This time it was me who attacked, taking the offensive with a series of strikes. My limbs flowed through the air like I was nothing more than a ribbon in the breeze, my wakizashi blade a mere extension of my body. But more than that, Rafe had taught me not to just rely on my weapon. When I saw my opportunity, I lashed out with a kick to Uriel's side. He exclaimed in pain, and a flash of satisfaction zapped through me.
I'd hurt him.
Memories of our last fight flickered across my mind, and I remembered the cracking sound when I'd hit him in that same spot. I'd broken his ribs, I was almost sure of it.
And now? Now, I knew how to win this.
But damn, it was going to hurt.
A tight backflip took me across the ring, creating several paces of space between Uriel and me. It confused him because a move like that was in direct contrast to everything he'd taught me. When you identified a weakness, you exploited it, immediately and without hesitation.
But that was what heexpectedme to do, so I did the opposite.
Uriel frowned but crossed the gap between us and went back on the offensive. For every move he made, I did the opposite of what he'd taught me. It was the only way to beat him—be totally unpredictable. Right down to the moment I saw my opening.
My sensei struck out at me in a spinning motion that left his balance entirely weighted on one foot and his back exposed. There was no way he could guard against a strike from behind, not with broken ribs on his left side. So instead of dodging to the left—and escaping his strike—I moved right.
Right into his blade. But it gave me the reach I needed.
My wakizashi pierced the flesh of Uriel's back, and I let out a primal scream as I drove it home. The blade protruded through his chest in a spray of blood, coating the spectators who stood too close to the side of the fight ring, and for a moment, it seemed like time stood still.
Uriel's katana had stabbed me, but a stomach wound was nothing compared to being impaled through the heart. Blood bubbled from his lips, pouring down his chin. His katana clattered to the floor, cutting my wound deeper as he let go, but I didn't move. I didn't flinch. I'd blocked out the pain, along with all my emotions.
There would be time for all of that later, I hoped. But now? I needed to see that light fade from his fucking eyes.
Planting my boot in the center of Uriel's back, I shoved him off my blade. His dying body hit the ground in a splatter of blood, and I winced as I used my foot to roll him over. I wasn't taking any fucking chances, but time was limited. The dizzy, sweaty feeling rolling over me was my first clue that my wound was worse than I'd calculated.
Crouching down, I ripped Uriel's mask off and locked eyes with him as he died.
"I win," I whispered as the bubbling blood eased and my former mentor faded into the nothingness of death.
Chapter 35
The steady beep of a heart monitor woke me. My head was heavy and my eyelids seemed almost glued shut when I tried to open them.
"Ms. Spencer," an unfamiliar woman said from somewhere above me. "Take it easy. You've been unconscious for a while. Just move slowly and you'll be okay." Her voice was low and soothing, and the bubble of panic rising in me subsided.
Blinking several times to clear the grit, I frowned up at the stranger. "Where am I?" I asked in a hoarse, throaty whisper.
"Here, I'll get you some water," she offered, turning away for a second before handing me a plastic cup. "You're in the Royal Swiss Private Hospital. Do you remember why you're here?"
Her question was calm, but it brought back a flood of emotions. I gasped, bringing my free hand to my stomach.
I'd been stabbed. Uriel had stabbed me, but then I’d killed him.
"I've got a couple of very concerned princes waiting outside the room," the woman—nurse, I guessed—told me, continuing on in that calm, soothing tone, even though I hadn't answered her. "Do you think you're well enough to see them? I'm a bit worried they might put more holes in the wall out there if I tell them no again." Her eyes creased with laughter, but I could imagine she wasn't actually joking. If the hospital had been keeping my princes out of the room, they'd be losing it.
"Yeah," I replied with a nod. "Yes, you can send them in."
The nurse gave me a warm smile back and patted my hand. "Your doctor will want to talk to you about your surgery and recovery, so they'll have to keep it brief. It's best you speak to the doctor alone, okay?"
Confusion swept through me at that comment, but she was already hustling over to the door to let my guys in.
"She's awake," I heard her tell them, blocking the doorway with her hands on either side of the opening. "But you arenotto stress her out. Are we clear? You have until the doctor gets here, and then you will leave without complaint or I won't let your asses back in for a full twenty-four hours. I won't tolerate you upsetting my patient."
I smirked at the stern voice she used on them, imagining my alpha male princes scowling back at her but unable to argue. Nurses were legit badass bitches. She was just casually taking on Fallen Angel and Sushi like they were naughty school boys.
She stepped aside, and Rafe and Jordan pushed each other to be the first through the door, making me laugh. Which in turn made me wince as it pulled at the injury on my stomach. I had no idea what surgery I'd needed, but there would be a fair few stitches at minimum.
