His free arm twisted around her back and tugged her closer as he grappled for her rapier. Hot fingers closed around hers and began to pry them open.
Now.
Samantha brought her knee up into his groin at the same time he jabbed his elbow up and slammed it into her jaw. The impact sent a flash of light through her vision and she stumbled to her knees. She tucked into a ball and rolled to avoid Thorne’s blade as it followed her. Struggling to her feet, she took a few steps back and spit a mouthful of blood into the dust at her feet.
He didn’t give her a moment’s rest and stalked toward her, twirling his sword in a slow circle. Her chest burned almost as much as her arm did and she switched hands as she scrambled to the other edge of the clearing.
“I will say, you’re a better fighter than your mother.”
Ignore him.
Still, her heart blazed with hatred.
That hatred pushed her forward and she thrust up, changing direction at the last moment. This time, the tip of her blade cut through the fabric beneath his bicep. Thorne swore and rubbed his free hand across the spot. His fingers came away red and his jaw went rigid.
The thirst for more blood rushed through her and she tightenedher grip and lunged again. This time, he met her with cold determination. Gone was his amused smirk and his eyes had turned a shade darker. He pushed her back, one heavy blow at a time, and her eyes widened as she struggled to deflect each one.
He’d merely been playing with her before.
This Thorne was the one feared across the seas. The cold-hearted brute whose name inspired terror.
She tried to twist his blade away as it slid dangerously close to her hilt, but his arm stayed steady. The blows came faster and her movements became frantic. Every step she took sent waves of fire up her side and her arms started to tremble.
Something glinted in his eyes and she had to use both hands to bring her rapier up and meet the heavy downward arc of his sword. The blow sent her to one knee and her elbows shook as she strained to keep her rapier in her hands.
He didn’t let up and pressed harder. And harder. A guttural cry pushed through her clenched teeth as her strength waned.
He laughed.
And with a simple twist, sent her blade clattering to the ground.
Her shoulders heaved and it was all she could do to keep herself from collapsing against the sharp point he pressed into the hollow of her throat.
“Too bad. I would have relished the look on your face when I retrieved your beloved parents’ treasure.”
Her breaths came too fast, too heavy, for her to respond, and he laughed again.
“Did you really think you had a chance?”
Her eyes pressed shut and she rested her palms against the rough sand. This was it. The end. The pressure at her throat increased until each wild beat of her pulse thumped against the warm steel.
“Come now. Are you giving up so easily? At least your mother fought until the very end.”
Her fingernails dragged through the sand, but she didn’t move. “I’m tired of your games. Do as you will.”
“Very well.”
Time hung still as his boot scraped the dirt. As the blade twisted to a better angle for him. She held her breath.
“Thorne!”
Samantha’s eyes snapped open at the shout and her mouth went slack. Thorne stiffened, but he didn’t turn from her.
“Lieutenant. You have a bad habit of showing up when you’re not wanted.”
“Let her go.”
The metal against her throat pressed harder until the tip pierced her skin. She gritted her teeth against the sharp pain and met Christian’s gaze. How the bloody hell was he here?
