Connor stepped to his father, and they embraced each other. And something Connor whispered had Gabriel’s smile widening.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’d do the same.”

And then he stepped aside, and Connor stepped into his father’s spotlight. He looked at his mother, then at me, and then that gaze—ever so slowly—moved to Cade Drummond. And there was danger in it.

“Cade Drummond,” Connor said, his voice and magic booming across the room. “I formally accept your challenge.”

* * *

Chairs and tables were moved to the edges of the room, and Connor and Cade stepped into the empty space.

“I have one condition,” Connor said.

Cade snorted. “I guess your vampire girlfriend has made you paranoid about rules.”

“If you’re asking if I’ve learned anything from her, yes. But mostly I just think you’re a lazy cheat.” That had appreciative snickers running through the crowd.

Cade’s eyes flashed. “What’s your condition?”

“You lose, and all three of you go back to Memphis, and spend some time volunteering with our family services organization down there.”

Cade’s jaw went hard. I knew he wanted to tell Connor to go fuck himself, but that wouldn’t be a very Apex thing to say to that particular condition.

“I have a condition, too.” Cade said. “We fight as humans.”

That had Connor’s brows lifting. “You surprise me, Cade. I figured you for a tuck-tail-and-run kind of fighter.” He glanced at his father, who nodded his agreement.

“Agreed,” Connor said.

“Then let’s get this done,” Cade said, and the two of them stripped down to gym shorts.

It was easy to see why Cade wanted to fight in human form; he was big and bulky and had obviously spent a lot of time in the weight room. He was probably heavier than Connor pound for pound, but gym fit and fighting fit were two very different things.

Music started, hard and loud.

“Now we’ll see if Connor has Apex in him,” Dan whispered.

I turned to look at him. “What does that mean?”

“Just watch,” he said.

Cade didn’t waste time but came forward, spinning into a roundhouse kick that caught Connor on the shoulder—and sent the crowd into a frenzy. He was more agile than I’d thought.

But he turned his back on Connor, and Connor took the opportunity with a kick to the lower back that sent Cade forward. Cade righted himself, turned around, then came in swinging. He wanted to win fast, probably thought his best chance against Connor was one shot after another until he got Connor down.

Connor blocked a high punch, a low kick. Then he pivoted into a crescent kick that put Cade on the floor—but he was on his feet again in seconds. Connor tried a right hook, but Cade spun away.

They reset, met again in the middle, fast strikes and blocks at supernatural speed. Connor managed another right hook that caught Cade’s chin, but Cade landed a punch on Connor’s shoulder that had pain flashing across his face.