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Those sandwiches had given hih he wasn’t one hundred percent racer ready Still He nodded This girl had been the first person to accept hio out back The boys are in the front, and it’ll be better if they don’t see us"

"Sounds good to me"

Outside, the clouds were thicker than they’d been even a few h the , the air chilled and laced with dew A storrass, then moved in front of her "First up, defense And to do that, you have to learn how people will strike at you Which means I’ll have to strike at you"

Determined, she nodded "Okay I’m ready"

The next few hours passed quickly, and by the end, they were sweaty, grass-stained and exhausted, but mostly wet and o Mary Ann was pretty bruised up Fine, Aden was, too He’d been jabbed, punched, poked and tripped And yeah, he’d done the same to Mary Ann Experience was the only way to learn Because, if she was afraid of pain, she would cower rather than act So he’d had to show her she could withstand anything

Surprisingly, she had Better than he’d hoped

"So tellin front of her again

"Screa people in the throat is farthe anyone can do, even fragile little girls, since it doesn’t take e there" This last was said in a htened her borrowed jacket around herhen he’d gone to fetch her that jacket from his closet "I should use my fists as if they’re hammers, or even hit withcan be used as a weapon Rocks Keys A purse"

He nodded "What else?"

"I shouldn’t use h power there I should use the flat part of roin is acceptable Even encouraged So is eye-poking I shouldn’t be afraid to cause this person pain, since their ospel "If irl--in the face That causes a lot of pain and stuns theet away"

"Good Now let’s put so for your neck this time," he warned her "My plan is to choke you Do you remember what to do?"

She nodded "As quickly as possible, I’m to move both my arms between yours and hit your elboith roin"

"Yeah, but let’s just pretend on that last one And by the way, an attacker won’t usually give you a heads-up"

Her lips quirked at the corners "Much as I wish otherwise"

Next ti to do He’d just act, and she’d have to figure out what to do without forethought "Ready?"

"Read--"

Leaves rattled a few yards away, and they both turned

"Aden? Mary Ann?" Shannon had just stepped fro at his side

"Hey," they called in unison

"I--I wondered where you’d gone after lunch," Shannon said to Mary Ann

Guilt danced in her eyes "I should have told you I was leaving I’m sorry But if you’re hoain now" She closed the distance to Aden and kissed his cheek "Will you be okay?" she whispered "Because the fairy’s going to co to come back"

"I know And yes, I’ll be fine," he lied He had no idea how to deal with Thoentle push toward the forest "Go ho to call hi to the library Which is true I want to dig around and see if I can find any books on spells, that sort of thing I’ll keep you updated"

"Thanks"

"Welcoratitude will save you frohting words, girl," he said with a laugh "But e before you hit the library" He gazed pointedly at herherself, Mary Ann took off, stopping only to kiss Shannon on the cheek When she reached the line of trees, a pair of green eyes and bared white teeth flashed through a thick bush

Ani The realization jolted him, and Aden sprinted forward But then Mary Ann uttered another laugh, the sound just as free and happy

Riley, he realized, stopping A pissed Riley, at that That scowl had been for Aden’s benefit, he was sure Had the atched the defense lesson? Or had he witnessed the kiss Mary Ann had bestowed upon his cheek?

He’d find out Later First, he knew, Riley would walk Mary Ann hole" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>