Lexi lifted her hands and circled him as they moved around the yard. When he came at her again, she darted to the side and threw up her hand to block his blow.
“Cole said he would teach me how to fight, so I think he’d let you keep your nuts,” she told him as they danced.
“Let’s hope so.”
As he watched her with a calculating eye, she realized he’d designed his moves to learn more about her.
“You’re fast,” he remarked. “And nimble. You’re better off running from an attacker than fighting them.”
“Sometimes, that’s not an option.”
“I know, butyoushould know that flight should be your first response.”
Lexi stopped moving. “I’m tougher than I look.”
Brokk stopped too and stood staring at her. “Yes, but so are most supernaturals, and, unfortunately, you aren’t as strong as most of them. Like it or not, being half human makes you weaker than a full immortal.”
She didn’t like it, but she couldn’t deny the truth.
“Okay, so I’ll run first,” she said.
Not likely, but she kept that to herself as Brokk wouldn’t approve. The look on his face said he didn’t believe her.
“Don’t get yourself killed,” he said.
The concern in his voice gave her pause. As Cole’s mate, his life hinged on hers, and Brokk cared too much for his brother to risk seeing what would become of him if she died. Not all lycans perished when their mates did, but none of them were the same afterward.
She’d never seen a mateless lycan, but she’d heard they were nothing more than walking shadows of their former selves. Shadows that were better off dead.
Many lycans preferred death and embraced it when they lost their mate. She didn’t know what they did to meet their end, and she didn’t want to know. It sounded awful, and she didnotwant Cole to experience it.
Maybe, because he was also half fae, Cole wouldn’t suffer as much as a purebred lycan if she died. She hoped he never learned the answer as shereallyliked her life.
“I’m going to stick around for a very long time,” she assured him. “Now, show me what else to do.”
She started moving around him again, and after a brief hesitation, he fell into step with her.
“We’ll start building up your strength and endurance tomorrow,” he said. “You work with the horses, so I’m sure you’re already strong, but we’ll make you stronger. Also, get ready to start running… a lot.”
“I’m ready.”
He feigned a punch to her head, and she slapped it aside before his fist tapped her stomach. If it were anyone else, the blow would have knocked her on her ass, but it was meant to reveal one of her weaknesses.
“Do you have the potion Sahira created?” he asked.
Lexi tapped her jeans pocket. The potion that would eat the skin from anything it touched was tucked securely away. Sahira had cast a spell over the bottle to keep it from breaking by accident.
She felt better having it on her, but she might not get it free in time to use it on someone, or something else could go wrong. She tried not to think about those possibilities; doubt wouldn’t do her any good.
“We’ll also start training with weapons. You’ll be at a disadvantage strength and powers wise, but if we can find a weapon you excel at using, it will give you an advantage.”
“I like that idea.”
He smiled at her before disappearing. Lexi’s hands lowered as she stared at the spot where he’d stood. Then fingers tapped her right shoulder. She spun to find him standing behind her. He tapped her cheek with the tips of his fingers.
“Hands up,” he said.
She put her hands up and kicked out in the fast, crisp way he taught her earlier. He slapped her foot down before coming at her from the side again.
