Page 98 of Choose the Bears

“I’m fine.” There was a defensive edge to that reply. Still humming with a curious kind of energy, my mate’s regard, their touch, felt like it filled me up with a golden light. Her question, innocent as it was, threatened to dim it. I shook my head and tried again. “I’m fine, really, but thanks for checking in.”

“OK.” She had her misgivings; I could see that in the slight tightening of the skin around her eyes. “Well, you know where my office is.”

“I do.”

“Amazing breakfast, by the way. Definitely an improvement on what was being offered before.”

“Thanks.”

My reply felt weak, ineffectual, but Elodie didn’t press any further.

“Just know that the entire community here is ready to support you in any way you need, not just your mates.”

I stood there for some time after she turned on her heel and walked out. She’d squeezed my hand, there and gone again, and I felt it after she’d left.

“All the dishes are stacked.”I turned to find Lucas standing there. “They’re washing but I’ve got to get moving. I’ve got a class.”

“You’re a student?” I asked, glad for the excuse to redirect my focus.

“Teacher.” That flush in his cheeks was very intriguing, drawing me closer. “Some of the older kids, they saw me practising with the sword one day and wanted to learn more about it, so I started a class.”

“I want to see,” I said, no doubt in my mind. “Please?”

“You don’t even have to ask.” Lucas shook his head as if that would dislodge his broad grin. “Any time you want to spend with me, I’ll take.”

“Well, show me your weapon, bear boy.”

I cackled as he took my hand and tugged me down the hall.

Chapter 52

Lucas

There were two times in my life when I felt everything just fall into place: the moment Imogen accepted our bond and the moment I picked up a wooden practise sword.

Like a lot of guys, I’d come to the sword academy to learn how to wield a sword like the guys I admired on the big screen. I wanted to be Geralt, grunting fuck as I fought monsters in theThe Witcher, or Connor McGregor, fighting to be the only one left standing inThe Highlander. I wanted to be Inigo Montoya fromThe Princess Brideor even Luke, wielding a lightsaber. Learning about actual sword craft was a whole other thing. What was cool and flashy on the big screen would get you killed in real life.

Something I told the kids.

“So we won’t learn how to double wield?” Heath, an older boy asked as he clasped his fencing mask under his arm.

“Double wielding is dumb.” This was James, a teenager who’d come to us recently, but with an encyclopaedic, theoretical knowledge of swordplay. “It leaves you with no ability to use a shield to protect yourself.”

“Maybe I’d be so fast I wouldn’t need a shield,” Heath snorted.

“No one is?—”

“That fast,” I replied, silencing the lot of them. There were five children that came to me to learn about swords, and the others were getting restless at the arguing. “We all need to defend ourselves because with actual bladed weapons…”

I drew my sword and held up my shield, something that had the kids stepping backwards. Elodie had been a little concerned about the class, wondering how this would work with kids that had seen abuse in their own homes. My focus was entirely on their reactions, checking in with each one to see how they responded. I didn’t move until their pupils returned to normal size and their breathing evened back out.

“With an actual sword, one slice in the wrong place and it won’t matter if you’re fast or not. You’ll be bleeding out on the field.”

And this was the thing. I watched brows draw down and chins get thrust out, hands forming fists. Like me, these kids wanted to learn about something that made them feel strong, competent, capable, rather than being ground down all the time.

“So that’s why we use shields.” I nodded to the rack I’d built at the back of the room. “Grab one and your swords and make sure to put the padded jackets on.”

The kids moved as one, rushing towards the wall to pluck up the wooden weapons down and pull on jackets and helmets as Imogen drew closer.

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