hurt your feelings. I?m sorry if I did,? Helen told him.
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?You didn?t hurt my feelings,? he said, shaking his head and
clenching his fists. ?It?s much simpler than that. Much more basic.
I hate seeing Hector on top of you. I?m jealous, Helen.?
?Then you train me,? she said hopefully, and he stopped walking
and turned away from her with a groan. ?Wait, why not?? she
persisted.
?I?m a demigod, not a saint,? he said with a self-deprecating
laugh. ?There?s only so much I can take.?
?Exactly. So, what can?t you take? Decide which of the two options
is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard
your choice turns out to be, at least you can find comfort in knowing
you?re avoiding something even worse,? Helen said logically.
Lucas looked at her sidelong and smiled.
?You give good advice, you know that??
?Maybe, maybe not. I?ve got my own agenda,? she said through a
playful smirk.
?You?re betting I?m going to choose to train you, aren?t you?? he
asked, a laugh bubbling up in his chest.
?Flat out banking on it.?
They walked along for a bit, smiling at their own thoughts. She
could feel him struggling to make his decision, and she let him be.
Then, finally, she felt him give in to something and take a deep
breath.
?The twins will still be teaching you archery and spears, and
Hector will still be in charge of boxing and sword fighting, but I?m
taking over for all the grappling disciplines. Just a warning, this
could still be vetoed by my father and uncle, no matter what I say.?
?Don?t I have any say?? Helen asked, slightly annoyed. ?Castor