Page 56 of Their Chosen

“If you insist, it's your funeral,” he replied, not quite as happy about this as I was.

With a nod from both of us, we began to circle each other, and I threw a couple of jabs to test his responses. He easily slipped my punches, but I wasn't concerned yet. I watched his feet, the way he shifted his weight, and his reactions. After a few minutes of this, neither really going hard, just testing each other, I started to see some patterns and weaknesses, despite his fighting style being nothing I was familiar with.

Knowing his reach was greater than mine, I had to close the distance in some way to even land a hit. Relying on my tried-and-true method, I kicked out at him, landing it on his left side and causing him to exhale as he bent over slightly. His hands dropped as a result of the kick, and I quickly closed the distance between us, throwing a hard right followed by a left hook, both landing heavily on his jaw.

I tried to land a right uppercut, but he recovered from my punches and pulled back before the last one in my combo could land. I backed out of his reach again, knowing he would come after me for those hits.

He lunged toward me and threw a couple of punches, which I easily slipped, circling around him to keep him off balance.

Seeing an opportunity, I ducked his jab, cross combination and lunged, wrapping my arms around his waist. As soon as I made contact, I twisted my body, one of my feet snaking behind his ankle, effectively tripping him in a textbook take down.

His breath rushed from his lungs as he landed on his back with me on top of him, surprise showing in his wide eyes. Focusing, I passed his guard and grabbed a single arm, trying to get an armbar. Regaining himself, he was able to slip his arm free, not realizing he had just put himself in a triangle choke, my thighs going around his neck and shoulder and squeezing. He thrashed around for a bit, but I held firm, seeing the realization cross his face before he called, “Alright! I give!”

I relaxed my legs and pushed him to his back, now straddling him in triumph, grinning from ear to ear. I sat for a moment, both of us trying to catch our breaths, our faces closer than I realized. The moment our eyes met, I couldn't have moved even if I had wanted to. Everyone else faded from my vision as we gazed at each other. The desire and anger I saw were so intoxicating that I couldn't look away. All of my logic had faded with the rest of the room, and I was overcome with the desire to kiss him, to feel his lips on mine. I had a feeling the two of us together would produce a passion capable of consuming us both.

I could see the same battle warring in his eyes and felt drawn to him in ways I couldn't understand. I knew he didn't deserve my affections, had done nothing to ingratiate himself with me, and had basically gone out of his way to make me feel unwelcome.

But the heart wants what the heart wants, or so I'd heard. I had never understood that saying, unable to understand the draw of an unhealthy relationship against all logical and sensible explanations and reasons. However, now I was starting to see how some connections didn't make sense and could be so darkly alluring, daring you to dance with danger among the flames.

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, our interlude lasting but a moment, jerking me from the haze I was in. Apparently, it had done the same for Lennox because his gaze immediately flashed to pure anger, a cold burn that had me jumping to my feet to get away.

I was encircled by two thickly muscled arms and picked up, my feet dangling as I was spun in a circle while Baer exclaimed, “That was amazing!”

His grin was infectious, and pride bloomed in my chest, replacing the desire I had just vacated. Baer's enthusiasm made it impossible for me to return Lennox's anger. I tried to brush off his compliments, never really knowing how to respond, but he continued, “Seriously, I have never seen a fighting style like yours! Lennox never really knew what hit him. Literally!” he said, laughing at his own pun.

“That was rather incredible, Rhowyn. This is great because it gives us a massive advantage in the trials,” Arryn said, coming over to join Baer and I while Lennox stormed off to probably lick his wounds somewhere in private.

It wasn't the first time I had gotten that reaction from a guy and would probably not be the last. Most men didn't appreciate having their asses handed to them by a 5' 3” woman.

“You really think so?” I asked Arryn, ignoring Lennox's departure.

“Of course! Though the traditional stand-up was more familiar, the wrestling part was revolutionary. We've never really trained in that area, so most of our knowledge is instincts, which tell us to just get back up to our feet,” Baer replied before Arryn could answer.

“In that case, I can teach y'all some Jiu Jitsu basics. I've been training in it for years, and it takes most people decades to truly master, but just having a general understanding can do wonders,” I offered, glancing at them both and catching sight of Callum in the background, standing with his arms crossed and a look of disgust on his face.

I was used to that reaction, too, having grown up in a conservative state and town where women's contact sports were frowned upon, not accepted by very many despite living in the twenty-first century.

“That would be great. I'll make sure to get some sessions in our schedule. We could use any advantage we can get,” Arryn replied, ever the organizer.

I smiled at him fondly. “Sounds like a plan. So, what's next on the agenda today?”

Arryn glanced around us, looking for something, or rather, someone. “Actually, Lennox was supposed to see if you had an affinity for Winter magic, but he seems to have left us suddenly.”

“I can't imagine why?” I feigned innocence, my sarcasm thick.

Both Arryn and Baer chuckled, and I smiled. “I'll go find him and drag him back,” Baer offered.

“Good. Make sure he understands we don't have time for this. Here, in training, he won't be treated as the crown prince. It only makes us weaker as a group,” Arryn stated, irritated.

Baer saluted playfully. “Will do, Captain,” he teased, before hurrying off and leaving Arryn and I with smiles.

Arryn turned to me as Baer left. “I guess, in the meantime, we can have you work with Callum to test your Autumn affinities.”

I held back the groan that was my first instinct, not really wanting to spend time with him after he’d been so judgmental and withdrawn and making no effort to get to know me. However, I knew I needed to do this if I was to have any hope of surviving the trials.

“Sure. I guess now's as good a time as any,” I confirmed as we both turned to face the man in question.

“Callum,” Arryn called out, “do you mind helping to see if Rhowyn can access Autumn magic since Lennox needed a break?”

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