Chapter Seventy-Seven Myla #2
“No,” she whispers, and this time there is a flare of panic to it as she shakes her head, fingers interlacing nervously in front of her.
“No. I don’t have time to only know defense.
I need to learn how to understand my opponent.
Anticipate their weaknesses so that I can beat them.
” Her chest heaves and my steps halt, the distance between us smaller.
“I need to capitalize on the fact that I’m underestimated.
I want to hurt someone before they see me coming.
” She gasps for air, her body turned to the side so that I can only see her profile.
Closing her eyes, her chin falls to her chest, red curls covering her cheek.
My eyes narrow as I replay her words, scanning her body, and this time, I’m looking for something specific. “Little Siren.” My voice relays a calm that I don’t quite feel as I take a single step towards her. “Did someone hurt you?”
“No. No, no one hurt me. I just— I need to know how to prevent the queen from… Gods!” Her hands dive into her hair, pushing the strands away from her face as she heaves a deep breath before letting a shaky laugh fill the silence.
“I need a lifetime of training in only a matter of weeks! And it will likely still not matter because if the queen decides that my fate is to be bound to her side for the remainder of my days or worse—”
Aria pinches her lips shut, sealing in the rest of her words despite how I find myself hanging on for the next one. The queen is deciding her fate?
“I’m sorry,” she says, turning to face me fully and forcing a fake smile to her pretty lips. “I know you don’t care about my pathetic life story. Can we just focus on the basics of attacking an opponent today? Please.”
She resumes wringing her fingers in front of her as she waits for me to answer. I push back the urge to tell her to demand I train her, not to plead for it. Does she not understand the power she holds in our bargain?
“Do you have your dagger?” I ask, reaching to my vest for one of my smaller blades.
Aria swallows as she watches me, an array of emotions moving over her face before she nods and grabs the weapon from her bag.
The one that belonged to my father and was last held by Shah.
And one that, if the stories I’ve overheard are true, holds magic that can give its wielder temporary passage through the Spell by way of a blood sacrifice.
Returning to her position across from me, Aria’s chest lifts with a breath, and then she bends at her knees and begins bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Her grip on the dagger is strong as she holds the blade almost parallel to her forearm.
“My muscles are warm from my swim here,” she says, brushing her curls over her shoulders with her free hand.
“I want to use all of our time learning new attacks.”
“So eager to draw blood?” I ask as we circle each other, my blood thrumming with anticipation.
“You sound surprised. I thought you believed me to be nothing but a mindless, vicious monster. I thought you wanted nothing more than to slide your blade across my throat,” she counters.
Something warm blooms low in my gut at the focused look on her face as our eyes lock, at her taunting words.
“What was it you said? You can’t wait to send my remains to my bitch queen? Well, what are you waiting for?”
I tighten the space between us, moving in closer as I breathe through the thrill her words ignite. “Goading me will not end well for you, Aria.”
Her lips pinch at my use of her name, and I berate myself internally for saying it. Names are too familiar, and I—
The thought disintegrates when she lunges for me.
She actually fucking lunges. The dagger swipes at my face, and I lean back to dodge it, the air stirring where the blade slices through it.
Aria pivots, bringing her weaker foot forward before plunging the dagger straight towards the center of my chest. I lift my blade to block hers, using my other hand to push at her wrist, sending her arm off course.
“Don’t put all of your weight behind one move,” I tell her, as we separate. “Not until you’re sure that next hit is the one that is going to kill your opponent.”
“How do you know that it will kill them?” she asks.
“It’s a feeling. A knowing,” I answer, watching as her expression shifts in thought. “When you see the right opening, you won’t have a doubt that it will be the one.”
“What if I get that opportunity with you?” she asks, her lips turning up.
“If I allow you to get close enough to harm me, by all means, take the opportunity.” I hold my free hand out in front of me, fingers curling in towards my palm. “Now, come at me again, but this time, move more quickly. Your goal with these initial attacks is to try and catch me off-guard.”
Aria prepares her stance, this time leading with her good foot as she exhales through her mouth. “Catch you off-guard? Can I use any means necessary?”
I arch a brow. “You can try.” The rush of adrenaline is instant when her mouth widens with a true smile and she attacks again.