Embrace Me At Dawn by Shayla Black Page A

my trainer?”
    Lucan simply smiled. The expression wasn’t nice.
    The ground fell out beneath her. “But Bram said—”
    “ What you wanted to hear. I drew the short stick. If you’re determined to fight Mathias, I’m the one who’s going to teach you how. Unless you’d like to quit.”
    His tone told her that he’d ten times rather she gave up. That’s what the old her would have done, whatever he wanted her to do. Now? She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, one brow raised.
    “ Bram has a sick sense of humor.”
    “ I won’t argue with that,” Lucan quipped.
    “ I’m not quitting.”
    Impatience crossed his familiar, dear face. Being this close to him filled her with a longing that almost made her knees give way beneath her. Anka drew in a deep breath. This weakness wouldn’t help her fight Mathias. She had to focus.
    “ Pity, but as you pointed out earlier, it’s your choice. That’s your only choice, though. Everything else is my call. Remember that. Do as I say or quit. Are we clear?”
    “ You’re being a bastard.” And somehow his hard attitude was arousing.
    “ Is that a yes or a no?”
    She gritted her teeth. He’d always had a frustrating stubborn streak. Apparently, it had grown during their parting.
    “ Yes,” she hissed.
    Lucan smiled smugly, and she fought to stifle her anger. He wanted her to get mad, goad her into losing her temper, so he’d have a valid reason to refuse to train her. Figuratively speaking, he’d shoved her to her knees and forced her to heel. It annoyed the piss out of her.
    She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, painfully aware of the fact that his commanding attitude also made her wet.
    Damn it .
    “ Good to hear. The next thing we’re going to talk about is your attire. It won’t do.”
    Anka looked down at herself, then at his jog pants and trainers. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing, then?”
    “ It’s too baggy. It will inhibit your movement. It will give anyone wanting to attack you something to grab onto. It doesn’t allow me to see your technique as I teach you. I can’t feel where you’re putting your punches and kicks.”
    “ Feel ?” The stunned question slipped out. “I’ve asked you not to touch me.”
    “ Sorry, love.” A satisfied smile slipped across his face. “Remember, training my way.” He shrugged and gestured to the far side of the room. “Or there’s the door.”
    “ You’re going to throw that in my face again?” She blinked at him. Where had the patient man and tender lover she’d known for a century gone? In his place stood a man who challenged, pushed, and baited. Both controlled and controlling. Anka shifted her weight again. No way could she lie. She was wetter than the last time she’d moved.
    She closed her eyes.
    “ Every chance I get,” he assured. “You can only be here if you’re truly committed. I’ll test you hard and often. Still with me?”
    “ Yes.” How many times was he going to ask her? “Yes. Yes! Yes! Damn it, yes!”
    He quirked a brow. “Good. Get angry. You’re going to need it.”
    Anka could feel her temper bubbling up inside her. She’d never gotten really, truly angry around Lucan. A well-bred, Privileged mate wouldn’t. So she’d always swallowed any rising ire and deferred to him. That she didn’t have to now was both terrifying and freeing. But she was done taking the path of least resistance. If anger would help her train better, she’d let it out.
    “ I’ll come dressed more appropriately tomorrow. Now stop being a horse’s arse and show me what to do.”
    Lucan drew in a deep breath, watching her with those blue eyes that never failed to lure her in and make her ache to be close to him. He shrugged and sidled up to her. “I want to start with self-defense. I don’t know if it would have saved you the night the Anarki came to our door, but it couldn’t have hurt.” He stared into her eyes, all sincerity and sadness. “I’ve