Jesper moved for me first, swinging an open-palm toward my throat.
I dodged, my body twisting out of the way on instinct. Ducking, I kicked out a sweep at his ankles, but he jumped. As he jumped, I planted a blow to his ribs that rattled my knuckles and drew a surprised breath from his throat.
His eyes lit up with admiration, and he stumbled back before circling me. I did the same. Our feet thudded rhythmically against the arena’s dirt-packed floor.
When I struck out and nearly clipped his jaw, he smiled. “You fight like you enjoy it.”
I stepped back once with a ragged breath. “Don’t you?”
“Never before now.”
My brows furrowed at that. I’d never met an agent who didn’t enjoy fighting before.
He leapt at me as I was contemplating what he’d said.
My back hit the ground, his forearm braced against my shoulder, but he didn’t pin me yet.
Fates, he was so warm.
I scrambled to focus and used the force of the fall to twist around and wrap my legs around his neck. Then, using my raw strength, I flipped him off balance. His body slammed to the dirt with a heavy thud. I tightened the hold with the inside of my thighs, hating how much I loved the feel of his head between them in this moment.
My parents were watching, Fates-damn it.
Jesper choked on a breath, arm sticking out before he tapped the ground with a sharp slap that came out as a low thud.
I released him and rolled to my feet in a smooth push, heart hammering but steady.
The crowd of applicants and staff were dead silent.
Pops barked, “You let her take you down?”
“I didn’tlether.” Jesper, still on his back, wiped the sweat from his brow. “She took me down. You even said she’s beaten you.”
“True, but so have you. Once.” Pops crossed his arms with an amused expression.
I caught Jesper’s stare again. He was shocked. His chest rose with heavy breaths, and his throat flexed when he swallowed.
Something in me hummed at the way he looked at me, and I crouched near him and smirked. “You said ‘don’t hold back.’”
Jesper swallowed hard again. “Great form.”
“Same to you.” I offered my hand.
His hand swallowed mine, but I pulled him to his feet with a goofy ass smile. “Does this mean I pass?”
“You earn top marks, just like your brother did last year,” Dad muttered under his breath. “When he beat me.”
Behind me, Slater whistled low. “Okay, venom baby. You’ve got mad skill. Can you hold my head between your legs like you did him?”
I flicked him a heated look without meaning to, and my grip on Jesper tightened a smidge.
Slater only grinned. “You like the idea, too, don’t you? Don’t worry! I’ll make you fall in love with me first.I’ma gentleman.”
Jesper stepped back, dropping my hand and watching me with that same quiet, unreadable expression. He didn’t seem to hear Slater, or maybe he just didn’t think it deserved a response.
Both of my dads glowered at him, though Slater definitely didn’t notice. He just kept staring at me.
Dad cleared his throat. “Okay, the next trial for the practical exam…”
