“I don’t know how to fight, Sable. You know that.”
Ash shook his head. “That’s not true. I saw you in Darkmoor, Seph. You can do more than you think. If they’d let me, I could show you—”
“Ash, back off,” Kieran snapped—sharp, sudden.
Dev rolled his eyes. Kieran didn’t look away.
Sable just clapped her hands. “Enough. Eyes on me Seph. Now – hit me.”
I circled her carefully. She stood still, waiting for me.
I swung up my fist, but she was gone in an instant, pushing me from behind. I swung again.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered.
“Then stop thinking,” Sable replied coolly. “Move.”
I stepped in and threw an awkward punch that went wide.
She wasn’t there.
My fist cut through empty air as she slid aside, barely moving her feet. She nudged my shoulder as I passed, just enough to throw me off balance.
I recovered and swung again.
She blocked it with her forearm, effortless, redirecting my momentum like I weighed nothing. My boots skidded on the mat.
My cheeks burned with humiliation.
I tried a kick — clumsy, poorly timed.
She caught my leg and shoved me back. I stumbled, barely staying upright.
Behind me, someone sucked in a breath.
Sable didn’t even look winded.
“Too slow,” she said. “Again.”
My jaw clenched.
I rushed her — badly. My hands flew without strategy, without skill. Every strike missed or was turned aside. She stepped around me, through me, tapping my ribs, my shoulder, my hip — not strikes. Corrections.
I swung again, wild now.
She ducked.
I spun, off balance, and before I could stop myself, I threw one last punch — not aimed, not planned —
My knuckles connected with her face in a solid punch.
The impact jolted up my arm. I clutched my wrist to my chest, staring at her.
The room went silent.
For half a second, Sable didn’t move.
Her eyes dropped to where I’d hit her.
