Jordyn (A Daemon Hunter 1)

"I guess," I said, scooting over so she could join me on my bed.

"We're only lo—" she started to say.

"Looking out for my best interest. I know, Krista. I've heard it a billion times. Everyone's always looking out for my best interest, but seriously, how badass do I have to become before you guys realize I don't need anyone. I'm not like you guys. I'm not going to fall apart being alone," I snapped. "But that also doesn't mean I can't be interested in someone."

"Jordyn, I've been on my own, and I know it's not a fun place to be. We know we're overprotective, but it's because we love you, not because you're some amazing warrior. Even if you had no gifts at all, we'd still love you the same."

"Sometimes it feels like you guys are smothering me. I want to be able to experience life without always having everyone breathing down my back. It's bad enough that I can't remember anything about my past without always having everyone hover over me. I just want a little space," I said. "I need a little space!" I clarified.

"I get that, and we'll work on giving you more space. We want you to be happy. I know Lynn leaving last month was hard on you, but you can't spend the rest of your summer moping around picking for a fight," she said, giving me her classic adult look.

I tried not to laugh. Sometimes Krista forgot that she was only five years older than me.

"Laugh it up, but taking on those Daemons without help isn't going to win you any brownie points," she said. "If you want us to treat you like an adult, you need to show you're responsible."

"But I knew I could take—" I started to say.

"Jordyn, we all know you can fight Daemons, but believe me when I say that The Dark One doesn't always play fair. Calling for help isn't being weak. It's showing responsibility," she said. "Okay, end of parental rant. Maybe when school starts, we can revisit you going out with the boy from chemistry."

"That's okay. He's really not my type," I said, thinking my type ran more toward a certain Trader.

"I see. Well, maybe you'll see ahumanwho is your type," she said, emphasizing the human part. "But, this Soul Trader, he's not for you," she added with finality.

I wanted to argue, but could see the subject was closed.

"I have no interest in Emrys," I lied, smiling through my teeth.

"Just keep it that way," she said, leaning over to give me a kiss on the head. "I love you," she said, shooting me one last worried look.

"Love you too," I said as she closed the door behind her.

My smile disappeared the moment the door closed. "Ugh, why can't I have normal guardians that were clueless to the supernatural world?" I complained, climbing off my bed. I grabbed a clean pair of knee-length grey sweats and one of the several black spaghetti-strap tank tops from the drawer. Krista had tried unsuccessfully to get me to switch to pastel colors a couple months ago, but I balked at the idea. White, black and maybe grey were my colors of choice.

With clean clothes in hand, I headed for the bathroom to grab a shower. The gentle hot water cascaded down my body, soothing my tender knee abrasions. As I gingerly scrubbed away the dried blood from my legs, my mind wandered back to the mountaintop and my encounter with Emrys. I was dying to know where he'd wanted to take me, and why he seemed to be so into me. I had my fair share of guys check me out over the last few months, but something always seemed to hold them back from actually approaching me. Lynn had thought it was the "I can kick your ass" vibe that she claimed I emitted. I tried taking her suggestions and softened my demure, but it felt phony. Besides, she said it looked like I had a bad case of constipation, so I gave up in frustration. Even when Justin from my chemistry class actually got the nerve to ask me out, I was so shocked I turned him down before it could fully register in my head. I tried to retract the rejection as soon as the words left my mouth, but the damage was done and it was too late. I was a social leper. >"It is best to be prepared for all situations," Haniel answered in his normal dismissive tone whenever I questioned the endless hours of training. Not that I bitched much about it since it got me out of school.

"No more talking. Go," he said, pointing to the top of the mountain above us.

"How high?" I asked, knowing from previous training sessions what he expected.

"The top. I will be waiting for you there," he said, disappearing in front of me.

"What a cheat," I complained to myself as I picked up a steady pace up the uneven ground. There was no trail to speak of, so all the work was up to me. My breathing came out in even puffs as I made my way up the steep incline.

My mind began to wander as I moved on autopilot. I'd been too hyped up all morning to allow myself the luxury of thinking about Emrys. I teased myself with fantasies about why he wanted to see me so badly. I'd been warned to stay away from him, but I couldn't help wondering what would have happened if I would have joined him.

Busy with sinful thoughts of the steamy Trader, I missed the exposed tree root that was sticking up out of the ground as I jogged along.

One minute I was thinking of the tattoo that disappeared down his shirt and the next I was airborne. Using skills Haniel had taught me, I tucked my body into a ball and wrapped my arms around my head to protect it. I landed several feet away in a bone-jarring heap.

"Fucking hell's bells," I grunted, taking a few seconds to gather my wits while I took stock of possible injuries. Every bone in my body ached, but as I slowly began to uncurl myself from the fetal position I had flown in, I knew I wasn't seriously injured, except maybe my pride. After a moment, I staggered to my feet and pushed my hair out of my face. My knees burned and I looked down grimacing.

"Mother of monkey asses, these were new pants," I squawked out loud as I took in the tennis ball-sized holes in each of the knees of my pants. Blood flowed copiously from my left knee while the right one looked like road rash.

"Real slick, dipshit," I said, leaning down to roll up my pant legs so I could take a closer look. I sucked in a breath as the material of my pants brushed against my scraped knees. "Holy donkey balls, how do kids deal with scraped knees all the time?" I complained out loud.

"Do you always talk to yourself?" a voice asked behind me.

"Stalk much?" I asked unsurprised. Even while nursing a couple of scraped knees, my instincts had clued me in to the presence of someone else up here in the middle of nowhere. "More importantly, how did you find me?" I asked, turning around to face Emrys.