Dare (20 page)

“Ok, ok,” she whispered. “Do it again.”

I released her. She shook out her hands, took a few steps back, spun, and hurled herself at me again.

This time I grabbed her wrist, pinning it behind her back. I drew her toward me, chest to chest.

Her chin tilted upward. Her eyes locked on mine. “Is this a usual defensive move?”

I didn’t know who was on defense anymore.

“It might be the only way I survive this.”

I could feel her breath hitch. I searched her eyes.

I crushed my lips against hers, savoring the softness, the texture of her skin, the warmth of her mouth. My hands ran along her back, freeing her wrist. She wrapped herself around my waist as my tongue pressed deeper, tasting her, kissing her.

“Is this part of the lesson?” She moved to my neck.

“It is,” I breathed.

I wanted to pick her up and take her to my bed, but my leg complicated my options. My hands tangled in her hair. I pulled at the base of her neck. I wanted to drink in every inch of her. Every part of her called me closer. Her body moved against mine.

I kissed along her ear. “I feel like I’ve been looking for you, but I didn’t know it until now.”

Her palms flattened against my chest.

She pushed against me. It was enough to shake me.

“Do it again.” She took a step back.

“I hope you mean the kiss.” I moved toward her. I wanted her. Her breathing was ragged; she was fighting against it. Holding back from what was building between us.

She grinned. “I need to know how to defend myself. Show me the move again.”

“You’re actually serious right now.” I could tell by reading her vivid green eyes, she was determined to master the lesson. All I could think about was her lips.

“Dead serious.” She anchored her feet on the floor. “Attack me.”

“What? No, I’m not attacking you, injured or not. That wouldn’t be fair yet. We just started training an hour ago.”

“Try me.” She set her eyes on mine, concentrated, determined.

I wasn’t as fast on my feet, but I approached her. “No matter what I do, focus on your breathing. It will keep you calm. You’ll be able to react more quickly if you’re calm. Too much adrenaline and you’ll lose the edge.”

“Ok. I’ve got it. Attack me,” she demanded.

She was in front of me. All of her long and toned body, begging me to lay it on her, just not how I wanted to.

She would have a footwork advantage. I watched her eyes. They were gauging me. Anticipating how I would strike. She was ready for me. I leaned left then punched right. She cut across my forearm with her wrist. I was able to dodge her hit by ducking low. I straightened my back then struck with my left hand, jolting her shoulder.

Her eyes flashed to mine.

“Sorry.” I worried I had taken it too far, when the side of her hand jabbed into my chest.

“No problem,” she replied.

I squared my shoulders again, preparing for her next move. I punched forward; she blocked it with her palm. I took another shot and she kicked my hand out of the way. My eyes widened. For a new student, she had amazing agility.

“Should I stop?” she asked.

“No. Keep going.” I pivoted on my good foot. I liked sparring with her, trying to read her, trying to figure her out.

She aimed for my chest and I snatched her wrist, dragging her two steps closer.

“You’re pretty good,” I teased her.

“You’re a good teacher.” She circled her free hand around my neck. “Can we do another lesson tomorrow?”

I nodded.

“Good. I’ll see you then.” She spun out of my arms and walked toward the kitchen. “Call me if your leg gets any worse.”

I staggered to the chair. That sparring session probably just cost me the rest of the night in bed, but damn it was worth it.

E
very time I was near Zac, I felt it. The way he looked at me. The way he kissed me. It was all there. I wanted it too, but my world was crumbling. I would bring him down with me. Getting involved with me would destroy his life. Nothing good could come from it. But it didn’t stop me from wanting it. I was a queen. I didn’t have the luxury of being selfish.

Vix met me at the lair.

“Any change in Abi?” I asked.

“No, Maya has been with her the entire time. She doesn’t remember us.”

I threw my backpack on my bed. “Maybe I can talk to Ian. There might be some witch magic that could help her.”

“Have you talked to him lately?” she asked.

“Not since he did the
Locality Spell
. Why?”

She shrugged. “Just curious. I was thinking how handy it is to have a witch at our disposal.”

“He’s doing us a favor. I’m not going to take advantage of that.” I eyed her.

Vix pointed to my bag. “Are you doing homework?”

“I have to. My portion of the group project is due tomorrow. I’ll let everyone down if I don’t give them something to include. I don’t need more enemies on campus than I already have.”

“True. You’re arch-enemy list is growing.”

“Thanks.” I pulled out one of the binders and flipped it open.

“Any new ideas on Tegan or Eva? Is that where you went?”

“I went to see Zac.”

Her eyes brightened. “Do tell. How was Mr. Yummy Historian?”

“He’s not yummy.” I scowled. “Ok, maybe a little yummy, but that’s not why I went. His leg isn’t getting any better.” It was none of her business that we had shared an intense kiss that was still burning my lips. God, he was in my head.

“And he needs you to nurse him back to health? Makes sense to me.” She puckered her lips. “There are so many things you could do to help him feel better.”

“Vix, that is not where this is headed.” I would never convince her. I couldn’t convince myself.

When I left him, I wanted to turn around and go right back in the house and tell him I had been looking too. He actually said he had been looking for me.

“We did some self-defense training.”

She looked puzzled. “Self-defense? You’re a panther. You can rip anyone’s head off you want.”

“As a panther, yes. But like this. Like me, I’m not trained to fight. I can outrun anyone. I figured with my flexibility and reflexes, I could really kick some ass as a girl. I just need some guidance.”

“And Zac has that guidance?”

“He’s been trained in tai chi and kickboxing for years. It’s something he’s actually an expert in.”

Vix rolled back on my bed. “Do you think he would teach me too?”

“You want to learn tai chi?” I asked.

“It might be the only way we can get Tegan and Eva back. You’re right. We’ve been relying too much on our panther side. Case has the girls in locations where being a panther works against us. We need something.”

I considered it. “Ok, I’ll ask Zac to train all of us. He doesn’t need to know why. We have a better chance against Case if we have an unexpected weapon.” I liked the idea of training more with him. “I wish he would have someone look at his leg. I think Noah did something to it.”

“You mean he poisoned his claws? That’s crazy.”

“Is it?”

She closed her eyes. “I guess it’s not crazy. There are no rules anymore.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll let you work on your project. I’m going to check on Abi.”

She leapt from the bed and walked out of my room into the dark tunnel. I knew she would transition on her way into the woods. She couldn’t stay human with this kind of anger.

It was crazy I was trying to do homework, but in a weird way, it gave me something else to focus on besides the demolition of the Nox. I opened the binder to the outline I was given. My section was a review of the last two chapters in our reading.

It didn’t need to be perfect. Not even A-worthy. It just had to be enough my group could work with it. First, I’d have to read the chapters. For one night, I could be like all the other college girls at The Grove.

Maya convinced us she could skip her Tuesday classes. We left her with Abi. When we left the cave, she was going through pictures on her phone, trying to stir any kind of memory of Abi’s panther life she could. So far, nothing had reached her. She asked about Eli more than she did about her identity.

Vix and I walked to campus together.

“Meet after class?” I turned toward the library. My group was waiting.

“Yes. I’ll text you when I’m out. The lectures are getting longer when they should be shorter.” She flicked her hair over her shoulder. “All of this seems like such a waste of time right now.”

“This is exactly what we’re fighting for. Normal. We deserve normal. So go be a boring student.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She grinned for the first time in days.

We needed these reminders. The fight wasn’t worth anything if we didn’t appreciate the minutes we had. We weren’t only fighting for our territories, or the right to choose whom we wanted to marry. We were taking a stand against the council. We should be able to live how we wanted. Date who we wanted. Live where we wanted. Case and the Tribe threatened all of that.

I climbed the stone steps to the rotunda. I tried to soak it all in. The musty smell of old books. The whispers in the study lounges. The speckled colors from the windows. It might be my last time here.

“Darlin’, seems you’ve been busy lately.”