Page 27 of Betrayed By Dragons

Emotionally speaking, she needs time with each of us one-on-one to bond and connect, and yeah, occasionally that's going to mean fucking one-on-one, too. I'm going to benefit from that as much as Jianyu will, in the long run.

In this moment, though? All I can think about is how Jianyu's turned his back on me before. He's shut me out and called me a traitor and messed with my relationships, and now he's gone and stolen time with our mate, and I can't handle it. I need some outlet. Some way to let the anger and the hurt coursing through my veins escape before I do something stupid.

Teaching Ember self-defense? That's the definition of stupid. She's a tough woman, but her dragon hasn't Emerged. She's fragile. So easy to break, it's terrifying.

Which is why she needs to learn to defend herself. Duh.

But how am I supposed to do that when I'm this worked up? My self-control is shit at the best of times. Right now, it's basically zero.

That saucy look on her face as she tilts her chin up and tells me that "there's no time like the present", though?

Yeah, I definitely don't have the self-control to resist that.

So even though I know it's a shit plan, I take her by the hand and lead her to the workout room Jianyu's people cleared for us to use.

Even that's a mistake. The room is just a big open space where Jianyu apparently practices his tai chi or something. The floor is covered in reed mats, and the walls are lined with mirrors.

Seeing Ember from every angle and in every direction? Also not good for my control.

My blood warms as I catch her reflection on the wall opposite us. Fuck, she's gorgeous. Even reeking of another man, she calls to me on every level. I love her breasts and her ass, the pouty curve of her red lips and the glow of her purple hair. I love that weird bracelet she always wears, and which I usually forget is even there. I just love....

Well. The gods gave us to each other as soulmates for a reason, is all I'll say.

She clears her throat, and I tear my gaze away from the reflection of her perfect ass. I should probably apologize for gawking at her, but it's not like I don't spend every night buried between her thighs.

There's a time and a place, though. In this time and this place? I promised her I'd teach her the basics of how to fight.

"Okay." I shake off my hornball thoughts and refocus on the task at hand. "Do you have any experience with self-defense? Martial arts? Kick-boxing cardio class?"

"Not really. I mean, I've been in my fair share of cat fights." She rolls her eyes. "Though I was generally on the wrong end of the claws."

"Is that so?"

She shrugs, like she doesn't really want to get into it. "A few of the girls in Wynrath Crest liked giving me a hard time. They were the prince's friends, so there wasn't much I could do about it."

Protective instincts flare inside me. She's acting like getting bullied by the royal entourage was no big deal, but I've seen enough court politics to know better.

What I'd give to be able to go back in time. Find her in the shit-hole Air Kingdom and tell off anyone who so much as looked at her the wrong way--much less tried to hurt her.

The fire in my chest grows, my irritation at Jianyu melding with my anger at these random dragons I've never met, and probably never will.

There's nothing I can do to change Ember's past. But I can sure as hell give her some tools to protect herself in case asshats like that ever threaten her again.

"Well, let's make sure that's not true next time." I drop my arms to my sides and plant my feet on the mats. "First step--breathing."

She lifts a brow. "I thought this was self-defense, not yoga."

"Flexibility is useful in a fight. But so is being able to keep your cool and save your power for whatever move you're going to make." When she opens her mouth to protest, I hold up a hand. "Humor me."

She exhales roughly but lets me lead her through a few deep breaths. Filling my lungs with air before letting it all go does me some good, too. I have a reputation as a hot-head, and I'm not going to lie--I've earned it. But anyone who thinks I have a temper should see all the shit I let roll off my back.

"Feeling steady?" I ask her.

"Yeah. You?"

Right. She can feel my agitation, no matter how hard I'm fighting to push it down.

"Cool, calm and collected." I shift gears. "Second step--using your whole body."

---