Joule dropped his hands as the other Tuann lifted onto his elbows.
“That’s something my mentor taught me,” Joule said with the faintest trace of gloating. “Never lower your guard when an enemy is in front of you. It’s too bad you never learned that lesson or else you might have won.”
Ziva let out a war cry as she slammed her hands together. “House Maxiim! House Maxiim!”
Joule’s expression showed nothing but calm as his opponent scrambled to his feet.
Notus’s face was a mask of fury as ki built around his hands. The air warped.
The oshota in the surrounding crowd started forward.
Joule didn’t wait.
He dashed forward, closing the distance before the other could finish constructing his ki. Taking advantage of his opponent’s momentary inability to move, Joule sunk his fist into the man’s stomach.
Breath exploded from Notus as he bent over. The ki he’d been accumulating burst out in a violent eruption that passed harmlessly over Joule’s shield.
As soon as the wave finished, Joule followed his punch with an upper cut to the man’s chin.
The man’s legs went limp, spilling him to the ground.
Kira pumped her fist covertly. “Yes!”
That was how he should do it.
Joule’s face was cold as he ran his gaze over the other man’s prone body, disgust curling his lip. “That’s another thing she taught me. Never wait when you could do.”
Selene let out a small huff of amusement. “He’s picked up a few of your habits.”
“There was a lot of time on the trip back to Ta Sa’Riel.” Kira shrugged. “I gave him a few pointers. That’s all.”
Joule wanted to learn; she’d wanted a sparring partner. They both got something from the exchange. Win, win.
Selene’s sidelong look said she wasn’t fooled. “And I suppose some of those suggestions included telling him about my techniques.”
There was a slight smirk on Kira’s face as she held Selene’s gaze, letting the other woman draw her own conclusions.
Selene’s chin dipped. “How naughty of you.”
Kira lifted a shoulder. “I may have mentioned a few things. He figured out the rest himself.”
Quite beautifully, she might add.
Joule headed back to Elena and Ziva, his face lighting up as he caught sight of Kira. He jogged her way, the other two following.
“Did you see?” he asked excitedly.
Kira hummed an assent.
“And?”
Kira’s silence made some of Joule’s happiness dim as suspense replaced his former pleasure.
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and reached to ruffle his hair. “I’d say you showed improvement.”
Delight filled his face.
“But next time, knock him out with the first blow. Never let them get back up if you can at all help it,” she advised, not wanting him to get too cocky.
