Chapter Twenty-Seven
Skylar Cathal
In a flash, Gilen leaped to attack.
I dodged his initial strike, countering by blocking his punch with a swift sidestep and kicking his thigh as I spun in place.
My success in this fight was anchored to my ability to foresee my opponent’s actions. If Gilen managed to capture me and take me to the ground, I would be dead. I needed to overpower him with my speed and technique.
This time, I pivoted on the balls of my feet, leaving an opening at my side that I knew Gilen would see.
Keeping my balance, I adjusted my footing to transfer my counter into an attack.
Just like Daxton taught me. My fist collided with Gilen’s jaw.
Not a powerful blow, but the first of many in this fight.
Gilen recovered, shaking his head while tasting the blood on his lip. His eyes transitioned into a haunting shade of gold that blazed with pure, unhinged rage.
“You’ve learned some new tricks,” he sneered.
“My mate,” I said, my voice ringing with power, “trained me himself. I won’t dishonor him with anything less than victory.”
The muscles along Gilen’s shoulders flexed as his veins popped under his skin. “I’ll be sure to send your regards to him… in the next century,” he growled. “When the High Fae once again seek out a champion.”
Hearing this, I charged at Gilen in a flash, knowing he could not match my speed.
I withdrew a small blade and slashed along his bicep.
Blood pooled along the wound as I ducked under his counter.
Backing a few paces away, Gilen stilled, glancing at his wound and then at my blade dripping with his blood.
It was already beginning to heal, but still, it sent a message.
I might not be able to shift, but I was far from defenseless.
“Cute.” He snickered, reaching for the bottom of his shirt to pull it over his head. “This was beginning to become a nuisance anyway.”
“The first blood belongs to me,” I growled, sheathing my dagger.
“But not the last,” Gilen roared as he rushed toward me.
We traded blow after blow, neither of us gaining the upper hand. An elbow caught my lip, splitting it in two as I spat the thick, hot, familiar iron-tasting blood onto the frozen ground.
I spun and answered with my own onslaught, gaining ground with swift knee strikes and kicks to his torso, bruising vital internal organs.
Gilen’s right hook found its mark on my eye, and I managed to roll backward with the momentum of his punch.
I needed to put space between us to regain my senses and figure out my next move.
Despite my efforts, the fight turned in Gilen’s favor.
A kick of his heel landed on the side of my knee, sending me stumbling onto the ground.
Frantically, I gasped for breath through the pain, reaching for a dagger at my thigh to defend myself against his next attack.
Gilen lunged toward me, but I was able to palm my blade just in time and slice my weapon across his chest, causing him to stagger back.
For the moment, I managed to escape death.
Groaning, I pushed myself onto my feet. My knee was unstable, but it could still hold most of my weight.
Dusk settled into the clearing, casting a silent shadow along the surrounding trees and vivacious forest. I glanced around at the pack members gathered near the tree line, witnessing our challenge.
“Giving up already?” Gilen taunted, circling me.
I noticed a slight limp in his gait as he stalked toward me, favoring his left side.
“Where’s the fun in that?” I answered as my left eye began to swell.
“Enough, Skylar,” Gilen said. “If you don’t submit—”
“I will never submit,” I growled, my power rising.
The gathered crowd of shifters hushed, carefully listening to our exchange.
“I’m the daughter of Emery Cathal, an alpha of this pack. The Cathal blood runs through my veins, along with the magic of my ancestors who were among the first chosen by the Gods themselves to become shifters.”
Hushed whispers flooded the training field.
“I refuse to break. And I will never submit.”
Gilen’s eyes hardened. “Remember, it was you who pushed me to do this.”
“Have at me, Gilen!” I roared, rising to my feet. “I’ll take whatever you throw at me.”
“I know,” he answered. “You forget that not too long ago, I knew you better than anyone. I know that fire blazing inside you.”
We both paced in a circular motion, never once taking our eyes off each other.
“I just didn’t realize that I would be forced to extinguish your flames instead of tame them.”
I growled at him. “That’s the problem, Gilen. My fire was never meant to be caged!”
I dared a glance over to where Rhea and Shaw stood. Rhea gave me a cocky grin while Shaw nodded for me to keep fighting.
“Ha!” Gilen laughed, rolling his shoulders as a green shimmer danced across his skin. “Then, by all means, let’s set you free.”
The power emanating from Gilen was stronger than I remembered. In his short span as alpha, he’d fully grown into his magic, rising far above what his father, Alistar, could ever muster. In less time than it took to blink, he shifted into his roc.
“Gods above.” I gasped, swallowing heavily. “He’s bigger than I remember.”