Page 98 of Hellbound

Ksenia ducked, his blade crashing against the stone wall where she’d stood.

Hard enough to depress the trigger.

A small dagger fell and spun to the center as the chains shifted again.

Ksenia dove to catch it, grimacing at her luck.

“A dagger?” Tivan cooed, stalking closer. “How cute! Frail and little, just like you.”

His words meant nothing to her. All that mattered was finding a more substantial weapon.

Flinty blade before her, Ksenia kept him at bay, backing away slowly while her eyes scanned the surroundings.

She paused.

Something hollow was underfoot.

Interesting find.

A twisted, wicked thought formed in her head.

His sword pierced the air by her neck as she spun away on her heel. She darted back in, slicing at his chest, and he leaped back, his broadsword flailing against a torch.

A slim longsword revealed itself in the far corner, and Ksenia sprinted to it.

It felt satisfying in her grip, and she whirled to face Tivan’s onslaught with raw strength.

Her parry sent a tremor through their arms, and his eyes widened a beat.

Wiry and quick, he swept his feet under her.

But she was faster. She sensed the takedown and jumped, a smile on her face.

Planting her foot against his chest, she sent him skidding back to the center of the room.

She would never grow tired of watching him gasp for air, and the thought crossed her mind of strangling him to death.

The heel of her boot sent grit into his face with a hiss, and he barely blocked her blow, sword slashing down overhead, the flat of his broadsword trembling.

Swords crossed in intimate embrace, they bared their teeth at one another.

“Come on, Kitten, is that all you’ve got?” she threw back at him.

Shoving hard, he beat her back, his greasy hair falling in his face.

He maneuvered around her crossguard for the killing blow, and she flicked her wrist upward, diverting the angle from her chest. A deep cut opened along her forearm instead, a slice of cold followed by a blossoming heat.

“Spoke too soon, hmm?” Gasps and shrieks filled the air as Tivan flourished his blade with a grin.

The gallery’s bloodlust spiked as they pounded their hands upon the railing, urging Tivan on.

The sword wavered in her bloodied grip, her sleeve falling away to her elbow in tatters.

“What’s next? Begging the captain to intervene?” Tivan simpered.

“Funny you say that, when you’ve been second to a woman nearly every step of this competition.” Ksenia cracked her neck and threw down her sword.

His tilted grin morphed into a snarl.