Wicked Waves: Solsti Prophecy #2 by Sharon Kay Page A

to meet me.”
    Nicole shrugged. “I wanted to. More sister time. Besides, Rilan has all the guys learning some old demonish stuff.”
    “Did they all sit willingly, like good little demons?”
    A smirk lit Nicole’s face. “They pretended to grumble about it, but I think their inner geeks were thrilled.”
    They made their way to the house, the air crisp with fall’s chill. The scent of burning leaves drifted through the night air, and Brooke inhaled deeply. She loved that smell.  
    “Look, the harvest moon!”   Nicole pointed to the huge, orange sphere hanging between the trees. “It’s so beautiful, but as soon as wispy clouds blow in front of it, it turns eerie.”
    “All it needs is a witch on a broom,” Brooke added.
    “That is a distinctly possible situation.”
    Brooke grinned. “Witches and demons and nymphs, oh my!”
    Nicole let out a loud guffaw and raised her hand for a high five. “Hell yes!”
    Brooke smacked her sister’s palm. One year older than her own age of twenty-seven, the two of them had been inseparable for as long as long as she could remember. Their giggles settled down to a comfortable silence as they walked another block. “Work has been so crazy, I haven’t even talked to Gin since…” she counted mentally. “Last Friday’s video chat.”
    As they turned into the driveway, Nicole gazed up at the stately brick mansion. “What do you think it will take for her to walk through those doors?”
    “I still haven’t figured that out,” Brooke said as they walked up the driveway. Two years younger than Brooke, Gin was the most stubborn person she knew. She thought Brooke and Nicole were reckless to use their abilities, and she had no interest in honing her own affinity with fire.
    Opening the front door, the sisters were greeted with shouts and computer-generated gunfire coming from the great room.
    “Boo-yah!” Rhys yelled, jumping off the couch, Xbox controller in hand.
    “Pussy,” Brenin muttered.
    “I guess the lesson is over,” Nicole said.
    “Not for Gunnar. He’s still up in Rilan’s study,” Rhys said over his shoulder.
    “Maybe I should check on him,” Nicole said, smiling.
    A frisson of anticipation shot through Brooke’s body as she wondered where Kai was. With Rilan and Gunnar?   Out patrolling the city?   And why do I care?   Like a rubber band, her mind snapped back to the last time she’d seen him. In the kitchen, standing so close, tantalizing her senses…
    No . His insults lingered in her thoughts, too. He’s an ass, remember?
    The sisters climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Nicole ducked into Rilan’s suite and Brooke went to her room. My room . She shook her head. Demon Central felt more like home with every day that passed. When did that happen?
    She stored several changes of clothing here, as well as travel sizes of all her toiletries. Changing out of her work clothes, she pulled on a black sports bra, loose-fitting red tank top, and yoga pants. She tugged her long brown hair into a messy bun atop her head and slipped back downstairs.
    Rhys and Brenin were so absorbed in their video game that they didn’t notice as she made her way through the house and down the basement steps. Well, she amended, they were probably aware of her on some level. Their heightened demon senses would register every scent, sight, and smell around them.
    The pounding drums and screeching guitars of Iron Maiden echoed in the lower level, vibrating the door of the training room. She pulled it open and stepped inside. Mercy.
    Kai was engaged in an impressive display of swordsmanship. Alone. She stood by the door, partly because she was unsure of what to say. She hadn’t seen him since their little incident in the kitchen on Sunday. When he not only apologized for insulting her, but made her insides turn to jelly with barely a touch. She pushed the heated memories from her mind, needing to focus on her workout.
    However, another part of her was