Only Him

Chapter 10

My leg snapped out and up in what promised to be the flawless execution of a roundhouse kick. However, just before my foot made contact with his ribs, Alastair shifted to the left and reached out, grabbing my extended leg and trapping it against his side.

I tugged, trying to retract my leg but the guardian held tight, giving me a slight smirk. I gave him a polite smile back and quickly threw my body downward, tucking to absorb the impact. My leg came down with me, as did Alastair, who hadn't anticipated the move and was brought down by his tight hold on my leg.

As his back thudded against the mat he released his grip on my leg and I quickly drew it back, tucking it under me as I launched myself at his prone form. I quickly got a position on top of him, my hands coming down in what would most certainly be a kill strike over his heart.

The new guys reflexes were good. Really good. Quick as a flash his arms came out to block mine, grasping my wrists and using my own body weight against me as he rolled us, intending to get me under him. I anticipated the move however and managed to bring my knees up and lock them solidly on his hips. His grip on my wrists didn't slacken as he pinned them to the mat beneath me.

"Maybe you're not as good as they say, Hathaway," he teased as I made an attempt to break his hold on my wrists.

The words had barely left his lips before I drew my knees to my chest and horse kicked him in the gut. He went flying backwards off the sparing mat and into the circle of guardians surrounding our fight. I jumped quickly to my feet, ready to block his next attack but the fight was over, Alastair was gasping for air at our colleagues feet.

"Let me guess," I teased back, "I take your breath away."

Raucous laughter echoed around the gym as Alan and Thom helped the man to his feet. I relaxed my stance and reached a hand out to shake his.

"Not bad, Pierce," I complemented him. "You'll do fine here."

Alastair Pierce was Jeff's replacement on the team. He'd been hired on almost two weeks ago but I hadn't had much time to test the waters with him. Lissa and I were on spring break so he'd yet to accompany us off Court grounds. Before he did I was determined to get a feel for him and his capabilities. While I might not like gruff and grim Hans I never once thought he'd assign someone less than capable to Lissa's guard. Still, as her head guardian I had to find that out for myself.

The team and I had gathered at the gym with the intention of getting a feel for Alastair's strengths and weaknesses before determining his precise role among us.

"Don't feel bad, man," Xavier was saying conciliatory to him. "Rose has beat all our asses at some point. There's no stopping her."

"She was trained by a god," Stella pointed out, ever the one to be fair.

George scoffed. "Yeah and now she's sleeping with him."

I elbowed him sharply in the gut as I moved past him and towards where my water bottle sat on a nearby bench.

"What does that have to do with anything?" I demanded over my shoulder, reaching the bench at last. I plopped down onto it and guzzled half the bottles contents.

"Unfair advantage?" Daniel suggested. "He shows you more moves off the clock." He waggled his eyebrows in a ridiculously suggestive fashion.

"I'll have you know that I've always been this badass. Its in my genes."

"She has a point there," Daniel agreed. "Any kid of Janine Hathaway or Ibrahim Mazur would be dangerous. Put that together? Well, Exhibit Rose." He gestured to me like I was some sideshow entertainment.