“Yeah.” She checked her lip for any more bleeding. “Just a bruised ego.”
He chuckled. “That may have been the fastest match I’ve ever seen. So, congratulations.”
Her cheeks flared with a sudden rush of heat.
A loud thud sounded from the boys’ ring as Hawk fell limp onto the mat. Gemma went to run to him, but Christian put an arm across her stomach.
“Winner, Colton,” Christian said, returning his attention to Gemma. “He’s fine. He’ll wake up in a minute. Just got hit in the right spot.”
Gemma opened her mouth to protest, but Colton dumped the water from Hawk’s bottle over Hawk’s head, and their ginger-haired teammate shouted himself awake.
Imara guffawed as Gemma pressed her fist against her mouth to keep from laughing.
“See, this is why we shouldn’t be called ‘Team Gallowood,’ ” Imara teased.
Hawk sulked to the gun range, his face as bright red as his hair.
After a ten-minute break, Colton handed a blade to Imara. “Here. This’ll make it fairer.”
Imara shot him a glare. “I don’t need a weapon to beat you.”
Colton smirked. “Yeah, you do.” He shoved the sheathed dagger into Imara’s arms and stalked toward the ring before she could protest.
“Am I allowed to kill him?” Imara asked Christian.
His mouth rose in a half-grin. “No, but you can maim him.”
“Good.” Her stare was vicious as she marched to where Colton waited for her. He leaned smugly in the corner of the boxing ring, and Gemma pursed her lips to suppress a smile. This match was going to be hilarious.
Five minutes into it, though, Christian nudged her. “There’s an empty ring if you want me to show you some moves. I can make Hawk referee.”
Gemma froze. Should she let him teach her how to fight, when every time he caught her eye, her stomach did a stupid flip?
No way. Bad idea. If she didn’t start avoiding him, her plan was going to fall apart.
She politely smiled at him. “No, I’m okay. But thanks.”
Christian’s expression was one of amusement. “You own the record for the quickest defeat, remember? Let me at least show you how to defend yourself.”
Gemma huffed. Hedidhave a point. She had very little idea how to protect herself, if it ever came to it. And she might need those skills to pass the next rounds of the Trials.
She sighed. “Fine. When you put it that way.”
His face broke out into a dazzling grin, and Gemma scolded herself when her stomach somersaulted.
After Christian convinced Hawk to stop sulking and referee Colton and Imara’s match, Christian jumped into the empty ring with Gemma.
“All right, your stance isn’t bad,” Christian began. “Square your hips toward me a bit more—yep. Your feet are already staggered—good. Okay, hands up.”
A bead of sweat rolled down the back of her neck as she lifted her fists and he took each between his hands, repositioning her fingers. His perfect eyes stayed locked on hers as he adjusted her elbows until her knuckles were at the level of her cheekbones. The hazel-green of his irises were so full of life and vibrancy that the emotions passed through him and into her, the darkness in her soul beginning to warm.
She startled.Bloody hell, Gemma. She was starting to have actual feelings for him, not just physical attraction.
That was going to be a problem.
Christian cleared his throat as he stepped back. “All right, throw a punch at me.”
She held her breath and swung. Her fist collided with his forearm; the speed at which he blocked her hit was astounding.
