Our swords clashed.
“Forget about all the females you killed?” I spat.
His smirk flattened, nostrils flaring and chest stuttering as if taking in a painful breath.
An odd feeling stirred in me at the sight.
“Strike a nerve?”
He advanced with fervor.
“Are you sure you found the strength you needed? Or are you lying to yourself?” I said between blocks.
He focused on his strikes. His footwork.
My breathing became labored with every twist and turn. The taunting words died on my tongue as I poured my energy into defense.
He was good. Really fucking good.
Parry.
Block.
Deflect.
That was all I could do against him. The only way I could go on the offense was if I used my shadows, but for once, I didn’t want to.
I hadn’t been pushed this hard since Gabriel.
Alexei may be good, but he wasn’t at my skill level.
Sand plumed around us in our lethal dance. It clung to my forehead, chafed my neck, and irritated my nose. Dirty sweat droplets fell into my eyes, burning and blurring my vision. I blinked them away, not daring to take the time to wipe them.
My heart pounded with adrenaline. This fight felt like when I tucked in my wings to free-fall. Enlightening. Exhilarating. Only so much more so.
Because I couldn’t predict the outcome.
But I wasn’t here to spar.
“Late at night,” I rasped around my heavy breathing, “when the memories threaten to overtake you…”
Our swords screeched as they ground against each other.
“Do you tell yourself how worthless you are? How it makes so much sense that Lucille chose me over her abuser?”
He stumbled back, regret dulling his eyes.
I didn’t even have enough breath to chuckle.
Hadrian’s displeasure ripped through the arena.
I shot a glance toward him.
He had Rune pinned and wiggling beneath him as his flaming orbs fixated on me.
Guess I pissed him off?—
Metal glinted.
