“However, if I’m going to be going on these deadly quests to find the relics, I need to be sure it’s with someone strong enough to survive.”
Adara’s gaze narrowed on him. She remained silent, hoping that Dominic and all the others watching could not hear the blood rushing through her veins.
There was a vile glint in those emerald eyes. “Duel against me for five minutes. If you survive, that will prove your worth.”
Adara had no other choice. Survive a fight against the King of Keys so she could play a game of love and forge the Realm Fracturer, or die right here. He scanned her, smirking at the frown she feigned. Good, let him underestimate her.
“I’m in,” she agreed, sticking out her hand for him to shake.
His harsh grip sent a jolt of pain through her hand.
“Good,” he replied with a smile that set Adara’s insides churning. “Let the game begin.”
Chapter 5
TheAndreiliansformedalarge circle around them. A forceful shove between her shoulder blades had Adara stumbling into the ring. Tyson shot a cruel grin her way.
She surveyed the Andreilians, all eager to see her blood spill. A boy with auburn hair, who couldn’t be more than thirteen years old, held an hourglass—well, more like a five-minute-glass.
While Adara pulled Infinova from its sheath at her side, Dominic idly circled her as if she were a mere insect he could squash under his boot and be done with. She kept her eyes on him, tracking his every move.
“Scared?” Dominic said, an eyebrow arched.
Adara laughed. “Of what? You? Never.” The lie was smooth rolling off her tongue, but her racing pulse suggested otherwise.
“That’d be your first mistake,” he said, drawing the sword from the scabbard at his belt. He angled the tip of the blade at her, resting above her heart. He raised his brows, a sinister smile on his closed lips. “Prove it,” he urged.
“That mouth of yours is doing an awful lot of talking instead of fighting.” Adara raised her sword, lowering into a defensive crouch.
Dominic quirked a brow. “Is there something else you’d rather my mouth be doing?”
She choked on a laugh, eyes widening.
The boy flipped the glass, and sand trickled to the bottom. Instantly, Dominic charged. Sword raised high, he swung downward in a strong, swift motion. Adara quickly lifted her weapon, blocking the strike. Fast as lightning, he moved, swiping at her legs. But she was faster, swinging her sword low and deflecting his blade. She pivoted around him, aiming her weapon at the back of his head.
He whirled around, staggered back, but not quick enough to avoid the shallow cut of Adara’s sword across his cheek. The Andreilians gasped, whispering among each other. Their words were drowned out by the sound of her own blood rushing in her ears.
Slowly, he lifted his hand to his face, fingers grazing his skin. He pulled away, staring at the crimson coating his fingers, like he’d forgotten he could bleed.
“Huh, so the infamous Dominic Nite does bleed red,” Adara said. After hearing all the petrifying rumors, she’d expected something else. At least, now she knew that underneath his cold exterior, he really was human.
But it was gone in a flash, the thin slice magically mended together. The only evidence of her cut was the drop of blood Dominic wiped on his tunic.
“You’re a Med?” Adara thought aloud.
A sadistic smile curled his lips. “Stole a key from a Med,” he corrected. The King of Keys’s eyes darkened, lips twisting into a scowl. He lunged at her, cold fury on his face. His strength was overpowering with each swing of his sword. Their weapons clashed, the sound of metal ringing through the trees. Her arms shook beneath the power with which he struck.
“Kill her!” the Andreilians shouted. “Make her pay!”
Adara ignored them, their voices blurring into the background. “Yeah, Nite. Kill me,” she taunted.
She launched herself at him. Steel met steel, the sound singing through the jungle. Birds scattered from the trees to the bright blue sky. Palming free a dagger from her belt with her left hand, Adara swiped for Dominic’s legs. He jumped back, weapon angled low to deflect. His sword smashed into her knife so hard it went flying out of her hand. With his upper body exposed, Adara aimed Infinova at his neck. Dominic ducked, rolling backward out of reach before springing to his feet again.
Distance between them now, she lunged for her fallen dagger.
In a flash, Dominic was upon her. Adara threw her sword up in time to block, but the weight of his blow threw her to the ground. Both blades in hand, she rolled to the side as his sword crashed into the ground where her neck had been, dirt flying.
She scrambled to her feet, ignoring the ache in her ankle, meeting Dominic blow for blow. The sound of metal clanging against metal rang in her ears. They met one another at every move. A dance as she retreated while he advanced, following her movements.
