Chapter 230

I scowl, stumbling into the tiny private gym. “I’m not weaker than a kitten,” I mutter, putting my hands on my hips. “I can…do stuff.”

“As eloquent as you are sturdy,” Faiza says, raising a cheerful eyebrow at me.

“Hey, I –“

“Look, kid,” the woman says, taking a step towards me, her voice becoming softer, friendlier as she goes. “Neumann believes in you, and according to the records that the Captain showed me, you’re one hell of a shot with a bow and a gun. I am here because I want to be – because I’m interested in this assignment. And trust me – with what I’m charging to be here? The Academy wouldn’t be footing the bill if they didn’t think you were worth it. So. Go ahead and drop the whole defensive attitude.”

My shoulders slump a little as I stare at this woman, having no idea how to feel. Because…I mean, did she just compliment me? After telling me how weak she thinks I am the whole way here?

I genuinely have no idea what’s going on. Faiza just grins, letting me know that she knows it.

Then, she lifts her chin towards the man still sitting patiently on the floor, his eyes closed. “Say hello to your fighting instructor,” she says.

“But, I thought –“

“My specialty is in other things,” she interrupts, giving me a wink. “Hey, Blaze!” she says, pitching her voice louder. “Wake the hell up. Cadet’s here.”

Blaze cracks one eye, peering at her. “In all our years together, Faiza,” he murmurs, his voice both warm and crinkly with age, “you have yet to learn the gracious art of patience.”

“Yet another year I’ve skipped that curse,” Faiza says, smiling at him fondly. He laughs a little, unable to help it, as he swiftly unfolds to his feet and turns towards me, giving me a little bow.

“Cadet Clark,” the man murmurs. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Thank you,” I say, the manners that have been drilled into me since I was a child immediately surfacing when I meet someone new, especially a professor. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. I’m…looking forward to working with you, Professor –“

He holds up a hand, shaking his head. “Not professor. Just Blaze.”

I hesitate and then nod. “Then, I’m looking forward to working with you, Blaze.” I hold out a hand to shake and he folds it softly in both of his own, smiling at me and then at Faiza.

“I’m looking forward to working with this one,” he says, laughing a little. “It is polite.”

“Yeah, well,” Faiza says, crossing her arms and looking me up and down. “We can beat that out of her.”

Blaze laughs a little and then drops my hand. “So!” he says, looking me up and down as he tucks his hands neatly behind his back. “You are small. Can you fight?”

“Not well,” I say, observing him in turn, taking in the slight, almost bird-like set of his limbs, the way he is a bit stooped with age even though he moves very fast, just like Faiza does. “Um, my brother and my cousin have taught me what they know but…I don’t have formal training in any fighting arts.”

“Shame,” Blaze says, slowly starting to move around me. “And are you fit?”

“Um,” I repeat, giving a little shrug. “Not compared to the rest of them. But I run every morning? I think…I’m fast for my size?”

“You should be fast for all sizes,” Blaze murmurs, completing his circuit and again looking me in the face.

I’m reminded, suddenly, of Jackson saying something very similar this morning, and I work hard to fight my smile at the memory of it. Blaze’s eyes crinkle when he sees me smile, and I somehow get the impression that he knows precisely what I’m thinking of.

Blaze gives me a steady nod. “You will continue to run in the morning with your Alphas,” he says, looking pleased. “But at night – after your lessons – you will come here and train with me.”

“E-every night?” I gasp, kind of appalled at the idea. “Sir, I have work to do – I have to study –“

He gives a little shrug. “This is study too. Important study.”

“But –“

“No but’s,” he says, holding up a hand as he interrupts me. “This is your course of study. If you do not accept it, you can leave the school.”

I scowl, looking over at Faiza, who shrugs, clearly inviting me to make whatever choice I want.

“But when will I study for my other courses?”

“You will find the time,” Blaze says, smiling at me, looking almost fond already – and as odd as that idea is, it somehow feels quite true.

I scowl but I nod, shrugging, supposing inwardly that if it gets too much I can talk to Neumann about it. But, for now, I’ll agree.

“Good,” he says, gesturing towards the floor. “Sit. We will begin.”

I do as I’m bid, folding my legs beneath me as Faiza steps forward to stand next to Blaze, looking interestedly between them. I’m surprised to find that Faiza is a little taller than Blaze, though both are equally slim. Their clothes, however, are completely different, as Blaze seem to prefer breezy linens that hang off his body while Faiza seems to be wearing some sort of specially made pants and jacket – all black fabric that moves and stretches with her like a second skin.

“You are small,” Blaze says, gesturing towards me, his eyes wrinkling with kindness as he says it. “As are we.” He gestures between himself and Faiza. “But, we live in a world that tells us we are weak, that holds that only the biggest and strongest are powerful. It is not true.”

“The truth is that Blaze and I could kick the asses of every single one of those boys at your table,” Faiza says, a confident smirk pulling at her lips. “All at once, were we to fight together.”

My eyebrows go up in disbelief but Blaze nods, confirming that it is true. “There are benefits to being small, and nimble, and graceful, and fast. We will show you.”

The two turn towards each other then, each raising their hands delicately – but then, between blinks, they’re moving. My mouth falls open as I watch the speed with which they move – slashing out punches and slices, dipping beneath each other’s arms and rolling out of the way when a blow comes too close.

Suddenly, Faiza’s knife is in one hand and with a flash of silver another appears. She slashes hard at Blaze, moving steadily towards him, but he doesn’t lose his composure at all, instead moving his hands and arms so fast it’s like he knows where she’s coming next. I remember Luca suddenly in the ring, the grace with which he fought, with which he predicted his opponent’s moves.

And excitement wells within me because – could they honestly teach me that? I thought it past me – the sort of thing that Luca only learned because he’s spent the majority of his life in the ring but –

Honestly, could it be real? Could I do that too?

Excitement wells within me as Blaze moves forward against Faiza, pressing her back – and then suddenly his leg moves out in an elegant sweep and knocks one of her ankles to the side. It looks so simple, next, when he smacks her shoulder with the flat of his hand, sending her to one knee in front of him.

It’s only then that he produces a dagger from somewhere in his sleeve and points it almost delicately at her neck.

“Got you, little mouse,” he says, smiling, not even winded.

Faiza snarls her discontent but then laughs and raises her hands, admitting defeat. Blaze steps gracefully away, turning to smile at me as Faiza regains her feet with a sigh.

“So,” he says, turning his head to me, again fond. “Would you like to learn?”

“Will it really work?” I ask, leaning forward, eager. “Against an Alpha – someone much bigger than me?”

“Oh, it will work,” Faiza says, crossing her arms and grinning at her power. “Not only because it uses their big meaty weight against them, but they have no idea how to defend against it.”

“Deeply kept secret, this style,” Blaze says, lifting a secretive finger to his lips.

I can’t help it – I laugh and press my hands together eagerly. “Yes!” I say, nodding. “I want to learn!”