look and nods. Then he turns and glares at Rage. “This isn’t over,” he yells, pointing a finger at Rage.
I cringe, entering the ring. I’m preparing to break things up if need be.
Rage narrows his eyes. “Say when and where, and I’ll be there.”
“Glad you agree because this isn’t over!” West growls.
“It is over.” The dark-haired woman pulls on West’s arm. “We’re leaving now. Congrats on your win,” she says to Rage.
“It’s a hollow victory,” Rage says. “Maybe next time, we keep things a little more private and on a more equal footing.” In other words, he wants them to be able to use their powers.
Not happening!
“Bring my money,” West snarls. “You didn’t earn it. I’ll be needing it back when I beat your sorry ass.”
“We’ll see about that.” Rage actually looks like he smiles. Holy shit! It’s been years since I saw him smile.
“Fuck you, asshole!” West turns back. He’s a hothead.
“West!” the woman yells. “Get a grip.” She yanks his arm.
He allows himself to be led away by her. I catch her scent. It’s fruity more than floral. She’s even more attractive up close. “How do we contact you?” I ask her. I don’t want her number to arrange a fight.
When she locks eyes with mine, I realize that I only asked her because I wanted to look into their depths. I wanted to know their color. I wanted to know more about her…about all of them. They’re not human. Who are they? What are they?
“You don’t, asshole!” West narrows his eyes. “We’ll be in touch when we’re ready.”
Nice guy.
“Go ahead. I’ll catch up in a second,” she tells West.
West glares at me for a few seconds.
“Go already,” she tells him.
He grunts and saunters off. He has smears of blood on his face and spatters on his chest and arms. I can see that his cut lip is mostly healed. His left eye was big and puffy. Almost swollen shut. It looks much better. The bruising is more of a green color. Who are they?
“I’m Stephanus. My friends call me Stephan.” I can feel that I’m smiling. The kind of smile that makes your eyes crinkle. I need to stop. She’s just so beautiful. Like jaw-droppingly gorgeous…and she isn’t human. She isn’t fucking human! I feel giddy at the prospect. I don’t want to watch her leave.
She has big, green eyes. They’re fanned by long, thick lashes. They glitter with humor…I think it’s humor. She doesn’t smile back at me. “This is where our paths diverge. There won’t be a rematch.” She shakes her head.
“Why?” I frown.
“You know why.” She widens her eyes and gives me a look.
It’s because we’re not human. Rage and West would tear each other apart. I nod once. “Maybe…you and I could—” I’m about to ask her out, but she interrupts me.
“No, we couldn’t.” She throws me this half-smile. She goes from gorgeous to fucking incredible. “Nice knowing you, Stephan.” She starts to walk away.
I hesitate for half a second. Who can blame me? I don’t willingly touch other people…ever. Hardly ever. Since she’s not a human, I should be okay. I grip her hand. “Wait! Is your name Raven?” I heard West call her that earlier. The name is fitting.
I feel the warmth of her skin against my palm. I grit my teeth for a second. I push out a breath when I get…nothing. Sweet, sweet nothing. It’s thrilling when nothing happens. “Um…sorry, I…” I stammer and then stop talking as she turns to face me.
Her eyes are wide, and her jaw drops open. There’s this look on her face. I recognize that look. Although she’s staring at me, she isn’t seeing anything. Not with her eyes anyway. She pulls in a breath and then yanks her hand away from me.
Shit!
Crap!
“You saw...” I whisper. “You…?”
She nods once and swallows thickly. Her eyes fill with tenderness. Then she reaches up and cups my jaw. Next thing, she’s standing on her tippy toes and kissing my cheek. I feel her lips brush my skin. It’s over almost before it begins. Her eyes flare with shock. Like she can’t believe she just did that.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers, letting me go. What she tells me next has my blood running cold. Then, I watch as she walks away. I’m not sure how my legs haven’t buckled. I’m reeling.
She saw my future.
She saw!
“What the fuck was that?” Jarrod asks.
“Nothing!” I growl, too quickly.
“Didn’t look that way to me.” He frowns. “Did you see something when you