Symond met her head-on this time, blocking her claws with his forearm and driving his fist toward her ribs. She twisted at the last second, his punch only glancing off her side, but the force still sent her staggering.
That should’ve slowed her down.
It didn’t.
Violette sighed but didn’t argue.
Symond dodged a swipe from Elora and countered by shoving her into a wooden beam. Elora growled, pushing off the beam, her breathing heavy but steady. Symond smirked, wiping blood from his own mouth.
“That all you got?” His voice was a rasp, equal parts amusement and venom. “You’re supposed to be stronger now, aren’t you? Show me.”
“You’reweak,” she shot back.
“Weak?” Symond let out a harsh laugh. “I fought off six people in the sewers and still managed to show up in time to save your ass from Fane.”
Rell’s smirk dropped, and his gaze flicked to Violette. “What the hell is he talking about?”
Vye crossed her arms. “We got jumped.”
“By who?”
“Bounty hunters,” she admitted. “Symond has a price on his head, and they were looking to cash in.” She exhaled sharply. “I almost drowned.”
Rell clenched his fists, anger curling hot in his chest at the idea ofViolette—one of the most capable fighters he knew—being put in danger because ofSymond. But before he could voice that irritation, she added, “Hesaved me.”
That… complicated things.
Meanwhile, the fight continued. Elora hooked her leg around Symond’s, knocking him off balance, and in a blink, they were on the ground. He barely had time to react before she was on top of him, her claws pressing against his throat.
“Get. Off,” he bit out.
Elora bared her teeth in something almost like a grin. “Make me.”
Violette nudged Rell with her elbow. “Now can we stop them?”
Rell huffed a laugh, shaking off his thoughts. “Oh,hellno.”
She gave him a look.
“I need this entertainment after everything that just happened.”
Snarling, Symond surged up, flipping their positions in an instant, slamming her onto her back. She thrashed at his chest but he grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head with one hand. She squirmed, and he pressed his weight into her harder.
“What’s the matter, Elora? I thought you said you could defend yourself?” Symond leaned over, his face getting a bit too close. She snapped up at him but he was just out of reach of her fangs.
Grinning, Rell called out, “Should we leave you two alone? Maybe clear the barn and let you figure this out some other way?”
Violette groaned. “Rell.”
He chuckled.
But the comment distracted Symond just enough for Elora to sink her fangs into his arm.
“Ow—fuck!” Symond yelped, jerking back.
Elora shoved him off, scrambling upright, her fangs bared, eyes flashing dangerously. Symond clutched his arm, blood dripping between his fingers.
Before Elora could lunge again, Rell stepped in, grabbing her by the waist and hauling her back. “Alright, alright, that’s enough,” he said, though he was still laughing as he wrestled her struggling form.
