He frowned. “All right. We are spending the night here?—”
“Really?” Her heart lit up. “I like that.”
“I wish I could give you—giveus—the time we both need, heart-fire.” He grasped both her hands in his. “We’re mated just two nights ago?—”
“It’s fine. Lemuria needs you more.” She patted his chest. “I can wait because I know I will always have you with me.”
“No.Youwill always come first,” he said quietly before his expression grew serious. “I thought here would be a better place to brush up on any skills you have. And your powers, we will work on again tomorrow. But you need to have some fighting and weapons knowledge.”
He led her away from the living area to the center of the massive space. “I want it to be an advantage along with your abilities. So, let’s see what you can do.”
“From my self-defense classes, it was how to get free, maim, and run.” She rubbed her palms down her jeans.
The lights lowered to mere shadows, just about allowing her to see where things were?—
A blur flashed toward her.
Despite knowing it was Race, she screeched, summoned her dagger, and flung it at him. He grabbed it midair and tossed it aside. He hauled her to him, her arms manacled at her back. She snarled. “I’m going to hurt you.”
“You’re all talk, little human,” he taunted against her ear.
Gah.
She kicked his shin hard, it didn’t move him, and she kneed him in the balls, or would have, if he hadn’t moved back as fast as he had.
He lunged. She ducked, summoned her dagger again, and slammed the tip to his chest. He went motionless.
“Not bad.” The lights snapped back on.
“Echo didn’t only teach me how to wield my dagger, she also helped me brush up on my fighting skills.” She snorted. “She was a self-defense instructor before she met Aethan, did you know? Going back to Lemuria, I didn’t want to be at a disadvantage.”
His hands on his hips, Race chuckled. “I should have known. Never trust a delicate-looking human.”
This man.She rolled her eyes. “Shall we go again?”
“Yeah. But first, let me see your skills with a different weapon.”
Race picked up the fallen pouch from the floor and handed her a throwing star, its edges wickedly sharp. “Aim and embed this in the wall.”
Please, please, don’t fail me now.
Ash drew back her arm and, with everything in her, she let loose, and the star vanished in a blink.
Ash sprinted across and stared at the granite wall. The star point had pierced the stone—just the tip—but it held.
Yes!She grinned.
“A little more force, and it would slice through scale,” Race said behind her. “Again.”
He handed her another star, and Ash walked back to the middle of the room. He waited near the wall.
“You’re in harm’s way,” she warned as she took up position again, her arm poised for the throw.
He smirked. “Use me as a target.”
Ash frowned, remembering the lightning welts she made on his skin. “I’m not doing that again.”
“I can evade a throw, Ash. Go on, it’s good to practice with moving objects. You know this.”
