“Nicholas? What are you doing here?”

Crossing his arms, he tilted his head to the side. “Mark told me you asked him to teach you self- defense, but his duties are too essential to allow for the time to teach you. But, I do think it’s valuable for

I

you to learn. So I’ve decided to step in instead.”

I wasn’t entirely sure he was being honest here. Yes, Mark did have important duties, but surely so did

the prince? For Nicholas to be here instead of Mark made me wonder if there was more to this than he

was saying.

“I’m still mad at you,” I said. My hurt from the day before didn’t magically disappear.

“I’ll make it up to you.” He came closer. His eyes were earnest, even if his face was impassive. “I’m

proud of you, Piper. For how strong you are, and how far you’ve come all on your own. But I hope you will

let me help you now.”

My cheeks burned a little. “Just teach me, okay?” I didn’t know what else to say.

smiled a little, at the corner of his mouth.

servants began to put down soft mats that we

way, if we fell, neither of us would get hurt.

set up, Nicholas led me over

was wearing a comfortable pair of sweatpants with a tank top. He wore some loose–fitting pants with

noticed just how tight it was when he turned his back to

width of Nicholas’s shoulders.

and averted

we were on the mats, Nicholas turned to face me

the first move. I want to show you how to stop someone who is

there, and I

and then made a grabbing motion for me. A move,

mes before.

“Now twist.”

+15 BONUS

I twisted.

as I turned his

released him.

was good. Perfect

showed me many different

Nicholas said. “If they are coming for you, it’s not a fair fight, so you

it as such. Go for the groin or

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