The Broken Warrior’s Daughter by Cooper

Chapter 0469

1. e. It’s a

I watch as she eyes me critically for a moment before taking a jab at me. testing in and I block it easily. She bounces on her toes before coming at me again. This time she goes for a jab before spinning trying to get her elbow into my stomach. I block the first one, having to move to block the second before she actually hits me.

When she dances back this time, I can see her excitement at the challenge, and I know we’re about to get started.

I’m amazed by her skill. I’ve been training her for years. How have I missed that she’s this good? She’s either been holding out or she’s been practicing a lot of extra hours on her own. Or possibly both.

She’s fast, but not as fast as I am. It’s her agility which is better than mine that equals our abilities out. She and I begin a dance of sparring. While I don’t want to take her out, I want her to know when she’s left herself open. So, I give her more gentle punches than I normally would. I could have taken her down, but I really am enjoying the back and forth. She’s got a very different style than Anders, Patrick and Calvin, relying on her agility and intelligence rather than her speed and strength. She’s a fast learner too. Each time I tag her, and I go for the same move again, she blocks me.

attention, enjoying the battle back and forth, so I’m a little surprised to see the warriors begin to circle us, clapping and hollering. I can see that Lily really wants to beat me. We both have sweat pouring down our bodies. We’ve been sparring non–stop for nearly two hours. Time to end this for today. I still want to

over it, rolling and coming right back up. She’s back up already

to pull away, and when that doesn’t work, she jumps up, attempting to kick me in the head with her free leg, or possibly wrap her leg around my neck to swing me to the ground. Either way, I see it coming and I grab her second leg and send us both to the ground, covering her

close that I can feel her body’s warmth and her breath on

*25 BONUS

of orange and ginger. I’m totally distracted and without realizing it, I’m leaning in to kiss her and that’s when she gets me. Her knee connects with my balls and my trance is replaced with pain as it feels like

that means you can kiss me.”

Cooper

Author

for the