Page 107 of The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior

She pulled out one of the pastries, inhaled again, and then took a big bite, a look of bliss crossing her face. “What kind of favor? You’re not getting these back.”

He laughed. “No, of course not. You get the pastries regardless. But I figure you’d at least be in a receptive mood if I gave you something to eat, and if you decide to tell me to shove off afterwards, I’m no worse off.”

She took another bite.

“What’s the favor?” she asked around flaky pastry.

“Did you, uh, hear about yesterday?”

Perian supposed that a lot of things had happened yesterday, but Delana didn’t even pretend not to know what he was talking about. She nodded.

He continued. “Yeah, so, that wasn’t a great time, and it came up that I didn’t have a lot of ways to defend myself.” He smiled a little. “Not like someone who can summon water whenever needed.”

“Cormal is… pretty content with the outcome,” she said carefully.

Perian simply nodded.

“Heard you went to the doctor’s this morning.”

“Wow, the rumor mill is so good here,” Perian marveled. “Molun and Arvus brought burn salve last night. Brannal and I agreed that it would be better if I could defend myself and that it wasn’t working well so far to try to have sporadic lessons with the Mage Warriors.”

She was way ahead of him. “You want me to talk to Onadal.”

“Brannal is going to talk to him. He’s kind of protective.”

She eyed his arm but didn’t say anything. Apparently, she could see which side he was favoring at a glance as well. Perian definitely needed training.

“So,” he said after a slightly too long pause, “we thought that training with people who couldn’t conjure elements might be useful to me, and Brannal said Onadal often has more beginners than the Mage Warriors do. But nobody’s turning me into a Warrior, and I can’t promise to be the most consistent and dedicated novice who ever existed. And I’m kind of hoping Onadal will agree to help me so that in future I can get that punch in before Brannal blows me out of the way.”

She snorted. “Is that what happened?”

Perian made a face and grumbled, “I didnotreact with speed and alacrity.”

She was nodding. “I can see that.”

“Hey!” he protested.

She rolled her eyes. “I mean, I can see how you’d like to hone your reactions and have better ways of protecting yourself.” She eyed his arm again. “Maybe use your left arm, at least.”

Perian groaned. “Yes, I already thought of that. I mean, I’m very grateful I got my arm up at all, but left would have been less awkward today.”

“So, hewasaiming for your face?” she said, like this was something that had gotten communally discussed.

Who was he kidding, of course it had.

Perian’s lips tipped up in a smile that was devoid of amusement. “Said I’d be less pretty that way.”

Her jaw clenched. “Sometimes, he can be—”

“Yes,” Perian agreed. “Which is how we find me bribing you with pastries. I don’t know Onadal at all. And I have a request.”

She eyed him. “I can’t wait to hear it.”

“I am fully aware that I am one person, and he is training all the Warriors in the castle. But if he happened to be able to fit me intomorningtraining, that would fit my schedule really well.”

Delana threw back her head and laughed.

“I mean, I won’t know unless I ask, will I?” he said, smiling hopefully.

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