I turned to face him and raised an eyebrow.“So, did I pass?”
He observed me with an inscrutable expression.“For now.”
Well, that was something at least.
“Nathan, let’s see what you’ve got,” Liam said, looking away from me to where his enforcers watched.
Nathan grinned, his expression turning anticipatory.
I headed towards the side where Eric stood, meeting Nathan on my way. He patted me on the head.“Not a bad effort.”
I snorted.“I don’t know what fight you were watching.”
He gave me a crooked smile.“Not many can touch Liam. He’s one of the council’s best enforcers for a reason. You did better than most vampires a century your senior.”
I guess that was some comfort. Though not much. My inner competitor didn’t like being beaten for any reason.
“Now step back and let a pro show you how it’s done,” Nathan said, the look in his eyes wild and happy. The prospect of fighting Liam excited him, his eyes taking on that slight glow all vampires got when they were excited.
“Are you going to talk all night or are you going to fight?” Liam asked, folding his arms across his chest and giving the two of us a smug smile.
That smile brought back the need to see him punched in the face.
“Kick his ass,” I told Nathan, slapping him on the back before heading over to Eric.
I folded my arms and settled in to watch the sparring match.
Both men were preternaturally still, the only sound in the night that of insects and the wind rustling in the trees.
Nathan moved first, his body blurring as he darted across the grass. Liam’s grin was bloodthirsty, exposing his fangs.
He held still until Nathan was almost on him, then he stepped to the side and moved. Several blows were exchanged, almost faster than I could process, neither man giving an inch.
The sharp slap of flesh on flesh filled the air and I winced, knowing how hard each man could hit.
Liam let out a laugh, right before Nathan sailed through the air, hitting the ground and rolling.
Liam sprinted toward him, his eyes avid as he drew his leg back to stomp the other enforcer into the ground. Nathan rolled out of the way, gaining his feet in a graceful move.
Liam showed no mercy, on him in the next second, a flurry of blows raining down, his face focused and intent.
It was a startling contrast to my fight. Neither man was holding back, both going full-out. It was a sobering display, showing just how weak I was in terms of physical strength and speed when compared to them.
“Both are in good form,” Eric said, his voice soft.
I glanced at the other enforcer.
“Though, Liam will win within the next few seconds,” he said almost as an afterthought.
Sure enough, Liam grabbed Nathan’s arm and used it to throw him. Nathan hit the ground with a grunt, Liam’s knee coming down on this throat in the next second. Nathan slapped the ground to tap out.
Liam stood and helped his friend to his feet.
“You were a little enthusiastic there at the end, don’t you think?” Nathan said, rubbing his throat.
“You’ve gotten lazy,” Liam said.“Perhaps you shouldn’t hold back quite so much when training Aileen.”
I blinked and stiffened at the mention of my name.
