“And remember, team—no sensitive parts.”
Imara snorted. “Yeah, no one wants a boob punch or kick to the scrotum.”
Hawk shook his head. “You really know how to turn a phrase.”
“Why, thank you, kind sir.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
“All right, guys,” Christian interrupted, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Imara and Gemma started circling each other.
“I’m sorry,” Imara apologized.
Gemma smiled. “Don’t be. This was Hawk’s stupid idea, remember?”
Imara smirked then threw a punch toward Gemma’s face.
Gemma barely got her arm up in time to block the hit but swiped her leg between Imara’s, dropping Imara to the mat. A corner of Gemma’s mouth flicked up. Maybe shehadpicked up enough tricks from the Dissent’s combat instructors.
Imara laughed. “That was awesome.” She climbed to her feet. “Why didn’t you punch the blazes out of me? You totally had me.”
Gemma shrugged. “It wouldn’t have been fun that way.”And ‘cause I never even thought about it...
Imara huffed. “Well, you’re nicer than me.”
The two of them began their dance once again. Imara’s dark brown eyes stalked every step Gemma took, waiting, calculating.
Gemma clenched her jaw and swung.
Imara stepped out of the way and drilled her fist into Gemma’s jaw. She sprawled onto the ground, white stars in her vision, and tried to climb back to her feet—
Imara’s knee collided with the side of her face.
Blood spewed from Gemma’s mouth as she tipped sideways, falling onto her elbows and knees.
Imara’s arm was around her neck in seconds, squeezing hard. “Submit!”
Apparently, this wasn’t the first time she’d sparred with someone either.
Gemma clawed at Imara’s arm, trying to recall how the Dissent taught her to break free. But Imara just tightened her grasp until Gemma had no choice but to tap her hand against her hip.
“Winner, Imara,” Christian declared.
Gemma gasped for air the moment Imara’s arm left her neck, the room swaying in her vision. Thank the stars the pain wouldn’t follow her from the simulation. There was nothing worse than the headache that followed after oxygen was cut off from your brain.
“Sorry.” Imara winced, helping Gemma to her feet.
“It’s fine.” Gemma gingerly rubbed her throat. “That was a good move.”
Gemma and Imara slid out of their ring to watch Colton and Hawk finish their match.
Unlike the girls, the guys were dripping in sweat, with blood rolling down their faces and leaking from their noses. Gemma flinched every time one of their attacks connected. Their moves were much more calculated and cunning—and brutal. Hawk may have been trained to box since he was a child, but Colton definitely knew what he was doing. In fact, he wasreallygood.
Gemma’s eyes narrowed.Where hadhelearned to fight?
“You okay?” Christian asked, loud enough for only Gemma to hear.
