I shoved off the wall and swung at Pyro. She blocked with her forearm, then sidestepped and her boot smashed into my gut. I gasped, bending over against my will and leaned into the wall again. Why did gut hits hurt so much?
Beast stepped beside Pyro and gripped her shoulder. “Hit her again.”
I half turned to shield my stomach, and she hit me in the back—kidney shot. Inside I was roaring like a cornered animal, but I still couldn’t take a deep enough breath. I coughed and sputtered, hating myself for it. I was better than this. Ishouldbe better than this. I hated that they had been training to fight for years, and I had had a few short months. I felt like a child compared to them. Even if I was ducai, even if I was faster and stronger than everyone at home, I was not here. Not among the elite who all but toyed with me.
“Again,” Beast said.
Pyro looked up at him and shook her head. “She’s done.”
“She hasn’t surrendered yet.”
Blood filled my mouth. My back ached like fire. As much as I didn’t want to lose this game, she was right. I was done. Our team was on the floor or moaning in pain in the corners of the room.
We looked pathetic really. Against vampires, we’d all be dead. But I guess we were the vampires tonight. Even the vampires would be embarrassed of us.
I held up my hand, as a gesture of surrender.
Beast chuckled. “I didn’t hear anything, did you, Pyro?” With one hard swing, his fist connected with my jaw. As the stars flashed across my vision, I knew he’d held back during our first fight at my initiation. Tonight, his punch felt like a boulder had smashed into my face. My legs gave way, and I hit the floor. “Dirty loths don’t belong here.”
“Morrow, she surrendered, you bastard!” Taewyn pushed himself to his hands and knees. “She surrendered!”
Noise and light faded in and out. My head throbbed and everything went black.No, I had to stay awake. The ringing in my ears was too loud. The laughter and cheers of Team Assassin drifted away...
I thought of my grandmother Thora. Of holding my hands over her neck as warm blood pumped between my fingers. Then I twisted and was screaming; the vampire’s weight crushed me into the ground. My hand was burning, searing, like I’d stuck it into boiling water. A head plopped to the ground—the vampire’s—and his body flew away from me. I crawled to grandma. She wasn’t moving. I screamed, “Wake up! Wake up!”
My father carried me into the house as I begged to bring grandma with us, but he left her there until morning.
My little voice changed... Someone else said, “Wake up! Bonecarver, look at me. Hey, wake up.” It was Taewyn. He sounded far away. “Wake up.” My eyes fluttered. I wastryingto open them. I felt his hand on my back, giving me a gentle shake.“That bastard. I’m going to kill him. Bonecarver!” His voice took on a higher register, panic. I knew it well.
I peeled an eye open and another larger male in black dropped to a knee beside me. “Damn it, Bonecarver,” he muttered. His familiar voice warmed me, soothed me in a way no one else’s did. I pulled my arm off the floor and reached for him. He took my hand and squeezed it. He was here. I was safe.
“What happened?” Vander’s voice was low, hard to hear.
“Beast punched her after she surrendered,” Taewyn told him.
“That little prick.”
“He’ll get in trouble for that won’t he, sir?”
“I’ll ensure that he does.”
“More than a little ruler slap on the wrist? He needs to be put in his place, sir, so he doesn’t keep doing things like this. And you can do it, sir. He’s afraid of you.”
“Trainers don’t retaliate against apprentices. I’d lose Bonecarver if I did.” At one time he didn’t want me, but he sounded like he was afraid to lose me... I thought he’d jump at the chance. I was surprised he hadn’t sabotaged his role if it was so easy to do. “You want him put in his place, then do it.”
“But—but.” Taewyn sounded defeated. “He’s a better fighter than me, sir. I don’t know if I can.”
“If you think that way, you’ve already lost. He isn’t better than you, you simply believe he is.”
I lifted my head and curled my knees underneath me. Tears threatened but I wouldn’t cry. I refused to break down. Vander put his hands under my armpits and lifted. He all but held me up. “Hey, killer.” He carefully pulled my mask, pushed my hood back, and inspected me. His face was half covered but concern lined his blue eyes.
I smiled, then groaned. It hurt my cheek too much.
“You don’t look so good.”
“Don’t feel too good either.”
With a shake of his head, Vander took hold of my arm, slung it over his shoulder, and held my waist. “You might be the end of me, Bonecarver.” A few simple words shouldn’t suddenly make me feel lighter, make my pulse beat quicker. “Let’s get you back and put ice on that jaw.”
