Page 25 of Brutal Birthright

“Ready to lose, scary girl?” He taunted.

“Not fucking likely, bloodsucker.” She hefted the weight of the sword they had been working with during today’s session. It was a long, solid blade. Awkward and heavy, and the size of it didn’t flow as easily with her frame or stature the way her own weapons usually would. Ri longed to feel the delicate string of her bow beneath her fingertips. To hear the high-pitched hum of her arrows as she let them fly with deadly precision to sink into their target.

But Rowan had rightly pointed out that this wasn’t about relying on what was familiar during battle. Becoming part of the elite ranks of the Astrals would require warriors and hardened souls who could navigate their way through any challenge or manner of foe that came their way.

Regardless of what weapons might be at their disposal.

She needed to be prepared for the worst-case scenario, and reluctantly admitted that learning to fight using these ugly as fuck swords was one means to that end.

“You’ll have three rounds. First to a critical strike wins the round. No draws, best out of three wins.” Finnic crossed his arms across his broad chest and nodded towards the centre of the arena.

“Does this count towards our ranking?” Ri rolled her wrist, swinging the blade in a wide arc while eyeing Etienne, who stood about five feet away. Still grinning with that wildly overconfident look on his face that no doubt lured many a willing blood whore into his bed. He cocked an eyebrow at her and then proceeded to strip his shirt off in one fluid motion.

Ri hated to admit that it was hot. A move to try and distract her, no doubt. But she’d much rather see someone else shirtless…

No.

Fuck.

Focus.

Her fingers flexed around the smooth handle of the sword. Readjusting her grip and surveying the makeshift sparring circle, now surrounded by the rest of their classmates who eagerly watched on. The group had slightly diminished in numbers since the first couple of days when they’d been brutally put through their paces until everyone was either throwing up, wobbling on their feet, or looking deathly pale.

At least with each drop-out, it increased her chances of reaching her end goal.

“Yes. This will be counted in your weekly rankings.”

Crap.

There was no way she’d concede points to a cocksure vampire today.

She narrowed her eyes at Finnic, who simply smirked back. All blond hair, tanned skin, and dimples. Fucker.

A prickle of awareness at the back of her neck told her exactly where Rowan stood. Off to one side, as usual, surveying in silence from a distance. Judging. Always bloody well judging. But after a week of being out of his line of sight, right now, his eyes were most definitely on her. It left a flutter in her chest that she certainly wished would fuck right off.

“Ladies first.” Etienne swung his own sword in front of his body, gesturing for her to close the gap between them. Baiting her to rush in and leave herself exposed.

“I do love a man who knows that ladies always come first.” She blew a kiss at the vampire, relishing the laughter that rolled through their audience. “But in this case, you’ll have to prove you know what you’re doing, boy. Don’t waste my time fumbling around.”

Etienne’s grin turned wicked.

They circled each other slowly, moving in a wide arc, the half-dozen paces between them starting to narrow with each step they took. Ri kept her gaze firmly locked on the vampire’s stance. She knew he had a much longer reach than her, but that would leave him exposed in other ways when he finally swung an attempted blow.

“Oh, darling… I most certainly know what I’m doing; don’t you worry your pretty little head about that.” The gap continued to close. Metal glinted, and the sheen of sweat across Etienne’s bare chest highlighted his lean muscles. “The question is, how many times do you think I can make you come until you’re trembling beneath me, begging for mercy? Three times, perhaps? Maybe four?”

With every word Etienne spoke, she could feel the heat and weight of Rowan’s stare sinking into her. She tightened her grip once more and braced her muscles. Playtime and teasing words would have to be over soon, or else she was going to potentially miss out on much-needed ranking points.

That alone was motivation enough for her to take control of the situation.

Cocking her head to one side, she raised the tip of her blade to point at Etienne’s groin. “I’ll gladly take my pleasure, bloodsucker… but don’t expect any favours in return.”

With the challenge thrown down between them, suddenly, it was on. Tension snapped, and the invisible threads holding them back vanished. The clang of metal clashing against metal filled the space when they collided together. Razor sharp fangs were bared in her direction as Etienne let out a snarl, and her own teeth gritted together on a low growl.

They matched each other blow for blow. Strike for strike. Except Etienne’s height towered over her, leaving Ri having to battle upwards against him each time. He had the upper hand, quite literally, but she didn’t care. With each shift closer, she could see an opening just below his ribs.

Snapping out with her sword, she pushed with all her force and then shoulder charged towards his torso. Without being able to use his mysting abilities here in the training arena, the vampire was left just as exposed as any non-magical being.

There was a satisfying crunch as the point of her shoulder made contact with the base of his ribcage, and she swung in the next breath upwards towards his neck. The tip of her blade came to rest just below his chin.

---