Bound by Deception: A Fantasy Romance (The Enforcer's Bride Book 1) by Jayne Castel

Author:Jayne Castel [Castel, Jayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Winter Mist Press
Published: 2024-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

22: FLEETING INTIMACY

“THE FIRST THING you must learn are the weak spots of a man’s body.” Bree faced Mirren in the center of the chief-enforcer’s alcove. They’d pushed the table back against the wall to give themselves some space. It was mid-morning, and no one was likely to disturb them for a while.

However, Bree wasn’t in the mood for giving lessons. She didn’t need to provide mac Brochan with another reason to be suspicious of her. She’d awoken early, tense and ill-tempered, with a nagging sense of failure.

If only there was a way she could spy on the High King and his druidic council. As Mirren had informed her, they met regularly, every four or five days. But every time he called his druids to him, the High King placed guards at the entrance to the hall, forbidding everyone—even servants—entry.

It was impossible to listen in on them.

Mirren nodded before licking her lips nervously. Her handmaid was still worryingly pale, and her face was blotchy this morning—a sign she’d spent most of the night weeping. Bree didn’t want to put her through this, yet maybe a distraction would help.

“Target the nose, eyes, throat, just below the breastbone, groin … and knees,” she continued. “Don’t bother going for anywhere else, especially not with a trained warrior.”

Mirren winced. “You make it sound so easy.”

“Don’t be afraid to let them come close,” Bree instructed. “It helps if they think you’re weak … but that’s when you strike.”

Her handmaid’s features tightened at these words, something dark moving in the depths of her eyes.

“Of course, preventing a situation is always better than having to fight.” Bree paused then, her brow furrowing. “But when you’re cornered and forced to defend yourself, there are four basic moves that could save you.”

Mirren swallowed. “Show me then.”

Bree nodded. “Right … let’s start with this one.” She mimicked driving the heel of her hand into Mirren’s nose. “A broken nose really hurts … and it makes the eyes water, which should give you enough time to get away.” Bree repeated the move. “See how I step in close, how I put the weight of my body behind it?”

“Aye.”

“Well, it’s your turn now. I’m going to grab you … and you’re going to hit me in the nose with the back of your hand.”

“But won’t I hurt you?”

Bree snorted. “Let me worry about that.”

A moment later, she leaped at Mirren.

The lass shrieked and lashed out, her palm flashing upward. Bree jerked her head back just in time, to avoid a crushed nose.

“Aye, that’s it.” Bree’s mouth quirked. “You’re a quick study.”

Mirren’s eyes glinted, high spots of color appearing on her pale cheeks. “If I imagine you’re one of them … it’s easier.” There was a hard edge to her voice that Bree hadn’t heard before. The sweet, smiling woman who’d laughed with her as they sat mending clothes together was gone.

Bree’s breathing grew shallow then. Those bastard enforcers had stolen more than Mirren’s innocence; they’d broken something inside her. She was brittle now, a vessel for rage and revenge to fill.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.