Dax pauses, looking confused, “I don’t see any horns.”
My best friend sighs and pulls her hair away so we can see her itty bitty horns. Dax snorts before saying, “Those are, quite frankly, adorable.”
Lachlan chimes in, “Yes they are, but she seems to be super sensitive of them and tries to hide them with her hair and she really shouldn’t. All this small talk is great and all, but -”
“But what?” Dax demands, “Trust me, I know you don’t want me here or anywhere near your sister. I get that, but until she tells me she wants me to go, I’m staying. The decision is hers, not yours.” Dax stares back at Lachlan, unblinking and I notice that a tick has developed in his jaw.
Lachlan’s eyes narrow and I’m just about to intervene when he nods, conceding, “You’re right. It will be her choice. Soon enough she will see reason and she’ll boot your ass to the curb.”
“Lachlan! How dare you,” I accuse.
“Just what is he to you, Lillie? You’re acting like he’s your kindred, but that can’t be. You are the complete opposite of one another. He’s … a demon, Lillie.” My brother stands there accusing and I realize that he’s trying to make me choose.
“Outside. Now.” Dax demands.
“You got it, demon spawn.” I have never seen or heard my brother sound so contemptuous.
“Lachlan, what’s wrong with you? Why are you doing this? Please… don’t do this.” I plead.
“Male to male. No shifting. No weapons. You have a problem with me and I have a problem with you not respecting your sister and crossing boundaries that you should not be crossing, so let’s take it outside.” Dax declares, his jade-green eyes glittering as he pulls off his tattered teeshirt and throws it in the garbage. He pulls the back door open and gestures outside.
“Please, don’t do this,” I beg.
“Honey cheeks, it has to be done.”
My sister all but croons, “That’s … so … sweet. He already has a pet name for you.”
All I can do is groan in dismay as I watch Lachlan and Dax exit the back door. I fear that this will not end well.
14
Are All Men Really This Stupid?
(Lillie Joanna)
Ican’t believe that this is actually happening. We have more important things to be concerned with at the moment, but my idiot twin brother is hellbent on protecting me from Dax. A stupid and pointless need. Dax would never hurt me. When I’m with him, I feel a sense of peace, all my jumbled thoughts are no longer a problem. My sister and best friend are flanking me as we move outside to watch the two stupid ass males try to prove who's right and who's wrong, or whatever. I know that Dax is right, but son-of-a-biscuit eater, my brother should know when to back down, and now he’s going to get his ass kicked from here to kingdom come.
The two assess one another in the side yard and before my brother can make a move, Dax is on him. He’s unbelievably fast and my brother takes several blows to the face and an uppercut to the stomach before striking back. Then the two are a blur of activity on the back lawn. I knew before they walked out the back door that Dax was going to kick my brother’s ass, but maybe I was wrong, he’s holding his own. Just as I think that, Dax whirls through the air in a complicated move that I’ve never seen before, he’s just a blur until his foot lands a serious blow to my brother’s left thigh and his leg buckles. His downward momentum is all Dax needs as he swings around and lands an uppercut to Lachlan’s chin sending his head snapping backward. Damn, that had to hurt. He all but flies across the lawn before skidding to a stop on his backside. Dax stalks over to Lachlan and holds out his hand in a gesture of peace just as my evil twin rockets to a crouch and swings his left leg wide, sweeping Dax’s legs out from under him. He goes down hard, knocking the breath right out of him. My brother moves fast. Like, spider monkey fast and he lands several quick punches to Dax’s face before he’s dislodged and goes flying again. Dax is freaky strong and I find that sexy as hell, but this has to stop before one of them kills the other. My brother and Dax are both going to be stubborn about this. To be honest, this is not how I thought this day was going to go.
Calling the fire element to me, I will it to sail past both of their heads and land just above where the two are trading blows. Neither is affected. Poppy looks at me and grins a sneaky smile, “I know exactly what needs to be done to cool them off. What do you say to a little rain?”
I cock my head from side to side and say, “Sam, back away or you’re going to be doused as well.”
Sam turns to look my way, flashing his green-gray eyes my way, “You can’t intervene, Lillie. They need to work this out. It’s now or never.”
“What are they working out?” I wait for his answer and when none is offered, I reply, “Nothing, Sam, this accomplishes nothing but the both of them getting to beat the hell out of each other. Neither is going to back down. This is pointless and just like men to settle their differences with their fist and not their minds. Civilization has fallen repeatedly, over and
