The Keepers: Ethan. Rae Rivers

his shoulder. “Rule of combat practice – attack the aggression, not the aggressor.”

      “You should be defending your red zone, Ethan. You left yourself wide open.” She poked his chest with the stick.

      His hand shot up, clutching her weapon. Grinning, he gave a hard tug, taking pleasure in the way she launched forward.

      In a swift movement, he had her pinned beneath him, the stick at her throat.

      He raised a brow. “Wide open?”

      With a loud grunt, her knee jerked upward, dislodging his hold on her. She was on her feet in a flash, smiling. Panting, she backed off, lowering her weapon, but sprang into action the moment Ethan’s brother, Declan, pounced.

      Stick raised, she swung around and ducked as Declan charged. He wielded his own stick, bulldozing full steam ahead with his surprise attack.

      Their fight was swift, their bodies moving between the trees with breathless pace.

      “Wow, Declan, frustrated much?” Jenna moved around him in a steady flow of fancy footwork, easily defending his blows with her own.

      “Scared of some friendly banter, Blondie?”

      She lowered her body, ducking his next attack, smiling with satisfaction when her stick connected with his legs. She pulled back, circling him, a mild grin breaking free. “Is that what this is? Friendly?”

      “Of course.”

      “Right.”

      They stood staring at each other, breathlessly assessing the distance and range of the weapons between them.

      Simultaneously, they charged.

      Sticks clashed, louder and with added hostility as they performed a perfect mirroring drill, anticipating each other’s moves with ease.

      Ethan glanced at Archer, watching the tussle quietly, arms folded across his chest. His oldest brother exerted a permanent control and calm that Declan lacked. They were so different in so many ways.

      Declan lunged for Jenna, releasing a growl of frustration. Ethan frowned at the scent of aggression that lined their fight – a fight born out of need for building strength and endurance.

      But this was different.

      Archer’s expression tightened and the slight narrowing of his eyes hinted that he sensed it too.

      Declan stepped back, twisted his stick, and charged. In a blur of speed, Jenna took a running leap. Anticipating her move, he joined her, sailing through the air with ease.

      Their collision was loud, powerful, their sticks clattering on impact. They were still fighting as they fell, their landing less skilled. They parted, straightened their sticks, and stared at each other, frustration sizzling between them.

      Jenna glared at him, her jaw clenched, her shoulders rising and falling in breathy gasps of air. With a soft curse, she lowered her weapon, shaking her head.

      “Had enough?” Declan goaded as she turned around.

      Ignoring him, she walked away, but drew to an abrupt stop as a single line of fire reared to life in front of her. She spun around to face Declan, her mouth opening in surprise.

      Another line of fire roared to life in front of her, cutting her off. She slammed her stick on the ground. “Dammit, Declan! Cut that out!”

      The line of fire chased around her, closing in. Realising she was about to be imprisoned, she bolted for the remaining gap between the blaze, cursing when Declan added more heat, more energy. The circle closed before she reached it, flames rearing up with a force that had her backing to the centre of the circle.

      The sound of fire crackled around her, the flames almost at shoulder height.

      “Something wrong?” Declan called out, his voice laced with mild amusement. “Come on, Blondie. Can’t fight your way out of this?”

      “You’re being a dick, Declan.”

      “We’re at war. You need to be prepared.”

      “You’re questioning my combat skills?”

      “It’s not your combat skills in question. Hell, even I’ll admit that your moves are impressive.”

      Surprise etched her expression at the admission.

      “But you refuse to use your elemental powers,” he added. “That makes you weak.”

      Her nostrils flared and she tilted her chin upward. “Tossing around a few fireballs won’t necessarily win our war.”

      Declan’s lips curled at the dig, but he let it slide. “Afraid of your powers, Jenna?”

      “No.”

      The flames flared higher. “So show me.”

      “Screw you, Declan. I don’t have to prove anything to you.”

      “I beg to differ. You protect the hybrid witch our enemies are after. They reach her and the balance of nature is screwed.”

      “Yes, but the balance has nothing to do with this. With us.” She waved a finger between them. “I protect the woman you love, so for you it’s personal.”

      “What are we? Fifteen?”

      “I get that being an overprotective ass is your default setting, but Kate is my witch and I will die before letting anything happen to her, just as you would for Sienna.”

      Declan scowled at her, the muscles on either side of his jaw twitching.

      “You think I don’t know what I’m up against protecting Kate?” Jenna said, her tone clipped with irritation. “I live with a permanent sense of dread, knowing what’s at stake if I fail, and I don’t need you constantly pushing me, taunting me, and giving me crap every day trying to prove that I’m worthy. We’re supposed to be on the same team, dammit!”

      “Because you’re all about teamwork, aren’t you, Blondie?”

      “When it comes to protecting Kate and Sienna, I am.”

      “I can’t be on team you until I can trust you can handle this.”

      “Rather unfortunate considering Hazel’s showing presence again. And don’t for one moment think she won’t sniff out a divide between us.”

      “As easily as she’ll sniff out a weakness.”

      “I’m not weak!”

      He raised a brow and pegged her with a challenging glare. The fire reared higher, the crackling muffling her soft curse.

      “Declan,” Archer said, stepping forward. “That’s enough.”

      “No.” Ethan took his arm. “Leave them.”

      Archer frowned. “She’s right, Declan’s being an ass.”

      “I think she’s had her fair share of dealing with asses. She can handle this one too.”

      Archer paused and glanced at Jenna. A moment later, his pensive expression relaxed and he gave a single nod.

      Silence engulfed them, the air sizzling with tension.

      It was Declan who broke their standoff. Flames still burning, he swore loudly and shook his head. Turning around, he walked away.

      A warlike cry shattered the silence as Jenna launched through the air, breaking through the blaze. She collided with Declan and exploded into a series of martial arts manoeuvres that triggered another fight.

      This time, there was more rage, more determination, and they moved so swiftly that it was near impossible to follow them.

      Declan fought back with a viciousness that matched hers, but something in his eyes gave him away.

      She’d surprised him.

      Ethan