Free Blood of Half Gods by Bonnie Lamer

happens to her.”
     
    The worst argument here is probably ‘it’s only okay if I do it.’  I think I’ll try a different one, even if it’s not quite as honest.  “I wasn’t flinging sharp objects at her that could kill her.  You already stabbed her in the arm, does she really deserve to have her facial bones smashed in for the crime of choking on a carrot?  My god, what would you do if she choked on a piece of steak – turn her into a cow and eat her for dinner?”  The sudden mental image of that is horrifying, to say the least.
     
    “It is not your place to tell me how I can and cannot punish my subjects,” he growls.
     
    “Oh, omnipotent one, please, let me obey you.”  Sarcasm is dancing a jig on my chin right now.  Actually, it’s more like a Scottish reel.
     
    He can pack a lot of fury into that one eye.  Impressive.  “She is not the only one who can be tried for treason.”
     
    That really makes me snort.  “Seriously?  You’re going to go with threats of domination?  Because, what?  I haven’t already made it perfectly clear that I don’t give a damn what you think about me or how you think I should act?”  I’m standing up now.  Kallen stands up next to me and puts his hand on my shoulder.  Whether it’s to back me up or try to calm me down, I have no idea.  “I’ll tell you what, if you want to have a magical showdown, let’s go.  Right now.  If you win, you can bind my powers and hang me from the nearest tree.”
     
    “Executions are not done that way anymore,” Kegan adds helpfully, as he continues to eat his soup.  “Though, firing squads are quite trendy this century.”  I have to admit, I almost laugh.
     
    Okay, I do laugh.  A lot.  Kallen does, too.  Even Alita covers her mouth with her hand to try to hide her little giggle.  Dagda tries hard to hang on to his anger, but even his lips are trying to push up on the sides.  Walking over to him, I pull his hand down from his eye, which is all red and a little cut underneath his bottom lid is what’s bleeding. Who knew carrots could be so sharp?  It was probably more the velocity upon impact than the sharpness of the carrot, though.  The skin under the eye is fragile.
     
    He looks at me warily as I draw magic.  Using the tiniest bit I can, I use it to heal his eye, even taking away the bruising that has started. He is a Cyclops no more.
     
    “Can I take the wall down, or are you still planning to kill her with cutlery?”
     
    Pulling magic, he pulls all the things he threw at her back towards the table.  I let the wall around Radella down and walk over to her.  She flinches when I reach out to the touch her arm.  I cock my head and raise my brows.  “I’m the one who just saved you, remember?  If I wanted you to be hurt, I could have just sat back and watched the show.”
     
    Reluctantly, she holds her arm out to me.  I’ve gotten pretty good at this healing thing.  Probably the only gentle thing I can do with my magic.  I imagine her arm healing, sewing itself back together, until her skin is perfect once again.  She looks amazed the whole time.  “I have never seen anyone heal this quickly.”
     
    I shrug.  “One of the benefits of being a Witch Fairy.”  She just nods and continues to stare at her healed arm.
     
    “Radella, that will be all for the evening.”  There’s a finality in Dagda’s voice that tells me that it will probably be all for her career, as well.  That doesn’t seem fair.  Choking on a carrot shouldn’t get you fired.  On the other hand, I won’t miss her.  Radella quietly opens the door and disappears quickly. 
     
    I sit back down at the table and Kallen takes my hand in his.  He leans in and gives me a soft kiss.  “Glad to see you can sometimes control that temper of yours,” he teases.  I’d give him a dirty look if he didn’t have a point.
     
    Instead of sitting back down, Dagda walks to the door at the far side of the room,