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Why do they have to be in the way now of all times?
“Okay, slugger, that’s enough,” Landers said, laughter filling his voice. “What did you do that for? You probably hurt yourself more than you did him.” Landers turned us so that I was facing away from the Fae. He grabbed my hand, uncurling my fingers so he could see the damage.
“Let me go!” I pulled my hand back, which hurt twice as hard.
“Nothing’s broken, so at least there’s that.”
“That was reckless,” Philit said, coming over with Zilon. The Fae was on the ground, not moving. I wish my punch had been the one to do that.
It still could. I knew I had it in me.
I took in a deep breath and turned to face Philit. “I want to learn to fight. Teach me.”
Now he looked like he was the one who had been punched.
“Teaching you isn’t a good idea. Fighting isn’t meant for women,” Zilon said. Oh, hell no. So much for him being my favorite.
“What archaic thinking is that?” Landers asked and I sputtered. More surprised. Landers and I agreed on something.
“What? Why?” Zilon asked. “We can protect her. Why should she learn to fight?”
I side stepped so I was between Zilon and Landers, getting Zilon’s attention back on me. “Maybe because she wants to learn how to properly punch someone so she doesn’t break her hand.” I held my hand up to show the bruising.
“Rayna makes a good point,” Philit said. “I’ve seen dragons and riders both fighting side by side. Everyone, both men and women, learn to fight in Xrotte. Even the kids. We have to or the Fae would wipe us out. We can’t always be by her side. She should know how to defend herself.”
Fuck yeah!
“At least long enough to stay alive until help can come,” Landers pointed out and I scowled at him. Way to drag me back down.
Zilon looked like he absolutely hated that idea. It only spurred me on more.
“I’m going to learn.” I was making it official, not one of them was going to fight me on it.
“I’ll teach you,” Philit said after a moment.
“Good. Because I wasn’t going to take no for an answer.” I folded my arms, winced, and refolded them keeping my hurt hand on top.
“I’ll teach you, but with restrictions. You do not get to ride me. You do not get to press your skin against mine. We are both unmated and I refuse to affect my future bond with my mate, whoever she may be.”
“Yeah, yeah, so you’ve said.” I waved my hand to the side. He sounded like a broken record.
“You’ll learn hand-to-hand,” Philit continued like I hadn’t said anything. “And how to utilize your gifts as a rider. The training to ride a dragon will have to wait until you get to the academy.”
“Wait, my gifts as a rider?” Perfect. Something else I didn’t know.
Philit laughed at least he had the decency to look surprised. He rubbed the black stubble along his jaw briefly as he thought.
“Okay. Then it looks like you have a lot to learn before you get to the academy. If you show up there without any knowledge, they’ll laugh you out of training. Damn.” He ran his hand over his head, glancing around.
“You’re just now figuring this out?” I asked. “Where do we start?”
“Let’s go with the basics. Close your eyes.”
“Wait. We are starting right now?” I didn’t know if I should be excited or not.
“Close your eyes,” Philit repeated in answer. Both Zilon and Landers were staring at me now.
“Why?”
