Destructive Embrace Read Free Page B

dare
you?"
    Her anger was almost
tangible, even across the room and hallway. Elyssa's chest heaved
as she breathed heavily, and her glare was fierce. Truly, she
looked like a vampire. I brought myself to my feet, groaning as the
few broken ribs I'd earned from the attack set themselves once
more. "Good hit," I grunted.
    This seemed to catch her
off guard, and she straightened her posture, regarding me with an
expression of curiosity and wariness. Her green eyes were darkened
with suspicion. "Why are you complimenting that?" she asked me
quietly. "I just hurt you."
    I lifted my shoulders in a
shrug and, brushing my clothes off, began to walk back toward her.
"Not only did I deserve that hit," I began with a grin, "but that
was a very good hit, for someone who doesn't really know how to
fight." She scowled at me then, and I chuckled. "Admit it. You
don't know how to fight. If you did, you would always have your
weapons on you. There's a general rule about not letting your guard
down and having your weapons on you at all times. Otherwise, you'd
better know how to fight hand-to-hand. Which," I added, preparing
myself to dodge another attack, "you don't know how to
do."
    She growled at me and I
took a stance that would allow me to catch her if she charged at me
again. "Bring it on, girly," I taunted. She hissed before launching
herself at me once more. Her form was sloppy, and I grabbed her by
the shoulders and tossed her off to the side easily.
    "Let's go outside if you
want to try your hand at fighting me, Elyssa," I told her,
straightening my posture. "I would really like to not owe Zeke for
broken items in his section of the castle." I reminded myself that
we were, in fact, in Zeke's portion of the castle, and set the
thought aside for after my little spar with Elyssa. There was no
way I planned to let her get away with staying in Zeke's area of
the castle without finding out why.
    "Fine," Elyssa said,
jumping to her feet. She sounded eager, but the light in her eyes
was still gone. She was interested merely because it would be a way
to hone her skills. I sighed quietly and we began the trek upstairs
and out into the barest part of the gardens.
    As soon as we arrived, she
tried to launch a surprise attack on me, but I dodged neatly,
toppling to the ground. "Your form is poor, Elyssa," I told her, my
tone even. I wanted to get her mad and lay her flat on her back
when she really messed up an attack. It was unfair, really,
fighting a novice when one was as experienced as I. But she was the
one who drove the dagger through Reid's heart. She deserved
whatever pain – regardless of the fact that it would be temporary –
I would inflict on her.
    She screamed in frustration
as she rose from the ground, covered in dirt. I laughed at her
appearance – she was thoroughly ruffled, with dirt smeared across
her face and body – and saw the anger flash through her eyes. "Stop
laughing at me," she demanded with a snarl. I raised my volume,
pressing my hand against my stomach as I pretended to be overcome
by the laughter coming from my lips.
    Elyssa tackled me before I
could stop her, pinning me down as she snapped at me multiple
times. Her fangs had dropped, and I observed her movements. It
would have been too easy for me to overturn this situation, but
when she was back to normal, I would take her in as a student. She
needed training and bad. The only way I would be able to give her
guidance would be to study her movements and her trouble
areas.
    When I tired of keeping her
snapping jaws away from my neck – I had no doubt that she would rip
my throat out if she got the chance – I kicked her off me, sending
her sprawling on her back. I rose to my feet, grimacing because
dirt was all over the nice outfit I'd worn out to the bar. "Damn
you," I muttered, advancing on her as soon as she was back on her
feet.
    I darted my hand out to
grab her by the throat and lifted her off the ground. Her mistake
here was clawing at my hand to make me