Werewolves Be Damned - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,33

at times, but did that make him a horrible guy?

She didn’t think so.

Having her in the dangerous supernatural world made him worry, and she wondered if Kyden maybe wasn’t used to worrying about anything, which was why he came off so briskly. Perhaps he cared for her and it killed him to watch anyone hurt her.

Last night, she had an epiphany about this all, since she imagined how she’d react if she saw someone hurting him, and of course, she’d help him. Besides, when had she become so perfect she couldn’t accept someone for having a flaw? She had a long list of flaws herself she could name—her hot temper topping that list. Why did she always have to one-up Kyden? Why couldn’t they be a team? Work together, and not have this battle of wills?

Kyden was who he was, as he told her.

It so happened she liked who he was, too.

Tonight, she’d apologize.

Her running shoes scuffed against the floor in the Guardians’ House hallway, and the breeze coming through the windows warmed her chilled skin. As she rounded the corner and entered the Guardians’ Hall, silence greeted her. She spotted Kyden leaning against the back wall with his arms folded.

She swallowed her pride. “Kyden, I wanted to…”

His expression flared wicked hot in nothing less than a fit of rage, cutting off the rest of her apology. “You’ve been itching for a fight, little one.” His voice dipped in a near growl. “Let’s have it.”

Before she could process the change in his demeanor, he ran forward, slamming into her with the full force of his body. She flew back and kept sliding. All she could do was stare at him in total shock. He’d never shown this type of aggression toward her, even when she irritated him or when he manhandled her with his kiss.

Regardless, if he wanted a fight, she’d happily oblige him.

She continued to slide, but pushed off the floor at the same time and leapt to her feet. In the same moment, Kyden lunged. Before he hit, she slapped his face, with a force that should’ve been lethal. The loud crack echoed through the room, and he reeled away and came to a rest a few feet away.

He slowly raised his gaze. “Bet that felt good?”

With an, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar vengeance, she shouted, “You’re damn right it did.” What in the hell had she done to deserve his wrath? Or wait…had she gotten this all wrong, and he’d been tricking her? Was this the real Kyden, and the other one—the gentle one—was a fake stranger?

His eyelids lowered until she could only see his enlarged pupils through slits. Then he attacked, and she instantly regretted her words. Kyden had never used excessive force during training, and she punched him far harder now, but he moved swiftly.

She was thrown, squished, smacked, and even when Kyden hit, it didn’t hurt—telling her he didn’t use much force—but still, the jackass. And that was only to name a few of the assaults that came her way over the passing minutes.

All of which only pissed her off.

How dare he?

With a hard shove to her chest, he sent her flying across the room where she smashed against the wall. The power of it knocked the wind right out of her, and she lay still, forcing air into her screaming lungs.

Not allowing him to win, she shot forward, kicking out, landing a blow on his hip. He bent in response, and she swung the hardest uppercut into his jaw. His teeth clicked together, and he toppled ass first to the ground.

Within seconds, he rebounded and jabbed her in the side. She keeled over, only to receive a kick to the chest shoving her backward. She snatched up his arm, spinning him with her, and they both tumbled to the floor. He shoved her off with enough strength forcing her to give a harsh grunt, but she managed to get back to her feet and attacked again.

Never stopping.

Fighting hard.

Refusing to let him come out of this on top.

Leveling her with a low kick to her abdomen, he issued a right hook to her shoulder, and she stumbled back. Instantly recovering, she rushed forward and blasted him across the cheek. Then she squatted and swiped his feet out from under him. When he landed, he smashed his head against the floor, but jumped up a second later and charged her.

Her refusal to end this seemed to burn Kyden. He came at her harder. For the first time ever, he