“You’re just as arrogant as Gwinifer,” I muttered.
He actually smirked, as if my criticism had entertained him. In fact, every time I criticised him, he seemed amused. Except when I called him a monster.
His gaze followed me until I moved out of sight. “No, I’m more arrogant. But I’m also far nicer than my sister. I’m sure you’ll see that on this first liaison.”
I huffed a laugh, and when his face came into view again, he had quirked a brow. “Well, that’s alarming if you actually think Gwin is nicer.”
“I wouldn’t call either of younice,” I retorted, still smiling just as a gust of air whooshed by.
My feet lifted from the mat, and I braced myself for the fall, expecting the impact of my back against the floor. But it never came. A firm hand cradled my head, and an arm wrapped around my lower back, holding me close to the ground, my heels just brushing the floor.
My eyes flew wide open, arms instinctively clutching his shoulders.
His smug smile was inches from my face. “I didn’t let you hit the floor or add to those bruises. I’m nicer.”
He was in my space, and I didn’t think. I just drove a knee into his ribs. Reagan released me, and I dropped to the floor. His free hand caught my leg mid-kick, pinning me to the mat.
I hissed at the weight pressing me down and pulled my arms back. His hand left my neck, catching my arm just shy of his chin, stretching it across my chest and immobilising my other arm beneath it.
“I think I made you angry,” he said, his voice calm, unbothered. “How are you going to get out of this?”
Gwinifer had shown me how, though I hesitated. The move had hurt a lot last time, and it hadn’t done much to break free of her hold. On the other hand, I might hurt him too.
I drove my head forward, aiming the hard part of my forehead at his nose. He dodged sideways, clearly anticipating it, giving me just enough room to roll out from under him. This time, he didn’t try to stop me, and I rose to my feet.
“Good,” he said from where he still sat on the floor, one elbow braced on his knee.
“You let me get away,” I panted, my heart racing, “and I wasn’t even done warming up.”
“Really? You looked...” He stood smoothly, giving me a smirk that had me frowning. “Anyway, I just wanted to prove to you how nice I can be.”
His breathing hadn’t quickened in the slightest.
I stared at him, worried that this was his idea of being civil now that we had to travel together.
“Gwinifer doesn’t fling when we practise,” I said. “I know you can, but that’ll make it impossible for me to learn.”
“You make a good point,” he said, eyes on me as I wiped a bead of sweat from my brow. “I won’t do it anymore.”
“Right,” I said. “I’m done warming up.”
“Then come closer.”
“Are you going to show me a different move?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“No, just the drill. We’ll work with what you learned.”
He sidestepped, and I mirrored him, fists raised. He held no stance, arms still relaxed at his sides.
Bloody arrogance.
“Are you really not giving me any tasks for this mission?” I asked, keeping my gaze locked on him. “Either this isn’t a real job, or you just think I’ll fail.”
“It’s a very real job,” he said evenly. “And I want you to succeed. This is just the first one. Emissaries usually learn on the first one.”
We paced around each other, him slowly closing the distance. He hadn’t moved to strike, as if he were waiting for my first attempt or for a lapse in my attention.
My pulse quickened.
