Chapter 9

Arya

Shock overcomes me. I gasp for breath as the pain starts to build around my shoulders. I try to buck Arthur off, but even the slightest movement is making my shoulder hurt even more.

“Let me go!” I yell at him, trying to reach him with my foot but I can’t do it. “You’re hurting me! Let me go!”

“You’re here to learn how to fight, not to beg for your life,” he whispers in my ear. “Now fight me.”

For some reason, that makes my skin go all tingly again, and this time I’m pretty sure it’s not from being repulsed.

With my shaking limbs, I try to elbow him hard, but then he just dodges me and pushes me harder against the wall.

“Maybe this will be a good first lesson for you,” he tells me as he begins to ease his grip. “Always be vigilant. Always be mindful of what you’re opponent is doing. You got so distracted over making me leave that you didn’t even think of this happening. Now you’re stuck, and I can just as easily . . . end you. For good.”

Damn it. It makes me hate myself to admit