Page 47 of Wicked Thieves
“Shows what you know, there are plenty of people who love the sound of my voice,” he goaded, a suggestive glint in his eye.
“If someone were to ever grant you the time of tormenting them, do let me know. I should like to commend them for their martyrdom.”
His mouth pressed into a thin, unamused line. A couple of deep chuckles behind her carried through the stables and she looked to find Idris had come to join them. Along with Aeric, who had somehow entered the room unnoticed by her and was leaning against the door of one of the stalls, a black horse nuzzling his shoulder for attention until his hand landed on its muzzle to appease it.
“Looks like you’ve definitely made Anya here have her work cut out for her. No wonder she practically implored me to teach her, brother. Your methods are unsurprisingly…tyrannical.”
Adan’s annoyed grunt was his only answer.
“She can hardly sense a heartbeat to save her life, let alone know when to anticipate when one is nearby. If she goes into the tunnels, there will be nothing save for tools she has at her disposal. I’m ensuring she can survive down there without one of us coming to save her ass.”
Rolling her eyes, she made to turn away while he and Idris discussed her as though she weren’t in the room when her eyes met Aeric’s. An assessing look passing over his face. Like Adan, he also looked tired, as if he hadn’t slept for days. Awakening that infuriating curiosity within her to ask him what he was doing to return in such a state.
“Let’s say she doesn’t practice conjuring now,” Aeric began. “There are other ways in anticipating an opponent’s attack.”
Anelize frowned at him while Adan seemed to take in his words carefully.
“Isn’t this the whole point of training?” she asked.
“The point,” Aeric began, “is for you to learn how to defend yourself in any way you can. It’s true we rely on our power, but conjuring can only do so much for us. While you will come to have a rather effective, potent way of dispatching your enemies, it takes a significant amount of energy you will need. Your concentration, for example. That, and if you don’t have time to draw blood before a Watchman comes in close range of you, conjuring then will prove more as an inconvenience than as an advantage.”
Based on the way Adan hadn’t scoffed, he seemed to agree with Aeric.
“As exciting as this all is…I think my skillset is needed elsewhere. Don’t let these two get away with tormenting you, Anya.” Idris blew out a breath, a knowing look passed over his gaze as he sent her an apologetic glance before heading out of the stables. So much for being his favorite protégé…
“If you thought I was a nightmare, wait till you see how he is,” Adan murmured with sick satisfaction before he waved a hand over his shoulder. “Good luck, boss. You’re going to need it.”
The door slammed shut behind him, his voice fading as Idris said something to make them both laugh. At her expense, no doubt.
“Oh, helikesyou,” Aeric grinned as he looked to the door. “At the rate you’re going, you’ll become fast friends. I am sure of it.”
“I care not to know what he’s like when he hates someone then.” She snorted. One of these days, she intended on repaying him tenfold.
Tyrant, indeed.
Aeric pushed off the wall of the stable door and approached her, stepping into the makeshift circle she and Adan had been using. His black shirt clung to the outline of his broad shoulders and arms as he uncrossed them and reached for her hands.
She tensed, startled by the sudden wave of awareness that washed over her at his touch.
“Relax. Just gauging what we’ve got to work with,” he murmured when she made to pull away before reluctantly giving in. His hands, while calloused, held no scars as he urged her to form a fist before bringing it up against the palm of one of his hands. She watched as his fingers trailed over her knuckles then down the back of her hand slowly, her heart coming alive in incessant skips. Aeric’s focus was solely on the task as he adjusted her hand. “Thumb out, always. You’ll avoidbreaking it. Hit with the knuckle part only or the side of your outer fist, the latter will tend to catch anyone off guard who attempts to approach you from behind. Swing first, ask questions later.”
“I know how to throw a punch.”
“Yes, I am aware.” His eyes flickered up to meet hers. The slight bump on his nose made her fight the grin that threatened to appear. Aeric noticed, glancing down to her lips before flashing back up to her face. “Now that you know how to properly throw a punch, go ahead.”
Anelize arched a brow. “Come again?”
“Hit me. I know you’ve been dying to do it. No conjuring, no finding my heartbeat, just attack head on.”
She stared at him as he braced his hands on his hips, watching her with an easy smile before she moved. Her punch was easily caught by his hand before gripping it and spinning her with one swift motion, making her face the wall that had been behind her just moments ago. Stealing the breath from her.
“Go again,” Aeric murmured calmly as she turned to face him with a glare.
“How do you expect me to hit you when you won’t let me?”
“A Watchman wouldn’t let you.”
“That is different.”
