My teeth still throbbed from the way they had rattled.
“Take a break,” she said, already turning away. “And maybe wear something lighter next time. That sweater is slowing you down.”
I cursed under my breath, heading toward the bench and grabbing a water bottle from the floor.
“Put your hair in a bun next time,” Gwinifer added. “It’ll stop it from getting in your face, especially when we get to defence moves.”
“Anything else?” I asked sardonically.
Her eyes swept over me. “You could use some cardio. You’re already winded, and we’ve barely warmed up.”
“Noted. Does this mean you’re actually going to teach me?”
She glanced at Reagan, who had been silently observing us the whole time with an unreadable expression. He gave a casual shrug. Gwinifer’s gaze returned to me.
“I will,” she said, though she didn’t look as annoyed as she wanted me to believe. “But don’t expect me to indulge youwhenever the mood strikes. If you want to learn, you’ll commit. No half-hearted effort. No excuses.”
“I want to learn,” I said, meaning it.
“Good.” She straightened. “Every morning at seven. Starting tomorrow. Don’t be late.”
“Wait, we’re done for today?”
“I have a patrol to get to,” she replied flatly, already turning toward the door. “That’s why we start early. Until tomorrow, Red. See you later, Your Highness.”
Reagan’s eyes flicked upward, briefly annoyed, then landed back on me. “I’m surprised you agreed to this. More fun than you thought?”
It wasn’t that. I just didn’t know what to do with myself. Should I have reminded him that my presence here wasn’t voluntary?
I wiped the sweat from my brow. “Maybe I just want to be able to punch you if I have to.”
His lips twitched. “I’d be worried, but you’d be better off with the bread knife.”
Heat flushed my cheeks, but I tried to pay him no mind and instead recalled our last conversation. The grief in his expression had vanished, or at least was carefully concealed.
“I was thinking earlier that I need to give you access to the study,” he said. No mocking edge this time.
I stared up in confusion. “Do I need a key?”
“Not a key. The study is hidden, and you need to summon the entrance, remember? The one you said wascurious.”
Both times I had been there, I was with him, and it didn’t occur to me how I would get in if I went alone.
I stood from my seat, ignoring his hand, and followed him towards the door.
“Here will do,” he said, stopping in front of a plain wall. “You have to kiss the wall and repeat the phrase ‘let me in’ three times.”
I glanced between him and the stone, frowning. “Really?”
“If I said yes, would you do it?” Reagan challenged.
I bristled, and the bastard’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Just put your hand on the wall, Darling,” he said, his lazy tone crawling under my skin.
“Call me Jane,” I said, and did as he bade.
Reagan stepped closer, settling his hand over mine, his voice dropping to a baiting murmur. “Does it bother you when I call you Darling?”
