He turned toward her. “I didn’t kill them, Sarafina. I’m just saying they have a habit of turning up dead.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. “I have no idea what to say to that.”

“Don’t say anything. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay.”

“Come on, I’ll let you drive for a while.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll teach you how to drive a motorcycle.”

“Oh.” She eyed the huge heavy . . . hog. Isn’t that what they called them? “Um.”

“It’s not hard. Come on.” He extended one of the helmets toward her.

She took it, knowing this was his olive branch.

ADAM’S BLADE MET THEO’S AND REVERBERATED down the length of his arm. Theo pushed back with a grunt and sent Adam backward. Adam swung around, slashing upward with his sword and forcing Theo back into the defensive.

Theo whirled, his tail of hair lashing him in the face, and blocked Adam’s powerful swing. Adam was one of the best swordsmen in the Coven and Theo loved to engage him. It was a challenge. Today he craved the burn in his muscles and the state of mindlessness that combat gave him. It provided a much-needed escape.

Sweat poured down Theo’s chest as he took the offensive again, pushing Adam back in a flurry of flashing copper blades and ringing metal. Channeling all his current frustration and rage into the battle, Theo pressed Adam farther and farther back. His muscles straining and his arms and legs screaming, he gave a loud bellow and forced Adam to stumble backward onto the mat.

Adam threw his sword to the floor and swore at the top of his lungs. He shook his sweat-soaked hair and yelled, “All right, enough! I give in! Gods damn!”

Theo let his sword dangle at his side. He tipped his head back and closed his eyes for a moment, savoring both his rare victory against Adam and also the satisfying physical strain in his body from the exertion it had taken to gain it. Then he reached down and offered Adam his hand. Adam took it and Theo hefted the other man to his feet.

“Good fight,” said Theo.

Adam eyed him warily. “You’re only saying that because you won.”

Theo grinned. “Maybe. Want another go?”

Adam rotated his shoulder. “Hell, no. You’re out for blood today. I want to keep my head on my shoulders. I have a woman at home to think about.”

Yeah, Theo had a woman at home right now, too. That was a turn of events he’d never counted on. At first he’d figured it wouldn’t be a big deal. She was his job. Sure, she was pretty, but there were lots of pretty witches in the Coven and he’d been able to resist almost all of them. Theo wasn’t like how Adam had been pre-Claire, chasing after every woman he came into contact with.