Page 60 of Vengeful Guard

My foot connects, and there’s the slightest of movements.

My eyes widen as does my smile.

“It moved. Did you see that? I did it.”

He smiles back. “I did. Very good.” The smile fades. “Now, again!”

I get back into position and kick with both my left and right legs until I have no idea if my legs will be able to carry me three feet, let alone up the stairs to my room.

But it’s worth it as every day, there’s the slightest hint of improvement. My endurance has increased as has my muscle mass.

My punches get harder, my kicks get stronger, I hit the target with the hope that I never have to defend myself again, but preparing for it.

It’s an effort to get to the kitchen. It was a rough night.

“Time for practice.”

“It’s too early,” I mumble.

He chuckles. “It’s nearly ten, Paige.”

I groan and sit up, rubbing my eyes.

I go back up to my room so I can change, and I pull on a pair of bicycle shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt.

When I walk down to the basement, he’s already there, working a small punching bag instead of the big bag we usually punch.

“I’m doing the little bag today?”

Kael nods. “You need to learn speed. Remember what I told you? You only have so much weight, so you have to use your speed.”

I walk over toward him and frown, looking up at the bag. “It seems too easy.”

Kael chuckles. “It’s not as easy as it looks.”

I stand up and throw a punch at the bag, almost getting hit in the head when the back swings back.

Kael snorts out a laugh, and I turn around to glare at him.

“Focus on the bag.” He sobers. “Remember your stance. With this bag, it’s not about strength, not about putting your weight behind the punch. This is about speed, so you’ll only be using your fists on this one. All you need to do is keep the bag moving.”

I do as he says, but when the bag swings back toward me, I miss. I curse under my breath and instantly try again.

“Good.” Kael’s praise is a murmur as his hand sets on my hip to widen my stance. “Legs apart.”

I take in a sharp breath, his hands on my skin making heat pool in my stomach.

“Quicker.”

I punch faster, getting the bag to swing back and forth, and I feel pretty good about it—until the bag hits me in the face when I misjudge my punch.

I yelp and stumble backward, and Kael cups my face in his hands.

“Let me see.”

Kael searches my face, frowning slightly, his bold brows drawing together.

His eyes light on mine, almost a deep blue because of how they’ve darkened with something I can’t quite name.

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