Page 50 of House of Shifters and Smoke

Medea snarled amid the deathly silent hall, dozens of tiny snakes entwined with her hair hissing at me.

“How dare you! You’re nobody, and you’ll be a dead nobody, or a dead rat, today.”

She took a deep, confident breath, ready to jump over to my desk, impatient to end me.

“Hold!” I called. “Let me come to you.”

I didn’t want to ruin my friends’ textbooks that were scattered on the desk. Some of them were from poor supernatural families. They couldn’t afford new sets.

I leapt and landed on Medea’s desk, facing her. Hooking two fingers, I beckoned her to come swing at me.

Medea lunged, kicking her leg out toward the side of my face, devil’s consort style. Shit, she was fast. I ducked, narrowly missing being dented on the cheek. That vicious princess wasn’t fooling around. She aimed to kill. She kicked her other foot up as well, going for my soft throat.

I twisted my torso and dropped to a crouch, letting her foot slide past. She wheeled to kick my head. I rolled away. Her stomp shattered part of the wood. Yep, she’d meant to kick me to death. If her boot had landed on a weaker supernatural, their skull would have cracked open.

I could feel my geek friends holding their breath a desk away, but Medea’s supporters cheered, even though I’d avoided that lethal kick from their princess.

“Coward Barbie! You’re a disgrace!” Bellona shouted in rage, blaming me for not willingly taking the hit.

“Brave Barbie! Go, Underdog Barbie!” Bea shouted back in support of me.

“Go Underdog Barbie!” my supporters bellowed.

I raised a fist into the air. “Oh, yeah! I’m getting there, guys! Thanks.”

Medea jabbed a fist toward my eye socket, swinging her other fist in a slashing arc toward my temple. It would be hard to avoid both blows while I rose to my feet. It was too late to stop the momentum.

I pressed my palms together and thrust them up. When they separated from each other, my armguards met Medea’s strike. The impact forced her to stumble back. Surprise, pain, and anger flickered in her jade eyes.

I’d been fed well in this realm. I’d even gotten some good shuteye during the daytime when nightmares plagued me less. Being kidnapped and temporarily losing a hand was child’s play to me. In the House of Chaos, my strength had grown exponentially.

With a hiss, Medea lunged at me again. Her kicks and fists flew at me faster. I slipped away from her, playing cat and mouse with her, albeit with narrow margins.

Then it occurred to me that Medea seemed able to anticipate my moves as if she could read my mind. I didn’t feel her magic brushing my mind, so she probably had an innate ability that I couldn’t counter. I could siphon physical magic, like spells, curses, or elemental magic, but not someone’s inner gift.

That was why she was so confident in this fight. But even with her advantage, I still stayed one step ahead of her. Surprise, surprise!

Surprise! Sy said viciously.

When I registered that Medea could anticipate me, I no longer formed thoughts on my next moves.

Watch her tell! Pucker shouted. She’s got a weakness on the left. Punch her left, Barbie, then drive a fist into her jaw. You can knock her out in one strike, like you did with that ice giant’s brat.

We need to humiliate the princess first to let everyone see who’s superior, Sy argued. Claw her face bloody!

Two backseat drivers argued in my head as if it were their forum. While I was distracted, Medea rammed her knee into my gut.

Fuck, that hurt! I nearly doubled over. Bitch was so mean!

Bitch’s so mean! Sy pouted, her lower lip quivering in rage.

Shut up, everyone! I yelled at them. I can’t think, let alone land a hit on my foe, when you two use my headspace like it’s your own Facebook page.

What’s face book? Pucker asked.

But the two quieted after that. Sy took the pain into her, dulling the ache in me.

Medea’s army gave cheers. Bellona jumped up and down, which lifted her shirt up and exposed her middle.

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