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Special thanks to Gredelina1, Augustmoon and Mary-Alice-Brandon-Cullen for pre-reading this. This was beta'd by Maxipoo1024 from Sparkly Red Pen.

Chapter Eighteen — Fighting Style

Isabella POV

"I know," he said, "and that does ease my mind somewhat, but I was thinking perhaps I should come too."

No!

My every instinct screamed at me to refuse him. The risk was too great. He could be hurt. I could not allow it to happen. I knew if I was to refuse him outright, I would be met with mulish determination or even anger. A new idea occurred to me.

Hmmm, I wonder.

If I could make him see the risk our fighting together would pose, I could refuse him with a clear conscience.

It was underhanded of me—some may even say cruel—to subject Jasper to this, but I suspected it was the only way I could make him understand. He couldn't fight with me. The risk was too great.

Eager to show his prowess, he hurried us back to the castle. He went to my chamber to change, and I went in search of someone to fight against us. I would have liked Demetri, as he was a fierce opponent and one of the only people not afraid to hurt me, but he was still in Romania.

I found my way to the throne room and assessed the guard present. Santiago, Jane, and Felix were there, as was Afton and Chelsea—though they were of no use to me. Afton was little more than a decoration around the castle, and Chelsea would be in very real danger of me destroying her if we were pitted against one another again.

"Jane. Felix, Santiago," I called. "Would you please accompany to the feeding chamber? There is a service I require of you."

Obediently, they hurried to my side. I was still not used to the immediate action my new inflated position among the coven provided. Before, this situation would have needed an explanation and a few dazzling smiles. Now, they obeyed without question. Leading apparently had its benefits after all.

Marcus gave me a curious look, and I gestured him to follow. I met Jasper in the halls, and we walked hand in hand to the feeding chamber.

I was relieved that the powerful reaction we'd had to physical contact before had not repeated itself. As pleasurable as it had been, I did not much like the idea of falling into lust at every moment of contact. It could become very embarrassing.

"Do you feel up to a little sparring match?" I asked Marcus.

He raised an eyebrow. He and I had not fought for a very long time, not since my newborn years when he was struggling to make me feed. It was not his fault; it was before he understood why I resisted.

I shot him a pleading look, and he nodded. "Very well. I assume there is a reason for your request other than the opportunity to show off."

I scowled at him. I did not show off… often.

"There most certainly is. Jasper wishes to accompany us to Romania, and I want to show him the way we operate."

Marcus knew me well. My simple statement told him all he needed to know. I wanted to show Jasper how I operated and why it was better for me to fight alone.

"We will begin with one on one contact," I told them all when we were situated in the feeding room. "And then move onto larger groups. No gifts yet please."

Jane frowned. She wasn't used to fighting on strength alone, but I needed her to save that little gift for later.

"Felix, if you would oblige." I stepped into the centre of the room and gestured him forward.

Jasper opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off with a stern look. He wanted to fight with me; let him see how it worked first.

Felix fought like a newborn, relying on his immense strength alone. He charged at me like a bull, and I dodged him. I caught his arm as he passed and gave it a sharp tug. It was not nearly hard enough to remove his arm, but it did strain the joint sufficiently that small hairline fractures formed on his shoulder.

He hissed in pain and charged at me again. This time I let him knock me to the floor, but then used my legs to send him flying over my head. Momentarily stunned by the speed of my attack, he remained on the ground a second too long. I straddled his chest and pressed my teeth to the curve of this thick neck.

"My kill."

I looked to Jasper who seemed torn between being horrified and impressed.

"What do you think?" I asked.

"I think you are a very dangerous creature," he said then smiled. "But I also think it was a mismatched fight. Felix may be strong, but he fights like Emmett: no finesse."

Felix growled and I slapped his arm. "Behave."

"Who is up next?" Santiago asked.

"Well, if he is willing, I thought you and Jasper could have a go against one another," I said lightly.

Like Felix, Santiago was immensely strong, but he had the flair for the fight that Felix was lacking. He would pose a real challenge for Jasper.

I stepped aside and stood beside Marcus.

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?" he whispered in my ear.

"Aren't I always?" I turned the question back on him.

He smiled and shrugged.

Jasper and Santiago started their fight, and I watched with avid interest. Jasper was, as I suspected, a very competent fighter. His years in the southern wars had taught him well. He matched Santiago blow for blow.

Santiago managed to pin Jasper, and I cringed, sure the fight was over, but I underestimated Jasper. With a move so fast it was almost a blur, he twisted beneath Santiago and pinned him to the ground.

"My kill," he snarled.

My mouth dropped open. I had never seen Santiago bested so fast. Not even by Felix, who was the most evenly matched in strength. I had severely underestimated Jasper.

He leapt to his feet and held out a hand to Santiago to help him from the floor. Though it was an unnecessary gesture physically, it was a good way to cast off any lingering resentment between the pair.

Santiago took his hand and got smoothly to his feet. "That was fun," he said with a broad grin. "We are definitely doing that again."

Jasper nodded mutely and came to my side.

"Well?"

"You certainly impressed me."

"Of course, he did," Felix said carelessly. "Anyone can take Santiago, let me have a go with him."

"Tempting, but no," I said lightly. "I think it is time for a group attack."

This was something we once frequently did to test the abilities of possible guard. Since we stopped actively recruiting, the practice had fallen out of fashion. There was too much risk of destruction. When a group of vampires were fighting at once, they tended to get carried away. Now was no time for playing it safe, though. Since seeing Jasper fight, my resolve was wavering. He was a impressive fighter, but I did not want him to fight.

"It will be Jasper and I against you all," I said.

"Isabella," Marcus said, shock coloring his tone. "Are you sure?"

I knew he was less concerned about the odds being against us, and more upset that he would be fighting me.

"I am certain. Though if you wish to abstain I will understand."

He considered for a moment and then shook his head. "I will fight."

Jasper took my hand and pulled me aside. "Are you really sure about this? I am not doubting your abilities, but this is a large group to face; I don't want you to get hurt."

I ignored the subtle snub.

"If you truly want to come to Romania with us this is the kinda of opposition we will be facing," I said. "Admittedly, we have Jane and Alec onside, but it does not do to go in unprepared."

His jaw set and a determined gleam came into his eyes. "I want to come."

"Very well, in that case we fight."

The others in the room were listening to our conversation with interest. I used their distraction to position myself back to back with Jasper.

He reached an arm behind him and pulled me close against him. It was as if he was hoping to shield me from their attacks. It was futile. I knew exactly how this would work out.

Marcus was the first to strike, and he aimed for Jasper. He was a fearsome fighter, though like me, he was out of practice, not having been on an active mission for quite some time.

He dropped to the ground and swept Jasper's feet out from under him. I wanted to watch their fight, but Felix was bearing down on me, and he took all my focus to repel him.

Jane stood back watching us. She was fighting the urge to use her gift. I was tempted to use it for myself, but I resisted.

Felix used my momentary distraction to pull me from Jasper's back and fling me across the room. I crashed into the wall, crushing the stones behind me.

I heard a feral roar of rage, and turned in time to see Jasper thrust away Marcus and Santiago.

He hurried to my side, but I held up a hand to halt him. This was exactly why he couldn't fight with us. His main concern was protecting me, when he should be focused on the fight.

I was annoyed that Felix had bested me, and threw myself back into the fight. It took great effort to concentrate on my battle, when all my instincts were calling for me to protect Jasper. Dodging Felix's blow to the chest, I looked around his hulking form and found Jasper and Marcus locked in combat.

They were equally matched in their ferocity and raw power, but Jasper was faster. He dropped to the floor and swept Marcus' feet out from under him. With a strike like a cobra he pinned Marcus to the floor and poised his teeth directly over Marcus' neck.

"My kill," he snarled.

Marcus bucked and twisted, but he was unable to break Jasper's grip. Frustrated at his capitulation he called out to Jane.

"Jane!"

Jasper was instantly on the floor, writhing in pain. His jaw was locked, denying the howls of pain I knew were trying to break through his control.

Seeing him writhing on the floor changed something in me. I felt fury such as I had never felt before in my long existence. My vision took on a misty red haze, and I launched myself at Jane.

I saw from the corner of my eye Jasper leap lithely to his feet. The moment I struck Jane her focus had been broken. I could have stopped myself then, but she had hurt my Jasper. I was going to hurt her.

"Isabella!" Marcus shouted, but I paid him no mind. I would deal with him later.

Now, I was focused on Jane and the many pains I planned to inflict on her.

"I-I-Isabella, I didn't mean…" she babbled.

I hissed. "Quiet!"

I held her to the floor and lowered my face slowly to her. To an observer it would have looked as if I was about to kiss her, when I was really about to mark her pretty face for all to see. She had hurt Jasper. She deserved it.

My mouth was open, and I was about to sink my teeth into her cheek, when a hand touched my cheek.

"I'm okay, Isabella," Jasper said softly. "You don't need to hurt her."

My head turned and I looked at him. He was, of course, perfectly well. The only difference in his usual appearance was the slight tousling of his hair.

"You don't need to hurt her," he said again.

Slowly, very slowly, I released my grip on Jane and rose to my feet.

He encased me in his arms, and I drew deep breaths of his scent. His hand ran through my hair in soothing strokes, and I felt instantly calmer.

"I am so sorry," Jane said, her still present fear made her voice a little unsteady. "It was instinct."

Yes, it was. An instinctual reaction to obey her master's order.

I turned from Jasper's embrace and locked eyes with Marcus. He returned my gaze with stubborn determination.

"I apologize too, Jasper," he said. "I should not have ordered Jane to attack. It has been a long time since I was in physical combat, and I quite forgot myself."

"It is quite alright," Jasper said amiably. "I understand."

"It is most certainly not alright," I hissed. "It was cowardly and cruel."

"Isabella, I think you are overreacting." Marcus' tone was that of indulgence.

In a move so fast it would have blurred the vision of a human, I ran to him and struck him across the cheek.

"It was cruel," I snapped and marched from the room.

Jasper caught up with me as I reached my chambers. "It really is okay," he said quietly from the door.

I didn't turn to look at him. I grabbed a bag and began piling clothes inside.

"Why are you packing my clothes?" he asked. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes, we are. I am going to Alaska, and you are going home."

"Why?" There was obvious hurt in his tone.

I turned to face him at last. "Because this place is no good for you. Besides, we both know you are out of time here. Your coven will need you home for their cover story."

"I don't have to return," he said. "I can stay with you. I want to stay with you."

I cupped his cheek and pressed a soft kiss to his smooth lips. "I know you do, and you know why you can't."

"What about the Romanians? I want to fight them with you."

I stiffened instinctively. "You are not fighting with me."

"Why not? I proved myself today, didn't I?"

"You did. You are a fearsome and talented fighter, but also a liability. I could not concentrate on my own fight as I was too concerned with yours, and you were doing the same. I have to go to Romania; it is my job. Your job is to go to your coven and protect their story."

He scowled at me and I suspected he was about to argue. I decided distraction was the way to go. I slid a hand down his chest and cupped him through his jeans.

"Besides, if we are apart a while it will make out reunion so much sweeter."

He growled low in his throat.

"You are a dangerous creature, Isabella."

I smiled impishly. "Oh, I know."

Thanks for reading. If you would like a teaser of the next chapter let me know in a review or a PM.

Simaril x