Page 84 of Son of a Witch

Nope. Not in the mood for a rallying speech. I raised the sword and cut him off, “Let’s get on with this.”

Metal clashed as I struck his sword. Reverberations shot up my arm and smashed my shoulder. I set the sword over my armrests and clutched my shoulder, rubbing the jarred muscles and sparking nerves.

“You okay?” Knoxe dropped into a crouch. “You wanna sit this one out?”

“Like I have been this past week? No, thanks.” I clutched the sword again, turning it over in my grip.

The doc said my nervous system had to adjust to the changes in my body. Massive trauma didn’t heal overnight, even for a member of the Guardians with healing capabilities beyond a regular mortal. Movement I was previously used to might cause pain, spasms, burns, and aches.Suck it up, princess.This was my new life, and I would make the best of it.

“Tor, don’t push yourself. I don’t want you doing more damage.”

My chest pulled at Knoxe’s words. Determined to beat this, I struck his sword again. “I’m ready.”

“Just get used to the grip.” Knoxe tapped me back. Light. Hesitant. “The doctor said it might take time to regain your strength.”

Vibrations ricocheted up my arm from the crash I struck against Knoxe’s weapon. Clanks rang in my ears as I kept cuffing it. Nerves told my hands to drop the sword, but I refused. I might be an unlucky bastard—a loser, deserving of this—but I was tenacious and stubborn, and I wasn’t letting this damn thing go. I had someone to fight for. Three people fighting for me. And fuck if I was going to let this beat me down.

Knoxe fought back with slight blows that would have offended me if I wasn’t so fragile. “That’s it.” He smiled encouragingly as he defended my strikes.

I kept going, working the sword and angling my body to get the most out of the moves, learning as I went. Which were the most effective positions for my chair and body to maneuver. Strategies I could run through with Carmichael when we met up later.

Sweat trickled down my brow from the workout, and I swiped it from my eyes.

“Go, Tor!” Astra chimed in as she took a breather, pinching her sides, letting Selena and Loco go at it.

Pascal came behind her, locking an arm around her waist.

Pangs of jealousy hit me that I would never be able to do that again.

I punched harder with my sword, shoving Knoxe off balance, wheeling forward, really giving it to him.

“Take it easy, Tor.” Knoxe blocked my blows.

Wise words. Hitting my limit, I gave him one last thrust and swipe, and he jumped back. I raised my palm, panting. “Enough.”

Astra clapped from the sidelines. “That was amazing.”

Satisfaction skittered through my bloodstream at her adoring gaze. My woman still loved me. Still wanted me.

But for how long?the dark, deceptive voice in the back of my mind whispered.She’s better off without you. The lot of you.

I didn’t get to tell that asshole to go fuck himself when thudding footsteps signaled the approach of guards. Instinctively, my body tightened, bracing for the magick dampeners on the wall to emit a signal to incapacitate us. Mine and Knoxe’s attention flew to the Perspex windows lining the training room. Must be someone important. We never, had visitors unless it was the warden to chew our ass off about some fuck up.

Two sentries arrived at the entrance to our training room, flanking two men. Fuck, the warden and a familiar face.

“Entering!” one sentry yelled, and the door to the room beeped and rolled back.

I knew that face. Movie star looks. Tanned skin. Ear-length brown hair. Amber eyes. Tall, broad, muscular, fit, filling out his jeans. Guild of Shadows emblem branded onto his zip-up jacket. Carried a duffel bag slung over one shoulder. Seen him somewhere before, except my mind wasn’t the same after the accident. Hazy and harder to recall details.

“Cole! What are you doing here?” Supergal raced across the room and launched herself at him, curling her arms over his shoulders, drawing him in for a hug.

Knoxe stiffened beside me, hands curling to fists. Dude didn’t like to share his property. Didn’t like his woman getting touchy-feely with other men besides those in her harem.

I didn’t have that problem. Totally secure in that department. I glanced down at my lifeless legs. At least, I had been until a week ago. Without my legs, I felt less of a man. Even more so since I hadn’t been able to get the big guy up. Things changed when Supergal arranged the superhero date for me and we got intimate. Such a relief after I’d been an asshole and pushed her away.

My attention went back to Cole. Suddenly, I remembered where I’d seen him. The possessive, jealous dude from the Guild who accompanied us to apprehend the vampires. Got a little funny when I said hello to his girl, Luna. Whatever.

Dude had cool as fuck tech that blasted the vamps. If only the asshole hit Styx, then I wouldn’t be in this mess. He had his gun raised to blister the vamp leader’s skin, but his weapon stalled at the last second, his shot flying astray when he managed to activate it.

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