“Angle your weapon when coming at me. Like this…” Race stepped behind her.
He was tall, impossibly attractive—a powerhouse of muscles at her back—and she didn’t feel the tingling of any body parts as he repositioned her hands, showing her how to sweep her weapon in an upward counterstrike.
He let go, and she swung up.
“Yes, that’s good. Put your body strength into your blow, and you can behead anyone with a single swipe?—”
“What?” She wheeled to him, weapon swinging.
He leaped back and chuckled. “Good reflexes. He’ll be here. Those winged beings don’t like leaving any job unfinished?—”
A tingle coasted through her, the draw so intense, she didn’t have to turn to see who it was, but she spun around anyway.
Lore glided to the ground, wings spread open like flames in the sinking sun.
The moment he landed, he stalked across. “I’ll take over.”
“It’s about time,” Race drawled. “Nia, it was a pleasure. You’ve alleviated my millennia of boredom.” With a wink, he vanished in a brief swirl of air, leaving behind a faint whiff of burnt ember.
She frowned at the smell, then forgot about it as Lore picked up the sword Race had left on the bench, his enormous wings retracting and vanishing.
“Let’s see what you know about keeping yourself safe.”
Unsurprising that he didn’t seem inclined to explain where he’d been. But it niggled at her. “Where were you?”
“Work.”
Back with the one-word responses? “I thoughtIwas your job?”
He calmly palmed the blade and waited.
But his utter silence irked. She said sweetly, “Oh, thanks for Race. He’s a great teacher. He taught me a lot.”
Lore didn’t react. His normal patience curled around her, yet she sensed something was different…off with him.
“Show me.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You think Race’s incompetent?”
“Not him.”
Irritation surged at the insult.Absolute swine!
Teeth clenched, she whipped around for momentum, sword gripped in both hands and swung hard?—
He countered so fast that the vibration rang up her arms. The power of the blow sent her lurching back. Chest heaving, she glared at him.
“The Guardian treats you like a babe.”
“What would you know?” she shot back. “You weren’t even here?—”
“I know.” He came at her hard and fast.
She ducked his swing and tripped. Only her quick reflexes saved her from falling on her ass. “You know what? Go fight with yourself! I didn’t sign up for any of this!”
She pivoted and stalked to the kitchen.
“Scared?”
