Tara The Great [Nuworld 2] (23 page)

working with a team to improve communications. Several simulations of programs to

increase power had been tested and failed. A new program now ran through its

simulation.

After spending time with the twins, having breakfast with them and dressing them

for the day, Tara had decided to stretch her legs. She entered the yard where Darius

was working with Torgo on the boy’s fighting skills. The sight did nothing to relax her.

“I would’ve crushed you had this been true battle,” Darius barked, and knocked

Torgo across the yard with a fling of his arm.

Torgo picked himself up slowly and wiped sweat from his brow. He glared at his

older brother, then lunged, only to be thrown again. He pulled himself onto all fours

and breathed heavily.

“Get up,” Darius ordered.

Tara thought back to how Darius had whipped Torgo with a vengeance when he’d

been brought back from chasing after Syra. It took a good two weeks for him to recover.

The second his lashes had scabbed, Darius insisted he start working on his fighting

skills. They were up against an unknown enemy, he said, and Torgo spent too much

time in front of landlinks.

She knew Darius believed Torgo too weak, and felt responsible to remedy that fact.

Over the past several mornings, Darius had called Torgo to the backyard and had

challenged him. If Torgo grumbled or refused, his brother started mocking and teasing

him until Torgo grew angry enough to fight back.

Now the boy squatted on all fours, breathing heavily from exhaustion and

humiliation. Tara’s heart burned. She ignored Darius, who stood in the middle of the

yard, legs spread, hands on his hips, and walked over to squat by Torgo.

“Don’t let him get to you,” she said softly. “Catch your breath and focus your mind.

Ignore his insults and catcalls. They only distract you and he does it on purpose.”

Torgo lifted his head and looked at her. “He’s bigger and older than I am, he is. It’s

not a fair fight.”

“You can take him. I’ve trained you, and you’re not soft.” Tara smiled at the boy,

the almost-man. “Size doesn’t matter. If your heart is true, you can defeat a giant.”

“Come on, boy,” Darius snarled. “Get away from her or I’ll flog you again, I will.”

“He’s just trying to get under your skin, Torgo,” Tara said again and threw Darius a

scornful look. “If you’re all upset, you’ll never defeat him. Focus your thoughts and

control the fight.”

“He can’t control this fight,” Darius laughed. “He can’t control much of anything,

no. He’s not a man yet.”

* * * * *

Torgo glared at his brother. He stood, but kept his hands on his knees and bent

over, trying to stop the fury Darius had just lit within him.

It was all a game to Darius, but Torgo wasn’t taking it that way. He hadn’t been

exposed to many Gothman fighting rituals. He had been sheltered. But Tara had taught

him a thing or two; it was time to see if he remembered them.

“Okay, Torgo,” she said and started rubbing his back, which caused one of Darius’

eyebrows to rise. “Remember those techniques we worked on a couple cycles ago?”

He looked at her. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Better yet.” Darius almost smiled. “I’ll take on the both of you, I will. That might

make it an even match, yes.”

Tara looked at Torgo and whispered, “Now watch, this is where you tell your

opponent what you really think of him.” She turned and glared at him with her baby

blues. “Even if you and your brother challenged me, it wouldn’t be a fair fight. You’re

not even in my league.” Tara paused wickedly. “My lord.”

Torgo looked at Tara with astonishment. He’d heard her talk to his brother like that

behind closed doors, but not in the open, where anyone could hear. She was brave…or

stupid.

* * * * *

Darius also cocked an eyebrow. He saw a gleam in her eyes he hadn’t seen in a

while. She was having fun—sincerely enjoying a pastime of which she’d been deprived

recently.

He watched Tara straighten and put her hands on her hips. Her breath quickened

enough to make the rise and fall of her breasts a distraction, but one he enjoyed. He

could think of another pastime she’d deprived herself of…as well as him.

He studied her face. She was getting wound up. Oh, that didn’t bother him; he

could defeat her in a fight and he knew it. He realized, though, she would tear him

apart verbally if he didn’t stop her soon. She had a few things to say, he could imagine,

and the entire household didn’t need to hear it.

“Show me that technique you two have worked on.” He smiled enthusiastically at

both of them. “We’ll see if you’re out of my league or not.”

* * * * *

Tara noticed his blond curls dance around his head as a quick breeze raced through

the yard. The white shirt he wore stretched over his broad chest and was just dirty and

sweaty enough to make him look incredibly sexy. He smiled broadly when she looked

up after he commented, a smile that allowed no woman to say “no” if he willed it.

Noting the fire in his eyes, she wondered how long poor Torgo would be able to

remain in the fight. She also realized she could be in trouble. Because if she took out her

frustrations in a good fight, she’d lose the edge from her anger at Darius. And then

what would happen?

No, she wouldn’t let her temper soar. A little sparring, for Torgo’s sake, that’s all

she’d allow to happen.

She gave Darius a sideways glance before looking at Torgo. “He asked for it. This

won’t be as hard as you think. Just remember what I taught you.”

Torgo looked nervous.

As she spoke to Torgo, Darius took his first shot. He moved quickly. A quick punch

aimed directly at his younger brother’s face.

Tara was just as quick. She returned the same maneuver, sending a direct punch

toward the side of his head. Darius threw out his arm to block her punch as she shouted

to Torgo, “What I taught you, now!”

Torgo jumped up, kicking his right leg out and slamming Darius hard in the chest.

It was a full-impact blow. Torgo felt his foot connect with his older brother’s well-

developed chest. A physique Torgo was sure he would never possess. He pushed hard

and was surprised to feel his brother’s weight give way. Within the same fraction of a

second, he released his foot and pulled it back. What shocked him most was that he

actually landed on his feet.

“Not bad.” Darius stepped back and smiled. “I’m impressed. Is that all you know?”

Torgo’s ego fell. He hadn’t even swayed his brother. Instead, Darius stood there,

smiling at Torgo, saying, good job.

* * * * *

“Never hesitate,” Tara instructed and threw another punch toward her claim’s face.

She followed through on the punch just long enough for Darius to raise his arm in

defense, then she switched hands and slugged him hard in the rib cage.

He stepped back and lowered his arms. Tara pounded his face. Then she stepped

back to allow him to regain composure. Don’t get too serious, she told herself.

A quick glance at Darius told her she was now in trouble. He’d read her thoughts

and her actions. She shouldn’t have backed off. Damn.

Torgo surprised both of them at that moment.

He took advantage of his brother staring one second too long at Tara. He jumped

forward and hit his brother in the stomach. It was an excellent punch, which was a good

thing, because it was the only one he got. Darius turned on him and slammed a return

punch that doubled Torgo over and had him gasping for breath.

Tara didn’t bother to even look at the injured boy. Darius was at the perfect angle

for her to give him a taste of the medicine he’d just given his younger brother. A hard

slam to the kidneys immobilized him long enough for Tara to jump in midair, kicking

him with enough force to send him staggering back four or five feet.

At that moment, Tara realized they had an audience.

Their grunts and accusations had attracted the attention of several guards who now

stood alongside the house. One of them snickered and Darius turned to acknowledge

their presence.

Tara laughed and jumped on him from behind, boxing his ears. She jumped off

again before he could grab her, and as he turned, she belted him hard on his lower jaw.

Adrenaline surged through her body now. All thoughts of aiding Torgo in a lesson

were gone. The young boy had moved over to the side of the yard and was sitting on

the ground, trying to breathe normally. Cycles of anger over his infidelity came to a

head. Tara didn’t worry about Torgo. All she wanted to do right now was kick Darius’

ass.

She went after her claim as if he were a punching bag. She managed several shots at

his face, one at his chest, and a swift kick so low in the groin, all those watching

groaned loudly.

Tara didn’t allow a second to pass when he bent over to regain composure from the

blow that had been inches away from doing long-term damage. She flew through the

air at him with a kick aimed directly at the side of his head.

Darius recuperated faster than she expected.

In midair, Tara realized he’d pulled a stunt she had used one too many times in his

presence. Darius had been faking his lack of composure. He stood up quickly and

intercepted her legs before they reached his face. His mighty arms wrapped around her

body and tightened so quickly, all air rushed from her lungs with a howl.

Tara reached to attack his face.

He yanked her off him and threw her across the yard, sending her sprawling

through the grass.

* * * * *

The guards roared.

One of the young Gothman servants came to the door, then turned, yelling for

Hilda as she ran back into the house. Patha overheard the commotion and walked onto

the balcony overlooking the yard. He looked down on his daughter and Darius.

“You two kids can play for fifteen more minutes, but then it’s time to get back to

work.”

The humor in his voice was apparent, and the large group of guards looking on

filled the yard with laughter.

* * * * *

Tara got to her feet quickly and flew at Darius again. He reached to grab her and