Donovan strode toward me, a towel hanging from his hands. “You Molloneys are out of your minds. That wasn’t fecking sparring. You nearly took Miles’ head off.”
I laughed. “He can take it.”
“And they hit you. In front of me.” I felt his anger brewing along our bond. This was super not good.
My brothers started laughing. “Remember when Miles broke her arm?”
Was he an idiot? Why would he bring that up now of all times?
“Shut up. That’s why I never fight with her anymore. I didn’t mean—”
Donovan roared, actively pushing power through the room. His command for submission passed me by, but my skin burned with it. My brothers’ laughter switched to whimpers as they all hit the ground.
My stupid brothers were too busy showing off to remember that Donovan’s fun-loving smiles and Irish lilt hid a whole buttload of power. And if my brothers didn’t make it out of here alive, it would be my fault.
I jumped up. “Donovan. I’m fine.”
His eyes were glowing blue. “You’re not fine. You’ve blood on your face.”
I took the towel and wiped my nose. “It’s okay. It’s already healed.” He growled. “They’re my brothers. They’d never do anything to seriously hurt me.”
“You didn’t see what I saw. This is what they’ve been doing with you at five in the morning all week?”
Try my whole life. But they’d spent years going over forms, teaching me punches, kicks, and gymnastics, before we ever even started sparring. And it had never been anything like this until I was old enough to handle it. My brothers were the reason I’d survived against a legion of demons. Because of them, I was ready for anything.
I pulled Donovan to me, wrapping my arms around him. “I’m okay. Did you see? I beat them all.”
When he didn’t answer, I pulled back. The panic was still there, coming through our bond. Something had triggered him. I wasn’t sure what, but he was back in that church in Santa Fe. “I lived through the fight with the demons. I’m here. Everything is okay.”
He rested his forehead on mine. We were the same height. He was on the shorter side for a male, but at six feet even, I was a little above averag
e for a female Were. I didn’t mind at all. I liked being able to look him in the eye at all times.
Tears welled in his blue eyes, but he wouldn’t let one fall. Not in front of my brothers.
After a long second, he took a shuddering breath. “Can’t lose you.”
“You won’t.” At least I hoped not, for both our sakes. “This was different than the chapel. They’re my brothers. And I beat them.”
“Aye. That you did.” Some of the tension left his body. “Almost jumped into the fight a few times myself.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. I think you needed to see me beat my brothers as much as I needed to beat them. You were right. I’m stronger than I think.”
He softened a little more and leaned into me. “Aye.”
“Do me a favor?”
“What?”
“Let my brothers up?” Even if it was kind of nice to see them get their ass handed to them, I couldn’t let them squirm on the ground forever.
“Aye.” Donovan gave them a microscopic nod, and the tension in the room started to fade.
My brothers slowly got up, helping each other up as they shook off the last of Donovan’s power.
“What’s all this about you almost dying in Santa Fe?” Miles was the first one to speak.
“It was a close call,” I answered without looking away from Donovan.