“I thought you wanted to be able to defend yourself. Do as you’re told.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” I snapped.
“I’mteachingyou. There are many forms of attacks, and if someone ever tries to force themselves on you, I want you to be able to free yourself.”
“Force themselves on—” I froze at his darkening eyes.
“Over my dead fucking body I’m letting Dragons or anyone use or disrespect you in any way,” he growled in my ear, sending goosebumps along my arms.
My heart felt too big for my constricting chest.
“And dead is what you might end up to be if you keep interfering,” I said softly. Not as a threat, but a warning. A warning of what Amyntas or my family might do to him if he got in their way.
His eyes softened as one of his hands landed on my cheek to cup my face, his thumb tracing slow lines under my eyes.
“Your legs, Anastasia. Close them around my hips.”
My throat bobbed but I gave him a shallow nod, lifting my knees to circle his waist, ignoring the rush of heat as the shift of position made the bulge in his trousers press harder against my core.
‘Good,” he rasped. “Good. If someone pins you in this position, they’ll have a specific objective in mind. Wait until they’re distracted. Until they think you’re compliant. If your hands are free, do everything you can to attack their face.”
I nodded and he softly grabbed my wrists, pinning them to the floor next to my head. My heart raced.
“If they’re not, you’ll need to use your legs. Lift them higher, try to reach right under my arms—yes, perfect. Tighten your hold and lift your hips at the same time.” I did, and the shift of position pushed him back. “Now you have to slide your legs higher until you can push me away with your feet. Hit in the chest, in the face, everywhere you can. The attacker will be forced to let go of your hand to try and stop you.”
I did as he told, not hitting too hard, but managing to push him away by pressing my feet to his collarbones. He fell backward, landing on his ass just a few feet away. Taking the opportunity to sit back up, I stared at him with parted lips.
“And then what?”
He chuckled. “Then, you either run away and flee, or keep fighting until he’s no longer a threat.”
Would I ever be able to? And even if I ran, what’s to say my attacker wouldn’t catch up to me?
“You said my fighting skills sucked,” I groaned.
“They do.”Great. “But I can teach you more. I can teach you to spar, or use a bow. Hand to hand combat. Defensive and offensive moves.”
“I’m not allowed to,” I confessed in a low voice.
“I know. Why else would you try to train in secret? But why aren’tyouallowed? I’ve seen women in your father’s army. Some who appear to be your sisters too.”
I groaned, looking away. The grass and sparse flowers suddenly seemed really interesting.
“Because I’m an anomaly. I’m the heir’stwinsister. Twins are rare, and never heard of in a leader's family. I’m not allowed to put my life in danger. I’m supposed to just stand still and look pretty, and apparently, scars aren’t attractive enough and they would decrease my value in a marriage.”
He crawled closer, sitting on his haunches once he reached me. The blue of his gaze was hypnotizing as he stared at me, searching my eyes.
“I’ll train you in secret, then.”
“What if I—get a scar or something?”
He grinned, catching both my hands in his. “I’m not aiming to hurt you. But if it happens, scars don’t repulseme. And who knows, maybe the stupid Dragon will back off then.”
Chapter 8
Lola
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
