Abaddon, on the other hand, does not.
As I’m getting up, I glance back at him one last time, finding him staring into his plate like it’s his fatal enemy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s contemplating murder.
But even if I’ve prodded an enraged animal, I find too much satisfaction in proving myself right.
25
“Don’t touch the pointy sides. It’s very sharp.”
I shift the short, skinny sword in my hand, inspecting it. Everything about it is gorgeous, from the shooting star engraved in the guard to the black metal blade that reflects light like fire opal.
It’s way too fine for me to be wielding. Dusk must be losing his mind.
“You’re serious? It’s mine?”
He nods towards my hands, beckoning me to keep it. “Of course. I had it commissioned for you. It’s not a celestial weapon made from the Aether like mine, but itismade from one of the finest forges in Elohim.” With a cheeky shrug, he adds, “Very exclusive clientele, by the way. Cadets don’t usually receive such legendary weapons.”
I’m fairly certain neither of us is a cadet. “How did you get it, then?”
Drawing a hand over his heart, he gasps. “Oh, you wound me, love. I may not be a principality, but Iamstill a true archangel. In a society with millions of lower angels, we’re the elites. The very top of the food chain.”
“So in other words, you’re notjustan old motherfucker, but you’re a privileged, rich old motherfucker, too?” The sword slices through the air with the finest sound as I practice a fighting stance or two. “Sounds like somebody’s pride took a hit yesterday, if you feel the need to remind me of your position.”
“You have such a vile tongue for a lady, you know?”
“Yep. You can blame Jackie for that. When I was a kid, I thought I’d never say the‘bad words.’But then Jackie picked up the habit, and it eventually rubbed off on me.” I swipe the sword left, twisting my hips to put my weight into the strike.
“You’ll lose your balance if you keep dancing around on yourfeet like that.”
One of my eyebrows raises, though it’s mostly covered by dark hair that has fallen across my face and stuck to the sweat on my forehead. I swear, I keep trying to pin my bangs back while they grow out, but they just won’t behave. “I’m perfectly in control of my balance, thank you.”
“If you’re hitting an inanimate object, maybe. But if someone catches your blade during that hit and pushes back with more force, then you’ve lost all the leverage you could have had by keeping your right foot on the ground.”
“Huh. Well, maybe I would have known that if I hadrealsparring partners—” Without a word, he pulls his greatsword off its place on his back, the gold metal blinding me with the reflection of the artificial sun. Instinctively, I hiss, bringing up a hand to block my eyes from the shine. “Hell, Dusk. As much as I appreciate your very pretty, very special weapon, I like my eyesight more. Please, go into the shadows with it or something.”
“Why is your instinctual reaction to complain when someone draws a weapon on you? Get in a defensive position, Dawn.”
I groan, but I still comply, planting my feet firmly into the ground and holding my sword in front of me. “You can’t be serious right now. If you swing that thing at me, you’ll slice right through my brand new katanaandmy body. I quite like having both of those, you know.”
“It’s a wakizashi, not a katana,” he huffs.
I roll my eyes heavily. “Oh,excuse mefor not being able to correctly identify all the different types of stabby objects. It hasn’t exactly been in my curriculum.”
“I’m not going to give you a custom weapon just to immediately break it.” He raises his shiny longsword, swinging it around a couple of times before taking a defensive stance. “Adtonitusis very capable of being a regular sword when I ask it to be. Now, quit being a smart ass and attack me.”
“Gladly.” I lunge.
He dodges.
I lunge again.
He still dodges, but at least he offers some instruction.
When I go for him a third time, he parries. I throw all my weight into the force of my strike, but he pushes back with his ethereal weapon, sending me stumbling backward with enough force to make me fall on my ass.
“Told you,” he gloats, looking down at me.
“Shut up. That was an accident.”
