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“Language, Slutling. ” I kicked her weapon, sending it spinning off the stone.
She reached around and grabbed my braid, tugging hard, trying to wrench me down. “You’re a freak. ”
I stumbled, catching myself before I fell. Jangly pain shot from an old neck injury. I cried out.
“Oh, did that hurt?” she purred.
Wriggling in her grip, I whispered for her ears alone, “They say you don’t feel pain. Maybe you’ll”—I flexed my muscles, curling into her, slashing my knife at her face—“feel this. ”
She blocked with her forearms, grunting with the impact. A half turn, and she grabbed me in a neat hold. Then Lilac bit my arm, hard.
Even through the fabric of my shirt, the pain was startling, unnatural. The knife sprang from my hand. I didn’t see where it landed, but heard it clattering off the rock.
I wrenched my arm free, the blood pounding where she’d sunk her teeth into me. “I hope you’ve had your shots. ” I shook it out, and then, thinking fast, kneed her. It wasn’t a solid hit, so I grabbed the shoulder of her shirt and pulled her down to knee her again. She made an oof sound.
Rubbing my arm, I backed up to regroup. “What’s your problem?”
Yasuo had been right. But for some spatters of blood by Lilac’s feet, my blade had been almost worthless. The throwing stars seemed a ridiculous option now, too. Though that also meant Lilac wouldn’t have time to pull any lighters from up her sleeves, and that was reassuring.
“You’re my problem. ” She squatted, circling me.
I needed to buy time to catch my breath, but instead spread my hands and feet, ready for her. “You’re the freak. ”
“I’m done with you. ” She leapt for me, and once more our bodies slammed together in the middle of the stone.
Talking stopped as we grappled, landing a few hits and then separating again. We did this a few times, elbowing, kicking. Using feet and nails. I tasted blood in my mouth and felt a sharp stab with each inhale. But we kept at it, that sloppy thrashing, relentless pounding.
The sky was darkening to gunmetal, and somebody began to light torches. Fire flickered to life all around, casting sinister shadows on the stones, on our faces and bodies.
The crowd remained silent. The only sounds were our grunting and the hiss and pop of flame.
I didn’t know how much time had passed, but the combat was becoming too grueling. I felt myself beginning to flag and knew I needed to end it.
Time for Yasuo’s ground and pound.
“Now,” I snarled, hooking my ankle around Lilac’s. I swept her feet from under her. We toppled back. Her head hit the stone with a hollow smack. “I’m ending this now. ”
Her eyes glazed for a moment, but then she snapped back to life. She bucked and shoved. “Get off me. ”
She writhed onto her belly and almost crawled free, but I caught her between my knees, pinning her arms at her sides. I shoved her face onto the rock. “No. ”
“Off!” She bucked wildly, screaming. “Don’t touch me!”
Scooting higher, I shoved her hair aside for a better grip. At the feel of that silky maple braid, I thought again. I snatched it up and wound it around my fist, wrenching her head up and back. “I hate your fucking hair. ”
I slammed her head against the stone. Pulled her head up again; slammed it again. I heard the crunch of her nose. She moaned, blood spilling down her face. It was a dark smear on the gray stone.
“I smell your blood, Lilac. ” And I did. It invigorated me. I thought of the vampire’s drink. That thick, ropy liquid had made me powerful, made my every sense razor sharp. “I’m stronger than you. ”
Letting go of her hair, I inched down, wrenching her hands behind her back. She’d always mocked how smart I was. But I’d show her. Smart girls won. “You made fun, stupid girl. ” I jabbed the sharp edge of my knuckles over and over into her kidneys. “When you . . . should’ve . . . been studying . . . your . . . anatomy. ”
She was moaning now, breathing shallowly, facedown on the stone.
I staggered to standing. Leaning down, I grabbed her feet and dragged her to the edge of the platform. I kicked her, but she only teetered there. Shoving with the ball of my foot, I began to nudge her off.
Flush with triumph, I glanced at the crowd. I wanted a glimpse of Yasuo and Emma. I also wanted to find Ronan—I wished I could know the look on his face.
The audience drew in a collective breath, and I looked down. Lilac stared up at me, those pretty hazel eyes drained of humanity, her stare as cold and flat as a killer’s. Blood streaked her face, her mouth and chin covered with it. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse, and bloody spittle flew from her mouth. “You always think you’re so fucking smart. ”
