"I'm glad I tried to turn you into a rock a few days ago," she replied. "And just as happy I failed."
Jule winked and opened the door to the gym. Several Guardians used the rows of machines or free weights while a few were gathered around the boxing ring in a corner. She recognized Damian and Darian as they neared and crept closer to Jule at the sight of the strange man with red glowing eyes. Two more men, one she recognized from the cottage, and another with darkly handsome Hispanic features, stood watching two Guardians box.
"Hi Yully." Darian was the first to spot them. Something had changed with him, too, and she sensed the subtle power that hadn't been there at the monument.
"You here to kick Darian's ass again?" Damian asked with an easy smile. She reddened and shook her head.
"This little thing beat you up?" the man with the chiseled features asked.
"And Jule," Darian pointed out. "She shot him and ran him over."
"It was a misunderstanding," she managed, her face hot.
"Jule kicks my ass every time we spar. I'm okay with you running him over," the man with the cool blue eyes said.
"I was human at the time," Jule responded. "Yully, you've met Damian and Darian. This charmer is my brother, Dusty, Bianca's mate. Bianca's sweet and cute, and Dusty's … Dusty."
"Everyone likes Bianca," Darian added. "She doesn't tell people what to do."
Dusty eyed the wiry man coolly, and Damian chuckled.
"This is Toni, one of Dusty's Guardians. And this … thing-" Damian indicated the man with red eyes "-is Charles. He's one of the Black God's men, an exchange student, here for a few weeks." The exchange student was growling at her.
The positive energy around the four men was contagious, and she found herself drawing it in. Unlike the cold rain of her father's energy, theirs was warm and cheerful, like her bond to Jule.
"Do you always glow?" Darian asked curiously.
"No, sorry." She pushed their energies away self-consciously at the sudden silence and sets of eyes gazing at her.
"You're probably tired today, but when you're ready, you're welcome to spar with us," Dusty offered. "Jule says you can fight pretty well."
"It's good stress relief," she replied.
"I need your man for a few minutes," Damian said. "You're welcome to stay."