I scrambled to my feet and charged at him, teeth bared.
He disarmed me so fast I barely saw it happen.
“Again.”
Riordan took a step forward. “You’re not teaching her anything like this. You’re just showing off.”
“She needs to be stronger.”
“She needs to learn, Ryker, not get humiliated every time she breathes.”
“I won’t go easy on her.”
“No, but you don’t have to be an asshole about it either.”
“Aren’t you the one who told me she’s not some fragile damsel?”
“This isn’t what I meant,” Riordan snapped back.
Getting to my feet, I gripped the hilt of the wooden sword as I glared at the brothers. “You know I can hear you, right?”
Twin sets of storm-grey eyes turned on me, and the intensity of their gazes forced me to retreat a step.
One Unseelie Prince was more than enough. And if I had to choose, I’d take the younger.
Hedidn’t unsettle me the way his brother did.
Ryker raised an amused brow as though he knew exactly what I was thinking. Heat flooded my face, and I tightened my grip on the practice blade until my knuckles turned white.
“Well?” I said, lifting my chin despite the exhaustion tugging at my limbs. “Are you going to keep pretending I’m not here, or can we return to training?”
Ryker grinned, extending his sword out in invitation. “By all means.”
My gaze swung to Riordan, who looked ready to jump between us at any second, then back to the predator advancing on me. He circled me like a wolf stalking its next meal, his own wooden blade held loose and confident in his grip.
“Though I’d suggest you focus less on Riordan and more on not ending up flat on your back again.”
“I wasn’t —”
“You were,” he said, cutting off my protests. “Your stance is sloppy, your grip is wrong, and you showcase every move on your face three seconds before you make it. Fix it.”
A current of anger coursed through me, and I lunged for Ryker, blinded by my rage. He caught my outstretched sword and pulled me into his arms. He spun me around in his hold until my back was pressed against his front, and he caged me in his embrace.
“Never let your emotions cloud your judgement, Temptress,” he said before placing a delicate kiss on my throat.
I jerked to the side, not wanting him to have the upper hand, and he chuckled, the sound dripping with malicious intent. Then he spun me away from him. I stumbled, unable to catch myself in time before I landed face down in the dirt.
Pain ricocheted through my body, and I threw a murderous glare over my shoulder to where Ryker stood, unfazed.
“For fuck’s sake, Ryker.” His brother groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
“I won’t tell you again. Stay out of it, Riordan,” Ryker snapped. “I refuse to let her fall victim to the parasites salivating at the thought of taking her out.”
“You think knocking her down repeatedly will achieve that?” Riordan mocked as he threw his hands in the air.
I lay in the dirt, panting, as sweat dripped into my eyes. My arms ached, though my pride stung more than my bruises.
But Ryker was distracted, arguing with his brother.
