How indeed.
“We haven’t seen him fight,” I replied. “Not in the way it counts to a Soulhound.”
That answer clearly added to Alexei’s disbelief, but it wasn’t for him. Aspen had a hint now, one I was never given with Rune. She stood between us, sending me a warning through our connection.
Aspen considered Hadrian. The skeletal hound didn’t acknowledge him, instead drilling those flaming eyes into my soul in a loud and clearshut the fuck up.
“We’ll do it right outside, away from the windows. I don’t want our military distracted,” I said. “Alexei and Rune, keep an eye on the drills.”
Alexei grumbled something about wishing he could watch the suicidal showdown as we walked off the dais. Even Rune’s disappointment followed me.
Outside, mud suctioned to our boots while the sun heated the dead grass, filling the air with the scent of damp earth. Aspen held out his hand. I slowly unsheathed one Soul Sword and handed it over.
Aspen positioned himself across from Hadrian, sword raised. The Soulhound placed one paw forward and bowed deeply. It signified respect for Aspen and his choice to accept Hadrian’s claim. Aspen bowed back, starting off better than I had.
He straightened, and Hadrian lunged, maw wide and seeking. Aspen spun out of the way and slashed at Hadrian’s neck. The sword clanged against bone, doing nothing more than pissing off his Soulhound.
He sliced. Clang.
He hacked. Clang.
He drove his blade through Hadrian’s ribs and jerked upward. Clang.
Hadrian snarled with every connection. His bones didn’t chip or dent; each swipe of the blade equated to a poke in the side.
Hadrian sped around him and jumped on his back, sinking his claws in. Aspen hissed, and I hoped Hadrian didn’t nick anything important. Hadrian pressed his weight into his back. Aspen whipped around and slammed the hilt into Hadrian’s bony cheek.
I huffed a sigh and shook my head.
Aspen noticed my reaction. “How do I beat him?” he snapped, stopping Hadrian’s bite with the blade.
“Who says you can?”
Think, Aspen. What do you do with an opponent you’ll never defeat?
Hadrian snapped his jaws toward me.
It wasn’t exactly a subtle hint. But, I would rather not have to drag Aspen’s bloody back to Sam like Alexei had done with me.
Aspen narrowed his gaze, his attention on me instead of the fight. Hadrian surged up and barreled into his chest, knocking him into the mud.
In a second, Hadrian could’ve clamped his jaws around Aspen’s neck and ended him. Sometimes, a Soulhound would kill their intended soul-bind. But Hadrian waited, giving him a chance.
Aspen raised his sword. Hadrian growled, claws digging into his shoulders. Then Aspen paused, and Hadrian quieted.
He stared at Hadrian, understanding easing the tension from his face. My sword fell from his hands.
Hadrian moved off him and bowed once more. Aspen pushed to his knees and dipped his head. Deference.
Appeased, Hadrian prowled around him, sizing him up—searching. Then he sprang forward, clamping his teeth around his shoulder.
Fire flashed in Aspen’s eyes as he held in his cry, and hopefully held the block on his emotions as he seethed through his teeth. Fortunately, he didn’t pull on his power or reach for my blade.
Trust.
Blue light gathered at the wound site and pulsed into Hadrian’s teeth. When it hit his jaw, the light flashed to flame, then flickered across every bone. The flames grew bigger, brighter, to the point I had to avert my gaze. Heat licked unpleasantly across my face, lasting acouple minutes before it died, taking the unbearable brightness with it.
Aspen cursed, and I looked at Hadrian.
