Leda straightened and studied me. “Of your fighting abilities?”
I nodded, curious how this female saw me.
“You’re very skilled and definitely faster than your men. You’re also creative and don’t rely on brute strength. But you have a few tells.”
“Tells?”
“Small signs you’re about to strike.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “What are they?”
A mischievous grin spread across her face, making her golden brown eyes sparkle. “You think I’m going to tell you before we spar? That’s cute.”
I growled beneath my breath and lowered my arms, which made her laugh.
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you when we’re done.”
“Very well,” I sighed.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Ready.”
She dropped into a fighting stance, her eyes locked on me. She appeared relaxed, yet her gaze was sharp and alert. I nearly shook my head. How my men had missed this aspect of her when Guldan brought her to the estate was ridiculous. It was clear she had the heart of a warrior and the training that went along with it.
Leda darted forward, quick and graceful, and I tried to move back. Before I could finish my retreat, she swept one of my legs from beneath me. Already off balance, I started to go down. Seeing the little smirk on her face, I reached out and grabbed her waist, dragging her down with me. As soon as my back hit the ground, I rolled, using my much larger mass to pin her.
Thank the gods I brought her to the grassy area behind the manor. That fall would have been painful if we weren’t.
Before I could grasp her wrists, she reached up, locked her hands on my horns, and pushed my head back and to the side.
A grunt escaped my mouth as my back arched, and I shoved my body away from the ground with my hands to keep my neck from being wrenched. The next thing I knew, I was flat on my back in the grass, staring up at a panting Leda with the point of the dagger at my throat.
“By the gods, female, are you planning to slit my throat?”
The infernal human winked at me before she tucked the dagger back in the sheath she strapped to her thigh earlier. “Not yet.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I sat up and jumped to my feet. She laughed in my ear but didn’t fight my tight hold. I even felt the light press of her lips against the side of my neck.
“Don’t be a sore loser,” she teased.
I squeezed her a little tighter. “Maybe I should just crush you.”
Before I could release her as I planned, sharp nails pinched the back of my arm hard, right over my tricep. A bellow escaped me, and my hold loosened. Leda dropped to her feet and darted away, laughing louder this time.
“You’re an evil female!” I said, rubbing furiously at the back of my arm.
Despite the scowl on my face, I was enjoying myself. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had fun. Not just with a female, but with anyone.
I’d spent too many years in charge of the training of elite soldiers. Fun was not a component of that training. I never discouraged them from enjoying their time away from training, and even encouraged them to find ways to relax, but I’d never followed my own advice.
“Aw, is the big, bad daemon pouting?” she asked, her voice light and amused.
“Pinching isn’t nice,” I retorted.
“It was nicer than stabbing you in the dick with the dagger,” she shot back.
I couldn’t hide my wince, which had her chuckling.
