Page 34 of The Chosen Two

“None of me should hit the ground, George!”

“Well, you’re going to, and when you do, you need to be able to control your fall so you can jump back up and keep going.”

“I couldn’t jump back up and keep going even if I landed on a trampoline, George!"

Eventually, he convinces me to pretend I’m an egg and rock back gently. Lo and behold, I actually get the fall somewhat correct. “Okay, good. I got that. Can I be done for the day now?”

He rolls his eyes. “Fine. You have to get the kids soon anyway, and you need extra time to go home and change.”

I thank him, and he walks me out. At my car, he holds my door open to talk to me. “You did good in there.”

“Thanks….”

“I’m not done. You did good. But you’re the Guardian, and good isn’t good enough. You have to be outstanding. Incredible. Top notch. I took it easy today because it was your first. You’re going to come back tomorrow, and we’re going to fight. And I’m not going to take it easy on you. This isn’t something I should ease you into. The minotaur didn’t. No one else will. I want to be your friend. You’re fun to be with, but I need to be your teacher first. This is too important, no matter how badly you make me want to forget that.”

I feel my cheeks redden, not really sure what that’s all about.

“How do I make you want to forget that?”

He smiles and looks away, thinking. “You’re just not a typical Guardian.”

“Have you met many? I mean, you’re younger than I am, and if I was already the Guardian when you were born—”

“First, you weren’t the guardian when I was born. You were only now called up. When I was born, you were still in line. And second, no, I haven’t met many. I’ve only met you. But I’ve read all the docents’ notes. You’re all born into this, and so you’re all special in your own rite. But none of the Guardians had a chance to live their own lives and become their own people. They never had a chance to develop their own natural strengths and power. You have.”

I laugh full out. “Sure, okay. That sounds exactly like me.”

“There you go, doubting yourself again. I don’t get it. Birthright aside, you are probably the most amazing woman I have ever met. Don’t doubt yourself.”

“Okay, George. You’re how old again? Like, sixteen? Give yourself a chance to grow up and get out more. When you’ve actually met a few more women, you can come back and tell me that.”

“I’m twenty-four, remember? I’ve met plenty of women. Believe me, you are as incredible as they come.”

***

Jake comes home early, again. We have sex on the kitchen floor, again. But this time, he’s much more tender. Our making love is softer and wholesome and warm, more like what I’m used to. I’m happy to have one area of my life return to normal.

We have a sweet family dinner together. The kind we used to have every day. The kind we used to make a priority. The kind that reminds us how loved we all are.

Everything feels almost monotonous again. I’m not thinking about imps or kitsune. There are no shadows or Jinn. I’m even back to feeling just as exhausted and out of shape as I did a week ago. And I take some solace in that feeling instead of letting it scare me.

Chapter 14

Miranda

Georgewasn’tkiddingwhenhe said he wasn’t going to take it easy on me. Even though he chose a different warm up today, my feet still burn with numbness ten minutes into our time together.

On top of that, every muscle screamed at me when I woke up today. My butt and back are bruised from all the roll falls I did yesterday, and the sex on the hard kitchen floor isn’t exactly helping either.

Oh, Jake. What was with that man? Before his trip, I couldn’t even get him to come home in time for dinner, much less a few minutes earlier so he could fuck me silly on the kitchen floor before the kids came down to eat…

“Okay, time to spar.” George throws a padded helmet at me.

When I go to put it on, I discover a cased mouth guard tucked inside.

George’s eyes follow mine. “I can’t have you getting a concussion here.”

After our conversation at my car yesterday, his cold demeanor and short communications with me are jarring. I put on the gear and go to guard stance, waiting for him to start.

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