But now…now she’d see what he could do.
“Begin,” came Mira’s voice from the top of the amphitheater, where men and women of the Watch now filtered in, taking places among the children to observe.
Rynna and Kaelith began to circle, sand whispering underfoot. His steps landed soundlessly, weight gliding from heel to toe, while the line of his body stayed coiled and ready.
She mirrored him, sliding her back foot wide, arms balanced.
Kaelith feinted high, fist angling toward her shoulder. She slipped under, pivoting, her elbow flashing toward his ribs—only to meet the meat of his forearm blocking her off. He pressed forward, testing her stance, forcing her to give a step.
He was fast.
She bared her teeth in a grin and lunged back, palm cutting up toward his chin this time. But he deflected again, turning away, dark hair whipping past her cheek.
Her lungs locked.
Gold flashed behind his eyes—no—not his eyes at all. But something buried deeper, surfacing for the briefest instant before it vanished.
She squeezed her eyes closed, her stance wavering.
Kaelith dipped, then. And she tried to match him, ready to intercept—
Too slow.
His hand shot forward with a pinch on her ass where no one could see, before he spun away with infuriating ease.
Focus.His growl reverberated in her head, louder this time.They’re watching.
Schooling her expression, she shook off the strange shiver dancing through her body.
Mira’s voice echoed faintly in her mind. Kaelith was a Hollow-born from one of the hated ruling Reaches of this world, capable of wielding the Source. Trust had been given to him, tothem. And she knew how easily it could be broken.
Feet planted, she beckoned him forward with a flick of her hand, watching as he advanced, hands loose. He wasn’t just going to let her hit him. She had to…
There. His balance shifted as his elbow drew back for the strike.
She dropped low, twisting, hands close to her chest, before she pivoted hard. Her hips turned, and her arms snapped out, palms driving forward. And for the briefest instant, she caught the flicker across his face in the slight flare of his nostrils.
Her attack connected squarely with his side, the impact jolting up her arms as his breath burst out in a harsh grunt. Around the strike, his body folded before momentum carried him airborne. He whipped through the air, crashing into the far wall with a heavycrack.And still, impossibly, he landed in a crouch, knees bent, one hand braced against the ground, the other clamped tight to his side as a grimace broke over his mouth.
For a heartbeat, silence.
Then the children erupted, voices breaking like thunder through the amphitheater, joined by the deeper cheers of adults who had gathered among them.
Rynna forced a shaky inhale, steadying the air in her chest before letting it go. Dipping into a shallow bow toward Mira, she cast a sidelong glance at Kaelith through her lashes.
Looks like they enjoyed seeing you slammed into a wall.She pushed the thought through whatever it was that connected them, testing if it could be used on purpose.
His eyes widened, dark hair spilling across his face as he searched for hers through the curtain.
Rynna.He caught on fast, mouth stretching wide, tongue flicking over the edge of too sharp teeth.I won’t be the only one slammed into a wall before moonrise.
Chapter ten
Rynnasprintedthroughthejagged boulder field that stretched behind the crevice concealing the Hearth, boots scraping against gravel. Breath tore from her lungs as she wove between the massive stones, and the pounding of her heart drowned out the night wind.
It was almost over.
Ducking low, she slid behind a slab of rock twice her height, pressing her spine to the cool surface as she strained to hear over the ragged hiss of air through her teeth.
