Chapter Fifteen
Elaina
The room Drazien led me into wasn't nearly large enough to hold the army I knew the Morrak had, but it was still bigger than most gymnasiums back on Earth.
Thick sand covered the stone floor, circles of stones painted in dark crimson separating it into rings.
Weapon racks lined one wall, while the opposite had shelves covered in water containers and folded towels.
I stopped inside the doorway, heart dropping. If this new life I was pretending to begin held anything over my old one, it had been the lack of PT days, but it seemed Drazien was ruining that.
“I thought you were going to teach me to survive, not torture me.”
His brow arched and his lips twitched, but for the most part, he looked serious.
“Well, if I were teaching you to survive torture…”
My eyes narrowed and I glanced toward the racks of blades.
“It might end with me impaling someone.”
The grin on his face was predatory when he spun me and flattened me against his body. My breath caught as I felt him lean down, his hot breath on my neck sending goosebumps down my arms.
“Or, perhaps I’ll be the one impaling you.”
My core clenched and I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry as all the moisture in my body flooded south.
“I would prefer to spend my afternoon in a way that doesn’t involve stabbing.”
His grin spread but when I tried to pull away, he released me without a fight.
“You are a Human. You are small and weak. Stabbing may be the only way to survive.”
I folded my arms over my chest, pretending to be offended while really attempting to keep my nipples from ripping through my top.
“That wasn't very diplomatic.”
He shrugged.
“It was accurate.”
Rolling my eyes, I walked farther into the room. There were a pair of Morraki wrestling in one of the closer rings, and a single one practicing with some kind of double-ended spear in another, but the cavern was mostly empty.
“So, what's first?”
He pointed toward one of the rings near the wall, far enough in that I might have a chance of not drawing attention. I doubted it, but I clung to the hope.
“Stand.”
“I’m already standing,” I muttered as I moved toward the ring he’d indicated, but I’d forgotten how good Morraki hearing was. A moment later something whacked me across the ass, and my mouth popped open as I stumbled to a stop and stared at Drazien.
“Not well.”
Snapping my mouth shut, I stomped toward the circle, planting myself directly in the middle. The sand made it less dramatic and prevented the satisfaction I should have felt when I faced him.
Hand to hand combat had been required training, so I knew a few things, but I’d been sorely disappointed when I’d thought my weight would give me an advantage during training. Girls half my size had put me on my ass, and I resigned myself to being covered in sand shortly.
I kept my eyes on Drazien as he circled me. While my instructors had always tried to conceal their contempt, they hadn’t done a good job of it, but I didn’t see anything like that on Drazien’s face. He was studying me with a detached expression someone might use to check a weapon.
Because that was what the Morrak believed the body was.
I resisted the urge to turn with him, remaining planted in the sand and only following him with my eyes. I’d been assessed enough times to know the drill. I might end up sucking at whatever he asked me to do, but I could at least follow orders.
“You place your weight on your heels.”
I nodded, remembering another instructor had said the same. Bending my knees, I tried to shift my weight forward, although the sand made it harder.
He tipped his head before shaking it.
“You made it worse. You have no balance.”
Forcing myself to take a breath before I responded, I tried to remember he was different. Perhaps he didn’t know Human anatomy well enough to understand how we worked.
“I've been standing for thirty-four years. I think I can balance.”
His scoff came just before his tail thwacked me again. Throwing my arms out, I had to step forward to keep from falling on my face.
“You have remained upright. There is a difference.”
I glared, but before I could argue, his hands settled on my hips.
“Shift. Carry your weight like this.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks as he tilted my hips and pushed until I was standing the way he wanted. Somehow, I felt the difference, and the lower back pain I lived with eased.
His touch on my hips wasn't intimate, but it reminded me of what had happened the night before, and what I’d been wanting him to do before I passed out. The desire mingled with embarrassment in a confusing muddle.
Once I had my balance, he nudged one hip while his tail tapped the back of my knee.
“Bend.”
I obeyed automatically, and it was impossible to miss the satisfied little smirk on his face before he pulled away.
“Better.”
I rocked my weight from side to side then up onto my toes. I hated to admit I felt more stable.
“I dislike how often you're right.”
His laugh caught the attention of the others nearby, making my cheeks burn hotter as I imagined what they had to think of a Human woman in their midst. They all had to assume I was going to fail.
“But I enjoy hearing you say I’m right.”
The urge to flip him off was hard to resist, but I doubted he would understand the gesture or the sentiment behind it.
“I didn't say that.”
He strode closer once more, invading my space, filling my lungs with the scent of him instead of the hot sand.
“You implied it.”
The words were almost a purr, and I tried to hide my shiver. My entire body was focused on him, waiting for something, until he took a step back.
“Strike.”
“What?”
The abrupt change confused me for a moment, and I frowned up at the hulking alien staring down at me. He might not have been the biggest Morrak I had seen, but he was larger than any Human.
“Strike me.”
Laughing, I put my hands on my hips and shook my head.
“I am not punching a three-hundred pound alien.”
He raised a brow.
“You will not hurt me.”
It was my turn to arch a brow at him even though I was well aware I had no chance of doing any kind of damage to him.
“You sound very confident of that.”
His lips stretched into that dangerous grin.
“I am.”
His confidence alone was irritating enough to make me want to give in and swing, and I knew he wasn’t going to let it drop until I complied. In the spirit of getting it over with, I aimed for his shoulder, but he caught my wrist before I even realized he’d moved.
“I saw that coming.”
It was impossible not to scowl. I had enough pride to want to be good at the things I did, but fighting was not in that category.
“Clearly.”
He released my wrist and nodded, saying, “Again.”
Heaving a sigh, I tried to remember the lessons I’d received in hand to hand, but the next block was just as effortless for him.
So was the next.
By the sixth I was breathing harder and really wanted to hit him. Just once. And while he thankfully wasn’t smirking at me, the look of calm detachment was too close to boredom.
“I think I might hate you.”
He huffed and released my wrist once more.
“No, you just hate losing.”
The old saying, “If looks could kill…”, definitely applied to the one I gave him.
“I can multitask.”
His lips twitched but when a growl vibrated up my throat his expression settled into neutral once more.
“Again.”
Groaning, I settled my weight, balled my fists, and started to swing. Halfway through the strike I realized he expected the same attack I’d used every other time, so I redirected toward his ribs.
His brows rose even though he blocked me with just as little effort as every other time.
“Being able to change targets is good, but only if they don’t see you do it.”
Whining, I let my arms drop to my sides, shoulders sagging.
“I’m not good at this. I never will be.”
He closed the space between us and took hold of my chin, leaning down so he was almost close enough to kiss.
“It is my job to protect you. It’s your job to survive long enough for me to do so. No matter what enemy you face.”
There was a niggling sensation in the back of my mind, a suspicion that he was doing this for a reason, but his lips were on mine the next moment and all thoughts disappeared until he released me and stepped back once more.
With another sigh, I settled into my stance, listening as he corrected me. For the next hour he dismantled every rule I’d ever been taught about fighting. He cared nothing for propriety, nothing for appearance, only survival.
“If someone larger grabs your wrist,” he said, wrapping his fingers around mine, “do not pull away.”
I frowned as I stared at his fingers.
“Why not?”
“You are weak.”
When I glared at him his grin was almost enough to make me forget how hot and sweaty I was.
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“You will lose against a Morraki.”
Rolling my eyes, I resisted the urge to jerk away and demand what the point was to all this then.
“I knew that already.”
He ignored the interruption and continued.
“Move toward me.”
“That sounds backward.”
His fangs flashed.
“It is unexpected.”
Reluctantly, I stepped closer. He shifted my elbow, turned my shoulders, and pressed two fingers against my forearm until I was positioned the way he wanted.
“Now.”
I twisted and his grip broke. I blinked at my wrist then up at him.
“That actually worked.”
Huffing, he nodded.
“It always works.”
I paused, eyes narrowing before I crossed my arms over my chest and shook my head.
“It only worked because you let go.”
His brow arched and he almost looked offended.
“I did not.”
“You wanted me to succeed, so you let go.”
It was his turn to cross his arms. It was far more intimidating when he did it.
“I wanted you to learn. You won’t if I coddle you and pretend you did it on your own. That will only get you hurt.”
His explanation silenced me. He hadn’t been trying to prove how weak I was, he was trying to teach me not to be overpowered.
The difference changed something. The military had a single standard, and you either lived up to it or failed, but if he could teach me to do what I was able instead of pushing me towards something beyond my reach, perhaps it was worth the sweat and irritation.
“Again.”
My demand earned a small nod and a smile of approval before he dropped back into teacher mode.
We continued. He invaded my space until all I could see and smell was him. Each correction meant another touch that left a lingering sensation.
A hand against my shoulder.
His tail at my waist.
His fingers around my wrist.
Every adjustment was brief, necessary, and would have been deemed professional back home. That didn't stop my pulse from speeding whenever he stepped into my space, or stop me from noticing the way his gaze dragged over my body.
Eventually he wanted to demonstrate how to escape someone trying to pin me.
“I will move slowly.”
I was heaving for breath, sweat trickling down my spine and soaked into the new dress I still wore. Sand clung to me in multiple places, and I hated to think of the state my hair had to be in.
“You promise?”
A quick flash of fangs was all the warning I got before a quiet, “No,” reached me a heartbeat before he did.
He caught my wrists and held them in one hand, taking hold of my braid with the other.
He held firm without causing pain, a fine line too many prior instructors had failed to walk, but I didn’t have time to think about that.
Instinctively I struggled, but he didn't move.
“Do not struggle against greater strength, it only wastes your energy.”
Grimacing, I forced myself not to yank my arms the way I wanted to.
“I'm open to suggestions.”
He leaned closer, filling my lungs with the familiar scent that was uniquely his. Rain on a hot day, with a hint of charcoal. It almost made me long for home.
“Think, rethari.”
His voice dropped, sparking awareness where we touched, but I forced myself to focus. I was shorter than him, and while my weight had yet to be much of an advantage, I knew it was possible to use it.
I acted like I was going to drop to my knees and Drazien’s balance shifted forward in anticipation. Without overthinking it, I lunged sideways instead of letting my knees hit the sand, twisting my arms the way he’d taught me.
Suddenly I stood behind him, free.
At least, for a moment.
Then his tail latched around my calf, and I glared down at the offending appendage as he turned to face me.
“That’s cheating.”
Approval gleamed in his eyes as he threw his head back and let out a bark of laughter. It made me want to grin even though I had a twinge in my side that made it hard to breathe.
“You surprised me, rethari.”
My chest inflated with something that made it feel as if I could float, and I had to bite my lip to keep from grinning like a fool.
“Really?”
He nodded and reached for me, brushing stray curls back from my face as his fingers trailed across my cheek.
“You stopped thinking like prey.”
My head spun and for a moment I thought I might pass out. I wasn’t sure if it was the heat or the praise, but either way, I would have ended up looking ridiculous instead of triumphant if I face-planted in the sand. It didn’t seem like Drazien gave praise lightly, which made it more valuable.
“You used your mind.”
He tapped one finger lightly against my forehead, the feel of his claw somehow sending pricks of ice through my flesh.
“That is more dangerous than strength alone.”
Something fluttered low in my belly. His hand lingered a fraction too long before dropping away, and for the first time all afternoon, Drazien seemed distracted.
His gaze drifted over my face before settling on my lips. It was only for an instant, but it was long enough that I noticed.
Long enough that my breath caught and both of us seemed frozen.
The training room suddenly felt much smaller than before, and far too crowded for the things I was thinking about. Licking my lips, I swallowed and forced myself to speak before I did something far more stupid.
“I think...”
Those dark eyes that were almost black lifted to meet mine again, the slit pupils wider than usual.
“What is it, rethari?”
“I think, this time, we both stink.”
His lips twitched and his nostrils flared, but a heartbeat passed without him moving.
Then another.
Neither of us dropped our gaze or backed away until Drazien finally gave a short nod.
“Then training is finished for today.”
I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, barely fighting back a groan at the thought of the promise in the last word.
“That's probably for the best. I think my muscles have turned to mush.”
He grinned before moving so fast I didn’t have time to protest before I was in his arms.
“Then I shall carry you to your bath, like a proper, spoiled omega.”