Destiny's Fire (5 page)

Lana’s eyes brightened. “Like what Devon does at Cogs.” She beamed, and I smiled at her. She could always find a way to bring up her crush.

Jace nodded. “Exactly. I think if they had no use for us, like the Leymak race, they’d have already killed us off. But they haven’t. Not yet. Not until they know for sure they can’t harness our power for themselves.” He looked at the table. “Finding a purpose in the world is the only way Kythan can survive.”

Jace was right. We’d been created to serve—to protect. We were a species designed by the magics of Egyptian sorcerers—guardian shape-shifters that had once watched over pharaohs. But that era was over. Those magics nearly forgotten, buried deep within the earth, just like the mummies of that time. It was getting harder for the Shythe to find ways to serve humans. I squirmed in my seat.

Nick looked up. “Where’s our waitress?”

Lana nudged his shoulder. “Nick, you have to order at the counter. They only bring you the food.”

“God, why didn’t you tell me that before?” He pushed his chair out. “I’m starving.”

Lana followed behind him. “Want me to order you guys something?” She asked over her shoulder.

I shook my head no, but Jace nodded. “Whatever’s fine.”

We were both silent for a moment. I watched him draw invisible circles on the table with his finger. “Dez,” he said, still staring at the table.

“Yeah?”

“Sorry to get all serious on you. I didn’t mean to make you worry more.” He peeked up.

I shook my head. “No. We have to talk about this stuff. We need to be prepared for whatever’s going to happen.” I paused, considering. “I can’t help thinking…”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“The Narcos changed the world with their Flame.” A beat. “They built airships, steam autos, even our levibikes.” I thought of my mother’s Charge. “Our power gets weaker every day. Our magics are lost more and more. Does that mean we’ll cease to exist?”

“No, Dez.” He took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. “Kythan were given magics, created by it, but the Narcolym survive because they found another purpose for their power. We can’t allow this Treaty Act to continue. If they get their way, and we don’t use our power, that’ll be the only way we cease. And I won’t allow that to happen.”

Jace hated the Narcos more than anyone. His siblings teased him over the years, calling him a rebel. But now I saw the strength in his eyes. He’d fight to protect our kind—his kind. It made my heart swell and fall all at the same time. Would he still look at me the same if he knew the truth about me?

Jace released my hand as Lana and Nick returned. “What did you order me?” Jace asked. His face quickly fell as he took in Lana’s pinched face. Her eyes shone a powerful blue, indicating she was worried.

“I ordered you something, but I think we should go,” she said, glancing over her shoulder.

“What is it Lane?” Jace asked.

Before she could answer, he shot up, knocking his chair to the floor. I craned my neck to look out the windows surrounding the diner.
Crap.

Making their way up to the double doors were the three Narcos from the club. Reese stopped suddenly, noticing me through the glass. He waved at Jace, then looked at me, puckering his lips into a kiss.

“Screw it,” Jace said. “He’s dead.”

Chapter Four

I G
RABBED
J
ACE’S
A
RM
. “Don’t.”

He jerked out of my grasp and sidestepped me. I huffed and jumped in front of him, pressing my hands against his chest. “Jace, he only wants to get a rise out of you. Don’t do this.
Please
.”

Nick planted himself in Jace’s path. “Dude, this will not end well. Listen to Dez.”

I looked over my shoulder, silently thanking Nick, and he nodded. Jace relaxed his stance, but I kept my hands on him, scared to lose contact.

“Come on,” Lana said. “Let’s walk right past. Don’t even look at them.”

“What? But I just ordered my food.” Nick threw his hands up.

Jace blew out a deep breath. “You see.” He nodded his head once toward the Narcos. “This is what I meant. They’re waiting for the bottom to fall out. Then they’ll make their move.”

I didn’t know if Jace was right, but if the Narcos wanted the Shythe to restart the feud, they picked a good target. Jace wouldn’t be able to tolerate this much longer.

“Nick, go get the food. Lana,” I said, glancing out the window, “help Nick and meet us at the levibikes. We can have a picnic, instead.”

Jace crossed his arms over his chest as I finally dropped my hands. “Great.” He hung his head, kicking the leg of a chair. “Then we just give them what they want? Run like cowards. Let them think they can treat us any way, huh?” His blue eyes met mine.

“No,” I said. “You said they want a fight, right? Well, walking away and ignoring them is
not
giving them what they want. You have to get a hold on your temper.”

Jace’s lips curled into a side-grin. “
You’re
being the voice of reason?” He grabbed my hand. “Funny, coming from the girl who decked a Narco just last night.”

My mouth dropped open. “I—” I snapped my mouth shut. He had a point. “But that was different, Jace. I was caught off guard. And that guy…” My eyes shot toward the window as I tried to complete my thoughts on Reese. He was still watching us. Heat crept up the back of my neck. What was it about him that got under my skin?

Jace arched an eyebrow. “Different? He baited you and you took it.” He smirked. “It’s cool, Dez. We can make an exception for
your
temper.”

“Shut up.” I bit back a smile. “Come on. Let’s just get out of here.” I glanced over to see Lana and Nick at the counter paying for the food.

Jace laced his fingers through mine and tugged me behind him. As we approached the doors, the Narcos stepped aside, allowing us to exit. I kept my eyes on Jace, making sure he wouldn’t do something stupid. We were almost to the levibikes when Reese called out.

“Hey,” he said, nodding in my direction. “I was thinking we could finish our dance soon.”

Jace halted. His fingers gripped mine, and I squeezed back reassuringly. I glanced between the both of them. Reese smiled, his red eyes beaming. Jace’s eyes ignited, glowing a wild blue. I shook my head and led Jace toward the levibikes.

“Come on,” Reese continued. “We were so rudely interrupted last night. But I have to admit, I liked that love tap.”

I shot my head around, and Reese rubbed the side of his jaw. Jace dropped my hand and stalked toward him. I took off after Jace, but it was too late. He grabbed Reese by his jacket collar and pinned him against the window. The other two Narcos watched with amused expressions.

“So you like to dance, do you?” Jace snarled. “How about with me? Think you might find
my
love tap a little more convincing.”

Reese laughed. “Dude, I thought she was better trained. She should have known not to run.” He glanced at me. “It’s instinct. I honestly wasn’t going to hurt her.” Then his eyes burned fire red as he stared into Jace’s. “But you and I will be a different story if you don’t take your hands off me…right now.”

The doors pushed open. Lana ran over to me, and Nick grabbed Jace’s arms, wrenching their death grip from Reese. I took a step, wanting to help Nick, but Lana grabbed my hand, holding me back.

“Come on, dude. He’s not worth it,” Nick told Jace, finally breaking them apart.

Reese smoothed out his collar. “You’re just going to have to get used to us. We’re not going anywhere.”

Jace whirled on him. “Touch her again, and I’ll shove that stupid Treaty Act right up your ass.”

One of the other Narcos came forward. “You better watch your mouth, Shythe.” He rubbed his hands together, and red sparked in their center. “We’ve been given clearance to defend ourselves if we feel threatened.” He leered at Jace.

“Just stay the hell out of our way, and we’ll stay out of yours,” Jace said. “Don’t even
think
of going back to Cogs.” He laced his arms over his chest.

Reese matched Jace’s stance. “That sounds like a threat.” He looked around at his buddies. “It’s not your club. We have every right to be there.”

Nick stepped forward. “We were there first!”

Jace rolled his eyes, pushing his brother back down. “Let me handle it,” he said under his breath. He turned back toward Reese. “
Don’t
go back there. And if I see you so much as look at Dez, I’ll knock those beady red eyes right out of your skull.”

“Dez?” Reese raised his eyebrows and looked at me. “I like it.” He winked.

Nick latched onto Jace right before he bolted toward Reese. He hauled him back to where Lana and I stood. “Jace,” Nick said. “Let it go, man. They’re just looking to get us into trouble.”

“Dammit.” Jace gritted his teeth. “I can’t wait until we get our full power. Screw the Treaty Act.” He climbed onto his levibike and fired it up.

He offered me his hand, and I took it, seating myself behind him. Lana and Nick took off ahead of us. Jace gave the Narcos one last glare before we sped off. I glanced back, and Reese was staring at me, a grin on his face. I couldn’t understand why he was singling me out. If Reese wanted to get Jace to fight, why was he picking on me?

I shook my head and stared at the cobbled roadway ahead of us. Whatever his tactic, it was working. Jace was pissed. And come next week, after his change, I was scared Jace really would end the Treaty Act.

We decided on Haven Community Park for the picnic. I wanted the soothing effect of nature to help calm Jace, but he wanted to calm down in his own way. Sparring. We both agreed the woods were the safest choice. It was secluded, and we’d be able to train without being seen.

We rode past the iron gates and parked next to the bike ramp.

Lana bounced off the back of Nick’s levibike. “Well, that was fun.” She adjusted her mini-corset and grabbed her leather duffle and the food.

I straightened my blouse, watching Jace from the corner of my eye. He was still fuming. I’d always known how he felt about the Narcos, but seeing him react fully to their presence unnerved me. It made me fear the possibility of him discovering my secret that much more.

I grabbed my small canvas satchel from the side of the levibike and followed them into the woods. After a while of walking, we chose a small clearing about a mile past the park. The ground was hard and covered with pine straw. It was perfect, and practicing outside in natural elements was something we had yet to do.

I trailed behind Lana farther into the woods while Jace and Nick ate their lunch. We couldn’t spar in corsets and blouses, so we always packed a change of clothes for the club basement. Of course, at the club, we had a bathroom to change in.

Releasing a frustrated breath, I realized I hadn’t packed any clothes because we hadn’t planned to spar today. Crap.

“Hey, Lane.” I glanced around the woods. “I don’t have anything to wear. And even if I did, where are we supposed to change, anyway?”

“I have something you can borrow. And I guess, behind a tree?” She shrugged and stalked off behind a large pine. My shoulders slumped as I followed her, missing Cogs. I was starting to despise Reese.

Lana handed me a tiny tank and too-short shorts. “What are these?” I asked.

She glared at me. “Sparring clothes.”

“For who? A baby?” Lana was smaller than me—petite. I wasn’t tall by any means, but over the past few months, I’d developed some major curves. And my normal sparring clothes were leather breeches and a baggy shirt. Why did my best friend have to be such a girl?

She huffed. “You’ll look fine. Better than fine. Someone might actually notice you’re a girl in those.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Dez. It’s just us. What haven’t my brothers seen before? We used to bathe together.”

“Yeah, but we were like five then.” I sucked it up and stepped into the tiny shorts.

After we changed, we headed over to where Nick and Jace were packing away their empty wrappers. Lana sat down and dug her food from the bag. Jace and Nick moved to the center of the clearing and began stretching out.