“Here, try this.” Javi handed me a small handgun.
Dread coiled inside me. I reached out for it and turned it in my hands. It was lighter than it looked, and the metal was warm from Javi’s touch. My heart leapt into my throat as the vision of Javi shooting Manny replayed in my mind.
I thrust the gun back at Javi. “No. I can’t. Sorry, but no.”
He took it and strapped it back in place on the wall. His eyes roamed the other weapons, a frown on his face as he searched for the perfect one for me.
“How about a sword?”
“Really? A sword? What century is this again?”
Javi pulled a long, sleek blade down and offered it to me. “A sword is an effective weapon. Especially when you start adding enchantments to it.”
I snorted. “Right. Magic swords. Of course, that’s a thing.”
“Yeah. They are. This one hasn’t been enchanted yet, but once you learn how to use it well, we can ask my dad about adding some.”
I took a deep breath and reached out for it. The moment was surreal. Never in a million years would I have expected to be there with my cousin, holding a sword.
It was solid, but not too heavy in my grip and unlike the awkward swords I’d used in my past attempt at fencing, it felt… comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Chills ran down my spine as I held the blade up. I still wasn’t sure what I believed about all the magic and craziness my cousin had told me about, but holding the sword, I couldn’t deny I felt something. The room grew colder, and I felt as if there was a weight to that moment.
Something was happening.
I shifted the sword to my other hand and thrust it into the air. The swishing sound made me smile.
Javi leapt back and threw his arms up. “You can’t just wave it around like that!”
I frowned at him. “How else am I supposed to learn?”
My fencing lessons had at least taught me the proper way to hold a sword, or so I thought. Apparently, I sucked at even that.
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Maybe we should start with some video training first.”
I snorted. “Where’s the fun in that?”
He shook his head. “At least you won’t be able to hurt yourself… or me.”
“Really? You’re afraid I could hurt you? I thought you were a big tough GRIMM.” I laughed.
His eyebrows knitted together. “I’m not immune to a stabbing.”
“I’m not going to stab you, Javi.” I swished the sword again.
His scowl deepened. “You’re not taking this seriously, Rose.”
“What do you want me to do, Javi? Should I be all stiff and robotic like you?”
His eyes flashed. “Forget this. This was a bad idea.”
I grunted. “Fine.” I wanted to tell him he was just as bad as his dad, but I stopped myself. That was taking it too far.
The room fell quiet.
He ran his fingers though his hair, something I was beginning to understand that he did when he was frustrated. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. It’s just… I’m tired of you making fun of everything.”
I winced. Yeah, I had been kind of an asshole about it, but what did they expect when they literally forced me into all this?
“Look, Javi. I’m not making fun of you… I just… I’m mad. I never asked to be a GRIMM.”
He scoffed. “Nobody asks for it, Rose. But it’s our duty to protect the humans. We are the only ones who can.”
Now he sounded even more like his dad.
“Sure, you feel that way, but why do I have to join? Why can’t I choose to walk away from it? Like my mom?”
His eyes widened. “Your mom turned to the dark side, Rose. Is that what you want?”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Dark side. He got mad at me making fun of him and yet he went and said things like that?
“I want to make my own choices about my life.”
His jaw tightened. “Well, you can’t. None of us can. Don’t you realize what’s at stake? Without us, our world would be overrun with creatures. Humanity could cease to exist.”
At that, I did roll my eyes. “So dramatic, Javi.”
Anger flashed on his face. “It’s the truth. Do you want hundreds of shifters roaming free with no one to keep them in line? Let them tear apart more people?”
That one stung. I scowled at him. “Of course not.”
“Well okay then. You should be proud to be a GRIMM.”
Heat rushed through me. “Enough! Just stop. Whether I join the GRIMMs or not should be up to me. Not you. Not your dad.”
His lip curled. “You don’t get it.”
My fist clenched. “No. You don’t get it.”
Stubborn ass.
“That’s enough. Both of you.” Tía Teresa’s firm voice made me jump.
7
Javi shook his head and fell silent. She stood in the doorway and stared us down. Marching toward us, she motioned for Javi to return the sword.
My fingers twitched as empty air replaced the cool metal. I curled them in, pushing away the strange emotions of disappointment and desire. What did I care about some stupid sword?
Her eyes studied us. “You are family. I expect you to start acting like it.”
I snorted. “Isn’t that what family does? Fight?”
She frowned at me. “Argue, fight, yes, but at the end, we forgive. We learn to listen and empathize.” She turned her stare at Javi.
“She’s the one who won’t listen,” he muttered.
If my tía wasn’t standing right there, I would have given him the finger. So freaking stubborn.
“You both need to listen and accept each other’s position. You might not agree, but you can at least respect each other.”
“Yes, Mama,” Javi sighed.
They looked at me expectantly. I nodded. “Okay.”
She smiled. “Good. Now your tío called. He’s going to meet you at the school. I have to go pick up the girls for dance. You can take the GT.”
Javi’s eyebrows flew up. “So, I’m not grounded from driving anymore?”
Her eyes narrowed on
