Jaliza A. Burwell - Magical Collision

Early morning cold air nipped at my skin as I watched Alijah move fast and go in for the kill. The porch heater blasted hard, fighting against the cold, and I probably should have gone inside, but stubbornness kept me outside. I wanted to watch this and needed to see the outcome.

Alijah reached for Venni, pulled his arm, and flipped him over. A rumble escaped Vennis chest as he refused to stay down. He was on his feet in moments, moving fast to return the favor. The two of them continued to go back and forth.

I sat on my porch swing with my trusty behesiff, Siitha, there to keep me company.

Do you think hell finally win one? I asked my fluff ball.

He only snorted, his heavy head squishing my lap. I ran my fingers through his thick fur as I watched my two men. They werent hard to look at, not at all, not while they were shirtless and coated with sweat. The mid-December air had no effect on them thanks to the fact that shifter already ran hot. Venni released a growl, and the air intensified as both their energies smashed into each other, having another battle of a different kind. Watching two shifters fight was intense, especially when Alijah was a tiger and Venni was a wolf. Old enemy instincts rose as the two of them went all out, neither willing to give.

Alijah used the strength of his Sumatran tiger as he went in for a tackle, his orange eyes hard. He was a blur of auburn hair and dark skin.

Venni grunted, his black hair matted with sweat, but he was one determined man. He got out from underneath Alijah and tried to pin him down. Alijah wasnt having any of it as they rolled around, trying to get one over the other.

Now all we need is a mud pit, I said with a grin, letting my brain fill in that mouthwatering image. I was almost tempted to reach out with my power and add one in. It would have been easy, too. Ever since I had awakened a few weeks ago, everything had been easy. Too easy. More often than not, I used too much power, and control had become a new frustrating challenge for me.

They continued to go at it tirelessly before Alijah stepped back with a smile, wiping away the blood from his nose. Good. Good, Im going to tell Lombardi that youre cleared.

Venni grunted, too busy breathing heavily as Alijah moved out of reach and ended the sparring match. I clapped my hands. Encore! I cheered. Another round.

Venni scowled at me. I grinned big and managed to float over a bottle of water to him. It should have been easy, just a little nudge of power and the water bottle would float peacefully to Venni. Instead the bottle turned into a torpedo and shot right at him. He snatched it out of the air and wasted no time in gulping it down.

Shit, sorry, I called out.

Alijah shook his head. Venni didnt bother saying anything, already having emptied half the water and aiming to finish it off in one go. The poor wolf looked like he needed it.

Damn, that was exactly what I meant. My powers amped all my intentions up by tenfold in everything I did. There were a few holes in my house to prove my point, and the guys probably had a standing order of wood at the local lumber yard to patch them up whenever they came over.

Alijah patted Venni on the shoulder and then came over, making sure to pay his respects to Siitha by giving him a good rub on the head. The boys didnt even know it, but Siitha had them wrapped around his paws. Siitha was my behesiff, a magic-loving feline I had run into in the fall, and hed been following me around since. He was bigger than a lion with a gray coat, spotted with black dots, two barbed tails, and slitted yellow eyes framed by a mane of hair. He also loved showing off his long incisors, all the better to tear into things. He was the best kitty guard dog a person could ask for.

Once Alijah finished showing Siitha the respect Siitha thought he deserved, my boyfriend came over.

I held up my hand. No, nope, stay away.

He chuckled as he leaned forward and kissed my cheek. My nose curled into fake disgust as I placed my hands on his hot, sweaty body. Gross, stay away. You smell, and youre all gross from rolling around in the dirt.

Im borrowing your shower. I need to head to work and let Lombardi know Venni can go back on active duty again.

Yes, please go. I shoved him away from me. He chuckled again before disappearing inside my house. And clean up the mud youre tracking all over my floor.

He didnt reply, but I knew he heard me.

Venni did a few more stretches before coming up onto the back porch.

This place is starting to look like a home, he said.

I smiled. It is, isnt it? I glanced around the backyard, appreciating the space.

There was a new shed full of garden supplies off to the side near the edge of the forest. Just behind it was the start of my ward to protect against anyone wanting to hurt me. A stronger ward was wrapped around my house to keep away anyone not invited. Stretching out from the shed and heading toward the house was the beginning makings of my garden. A handful of trees were planted, and so were flowers and bushes, but there were still markers for more plants I wanted to put there. It took time to plan, knowing what some plants needed and couldnt have. There were some shrubs that couldnt be next to certain flowers otherwise they killed the flowers. Or trees grew sick next to certain shrubs. It was a challenge, but one I was always up to facing. The elementalist side of me loved gardens and now that I owned a house with a lot of space, I could invest in my own without restriction. My goal was to turn my backyard into a jungle.

Siitha was going to appreciate it once it was done. There was a huge tree in the backyard worthy of a treehouse. Siitha already claimed it as his own, and I often found him sleeping on its thick branches.

Next to my garden was the foundation of a small work building so I could create herbs safely away from the house. The last thing I wanted was air toxication depending on which flowers I was working with. My lab itself was being built in the basement. It was going a little slower than I had wanted, but after the guys got it in their heads to build me the perfect lab space, we had to do some rework on the house itself to give me what Id need. Theyd just finished creating an exit from the basement to my backyard and the remodel to insert a ventilation system that was up to code.

It was tiring work, but I loved every second of it, and it kept the guys around when they were free.

You came back yesterday from seeing Shetz, right? Venni asked.

Yeah, I mumbled. I was still feeling the effects of that trip. At least I wasnt dead like the shrew thought Id be. That trip was the only reason I wasnt at work right now. Dwight had made me take work off until Monday even though I itched to be back in my lab at Biomystic.

Venni waited me out for more details, and I huffed.

Hes a stubborn bastard and nearly tore my head off, saying I was late. I was supposed to be there over a week ago. I think he was about to have some of his friends send a curse my way.