Lea grinned. “I promise not to do any permanent damage.”
Still, he paused. “This could hurt your arm.”
His concern was endearing, but unnecessary. “Most of the force comes from the legs with this technique.” She turned around, facing away from him. “Whenever you’re ready.”
He hesitated a moment, then slid one arm over her shoulders and his other around her waist. His touch was much too gentle for this demonstration, and for a brief, heady moment all she wanted to do was sink into the pleasure of his embrace.
But that was not what this was for. “Harder,” she snapped.
He tightened his grip, his body pressing forward behind her, moving her toward the nearest column.
Still not quite the level of force she wanted, but it would have to do.
She anchored her good hand around the forearm nearest her throat, preventing him from getting a chokehold on her. Then, she dropped her weight, sinking into a crouch as she pulled him with her. From there, it was the work of a moment to shift her knees behind his, grab the backs of his legs, and throw him to the ground.
Kallias landed hard on his back with a yelp. He rolled onto his side, gasping for breath.
Drusilla clapped and cheered.
“From here,” Lea said, approaching Kallias’s prone body, “your options are either to flee straightaway or add a swift kick to further disable your opponent. Head, stomach, or groin are thebest options.” She swept out her foot to demonstrate, grinning as Kallias flinched, as if he really thought she was going to kick him.
“That was wonderful!” Drusilla surveyed Kallias as he struggled to his feet. “But I don’t think he was trying very hard.”
“No, he wasn’t,” Lea agreed.
Kallias dusted off his tunic with a glare toward her. “Forgive me for not being in the habit of assaulting women.”
“Let me demonstrate more slowly.” She beckoned Kallias closer. “Grab me again.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched, but he did as she asked, anchoring both arms around her. As Drusilla watched in fascination, Lea explained each step she took to disarm him, ending by throwing him to the ground once more—though she tried to do it more gently this time.
“Would you like to try on me?” Lea asked Drusilla as Kallias hauled himself to his feet.
Drusilla opened her mouth to answer, but the entrance of four people made her pause. It was the emperor, flanked by three Praetorian Guards. Within the palace, the guards wore togas, not armor, but she had no doubt that the woolen folds concealed weapons.
Lea took an instinctive step back, eyes lowering to the grass as Gaius greeted his sister with a kiss on the cheek.
“I thought I might see how the lesson was progressing,” Gaius said, his tone light. “You should know, Penthesilea, that my sister is to be my heir. Until one of us has a son, of course. The official announcement is forthcoming. So it’s imperative that she not come to any harm.”
Lea slid her gaze toward Drusilla, who smiled sweetly. Lea hadn’t realized it was possible for a woman to inherit the imperial throne, but perhaps the emperor could do as he liked. “These exercises are very basic. She won’t be injured.”
“Well, I think Kallias may be a bit sore tomorrow,” Drusilla said with a laugh.
Lea dared a brief glance up to see Gaius’s focus swing toward his physician. “How did you get roped into this, Kallias?”
“Penthesilea required someone to display her skills on,” Kallias replied. “It seems I was the most convenient option.”
“You should have seen how she flattened him!” Drusilla said.
“I could do it again, if you like,” Lea said, aiming another smirk at Kallias.
Gaius waved a dismissive hand. “Kallias is hardly a worthy opponent for a gladiator.”
Lea looked toward the three Praetorians. “I could do it with one of your men, if you like.” Any of them would certainly be a more challenging opponent, especially as they’d hate to be bested by a woman in front of their master.
Gaius considered for a moment. “I’d rather offer myself for the demonstration.”
Behind him, Kallias’s eyes widened in alarm.
