Werewolves Be Damned - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,35

She held up her hand and to Kyden, she said, “Tonight, you acting like that, it was all a test?”

His eyes darkened, jaw clenched. “I’m not in the habit of picking physical fights with women for the hell of it.”

Why did she keep doing that, thinking the worst things of him when he’d been nothing but helping her? She should’ve known something more was going on with the fight tonight. Not that he had an actual desire to beat her up and watch her fail. Heck, he’d been training her to ensure she succeeded.

Heaving a long sigh, feeling like a total douche, she asked, “Now, onto the other stuff, what exactly is a shield?”

Zia said, “Think of it as a bodyguard for those in the Earthworld who need protection.”

That didn’t sound appealing in the least. Leaving the Otherworld, moving away from Drake, Haven…and Kyden? She had found a home here now and had no intention of leaving, which meant she needed more information. “What are the guardian trials?”

Talon said, “To succeed the trails, you’ll have to battle a vampire and werewolf.”

Nexi had already been through the wringer tonight. The thought of killing anyone, who likely didn’t deserve it, would pretty much send her right over the edge. “Please tell me this isn’t to the death.”

“We’re not barbaric, Nexi.” Zia laughed. “You’ll use a practice sword. It’s sharp enough to cut but won’t kill, and any injuries that do occur, I’ll heal.”

Turning to Kyden, Nexi expressed another concern. “Shouldn’t I have practiced this whole sword business? I mean, I know I killed Jaxon, but I didn’t really fight with the sword, more just stabbed him.”

He shook his head. “You’re a guardian. It’s what we do. Your sword is as much a part of you as the rest of your body. Trust me, it’ll feel natural when you use it.”

While she didn’t want to leave the Otherworld, she also had reservations, considering what unfolded only a few minutes ago. “You saw me tonight.”

His eyes were gentle. “I saw you do well.”

“Fail, you mean.”

“No, not fail,” he said in a soft voice. “You lasted against me much longer than I thought you would. You’re ready for this.”

Sure, Kyden was the best-of-the-best when it came to guardians, other than his big ol’ dad. However, everyone missed one important fact. “I only fought like that—” She glanced at Kyden. “I had motivation for fighting as hard as I did tonight. I doubt I could repeat that.”

Drake gave a you’ve got this type of nod. “Anger can be a good motivator, so just draw on it, and I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

She grumbled, as her options dwindled. “Do I have a choice?”

Talon said, “Kyden told us you’re ready, declaring your training is over. That’s the end of it.”

Drake squeezed her arm in a reassuring fatherly way. “I wouldn’t allow this if I didn’t think you were ready, but I do believe it’s time.” He backed away, giving her a strong nod. “We’ll wait for you in the Council’s Hall.”

Wondering if she held the same level of self-assurance, Nexi watched Drake follow Zia and Talon into the Council’s Hall. Even after they vanished through the door, she still hadn’t decided where exactly she sat on the confidence meter.

“I had something made for you,” Kyden said.

She turned to him and now that she was no longer seeing everything through a haze of red, she noticed injuries she inflicted on him. He had bruises and cuts on his face. “Why didn’t Zia heal you?”

“Earlier tonight I told her not to.” Darkness rippled across his features. “I did not enjoy anything about this evening. Not having to push you as hard as I did. Not watching you fail. And not fighting with you.” He approached the wall and picked up a medium-sized white box with a pink bow from the floor.

Returning to her, he offered the gift. “Here, for you.”

She remained stuck on his injuries, and she couldn’t decide if not healing himself was the sweetest gesture ever or just plain stupid. He put the gift into her hands, and she blinked away from examining him.

Keeping the box in her arms, she undid the bow, wondering why he decided to give her a gift now. If this night got any more confusing…no, she hoped this was the end of it. When she slid the lid off the package, her breath hitched. Reaching into the gift, and surrounded by pink paper, she lifted out female guardian gear. She let the box