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The panther’s punches hurt like hell, which motivated Ash to learn to avoid them. She ducked a right hook and spun, knocking Chuki’s legs out from under her in a movement that looked practiced and coordinated. She’d expected the woman to fall on her back, but she’d been surprised. Arching her body in a way that didn’t seem possible for a human, Chuki flipped in the air and landed in a crouch.
“Fuck, that was cool!” Ash exclaimed. “Can you teach me to move like that, or is it a panther thing?”
Chuki shrugged. “I’m not sure, but we can try. My instincts drive me never to end up on the ground with my vulnerable parts exposed, but that holds true for any species.”
After the second hour of intense sparring, Dani’s stomach growled. “Seriously. I am withering away to nothing over here. I know why Ash doesn’t care, but how are you all not starving?” Dani demanded, wiping sweat from her forehead with a towel. “I am officially on strike until I get some food.”
The others chuckled and followed Dani to the kitchen. Melinda had brunch waiting for everyone, and they piled into the dining room so they could talk while they enjoyed the meal.
“I’d love to know more about your histories,” Ash began as everyone ate and she sipped warmed donor blood.
Chuki smiled. “The leader of the prowl we were born into tried to force me to marry to fulfill a business obligation. He essentially sold me. When Uuka heard, he came home and broke ties with the prowl, forming his own. That exiled us from our homeland since there can only be one prowl. The king’s call gave us a chance to live together in peace.”
“My mate Natori has been close to Uuka since they were cubs,” Bishara added. “And where he goes, I go. Feruzi is making advances toward young Kioni, who was sold to a wretched old man. She hasn’t put the poor fool out of his misery yet, though.”
“Abuya is a fierce warrior and, recent behavior notwithstanding, a loyal companion. Like the rest of us, he came here under the belief that Uuka could lead us to a better life,” Natori interjected. He leaned forward and continued in a conspiratorial whisper, “Uuka and Chuki both think they are too busy to find a mate. If you spot someone in your travels who could throw them off-axis, send them that way.”
Ash grinned. She’d caught the leader eyeing Dani with curiosity and wondered if he had feelings toward her. Uuka was an honorable man, and he could keep Dani safe, but she wasn’t sure he was relaxed enough to understand her unique worldview. Also, he’d just committed to guarding her parents for the foreseeable future. Ash couldn’t stay here, and she doubted that Dani would stay behind for any reason.
Chuki blushed. “My love life is none of your concern. You won’t be laughing when Ash knocks your dick into the dirt. The males get a turn after we’ve eaten.”
Brian and Melinda looked intrigued. “Mind if we watch?”
No one did, and after the remnants of their meal were put away, the group filed out to the dojo and sat near the walls to give Ash and Natori plenty of space to spar. The panther was confident that his superior size and strength would give him the edge since, even as a vampire, the woman was tiny. He watched her approach with a cocky grin. Holding eye contact, Ash clenched her right hand, calling the shadows to gather at his feet. When Natori lunged toward her, he fell flat on his face. Ash released him, and he rolled to his feet.
“That was not fair,” he growled.
Ash shrugged and pointed at her chest. “Vampire. You told me that vampires don’t fight fair. Now you get to practice against the only one who doesn’t want to kill you. You have to take the good with the bad, my friend.”
Ash looked around, expecting Dani to comment, but she didn’t see her sister. Uuka was absent as well, and she made a mental note to ask Dani where she had gone. She ended up flat on her back with a grinning Natori standing over her.
“The best senses in the world are useless if you don’t use them,” he chided. “You can’t afford distractions on the battlefield.”
When Natori looked at his mate, the intensity of their eye contact made Ash think they were communicating telepathically. After Bishara nodded, Natori offered her a hand up. “It’s vital to learn that not all who smile are friends, and some friends are enemies in disguise. You must always be on guard.”
Ash shook herself, stretched her abused muscles, and turned to the other panthers. “Abuya, you’re up. What do you have for me?”
They ran through drills for another hour, everyone helping Ash hone her vampiric speed and strength and adapt her experience and muscle memory to her current capabilities.
“You’re not what I expected,” Feruzi admitted after he ran her through exercises to sharpen her reaction time.
“From what I know about other vampires, I will take that as a compliment,” Ash replied.
He nodded. “You should.”
“Thank you.” She rubbed a spot where she’d taken a hard punch. “Are we going again?”
Chuki laughed. “I think you’ve had enough for one day.”
“I won’t argue with that. This was fun. Dani and I spar almost every day, and accommodating her human strength is a challenge, too. Thanks for letting me train at both ends of the spectrum. I wouldn’t survive hurting Dani by accident.”
Dani was still absent. “Speaking of my sister, have you seen her?”
Chuki shook her head. “Not since lunch. Come to think of it, that was the last time I saw Uuka, too.” Her mischievous grin emphasized her cheekbones and Ash thought she looked beautiful. “Shall we investigate?”
“That sounds like a brilliant plan, and I could really use something to eat. Those ass-kickings have me starving,” Ash declared, linking her arm through Chuki’s and heading toward the house.
The panther stiffened, and her eyes widened as she pulled away from Ash, who shook her head and smiled. “Don’t worry. All my food comes from blood bags. I would never feed directly from a person. Well, not without their consent.”
