.  And I can prove it.  In a flash, I have a crossbow in my hand and I aim it at Xandra who is only a couple of feet away.  Then I pull the trigger.

My arrow is stopped almost immediately by a wall of magic.  What I did not expect was for her to wrap the wall around me.  When the hell am I going to learn that her control increases when she is annoyed?  Perhaps after she stops throwing fruit from the counter on my head.  One at a time.  Oranges.  Bananas.  Papayas.  The bananas are not so bad but the other two hurt.

“Xandra, is this really necessary?” I ask as I duck an orange.  “I was simply making a point.”

She responds with a sweet smile.  “So am I.”

The initial fear that I was actually trying to kill her has passed and now the others in the room are enjoying the show.  Glad they are amused at my expense.  Xandra drops the last banana onto me and then she lets her magic go.

I narrow my eyes in her direction.  “You are going to pay for that.”

She believes me.  I know this because she jumps off her stool and runs out of the room.  I like this game.  I know I am faster than she is.  I catch up to her at the stairs and grab her arm, pulling her close.  She does not know what to expect and I cannot help a chuckle at her wary expression.  Lucky for her there are things far sweeter than revenge.  Placing a hand in her hair to pull her even closer, I capture her lips.  Her sweet, beautiful lips that open for me so I can delve into her luscious mouth.  This kiss is so mind blowing, I am tempted to lay her against the stairs and take things as far as she will let me.  It is with great regret that I finally let her up for air.

She is definitely breathless.  “Wow,” is all she can manage a minute later.

Pressing my forehead to hers, I let the desire for honesty guide my words.  “I was afraid to tell you about Xenia.  Afraid that you would not want to be with me if you found out.” 

She smiles and puts her hand on my cheek.  “Thanks for all that confidence in my love for you.  I appreciate it,” she teases.  A growl rises from my deep in my chest and I capture her mouth again.  She is laughing, though, so it is not nearly as satisfying as last time.  But I do know now that my fears were unfounded so she can tease all she likes. 

“Am I forever going to find you two in an embrace?” Kegan asks sourly from where he’s leaning against the door frame to the living room.

“Go away,” I growl against Xandra’s lips.  She knows I am not talking to her.

Still laughing, she presses against my chest.  “Be nice,” she says.

I am all out of niceness for Kegan today.  I pull her back against my chest and bring my lips to hers again and I find no resistance.  My god, I could kiss her forever.  But, her eyes pop open when she hears Kegan shouts out an oath.

“You bloody bastard!” he yells as he is being propelled backwards with his arms flailing like a windmill.  Eventually, he falls to his butt as I continue to push him with my magic.  Apparently Xandra’s sympathy for him is limited because she is laughing so hard she can barely breathe.  Kegan is to the door leading back to the kitchen now.  He tries to hold onto the door jamb, but it does not help.  He disappears around the corner of the door.

Xandra shakes her head.  “He’s going to get back at you for that.”

I shrug.  “Probably.”

“Isla sent him out to get us, didn’t she?”

“More than likely.”

“Come on.”  She grabs my hand and pulls me back towards the kitchen.

“I could still be kissing you if you were not dragging me back in there.  It would certainly be more pleasant.”

“And have Isla be the one that comes out to get us next?  I don’t think so.”  With a resigned sigh, I let her pull me along

Chapter 12

Back in the kitchen, Alita and Tabitha look amused and Grandmother only looks mildly annoyed.  Kegan looks pissed and he starts to pull magic when he sees me.

Tabitha steps in before any real violence can occur.  She is used to breaking us up when one or the other of us has pushes things too far.  I definitely pushed him too far this time but it was worth it.  “Boys, that is quite enough.  You will not be having one of your wars in my kitchen.  Kallen, apologize to Kegan.”

I put my hand over my heart and say with my best mock sincerity, “My honorable cousin, it pains me that I have wronged you in such a way.  I beg you to accept my humblest apology.”

His eyes tell me what he wants to say about my apology.  He is wise enough not to say these things out loud in front of Tabitha and Grandmother.  Oh yeah, I will have to be on my guard for quite a while.

“Are you boys about done with this nonsense?” Grandmother asks.  I grin and Kegan glares.  She takes both responses as yeses.  “Xandra, I have arranged for you to meet with Dagda first thing in the morning.  After that, you will begin your training.”

Her brows scrunch together.  “Training?”

Grandmother nods.  “Yes, your training.  We cannot have you going about almost killing people, now can we?”

Xandra is nervous now even though she had asked for this.  “What kind of training?”

“It will vary.  I have enlisted Tabitha to work with you on delicacy.  She has the gift of serenity, so she can help you relax and focus better.”

Confusion rolls onto her face.  “What do you mean by ‘gift of serenity?’”

“That means that my touch has a calming effect on the minds of others,” Tabitha says.  “You may have noticed that earlier.”

Xandra nods thoughtfully.  Looking back at Grandmother, she asks, “What other type of training will I have?”

“Kallen will be working with you on offensive magic, as you requested.”  She looks at me when she says, “Kegan will be working with you on honing your reflexes and hand to hand combat.”

“Um, what do I need to learn that for?”  Xandra asks naively.

Grandmother smiles somewhat patiently.  “Because not all wars are fought with magic.  Sometimes, the easiest way to defeat a foe is to not use magic.  A well placed sword can do the job very nicely.”

“Oh.” Now there is a little trace of fear in her eyes. 

“I am able to teach her those skills,” I say between a clenched jaw.  I am picturing Kegan finding any number of ways to touch her while supposedly training her.  “Kegan need not be bothered with the task.”  I do not care if I sound like a jealous ass at the moment.

“It is no bother.  I will be happy to assist,” Kallen says with a grin a mile wide. 

Before I can say the cutting retort on my lips, Alita asks, “Is there anything I can do to help?”  She has been quiet throughout this entire conversation.

“Yes, dear, there is.  You would be excellent as a companion to Xandra.  I am sure it will be nice for her to have someone around her own age to talk to and spend time with while she is here.”  Not to mention help keep me out of Xandra’s bedroom.  Fat chance that will happen. “I do not want Kallen monopolizing all of her time.”  She sends a warning glance my way.  She must have picked up something from my expression.  I try to look innocent but I know she is not buying it.

Alita inclines her head towards Grandmother.  “I would be honored.”

Tabitha rises from her stool.  She still has her eye on both Kegan and me to make sure we don’t start at it again. “I was going to offer you fresh fruit, bread and cheese for lunch.  That is, until my best fruit was used for target practice.”  Her eyes turn to Xandra who looks contrite. “Now, it will have to be sandwiches.”

Tabitha starts bustling around the kitchen, getting enough food ready to feed a small army.  I sit down on the stool next to Xandra now that she actually is done being angry with me.  Kegan sits across from me and continues to glower in my direction.  I ignore him.

“What does it feel like?  Being such a powerful Fairy, I mean.” Alita asks shyly. 

Xandra shrugs.  “I don’t know.  I just feel like me, I guess.”  She grimaces at the lack of depth in her response and tries again.  “I haven’t known about magic for very long, so it’s all kind of new to me.  It’s frustrating that I can do things like what I did to Kallen when I’m mad or upset, but I can’t do basic magic without blowing something up.”

Kegan grabs an apple from the bowl where Tabitha put the fruit again and takes a bite.  “What’s the most impressive thing you’ve done with your magic?” he asks with a mouth full of apple.  His manners certainly will not earn him points with Xandra. 

I field his question.  “She created an imbalance and set the air on fire.”  Alita looks shocked and Kegan about chokes on his apple. 

“Really?” Kegan says around his food.

I nod.  “That was after she buried us in an avalanche.  And almost crushed us with a rock slide.”

“Are you done?” Xandra asks crossing her arms over her chest.

Nope.  “Oh, and there’s the time she almost threw her grandmother out the window with all the furniture.  She also ripped open the realms and threw Maurelle and Olwyn back here at Dagda’s feet.”  That was one of the most glorious things I have ever seen.

Alita’s hand covers her mouth as she gasps.  Kegan lets out a low whistle.  And Xandra’s cheeks are getting redder by the second.  “You forgot about the times I took away your voice because I wanted you to stop talking.” 

Kegan snickers.  “No wonder Kallen does not mind that you have Witch blood running through you.  You are about a thousand times more powerful than he is.  I bet you can kick his ass anytime you want.”

“Kegan, I will not have such talk in my kitchen,” Tabitha warns with a no nonsense look. 

“Sorry,” Kegan mumbles.

Xandra however smiles brightly.  “Yes, I can.”  Suddenly teasing her is not as much fun.

“Enough chatter, now,” Tabitha says as she distributes the sandwiches she whipped up.  “Eat your lunch and then skedaddle.  You are all going to be busy in the near future, so enjoy the beach and the sun while you can.”

When we have all eaten our fill, Xandra turns to me with a smile.  “What should we do now?”

Oh, there are so many things that we could do now.  Just the sought makes my entire body tense.  Xandra’s instant blush tells me I am wearing my thoughts on my face.  Even Alita blushes a little.

“What
else
is there to do?” Xandra asks.

Kegan chuckles.  “Sorry cousin, Alita and I are your shadows ALL afternoon.”  Grandmother’s idea I suppose.  I will find a way around it.

Alita looks uncomfortable.  “If you would rather be alone…”

Xandra laughs.  “That’s not going to get you the chaperone of the year award.”

“I do not want to impose,” she says softly.  No matter how often we tell her that we love having her around, Alita always feels like the odd one out.  I hate that.  “It is not
your
company that we find objectionable, Alita.”  I look pointedly at Kegan.

Xandra pipes in. “How about you and I go looking for those coconuts you were after earlier.”  She nods her head towards Kegan and me.  “They can work out their hostility without us.”

Alita smiles.  “Okay.”  I guess there are some people Xandra is capable of putting at ease.  Good to know.

Xandra slides off her stool and I do not hesitate to follow.  Looking up at me, she says, “Like looking for coconuts, do you?”

“I adore it.”

“Uh huh.”  Even if she does not believe me, she still slips her hand in mine.