Eclipsed by Midnight by Kristina Canady Read Free Book Online Page B

breath is stolen from his chest in a fierce whoosh as he lies there, trying to gasp for air that won’t come. Maurizio charges me, his heft tremoring the arena with each footfall. Given his size and talents, he never has been able to lighten his impact on the ground, giving away his every move. With a step-pivot, I turn to meet him in perfect stance, calling the energy around me to act as my strength and to make each move more impactful. I step forward and into him with an upper cut just as he about barrels me over. The exchange sends him back only about a step or two as he clutches his ribs and glares at me with an ugly, disturbing distortion coming over his face. Fuck, he’s pissed.
    Snarling loudly, fangs extended and dripping with saliva, he comes at me like an unstoppable freight train. Damn it, this is going to hurt something fierce if he makes contact coming at me that hard! Calling earth and wind, I pull the sand up in front of me like a wall, long enough to provide a smoke screen and dodge him. Maurizio comes crashing through the sand, spitting and flaring his nostrils as he circles around, lining back up with my evading form. In an attempt to impede his onslaught, I throw a ring of fire in his direction, only to have him jump through it, unscathed, all while picking up more speed.
    Sending another shockwave through the sand, I cause him to falter ever so slightly. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, I charge forward, front kick him back an inch, spin, and land a mean kidney shot that drops him to his knees. He staggers and attempts to rise so I marry the elements into a ball and blast it into his chest, knocking him down hard. Moments pass into a disturbing stretch as we wait for him to remember to breath. Finally, a brutal gasp rips through his chest as his lungs remember how to pump air in and out. He is otherwise unscathed, well, except his pride.
    “Nuet!” Erik calls—game over.
    Walking over to Maurizio, I look down into his stern face and ticking, steel jaw as he struggles to gather himself. “Jesus, big boy, get it together!” I chide as I offer him arms of truce. Niall stomps up too. Maurizio clasps onto our forearms and, together, we pull him up.
    “Damn me, wee lass, you sure packin’ a mighty punch these days!” Niall sings in praise as Maurizio just grunts, pissed to be bested again.
    “Ah, Maurizio, don’t look at me like that!” I wrap an arm around his trim waist and give him a hug. He softens a bit and finally offers a fist bump. Grouchy ol’ brother bear.
    “I am out of the next round; ya fuckin’ took a cheap shot with the kidney.” He groans.
    “Ya big pussy! Can’t handle a little girl fight?” Gabriel booms through the barrier from above, drawing our attention up.
    “It’s about time, Gabriel!” I yell up before my eyes follow.
    Two ghost-white faces stare back in shock. The boys! I motion to Erik to drop the barrier of wind and radiating earth energy we are yelling over. Naveed and Roman quickly comply, and I jump up and out of the ring. “Guys, you okay?” I fret, straining not to get too close into their personal space.
    “Well, they got to see you in action.” Gabriel whistles.
    “How much did y’all see?” I nonchalantly brush back some errant flyaways.
    Vacant, disbelieving looks mirror back.
    “Well, just about all of it,” Erik pipes in, quite pleased with himself.
    Niall jumps out of the pit, landing next to me with a fascinated expression before extending his hand in introduction. “How’s it goin’ there, lads? I’m Niall, yer grandad,” he jubilantly greets them.
    “For fuck’s sake, Niall!” I growl, my fangs lengthening and tremors sneaking out from where we stand; Etienne does nothing but shake his head and step back, ready to let me rip Niall apart.
    “Oh, Jaysus. I’m sorry.” Niall’s cheeks deepen as he shoves a hand in his jeans and rocks back on his heels.
    “Mom, it’s fine. We were bound to find out.” Ethan’s calm,