I gave him a pretty smile. “If I was trying to distract you, I’d do this.” I sent the raciest, sexual image I could muster down the bond. Then I delivered a hard, fast roundhouse kick to his shoulder, using the momentum to seize his wrist as he stepped back.
My fists wouldn’t win against him—I knew that much—so I shifted my approach. Twisting his wrist, I wrenched his arm backward, forcing his body forward, between his legs. I knocked his knee forward with my own and grabbed his ankle with my other hand, dragging his calf up and forcing him onto one knee.
As he caught himself, I used one fluid movement to pull a dagger from the sheath at my side and tip it to the back of his neck.
His shoulders heaved with quick breaths, and I leaned over him, my lips at his ear. “Guess I win this first round.”
Rykr turned his profile to me. “Not bad, solwyn. The image was a nice touch.” His hand slid up my wrist, grasping my forearm close to the elbow. “But not good enough.”
Before I could stop it, he’d flipped me over him onto the mat and I landed hard on my back. Dots spun in my vision and I rolled out of his reach, gasping for breath. As I stumbled to my feet, I rolled my shoulders, the sounds of the crowd sounding oddly distant. My eyes connected with Amahle’s by the ringside. Worry lined her forehead.
I needed another win, and fast.
“Where’s Ciaran? Too afraid to get his ass handed to him after the other night?”
I struggled for another breath. “I don’t know how things work where you’re from, Rykr, but hurting my friends will never gain you my respect or trust. If you were wise, you’d stop bringing it up. He’s kept our secret, hasn’t he?”
He laughed, an easy, careless sound. “Sadly, I can’t say anyone has ever accused me of being wise.”
“That’s obvious.” I twirled one of my daggers. I couldn’t throw one and risk doing actual damage to him. Who knew how it might go for me if I actually hurt him?
I hesitated too long—Rykr lunged. I dodged, but not before he landed a blow to my side that sent me reeling. Pain exploded up my ribs and I spun, jabbing an elbow into his kidney as I whirled to face him again. He grunted, a flash of pain in his eyes telling me that he’d felt the blow he’d given me through the bond.
Taking advantage of that, I used my left hand to land a savage hook to his jaw, then slashed my dagger up, landing the blade right under his sternum.
A deep ache swelled from my own jaw. Dammit.
“I thought you were blocking the pain,” I ground out.
“You changed the rules on how we use the bond.” His eyes glimmered.
I’d won that round, though. A messy win, but a win, nonetheless. If it’d been a real match, he would have been dead. Jabari called the second strike in my favor.
One more, and I’d end the match. “I thought you planned on trying to win.” Sunlight glinted off the blade of my dagger.
“Maybe I was taking it easy on you to give myself a momentary break.”
I gawked at him. That was impossible. I’d won fairly.
But had I?
We squared off again.
“You’re overthinking your moves now, aren’t you?”
I scowled and flicked my wrist, my dagger flying straight for his thigh. “Stop that.”
He caught it by the flat side of the blade, flipping it smoothly into his grasp before sliding it into his belt. The casual display of skill sent a hot rush of frustration through me.
“And now you’ve lost a dagger.” The cockiness in his voice was just as loud in my head. “But if that impresses you, you should see how good I am at sheathing … my favorite sword.”
My cheeks burned. “You’re cheating.”
“By distracting you?” His face darkened. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you that in a life-and-death situation, there’s no such thing as cheating?”
Blood rushed my face. “Obnoxious bastard.”
He smiled, then closed the gap between us in two steps. I twisted, bending backward out of his reach, but he swept my legs out from under me. As I started to fall, one powerful arm shot under the small of my back, catching me before I could land.
