Page 57 of Bonds of Pain
Ares and Poe exchange a glance, their expressions considering.
“You know,” Ares says thoughtfully, “that’s not actually a terrible idea.”
“A little training might give her a fighting chance if something happened and we weren’t around,” Poe agrees, wincing as he adjusts his shoulder.
“Both of you teach me a move and I’ll try it out on Cillian.” I refuse to look at the man in question because I don’t want to see whatever expression is on his face. “Then he’ll decide which of you is a better teacher and that’s who I’ll spend the rest of the night with.”
Cillian scoffs. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m completely serious,” I reply, crossing my arms. “You’ll be my practice dummy. It’s perfect—you’re the only one here who won’t accidentally crush me if things go wrong.”
Ares laughs, the sound booming through the basement. “This is the best idea I’ve heard all day. I get to teach little Maya how to break bones, and Cillian gets to be the crash test dummy.”
Cillian’s jaw tightens. “I’m standing right here.”
“And soon you’ll be flat on your back,” Ares promises with a wink at me.
I suppress a smile. This is working better than I’d hoped. Not only have I stopped their ridiculous fight, but I’ve redirected their Alpha competitiveness toward teaching me something useful. And if it means I get to throw Cillian around a bit, well, that’s just a bonus.
“Fine,” Cillian sighs, stepping into the cleared area. “But if she hurts herself, I’ll be sure Logan knows who to blame.”
Ares limps toward me, blood still dripping from his nose. “First lesson—using an opponent’s weight against them. Perfect for when you’re outmatched physically.”
He positions himself in front of me, hands on my shoulders. His touch is surprisingly gentle as he adjusts my stance.
“Feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your center of gravity.” His breath smells like copper and bourbon. “When someone grabs you from behind—Cillian, come grab her.”
Cillian approaches with visible reluctance. His hands hover at my waist.
“Not like you’re afraid to break her,” Ares snaps. “Like you mean it.”
Cillian’s grip tightens, and I feel his chest press against my back. The bond between us flares instantly, sending warmth cascading through my body. I fight to keep my focus.
“Now,” Ares continues, “drop your weight suddenly, bend forward, and use your hip as a fulcrum to flip him over your shoulder.”
I try to follow his instructions, but end up awkwardly bent with Cillian still firmly attached to me.
“You’re thinking too much,” Poe says, stepping closer. “It’s not about strength—it’s about leverage and surprise.”
He demonstrates the movement in slow motion with Ares, who allows himself to be flipped onto the mat with a hard sound.
“Try again,” Poe instructs. “But this time, don’t hesitate.”
Cillian resumes his position behind me. I take a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. When his arms encircle my waist, I drop my weight suddenly, bend at the waist, and push my hip back into him. With a startled grunt, Cillian flips over my shoulder and lands on his back with a solid thud.
“I did it!” I exclaim, surprised by my own success.
Cillian lies on the floor, blinking up at me. “Congratulations,” he wheezes.
Pride swells in my chest—not just from executing the move, but from the approving looks on Ares and Poe’s faces. For once, I’ve done something that’s earned their genuine respect, not just their desire.
“My turn,” Poe says, stepping forward. “One of the most important skills is knowing how to break a hold on your wrist.”
As he demonstrates the twisting motion needed to break free, I catch Cillian watching me with an unreadable expression. Is that concern in his eyes? Or is he simply calculating how many more times I’ll throw him to the floor tonight?
Poe demonstrates the wrist break technique with a fluid precision that makes it look deceptively simple. He grips my arm firmly, positioning his thumb against the back of my hand.
“When someone grabs you here,” he explains, “most people try to pull away directly. That’s exactly what your assailant will expect, and they’ll be prepared for it.”
