Progress if you asked me.
Kat seemed momentarily off balance at my acceptance, like she didn't think I'd have the guts to take her on.
She shouldn’t have been surprised.
If she'd been paying attention, she'd know I didn't back down easily. Anything short of death was acceptable to protect my interests—and I knew Thomas and Liam wouldn't let it go that far.
Pain was fleeting and I wasn't the kind of person who'd let an arrogant woman like Kat dictate my life.
Even if I lost, I'd learn something.
Worse would be to lie down and take it.
"When you lose, I expect recompense from you and all your liberties rescinded," she said arrogantly.
Aw, someone thought this was going to be an easy win. It would be a joy to challenge her world view.
"You are centuries too young to dictate to me," Thomas snapped.
Beyond Kat, Sofia shook her head as if disappointed in her protégée. Sam shrugged at me, a silent apology on her face.
"Any advice?" I asked the vampire that had gone as still as a statue at my side.
Liam raised a hand, cupping the side of my neck as his thumb caressed my jaw.
"Remember your training." His lips quirked, his eyes warming. "You tend to favor your left side. I suggest you watch that."
My mouth popped open. That was a lie and he knew it.
I hadn't favored a side since the time Nathan nearly caved in my ribs during practice and I'd needed Liam's blood to heal.
One eye slid down in the briefest of winks as he tilted his head at my opponent.
I caught her glancing at us out of the corner of her eye, a secretive smile on her face.
I blew out a breath. "This isn't how I wanted the night to go."
He bent forward and pressed a fleeting kiss against my hairline. "You know what to do, so do it."
I stepped away from his warmth, the cool night embracing me as I moved into the small space that had formed.
Kat sauntered confidently toward me.
I sized her up as she did.
Vampires were physical creatures. Maybe not as reliant on our strength as a werewolf, but we liked to fight. However, some of us preferred to rely on our mental and magical gifts rather than the more physical ones.
Not all vampires were relentless sadists like Liam when it came to training.
Kat didn't strike me as the type to get her nails dirty. Not once had I seen her in the gym. If she'd done any sparring, it wasn't at the Gargoyle.
It was always possible she made use of any gym Clan Davinish had, but I didn’t think so.
That meant she'd likely be overly reliant on her magic.
At least, that was my hope.
"You should have tucked your tail and run," she taunted.
