Tiernan observes them with a single raised brow, several expressions playing across his face at once. His focus shifts, and I follow his line of sight to a crimson-faced Chiyo reappearing beside us. Tiernan claps her on the shoulder, but she only gives him a wavering, awkward smile.
A second later, they both tense. Chiyo looks my way, though Tiernan’s hard gaze remains on the platform. “Ava’s challenged you,” Chiyo says.
I turn to the platform where Ava stands, her braids now pulled back with a scarf, her eyes burning a hole in my skull. My heart begins to pound. I’ve trained against a few others—and lost every time—but I’ve never gone against Ava. She’s obscenely far beyond my league. In fact, people here have nicknamed herthe Beast.
Shakily, I step forward and convince my legs to keep moving. I climb the steps to the platform and approach Ava. We get into a fighting stance and Ava says without signing, “Prove yourself.”
Then she strikes.
Pain erupts in my forearm as it takes the blow intended for my face. The next strike from Ava’s eager fist catches me in the shoulder as I turn my body away from her. She’s too fast, too strong. I duck, but as soon as I’m upright again, her fist flies at my face, far too close for comfort. Ibarelyavoid a nasty blow as I duck again.
I shriek, holding both arms over my head as I hunker down.
Ava’s foot comes out of nowhere, clipping my ankle and tugging my leg out from under me. I’m left with no choice but to throw my hands back to catch my fall, but pain still throbs through my tailbone and up my arms as I take the defeat.
Ava signs but my vision swims so badly that I cannot make out what she says.
I blink and will my head to cooperate. Embarrassment crawls over my skin, flushing my face with a heat that’s hard to ignore.
Ava waves both hands in front of my face. “Are you even paying attention?”
“Yes,” I grit out. “Just give me a moment.” I’m not sure if the words are even loud enough for her to hear.
She crouches comfortably, her arms propped on her knees. Infuriation fills her hazel eyes as she levels a glower at me. “Get up.”
I said give me a moment, I want to blurt. I meet her gaze with as much stubbornness as I can muster. Tiernan moves into my peripheral vision, still on the sidelines, but I refuse to look at him.
“Get up.” Ava’s gestures are aggressive.
I push myself to stand and hold my ground, even as my vision spots and my head threatens to sink me right back down.
“Focus,” Ava signs, standing too close for comfort. “Focus through whatever is going on in your body. Do not give your opponent a chance to best you. Everyone has a weakness. If you can spot it at the very beginning, good. If not, keep looking for it, and strike them where it hurts. Your opponent is limping on his right leg? Kick him in the right leg. Favoring one arm? Strike his arm. A blow to the face is always good. You’re not fast, nor are you strong?—”
Thanks.
“—but you’re clever. Use it to your advantage.”
I sigh and reluctantly get into a fighting stance again.
Ava doesn’t reciprocate. Instead, her gaze sweeps from my head down to my toes. She scoffs and says, “You’re done here.” My heart sinks. If this was my chance to prove myself, I failed.
But then Ava says, “No cowering next time. See you tomorrow.”
I let my hands fall, my shoulders following. My legs wobble as I watch her walk off the mat, only to be blocked by Tiernan. I stand there, watching the heated discussion unfurl between them. Ava crosses her arms over her chest and cocks a hip as if casually waiting for something. Whatever he says, she rebuts, and whatever she says, he does the same. Tiernan’s eyes meet mine, as do Ava’s, and I know for sure that they’re talking about me.Arguingabout me.
Face burning, I rush out of the den, desperate for fresh air. I’m mere steps from the exit when Tiernan appears, his palms held up to gently halt me. “Where are you going?” he asks.
“Why did you challenge her like that?”
His face falls, but he doesn’t respond. “Are you alright?” he asks instead.
“Tiernan.” I emphasize his name aloud without signing.
He huffs out an annoyed breath. “Ava had no right to publicly humiliate you like that.”
I follow the movement of his hand as his fingers idly trace the scar that crawls up his neck.
“She’s in charge, so she has every right,” I say.
