Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,93

“We need a larger space.” Striding back down the hallway we’d just raced up, he called over his shoulder, “Come on, Larken.”

Bossy much?

He lingered and waited for me to catch up. “Who better to teach you to defend yourself among the Zodia than me?”

He had a point, I supposed. “I’m going to end up with more bruises, aren’t I?” I grumbled.

“No,” he answered sincerely. “I won’t hurt you.”

“You should,” I told him. “I need you to really come at me, or else this impromptu practice session will be pointless.”

Something shimmered in his eyes, but he shook his head and looked away. “Very well.”

He led me to a large, empty room. Four Guardians appeared, spreading blankets and furs over the stone floors. “Oh, so you’d rather I bleed on these?” I teased.

A rumble came from his chest. He did not find the joke funny at all.

Jeez.

When I looked up, there was no anger in his eyes, it was something more intense. Something primal that made my skin prickle.

Aries slowly began to circle me like the predator he was. I drew my blade with a snick that echoed around the room. “How did Cancer approach?” he asked, the gravel in his voice making my skin pebble.

“She,” I rasped, clearing my throat, “she came up from the columns. She snuck up behind us, but she was in front of me when I cut her.”

In a flash, he stood in front of me. “You lose,” he breathed, holding my arms to my side. Without giving me a moment to recover, he ordered, “Again,” and strode back across the room.

This time, he charged and ran instead of appearing right in front of me. It wasn’t any less startling. He ran incredibly fast, much faster than a human. I raised my blade to slice him and he easily batted the knife from my hands, grabbing me again and drawing me close. His lips hovered just over mine. “Don’t ever let go of your weapon.”

I nodded as much as I could with the scant distance between us.

He let me go and I exhaled, retrieving my blade. When I straightened, he attacked again. This time, even though I was terrified, I fought back, swiping the air and quickly jabbing toward his midsection.

He smiled and grabbed my wrist, tugging it behind my back as he spun me around. He held me to his chest, growling in my ear. “Better.”

“It wasn’t better. I still lost,” I panted.

“Because you’re tentative. Don’t be afraid to stab me.”

I scoffed. “I would never stab you.”

He let go of my wrist but let his hand settle on the curve of my hip. “Let me give you a reason to fight.”

We parted and the playful look in his eyes faded. His upper lip curled in disgust. His chest heaved. Surprised, I ticked my head back as he circled me, both of us dangerously dancing counterclockwise.

He charged me so quickly, I barely saw him move.

I slashed, but he blocked the knife easily with his horns. I was afraid to hurt him, so I pulled back at the last second. When he charged, I realized I’d forgotten to plant my feet. We tumbled to the floor, though Aries wrapped his hands around my back and head to cushion my fall. He straddled me, staring at his claws for a moment before offering a menacing smile.

“What’s wrong with you?” I breathed. “Get off me.”

In a blink, he slashed at me with his claws. I raised my arm by instinct and blocked with my knife, and his claws clashed and raked off the knife’s edge. He wouldn’t stop, slashing again and again. I fought valiantly, but he was stronger and was swiftly wearing me down. By the look on his face, he knew it.

I tried to buck him off, but he was heavier than me. I did manage to slide up a little and get my knee free, and when he smiled at the quivering muscles in my forearm, I kneed him in the groin. Hard.

He gasped, then fell over onto the enormous rug. I didn’t even want to think of the bear who once wore the skin, or whether Aries had killed him and how.

I scuttled away, keeping hold of my knife as Aries rolled onto his side with pinched eyes and his face contorted in pain.

“Why did you do that?” he gritted.

“You deserved it!”

“I certainly did not.”

“You were clawing my face off!” I yelled.

“I never touched you,” he growled.

I wondered if he was thinking about batting me across