Eclipsed by Midnight by Kristina Canady Read Free Book Online

trip, he is always good for a throw down. And beings that his lady-whatever had to stay in France, it most definitely will be an aggression-filled one on both of our parts.
    Coming up to the depot on foot, I blow through the front door like a hurricane with a loud, metal slamming concrete bang… wind included, and scan the room. Gabriel isn’t here yet but Tristan, Antoine, and Roman who all look up startled while lounging on the gym equipment, blasting some hip-hop, jump to their feet. Crap, that’s right. He’s picking the boys up from the house.
    “For fuck’s sake, who am I going to spar with?” I outwardly groan and throw my hands up, knowing full and well none of them could stand up against even one blast from me. My skin rolls under my workout gear as my anger-fueled power attempts to leach from me.
    “Nintuah, you really shouldn’t insult them like that.” Erik strolls in from the back, looking as devious as ever. Flashing up to him, I give him a squeeze, incredibly happy to see his sour puss. “Easy there, don’t want to make Marguerite jealous.” He hugs me back before holding me away by the shoulders, assessing me with concern. “Who pissed in your cornflakes?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it. I need to blast some shit or throw someone around.” I huff and cross my arms, more so to try to hold myself together.
    “Into the pit with you then,” he chirps, something obviously up his sleeve. Casting a wary eye his way, I shuffle my sneakers to the edge and jump down.
    As I gracefully stand from my landing crouch, the sound of two sets of feet quickly landing behind me catch my ear. Whipping around, I am faced with Maurizio and Niall.
    “What the heck?” My surprise is evident and my mind races. I don’t remember seeing them on the plane. Then again, I wasn’t really paying attention to anyone.
    “Well now, lass, I had ta meet ma grandyoungs,” Niall belts out in his jovial fashion, placing his meaty hands on his hips.
    “Grandyoungs? That’s not even a thing and you can’t be here!” My anxiety kicks in to overdrive, and fear begins to take control as all the reasons for him not to be here race through my mind. For one, the boys have enough to stomach. For another, I really don’t want him mixed up in the drama here; it could get him hurt.
    “Listen here, I am a Faoláin, a champion, and so are ye, and yer children. We are family.” He looks devastated, his hopes of a family reunion drastically dashed. His sudden sadness punches me in the gut.
    “Look, Niall, I just can’t deal with this right now. There is so much going on with the boys,” I rush to explain, not wanting to hurt him any more than I have.
    “We know. That is why we came,” Maurizio says in his Italian, no-bullshit tone.
    “Ah cannae stand by idly this time.” Niall’s finality tells of his determination to be here regardless of how anyone feels on the matter.
    “Then why is he here?” I flick my chin in Maurizio’s direction.
    “Aye, where there be the scent of trouble, this one follows. And he missed yer dates in the ring.” Niall chuckles.
    “Well, now I don’t feel like kicking ass so much.” I sigh and hug them both, my defenses slightly down, warmed by the fact that they cared to come all this way and help.
    “That’s too bad, Nintuah, because you need to. You know what Koray says.” Erik stands, arms crossed, joined by Roman and now Naveed in all of his bronze glory. Oh, shit .
    Naveed and Roman throw out their gifts and form a barrier around the pit with outstretched arms, standing still as statues. Like a live wire more than ready, the wind element sweeps up and howls with all of its might as it traps us in its whirlwind. Oddly, the ground doesn’t budge, but it begins to feel alive, fluctuating with a breath of its own. Maurizio and Niall take their fighter’s stance, ready, and unaffected by the elemental play. I can’t spar with my dad!
    “I’m not in the mood, Erik. Call them off!”