The Arena novel Chapter 26

We spoke with Kali and got as much information as she had. After they escaped from the first arena, they ran for days. They found a city and settled down. Zaiden got a job as a male model. Why am I not surprised?

They aren’t sure how the supernatural hunters found them or knew what they were, but they did. They laid a trap for them and captured them. Kali was the only one that was able to escape. She ran and then, when she tried to find them, she couldn’t. She heard Ishir was in the business of finding shifters, so she looked for him.

“And here I am,” she said with a flourish. She reminds me of an exotic actress.

I found out after we moved here that Ish is what the humans would call a private investigator. He has his own business, and it’s what helped him find the last arena.

After talking to Kali, Ish decides that they will go searching for the next arena. They leave the next morning, and I make Ish promise that he will let me know where the arena is before they attack on their own.

Several weeks have passed, and we haven’t heard from Ish. At work, Edur told me that we have a new client coming in from out of town. They are looking for a second opinion on their financials.

I sit down and look over the financials, making notes about the areas where I think they need to recheck and look closer. Their numbers don’t make sense. About an hour before our meeting, I get a panicked call from Palila.

“Tana! You need to get home. Something’s happened. We can’t call the fire department or the police. You need to get home…” The line goes dead.

I shoot up out of my seat, redialing my home as I grab my bag and rush out the door. I swing by Edur’s office as I hang up and hit redial when no one answers.

“Edur, there’s a crisis at home. I have to go,” I say, barging into his office without knocking.

“Is everything okay?” Edur asks.

I look up and see that there is someone in his office. I sniff the air and realize he’s a werewolf. I immediately tense, but I don’t have time for this. “I don’t know. They said it was a crisis, and then the phone cut off. I have to go.”

“Do you need help?” the man asks. He stands, and I can tell that he’s definitely a werewolf. Very few shifters are taller than I am, and ranked wolves are part of the few.

“Who are you?” I ask.

He extends his hand. “Bastian Dolph. I’m your afternoon appointment, but it sounds like you have something else that needs your attention.”

I take his hand in mine, shaking it quickly. “Mr. Dolph, I’m Ms. Blaze. Nice to meet you, and I have a lot of things to discuss with you. Perhaps we can reschedule, or Mr. Rime can go over the data with you. I’m very sorry, but I do need to go.”

I nod to Edur and race out of the office. I wish I could just fly over to my apartment. It would take much less time, but of course, I can’t. When I get to the top floor of my building, I can smell the fire.

I race into the apartment, looking around frantically. Jena is holding her arm, and I can see it’s burned. She points toward Kenna’s room, and I race to her room. When I step inside, I stop in my tracks.

Kenna is sitting in a corner, huddled into herself. Dragon wings are sprouting from her back. When she sees me, her sobbing gets louder, and she begins rocking. “Kenna, baby, what happened?”

“I don’t know.”

I take a step toward her. “NO!” she screams. “I don’t want to hurt you too, momma.”

“Sweet girl. You get your fire from me. You can’t hurt me.” She looks up at me with her childlike eyes, hope shining through them that what I’m saying is true.

“Come here, baby girl.” I squat down and open my arms to my daughter. It only takes her a second before she races into my arms. I’m careful to tuck her wings against her back as I hug her. I rock her back and forth and hold her until she calms down.

“I hurt Jena and Palila, momma. I didn’t mean to. I got mad, and I hurt them.”

“Okay, baby. First, our fire can heal them, and I’ll show you how. Second, you must always, always maintain control of your fire. And third, I’m going to start taking you out in the afternoons so we can practice improving your control. It’s time for you to start understanding the power and strength that you possess.”

She nods her head against my chest. “Now, let’s go heal our little kestrel friends, shall we?”