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I barely have time to react before Ash lunges, faster than I anticipate. I twist away, but his blade is already coming for me, only to be intercepted by the clang of my own dagger. The force of it vibrates up my arm, and I don’t hesitate. I shove forward, breaking his stance just as Zander sweeps in from my other side.

I drop low, narrowly dodging a strike aimed at my ribs, before spinning to face them both.

Their grins widen.

Ash barely gives me time to reset before he comes at me again, his dagger flashing as he aims for my shoulder. I block with my own, twisting my wrist to redirect the force of his strike, before I can counter, Zander is there, quick and unrelenting. He aims low, sweeping my legs out from under me.

I barely manage to catch myself before hitting the ground, rolling with the momentum, and springing back to my feet.

My breath comes faster now, my muscles burning from the effort.

They aren’t holding back. Good.

Ash smirks. “Still standing?”

“Still kicking,” I reply.

Zander doesn’t wait for me to catch my breath. He lunges, closing the distance between us in a blink. I anticipate his strike, raising my blade, but at the last second, he feints left and slams his forearm against mine, forcing my weapon from my grip—the dagger clatters against the dirt.

“Shit,” I mutter.

Zander’s victory is short-lived. I twist into his hold, using my smaller size to slip under his arm, then drive my elbow into his ribs. He grunts, stumbling back just enough for me to drop low and kick his legs out from under him.

He hits the ground hard, and before I can savor the moment, Ash is on me. He grabs my wrist, twisting it behind my back as he yanks me flush against him. “Not bad,” he murmurs against my ear. “But you’re down a weapon. And now you’re caught.”

I snarl, shifting my weight before slamming my heel down on his foot. He hisses in pain, his grip loosening just enough for me to wrench free. I turn sharply, my fist already swinging. He barely dodges, but I still catch his jaw with a glancing blow.

Zander is back on his feet now, rubbing his ribs with an amused glint in his eyes. “Alright, no more playing around.”

He and Ash circle me, their movements slow and calculated.

I flex my hands, my breath coming in steady pulls. The smart thing would be to back off, to create distance, and strategize.

But I’m not feeling smart. I am feeling reckless.

So I charge first. I go for Zander, feigning high before dropping low and ramming my shoulder into his core.

He isn’t expecting it, I feel the second of unbalance before he rights himself, catching my waist and flipping me clean off my feet. I hit the ground hard, the wind momentarily knocked from my lungs.

Ash is there in an instant, dropping onto me and pinning my wrists above my head. “Yield?” he asks, grinning down at me.

I grit my teeth, twisting beneath him, but his grip is solid. “Never,” I hiss.

His grin widens. “Good answer.”

Then Zander drops down beside us, shaking his head with a smirk. “You’re getting better, but you still let your emotions lead you.”

I huff a breath, feeling the strain in my muscles. “And yet, neither of you had an easy time taking me down.”

Ash chuckles, finally releasing my wrists and standing. He offers me a hand, which I take grudgingly. “Fair enough.”

Zander claps me on the back once I am on my feet. “You keep this up, and you might actually survive this war.”

I roll my eyes. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

But despite the ache in my limbs and the dirt clinging to my skin, a slow satisfaction settles in my chest. I am getting stronger.

I am learning.