My breath hitched as his chest pressed into me.
As he reached around me and grabbed… his dagger.
The dagger he’d set on the counter.
Gods.
Laken backed off with a smug little grin. “See you outside, then.” He patted my Gods-damned shoulder.
Catching my breath and regathering myself, I rolled my eyes despite the fact he was already outside and wouldn’t see. I gripped the counter behind me. I hated him.Hatedhim. And all of a sudden was very much looking forward to learning how to fight him.
Following him and sliding the door shut behind me, I spun around to where he waited in the grass.
“Am I good in this?” I tugged at the skirt of my dress. My pants from earlier would’ve been better, but they got filthy corralling the creatures before the storm this morning. “Not really fighting attire.”
Laken waved me forward. “Do you think the poachers are going to let you go change before attacking?”
Fine. Fair enough.In a nice corset and dress, I treaded over the grass and took my place facing him.
My so-called teacher flipped his dagger in his hand, sizing me up. “Let’s start with ways to escape a direct attack, since that’s more or less the most probable situation you’ll be facing.” Laken moved behind me and instinctively I shifted uncomfortably. An uneasiness tightened my shoulders as I remained a sitting duck, casually waiting to be in danger.
The hellblazers were watching, anticipating me getting my ass kicked.Fiery fuckers.
Laken’s hands brushed around my waist, circling my wrists. Gripping them, he folded my arms behind my back. His knuckles pressed against my spine. His legs braced against mine. Any thought of chickens staring disappeared from my mind.
“Am I supposed to just let you do this?” I asked over my shoulder.
A breath of a laugh rushed from his lips and I felt it on my skin, goose bumps lighting the way. He placed a hand on my spine and explained how to throw my chest forward and either turn to break loose or turn while swinging an elbow back—so I did.
And regretted it immensely.
With a grip around my arm as I turned, he stopped me as our chests collided and our lips hovered but inches away from meeting.
Three breaths rose and fell from his chest before he dared to meet my glare. “Just like that, McCarthen.”
Someone help me from this problem I got myself into—please.
He released me and I inhaled deeply, realizing I hadn’t been.
I tried to pay attention. Honestly, I did! But each touch of our skin sent vibrations up my bones.
Disarming came next. From what I gathered, the odds of someone untrained disarming someone who was trained were next to nothing. But these few tips and tricks could help in a matter of life or death. As Laken put it, “You may slit your palm if not careful, but that’s still better than a stabbed heart.”
“Hold this like you’re the attacker so I can show you.” Laken put a dagger in my hand. A real dagger.
This seemed dangerous. “Are you sure? Is this going to hurt?”
Laken’s lip parted, offended yet ready. “Reece, come on now, do you trust me?”
Yes. No? Trust was a big word; eager to stab him, though… that had a ring to it.
He told me whatnotto do first, not to push the arm left or right because they’d swing back too quickly. “But instead…” He flicked his eyes to me before wrapping his hand around mine. My pulse beat against his fingers. “By hitting the inside of the wrist while shoving the back of the palm, folding it on itself”—I dropped the dagger—“you can disarm your attacker.”
He demonstrated at real speed next, hitting my wrist and bending my hand. Pain shot down my arm. The weapon flew and I gawked at Laken. “Ow! That hurt!”
“Told you this wouldn’t be fun.” He shrugged. “You can’t sugarcoat self-defense.”
I flipped him off. One demonstration left and we’d be done. I could make it.
