Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
"That's not what I was asking about."<br />
I grinned. "I know. Just be there, okay?"<br />
He swept me one of the gallant bows he liked to make. "Absolutely."<br />
Mason wandered off just as Dimitri showed up for our practice. Talking to Mason had made me<br />
feel giddy and happy; I hadn't thought about my face at all with him. But with Dimitri, I<br />
suddenly became self-conscious. I didn't want to be anything less than perfect with him, and as<br />
we walked inside, I went out of my way to avert my face so he couldn't look at me full-on.<br />
Worrying about that brought my mood down, and as it plummeted, all the other things that had<br />
been upsetting me came tumbling back.<br />
We returned to the training room with the dummies, and he told me he simply wanted me to<br />
practice the maneuvers from two days ago. Happy he wasn't going to bring up the fight, I set to<br />
my task with a burning zeal, showing the dummies just what would happen if they messed with<br />
Rose Hathaway. I knew my fighting fury was fired up by more than just a simple desire to do<br />
well. My feelings were out of control this morning, raw and intense after both the fight with my<br />
mother and what I'd witnessed with Lissa and Christian last night. Dimitri sat back and watched<br />
me, occasionally critiquing my technique and offering suggestions for new tactics.<br />
"Your hair's in the way," he said at one point. "Not only are you blocking your peripheral<br />
vision, you're running the risk of letting your enemy get a handhold."<br />
"If I'm actually in a fight, I'll wear it up." I grunted as I shoved the stake neatly up between the<br />
dummy's "ribs." I didn't know what these artificial bones were made of, but they were a bitch to<br />
work around. I thought about my mom again and added a little extra force to the jab. "I'm just<br />
wearing it down today, that's all."<br />
"Rose," he said warningly. Ignoring him, I plunged again. His voice came more sharply the<br />
next time he spoke. "Rose. Stop."<br />
I backed away from the dummy, surprised to find my breathing labored. I hadn't realized I was<br />
working that hard. My back hit the wall. With nowhere to go, I looked away from him,<br />
directing my eyes toward the ground.
Change language