The Willow Read Online Free PDF Page A

couple more.
     
    The panic started to ease and I couldn’t help but notice the way he was looking at me. So protectively. Seeing me afraid had clearly upset him. I melted just a little, the perfect distraction I needed to calm down. I took a few necessary deep breaths. That’s odd. “I’m still breathing?”
     
    He nodded in full agreement. “You are.”
     
    “Why?”
     
    “We still draw life from air,” he explained. “The difference is we live off the earth’s energy not a heart.”
     
    “Do I still have blood?” I asked, examining my arms for veins.
     
    “Yes, everything in you remains. It is just the need for a beating heart is no longer necessary.”
     
    I drew in another deep breath because it felt good too—at least I still had that.
     
    “Better?” he asked.
     
    I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.” Not much I can do about it anyway. If it’s gone, it’s gone. After the initial shock, it actually didn’t feel all that weird. Truthfully, having a heartbeat was abnormal. This felt oddly normal and very much right.
     
    He jumped to his feet, placed his hands on my shoulders and pulled them back a bit. “Again, your shoulders should always be square over your hips and your back straight.” His hands ran down my arms. “Bring your left arm up close to your body, this arm will block any body hits. Your right arm to block any hits to your face.”
     
    He dropped his hands and I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. Holy shit! If he touched me like that again I might actually shudder in front of him.
     
    “The main points to remember are to never take your eyes off the enemy, never let your guard down, keep your arms and elbows close to your body and always react first.” He took a couple steps back, calling me forward with his hands. “Alright. Let me have it.”
     
    I blushed. “What?”
     
    “Come on. Let’s have a hit.”
     
    I needed to get my mind out of the gutter and quick. I took those words in a totally different meaning. First, I gave myself an internal slap for being such a pig, then I stepped forward positioning myself in front of him.
     
    This was ridiculous. I’d never hit anything in my entire life. I raised my arm, swung it back and hit his shoulder. The impact didn’t even make him flinch. “Well, that was pathetic.”
     
    “Give yourself time. You need to learn the moves properly before you can put power behind it.”
     
    He took my hand in his and curled my fingers in. “Keep your fingers tight within your hand. If they’re loose you’ll likely break them.” He knelt down and slid his hand down my leg. “Transfer your weight onto this side.” When I did as he asked, he glanced up and smiled. “Yes, that’s it.”
     
    Now, I shuddered. Dear lord, why did my mentor have to look like some guy off a novel cover? This would be a hell of a lot easier if he was less than perfect.
     
    He stood then ran his hand up my arm. “This arm needs to be level with the floor, your palm facing down. In a fluid motion rotate your body and use it to follow through with the hit. The power doesn’t come from your arm. It comes from the use of your entire body.” He arched a brow. “Got it?”
     
    First, I inhaled deeply, trying to remember I had a job to do here. Damn, he was stirring something in me that had nothing to do with the task at hand.
     
    “You got it?” he asked again. Amusement glittered through those green beauties.
     
    “I think so.” What in the hell is he talking about?
     
    “Now, try again. This time use your body. It’s your best weapon and it holds your strength.”
     
    I closed my eyes, tried to focus. Having no clue what I was doing, I concentrated on his words hoping that would help. Fingers tight, arm up, pivot back and hit. Then, I punched out and hit his shoulder with such force it sent him tumbling backwards. Even my eyes didn’t believe it. “Did I really just do that?”
     
    He nodded and appeared pleased. “That’s the