Page 46 of Uncrowned

Fight who?

I had to figure out how to escape before my feelings for him grew into something more than lure or twisted attraction. How could you be attracted to a voice? To… touches and… fascination?

The way V wanted me was intoxicating. He wanted me. He was good to me. He’d killed for me.

After a lifetime of mental and physical abuse, I was soaking in every unstable moment when I should have been pleading for him to set me free.

I was running out of time. It had been over three weeks, and I was healing. Only last night V had been drilling me on pressure points.

I was lost. I couldn’t focus when I didn’t believe it was necessary to know. And was it? I wasn’t a fighter. I didn’t strike or draw blood. I’d always been on the other side, getting the abuse. And now he wanted me to be the one to cause it?

The door opened, and I sat up higher in my chair, putting in my bookmark and sitting up straighter as V came down the stairs. He had a paper bag in his hand, and I could smell the rich scent of the food already beginning to fill the space. I stood, watching as he walked to the small table to put it down.

“Something’s wrong.” He glanced over his shoulder, taking the food boxes from the bag. “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing. I—I’m just tired.”

V stopped, turning slowly in my direction. The way he tilted his head had me clasping my hands together.

“I’m going to ask again. This time you’re not going to lie to me.” He paused. “What are you thinking about?”

My gaze dropped, and I swallowed hard. The strength of his stare made me want to throw myself on my knees and confess my uncertainties. I didn’t. I stood straighter, despite I couldn’t look at the mask.

“I’m worried about what you want me to do. The fighting and… stuff.”

He nodded, walking over and cupping the side of my neck so that I had to look up at him.

“We’re going to take things slow. I don’t expect you to kill on your first try. You’re learning, Penelope.”

“I-I know. I just.” I paused, not able to stop from shifting in his arms. “Who will this be happening to? Who do I have to hurt? I’m just really confused. I guess I don’t quite understand what this is for.”

“I’ve told you. It’s for our future. It’s dangerous out there, and I must know you can take care of yourself if it comes down to it.”

“Alright, but from… pickpockets, or will we be living amongst robbers and thieves in some third world country? V, I’m trying so hard to understand.”

A groan sounded. “I said you’d learn more in time. Right now, you focus on your lessons. You learn, and you get ready to fight.”

I didn’t argue or continue to bombard him with my confusion. I nodded, letting him lead me to the table.

“You notice someone is watching you, and they start to follow. You’re going at a decent speed, but they’re catching up. Something unexpected happens—someone stops you to ask you a question. Maybe you’re so focused on them that you trip over something and you fall. You’re able to get to your feet but by the time you do, they’ve caught up to you, and they’re leaning in to grab you. What’s the first place you attack if you’re able.”

I sat down, bringing up my hand like he’d shown me last night. “The throat. Here,” I said, pointing to the side of my hand. “I hit across the front as hard as I can.”

“Good girl. Let’s say for some reason you can’t. They’ve grabbed you and you don’t have access to the throat.”

“The nose. I hit them as hard as I can with the side of my fist. If the angle isn’t right, I use my palm.”

“Excellent. And if those angles aren’t right?”

“The jaw. If they’re leaned in and I don’t have access, I hit the back of the head, where the neck connects. I hit as hard as I can.”

“And if the head isn’t an option at all?”

I swallowed hard, clawing through my memories of the lessons.

“Solar plexus. I can use my elbow or kick. Whatever I can manage. It’ll knock the air out of them.”

V held to both sides of my face, coming in and kissing me hard with the mask. My eyes widened and he turned, reaching for the to-go box and placing it in front of me.