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"Would you like to come over here so I can stab you?"

He considers. "A little."

I smile. "Come find out."

That gets him. Caelen turns. Looks at me. Then at the mat. "You're tired."

"So are you."

"I trained this morning."

"So did I."

"I'm third-year."

"Congratulations." He laughs once. Then walks toward me.

"Fine."

We don't use manifestations. No Blood Echo. No vampire advantages beyond whatever our bodies naturally carry. Weapons first. Practice blades. Caelen tosses me one. I catch. He smiles. Not brother smile. Competitor. Oh. Good.

"First to three?" I ask.

"First to one."

"Scared?"

"No."

"Then three."

"Eirea."

"Caelen."

He sighs. "Fine."

Round one lasts twenty seconds. Caelen destroys me. There is no dignified way to describe it. He knows everything. Every habit. Every movement. Every stupid little thing I've done since childhood. I feint left. He doesn't move. I change angle. He traps my wrist. I pivot. He already knows. Two seconds later, my blade is gone. Three seconds after that I'm on the mat. Caelen's blade rests beneath my chin. "One."

I glare up. "Fuck you."

"Still doing that."

"Doing what."

"Getting angry when I know what you're going to do."

"I'm not angry."

"Your left eye twitches."

"I hope you die."

He smiles. "Very mature."

Round two. I change strategy. It helps. For six seconds. Then Caelen uses a movement I haven't seen him use since we were teenagers. I recognize it too late. He sweeps my leg. Down. Blade. "Two."

I stare at the ceiling. "This is humiliating."