Page 15 of Swords and Curses

CHAPTER SEVEN

"Remind me again why we are doing this?" Rosa asked from her position face down on the training mat. Saul held out a hand to help her back up. He looked like a walking billboard for active wear, dressed sleekly in his black singlet and workout pants. His smooth golden-brown muscle flexed as he pulled her to her feet.

No wonder Eli had to dismiss so many of the staff, Rosa thought begrudgingly.

"We are doing this because you need to get used to your new abilities and get some technique fighting hand to hand," he replied. "While Bal is stuck in a meeting with Uncle Vincenzo, the duty of inducting you has fallen to the most attractive Vane."

"I know it may come as a surprise to you, but I wasn't exactly into sports when I was a human," Rosa said, rearranging her sweaty sports bra. They had been at it for twenty minutes, and she was ready for a shower and cake.

"When you were human, you didn't have a pissed off Seelie queen baying for your blood either," Saul pointed out. "So what did you learn from your last trip to the mat?"

"That I should've kicked you in the balls first," Rosa stated. Saul smiled, and it was like liquid sunshine surrounded by perfect sandy curls. She wanted to kill him.

"Excellent! So you have been listening to me and not daydreaming about Bal."

"Why isn't he the one training me? I wouldn't mind getting sweaty as I wrestled with him," Rosa said, aiming a punch for Saul's jaw.

He blocked it, sending another strike her way so quickly that she only just managed to dodge it. "That'sexactlythe reason why I am the one training you. I'm the best hand to hand anyway, and if Bal were training you, it would be some kind of kinky foreplay for you both just like everything else. Keep your fist positioned properly, or you'll break a knuckle!"

"I hardly think I'd see this as kinky foreplay," Rosa replied as she circled him.

"Please! I've seen how bad you two are at drinking tea, let alone if I gave you an excuse to get hot and bothered."

Rosa's mind drifted, and Saul's glove connected with her chin, sending her stumbling backward. She managed to keep her feet as she glared at him.

"Exactly my point!" Saul complained. "Your head is not in it when he's around."

"I'll put you in it," Rosa snapped. She launched at him with arms and legs at a haphazard speed. They collided and went down in a sprawling heap. Saul was laughing as she tried to hit his head with her gloves. His leg wedged up, and she squawked when he flipped her over onto her back.

Saul roared with laughter. "Better Wylt! Much better. Bring back the battle cry, you feral Celt."

Rosa hissed, bringing her leg up, and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backward and into the treadmill.

"Oh, shit! I'm sorry! Are you okay?" she asked.

Saul let out a groan. "Look who finally remembered she has some strength in her now," Saul replied as he got back to his feet. "You're lucky that one didn't get me in the balls, or I would be walking funny for a week."

"It would probably do them good to have a break."

Saul grinned. "What can I say? I have a lot of love to give."

"It's lucky that the Gwaed Teulu are infertile, otherwise the estate would be filled with an army of your bastards."

"Ouch. At least they would all be devilishly good-looking," Saul replied and re-strapped her gloves. "Eli wouldn't mind. He loves kids. I think he was secretly hoping you would give him a clan of Wylt children to dote on."

"God no. Could you imagine three little me's running about? I would drown them in the lake," Rosa laughed. "Lucky for me that ship has sailed."

"Sailed, pilfered by pirates, and burnt to the ocean floor," Saul added.

"That reminds me, I really should check if Bal has a pirate costume."

"I'm sure he was one at some stage, the uncivilized Philistine," Saul replied with an eye roll.

"We can't all grow up as little love bunnies of the Russian court."

"For starters, I was a glorious fuck, not a little love bunny. And have you been to a Russian court? I was meat."

"And two veggies," Rosa quipped, blocking his strike. She felt the force of it rattle through her bones, but she managed to keep her footing.

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