Page 162 of Ravenrose

“You can do that?” Wyatt asks, sounding just as shocked as I feel.

Rowan grins wickedly back at me. “Apparently.”

We circle again.

This time she makes the first move, going on the attack now that she knows she can hit me so long as she’s not trying to kill me. I easily block her attacks.

Her fist flies toward my ribs.

I block easily.

She pivots immediately, driving a kick toward my knee.

Blocked again.

Another strike.

Another.

Again.

Again.

Each attack comes faster than the last.

She’s testing the rune.

Testing me.

And gods, she’s good.

The rune allows her to hit me now, at least while sparring, but I feel the hesitation in some of her harder blows. Tiny flickers where the magic pulls against her intent.

Still, Rowan adapts.

She aims low suddenly, and I block that too.

A growl of frustration slips from her throat.

“There it is,” I hum, a smirk playing on my lips.

“There what is?” she snaps, her eyes narrowing.

“That temper.”

Her green eyes flash molten gold at the edges.

She attacks hard, managing to drive me back two steps before I redirect her momentum, nearly sending her to the ground, but she recovers at the last second.

“You’re holding back,” she accuses, her breaths coming hard.

“So are you.”

She huffs a laugh. “I’m trying not to violate your precious rune.”

“And what a good girl you are for that.”

She makes her first mistake, lunging for me, but I’m ready.