Chapter 40
“First thing is a light jog to warm up your muscles,” Cillian said as he headed for the massive lawn behind the house.
I groaned. “You and Dash and your constant need to run.”
He chuckled, the sound rough, as if it were rusty. “It’s the key to everything. You need endurance for both hand-to-hand and magic. But we’ll start with hand-to-hand.”
A shiver ran through me at the memory of Chloe attacking me.
Cillian’s footsteps faltered. “You okay?”
I nodded. “I just—when Chloe attacked me, my magic froze. I need to be better at hand-to-hand to buy myself time.”
A muscle along his jaw tensed. “Then that’s what we’re going to do.”
Cillian picked up to a jog, and I followed along next to him. We were silent as we made several laps around the large backyard. I had to admit that all the training Dash had been doing with me was paying off. Even with my recovery, I wasn’t winded nearly as easily.
Cillian slowed to a stop at a level part of the lawn. “How do you feel?”
My mouth curved. “Good. My muscles tire more easily, but they feel good at the same time. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“They know they need this. It’ll take a few weeks to get back to where you were, but doing this will help.”
At least someone believed that I wasn’t a total invalid.
Cillian cracked his neck and rolled his weight onto the balls of his feet. For as massive as he was, he was extremely light on them. “Shift your weight forward. It’ll help your reaction time.”
I did as he instructed, mirroring his stance. I tested my weight, bouncing from foot to foot. It would be easier to change directions this way for sure.
“Good. Now, hands up in front of your face. If someone gets a shot off at your temple, you’re done for.”
Dash had told me the same thing, but I’d forgotten it in the heat of battle with Chloe.
I lifted my hands in front of my face.
Cillian had his hands in the same position. “If someone goes for your torso, you can still block from this position.” He brought one hand down, demonstrating how you could deflect. “Try to hit me. A punch or kick, whatever you want.”
I worried the corner of my lip but nodded. As I bounced on my toes, I searched for a spot of weakness. Dash had pointed them out to me. Nose, throat, belly, groin. I winced at the last one. I wasn’t cruel enough to try for a ball shot.
I made a move as if I were going to go for a knee to the ribs, and when Cillian shifted his hand lower, I struck out for his throat.
Cillian dodged the blow, and his left leg swept out, connecting with mine. He knocked me off my feet, and I hit the grass hard.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ronan snarled, leading a pack of pissed off alpha males in our direction.
Cillian didn’t even flinch. He simply reached a hand down to me. I took it, and he helped me up.
“I asked you a fucking question.” Ronan shoved at his half brother’s chest.
Cillian barely moved. “I’m doing what you should be doing. Training her.”
I winced at the insult.
Ronan struggled to keep his breathing under control. “She’s still recovering. She almost died, if you’ve forgotten.”
Cillian’s mask was back in place. “I’m trying to keep that from happening again. She needs to learn.”
“And I’ll teach her when she’s ready,” Dash clipped.
“He’s just trying to help,” I said gently. “I’ve been going out of my mind being cooped up. It’s time for me to get back to my routine. My body needs it. My mind needs it. Hell, my soul needs it.”
Dash studied me for a moment, a bit of his anger fading.
“You guys are too easy on her. If Leighton has a prayer of making it through this, you need to stop pulling punches,” Cillian said. There was no emotion in his voice, as if he didn’t care if I lived or died. But I knew he did. He cared about his two brothers. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t.
Declan bared his teeth at Cillian. “Too easy on her? She’s been through hell. We’re her mates. We’re supposed to protect her.”
Cillian gave a casual shrug. “Maybe that’s the problem. Being her mate makes it go against every instinct you have to harm her. You won’t provide the challenge she needs.”
“And what makes you equipped to provide that challenge?” Colt demanded.
He turned toward Colt. “I handle all the training for my bond. For my horde at large.”
I blinked at him a few times. “You have a bond?”
Cillian jerked his head in a single nod.
“Do you have a mate?”
That muscle along his jaw tightened again. “No. We haven’t been blessed with that.”
My heart ached for Cillian. But at least he had a community. A brotherhood. He wasn’t alone. But he’d left all of that to be here to help us.
“What about an anchor? Don’t you need one to keep you…”
“Sane?” he finished for me.
I nodded.
A muscle along Cillian’s jaw ticked. “I had a caster break the tether.”
Declan sucked in a sharp breath, and Ronan cursed.
“Break the tether?” I echoed.
Declan glanced at me. “Not all dragons have the need of an anchor. It’s unique to the supernaturals in this area, our bloodlines. But there is a way to break the tie.”
I gaped at him. “You could’ve just broken your link to me? And you would’ve been safe?”
Ronan shook his head. “What they aren’t telling you is that the magic is a huge risk. Only 5 percent survive the spell.”
My focus shifted to Cillian, studying him carefully. I had a feeling he’d been through far more than we knew. But it had also made him incredibly strong.
I let out a long breath and turned to my guys. “I’m going to train with Cillian. He knows what he’s doing. And I need more of a challenge. I know my body isn’t at 100 percent yet, but I’ll never get there by lying around.”
“Little Bird,” Trace warned.
“Don’t,” I cut him off. “This is my life. And unless you plan on tying me up in the basement, I’m doing this.”
Trace’s eyes flashed. “That could be arranged.”
My gaze narrowed on him. “Just remember, I’ll fight back.”
Colt groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just promise you won’t push it too far.”
A little of the tension in my shoulders eased. “I won’t. I swear. But I need to do this. It’ll help me feel more in control.”
The guys all grumbled but took a step back, giving me and Cillian room.
Ronan glared at the dragon. “If you hurt her, I’ll hurt you.”
Cillian grinned, and it looked slightly deranged. “You could try.” He turned to me. “Attack.”