This time, it was my turn to laugh. “Oh, Giant, I’ve faced far worse than you, and I’m still here. This isnothingcompared to what I’ve endured.”
Something flickered through his eyes as he surveyed me. My clothing hid most of my scars, but his gaze lingered on my forehead and temple.
This time, I didn’t wait for him to come to me; I went after him and did so with a ruthless determination to see him fall. Our staffs clashed, banged, and clattered against each other while we battled back and forth across the log.
He pushed me back five feet, and I pushed him back seven before the dance started again. My legs grew tired, and sweat made my palms slippery, but I pushed on.
I wasn’t the only one feeling the effects as sweat slid down Ianto’s face and dripped off his chin. His movements grew slower.
Initially, he was quick, especially for a man of his size, but not as fast as me. Now, he was lagging as the fight wore on.
When our staffs came together again in the middle of the log, the giant leaned over me. He bared his teeth as an angry sound issued from him.
My back bowed as he bent me further backward. I was strong, but he was stronger.
Before he could push me too far back, and while I could still move well enough to do so, I fell onto my back and kicked upward. I drove my boot straight into his nuts and shoved upward, briefly lifting the giant before dropping him again.
Ianto groaned and bent over me. His staff fell on top of me and bounced into the river when he released it to grab his battered testicles.
I slid my staff between his legs and smashed it against both his knees in rapid succession. One of his feet finally slipped off the log.
He tilted to the side before trying to right himself; in attempting to do so, his other foot slid off too, and he crashed onto the log. Another groan issued from him as pain twisted his features into a mask of agony.
Before I could escape, the giant slumped forward and fell on top of me. As he did so, the cracked tree gave way, and we fell into the river.
CHAPTERSIXTY-THREE
Ryker
By the timeI dragged myself from the water, I was a soaked mess. I collapsed on the shore and spat sand and water out of my mouth. Beside me, Ianto hit the ground and lay there, greedily gasping for air while still clasping his balls.
My chest and back ached from where the man had fallen on me. Thankfully, he was already sitting when he did; I’d probably be a pancake otherwise.
When I felt a little stronger, I used my fingers to claw at the earth as I pulled myself further away from the water. When my feet were out of the river, I rolled over and flopped onto the sand.
Stars shone down from above, and two of the moons were visible in the inky black sky as the river swept onward. I was tempted to lay there until morning but pushed myself up instead.
Where is Ellery?
I didn’t have to look long before I spotted her on the opposite side, smiling while she waved at me. “Are you okay?” she called.
Unable to do much more, I gave her a thumbs-up and almost fell back onto the sand, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The giant grunted as he pulled himself closer to me before rolling onto his back.
“I won’t be able to fuck for a week,” he muttered.
“There are women who can take you?”
The giant laughed before groaning and gripping his nuts again. “You’re kind of funny for a spoiled rich boy.”
“I may be rich, but I’m far from spoiled.”
Ellery brushed aside the strands of hair the breeze blew across her face. Standing on the other side, bathed in the light of two moons, she was almost ethereal as the sun-kissed complexion of her skin stood out against the shadows surrounding her and her black clothes.
I didn’t like the sensation it created, especially not in these woods where outsiders became ghosts. Needing to be closer to her, I rose and walked to the riverbank.
As hard as I tried, I couldn’t stop limping when I moved. I was fairly certain the giant had cracked one of my vertebrae, but it would heal soon enough.
“You broke the bridge!” Ellery called across the river.
