shoulder. He suppresses a laugh when I stumble out of my weak stance. My eyes narrow at him but he continues describing the best defensive stance, ignoring my glare entirely.
We spend about an hour working through and explaining fighting stances. I no longer question what he says and it’s clear to me he has an extensive background in hand to hand combat.
He finishes walking me through how to properly hold my arms while fighting and how to dodge hits without moving my feet and we are now starting in on the actual physical training.
Declan puts one hand against my forehead, angling my head back, holding me to his chest like a hostage, and his other is empty but held at my throat in a mock knife-like manner. His strong body lines up behind my own. He moves slowly, making sure I’m aware of every movement.
Descriptions of every possible weak angle my attacker leaves open while in this position are spoken in a lecturing voice; the obvious exposed torso that provides infinite kill spot possibilities, his head that’s close to my own but a bit too risky of a target considering the mock knife at my throat.
I take note of where his hands are placed, how his body is open behind me, how easy I could take the attacker down.
Then I’m suddenly aware of how his body is pressed against mine.
Sliding his hand from my neck down my arm, he jerks me against him as he walks us backward. “Your attacker may seem in control with how his build dominates over your own but always be aware of what he leaves open. The vulnerable space he’s allowing by holding his arms high to manipulate your body.”
My breathing hitches, and for just a moment my heart skips a beat, a shiver slipping over my skin from his touch. Abruptly, I realize how alone I’ve kept myself. It’s like I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be held by anyone. Even in the threatening way Declan is intending for this position to be, I can’t help but think how strong his chest and arms feel. How his arms are holding me against him, like a claim almost.
His breath feathers over my damp neck as he speaks. “Fallon, are you listening to me?” he asks, dropping his arms restlessly to his sides and leaning around me to look in my eyes, taking his warmth with him.
Emotions storm through me so fast I can’t keep up. A flush fills my face from how ridiculous my feelings just became. I pull farther away from him before he can see the strange thoughts that are probably written all over my red face. I take a couple deep breaths before walking away altogether and start buckling my sword back to my waist.
“Sorry,” I refuse to look at him, to raise my heat-filled face to him. “I forgot it’s my day to open the clinic. I can’t be late.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him raise his palms at my odd behavior but I still can’t look at him.
“Thanks for working with me. I’ll see you tomorrow.” A nervous smile twitches against my lips as I start to walk quickly toward the camp. “Same time?” I ask over my shoulder. I nod at him even though he’s still looking at me in confusion and I don’t give him enough time to answer my question before I’m hurrying away into the trees.
The Wanderer’s clinic is the only building in the community that isn’t hidden up high in the trees or deep in the forest. I spend every day here helping and working under Doctor Thierry, a witch in her mid-forties. She seems to appreciate herbal remedies more than magic, a fact that sets me at ease, finally something familiar that I excel at.
She reminds me of my mother for some reason. They have no resemblance really, just two women who are both doctors. I suppose I’m forcing my mother’s absence into physical form. But I can’t help it.
Doctor Thierry’s kind and everyone that walks into the unmarked building loves her. Me on the other hand, they seem wary of. A new face isn’t always welcome when people have been going to the same trusted doctor for all of their lives. But I’m a fast learner and Doctor Thierry always tells everyone how grateful she is to have such an experienced apprentice.
I’m just finishing wrapping an older fae’s leg that had been sliced open on the side of