Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Author:Tera Lynn Childs
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

While Grace takes off her shoes at the training room door, I mentally prepare myself for the role of trainer. Teacher.

For so long, I’ve been the student; it’s a big adjustment to be on the other side. But, I think as I watch Grace nearly fall over while trying to step out of her left sneaker, there isn’t another option. I spent all night trying to come up with a game plan, a strategy for giving Grace the ability to defend herself.

As I punched the hippalectryon in its horsey face, I decided to start with basic martial arts training. Learning a stable stance and defensive techniques will help Grace stand strong against whatever comes after her.

Never did find the runaway hybrids.

“Ready,” she says, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.

If she’s ready, then so am I.

“Okay,” I say, taking a calming breath, “the first thing you need to learn is how to stand properly.”

Her brow pinches together. “Standing?” She glances down at her feet and then back at me. “I think I’ve got that down pretty well.”

I’m tempted to roll my eyes. Instead, I step forward and give her shoulder a quick shove. The push throws her off-balance and she stumbles to the floor. Her fall is padded by the mat, but it still stings. Especially her pride.

“I said properly,” I say, trying not to gloat as I reach down to give her a hand up. “A defensive stance can help keep you on your feet.”

“Oh,” she says when she’s upright. She releases my hand and self-consciously dusts at her backside. “Okay. How should I stand?”

“Feet shoulder-width apart.” I demonstrate, opening my stance and bending slightly at the knees. “And drop your butt a little. It will give you a lower center of gravity and the ability to absorb more force through your legs.”

She mimics my stance, spreading her feet a little too wide and dropping a little too low. I circle her, nudging her feet inward and urging her back up a couple of inches.

“Good.” I move around to face her and, without warning, give her shoulder another shove. She wobbles back but doesn’t fall.

“Wow.” She grins as she maintains her footing. “That’s amazing.”

I shrug. “It’s simple physics.”

“But you have superstrength,” she argues. “If I can stand up when you—”

I give her another, harder shove that sends her back to the floor.

This time she pops back up before I can offer help. “Okay, point taken.”

We spend the next half hour working on her stance, giving her the best solid base before working on movement. I’m pushing against both her shoulders, leaning into the effort, while she resists by squatting deeper and leaning forward into me, when she asks, “Can I ask you something?”

Since I haven’t managed to knock her to the floor in ten minutes, I decide her stance is in place.

“Sure,” I say, releasing the pressure and proud to see her adjust her balance to stay in place, rather than falling forward. “What?”

“How do you find the monsters?” She starts

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