Training

Emma~

“Up. Get up.” The annoying voice of my man wakes me from my dreams filled with cracking caramel and cinnamon. I can’t imagine anything worse to compare my paradise to.

I open one eye to find that I’m in his bed now and no longer in the hospital room. I don’t know when he moved me, but the pain’s gone now, which is nice. My shoulder is just a bit stiff, but that’s to be expected lying around this past week, dozing in and out of consciousness.

“Emma, get up. It’s time to go.” His face is right in front of mine, and I wonder if he’d find it painful if I bit his nose?

I decide against it, but also decide that because I didn’t, we’re now even for him saving my life. After all, if he hadn’t kidnapped me from my family, I’d not have tried to run away.

“Is this hell? Have I really died?” I ask, my voice hoarse from only just waking up, but I know the comment will irritate him.

“Glad to see you’re back to your usual self, now get up.” He demands, and I look around to try and see where this apparent fire is.

“I’m injured, why am I getting up?” I grumble, wiggling myself further under the warm covers.

It’s like I’ve traveled back in time to my school days when my mother is trying to get out of bed on the day of an exam. Why are beds always so comfortable on exam days? I miss having them just so that I can feel this true comfort my bed can offer.

“You’re going to miss training. It’s mandatory for all members effective immediately,” he says with a grin, and it takes a second to process his words.

All members? He does realize that some of them are women, right? And I’m not a member, I'm a prisoner if anything, but I’ll hold my tongue on that one.

“I’m a woman,” I point out in the meantime, my eyes fully open now and taking in the tight gym clothes hugging his muscles far too snugly.

Can he not just wear a baggy t-shirt like the rest of us?

“Trust me, Princess, I’ve noticed,” he smirks, and I roll my eyes before sitting up.

Does this mean that he’s suddenly allowed women to learn how to train... what’s changed his mind? I didn’t think my tantrum the other day had much of an effect on him; if anything, he seemed more convinced of himself than ever.

“Are you letting your women train?” I ask, needing an answer and not wanting to beat around the bush anymore. I have no intention of standing around to watch a bunch of men kicking each other and acting superior.

“That I have, now get up before you miss it.”

***

It takes longer than before to get to the training house. Partly because I refuse any help when walking, and partly because my joints are all stiff from lying down.

I find it funny how he’s known me longer asleep than he has awake and no wonder he’s suddenly affectionate towards me. It means I’d have been quieter this past week but unfortunately for him, my feelings remain unchanged.

“I can just meet you there, you know?” I point out when he sighs for what feels like the thousandth time this morning.

“I’m not leaving you alone, who’s to say you won’t try and run off again?”

He has a fair point there so I nod, accepting the truth behind it rather than the insult. I know that I was going to turn back the other night but he doesn’t.

I’ve not felt the need to fill him in on that little detail just yet as I don’t want to get his hopes up or give him ideas on how to keep me here, in case I change my mind. The idea of staying here forever still leaves a bitter taste on my tongue.

“I could just carry you there.” He offers and I don’t even dignify him with a response.

I’ve already refused this several times already. It’s fair to say that sharing a bed is enough contact for me and it’s not like that was really welcomed either. I could smell that he’s been beside me the whole night and if he hadn’t saved my life, I’d have given him another earful.

We get there and I am shocked to find that there’s a field turned into a makeshift practice area, filled with hundreds of people. I knew his business was big but damn, that’s a lot of people in one place. How the hell does he stay under the radar?

Nobody comments on how late we are, probably expecting decapitation if they do, so Orion simply nods to Donovan to start the session.

I’m too injured to actually participate so Orion stands on the sidelines with me, explaining what’s happening and what the more advanced members are getting on with. Back home, I didn’t have much interest in all of this, but I did attend self-defense lessons that helped me understand.

Women had the option to learn if they wanted to, but I’d have rather bided my time away in the kitchen. I wish I had taken them up on it now, just so that I could feel less helpless and have more strength to fall back on.

Hours pass before Donovan dismisses them all and walks over to his leader and me. I almost miss the nod of respect for looking around me at the people staring my way. I’ve never liked being the center of attention but I guess that’s not going to change any time soon.

“What do you think, Sir? This is what I’m planning for the weekly mandatory sessions.”

It surprises me to hear that they’ll be mandatory and at this, I start to pay attention again. This isn’t a one-off thing for Orion to prove a point and he’s actually going to protect all of his people!

The thought makes me smile for the first time since my accident and I can feel him staring at me now, noticing it too.

“What do you think, Emma?” Orion defers to me and I feel like a deer in headlights.

I have no issues expressing my opinions to him, but I don’t know Donovan, he might not deserve my contempt. Rather than notice my obvious discomfort like a thoughtful man, Orion just stands there, waiting for an answer and giving me no choice but to say something.

“I think it’s great what you’re doing here. Everyone needs to be able to defend themselves and this will give them the skills to do so.” Stating the obvious is all that I have here and I hope that it’ll be enough for what is expected.

“Thank you. We all took it very seriously when you were injured, and Mr. Neville has made it clear that such a thing will never happen to a member of the family again.” He bows deeply in Orion’s direction, and my eyes widen.

He did this because of me.