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I force myself to stand still and hold my ground as Rune’s chest fills my vision. I tip my head back and meet his gaze. “If I agree, I want something in return.”
Being a frightened nobody witch has gotten me nowhere in the last twenty-nine years. If this is going to happen, it will be on my terms.
My Viking raises a brow at me, amused. “Are you giving me an ultimatum?”
I force myself to keep eye contact—not much of a hardship when the view is so pretty. “If I’m going to be the personal charging station for you to be uber powerful, I want something out of this partnership as well.”
He arches a brow. “Go on. I’m listening.”
I straighten my shoulders and attempt to look as stern as I can—hard to achieve wearing nothing but a towel. “You will teach me how to fight.”
By the look on Rune’s face, that is not at all what he expected. “Witches don’t fight. Why don’t you ask one of your witch friends to help you with magical defense? Elara, or maybe Zana would take you on as an apprentice if you ask nicely.”
“I don’t want to learn defensive magic. I need to learn how to defend myself without the help of magic.”
Rune frowns. “You have magic. Use it.”
“I’m not saying I won’t. But if being kidnapped by Egan and Sebastian has taught me anything, it’s how easily I can be stripped of my magic. Then I’m left with nothing. I need a Plan B to fall back on.”
A shiver wracks through me as I recall the cold bleakness of being cut off from the power of Mother Gaia. It’s not something I’m eager to relive but if that happens again, I want to make it out alive.
“You’re an exceptionally strong witch, Josie, but without your magic, there is no fighting a foe as fast as a vampire or as ruthless as a werewolf. Without magic, witches are no stronger than a run-of-the-mill human.”
That’s just plain insulting.
“I’ve survived this far.”
Rune snorts. “By dumb luck and determination. It wasn’t skill of any measure and it could’ve gone the other way so easily. You’d be better off screaming for help and praying Finn, Bas, or I hear it in time and can rescue you.”
So fucking dismissive.
“Seriously? Does it even register in your thick skull when you’re being a total Neanderthal douche? All four of us went up against Adelaide and Egan in the mausoleum, and you wouldn’t have made it out alive if it wasn’t for me. I’m not run-of-the-mill anything—with or without magic.”
Rune turns on his heel without a word. “Fine. If you want to learn how to defend yourself, it’s time for your first lesson.”
I blink at him. “What? Now?”
Rune pegs me with a look, and this time I force myself still and pretend it doesn’t affect me. “Yes, now. Get dressed. I’ll wait in the hall.”
CHAPTER SIX
RUNE
“Why are we here?” Josie asks a few steps ahead of me as we descend the stairs to the basement of Club Sanguine. “Is my first lesson how to chug a pitcher of beer without barfing?”
The fabric of her black pants swish together with each step, a green tank top thrown over a sports bra and her hair pulled back into a tight pony, still damp from her shower and wafting the scent of hibiscus as it sways in front of me.
She’s come ready to fight.
“Or maybe you think I’m so weak you need to be drunk for me to stand a chance against the mighty Rune Leifson in a fight?”
“I am known to be quite a formidable opponent,” I tease. “I mean, come on. Have you seen these biceps?” I hop down the last few steps and lean past Josie to prop my hand on the door that leads to the vampire level of the club, making sure to flex my muscles obnoxiously as I waggle my brows at her.
She shakes her head, turning to hide the smile that creeps onto her face. When I open the door for her, she leads the way into the club.
In reality, I know Josephine Dumont could handle herself in a tête-à-tête against me. Win? No. But give me a run for my money?
Absolutely.
