Page 95 of What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

Against someone who might actually kill her.

And because of that fact …

All bets were off.

Jade’s blade pierced Alora’s leathers at the heart, leaving a hole straight through to her undershirt.

She flinched back with a hiss, expecting to feel the steel sink deep into her chest. Alora’s eyes turned to smoldering embers with pinched brows.

Jade had tried to kill her.

“What the hell is your problem?” Alora growled, circling Jade with a death glare more murderous than her red-headed opponent.

“You, pretty princess.” Jade stormed across the disheveled ground. With intense force, she kicked Alora in the gut so forcefully that Jade had to stab her sword into the dirt to remain upright.

Alora flew backward, knocking her head on the cold dirt.

For a moment, her vision spotted. The air escaped her lungs. Jade’s footsteps drew closer, but with her head spinning, her mind struggled to comprehend the danger. Soon what was left of the sun was drowned out by dancing fire in the sky.

No. Not fire.

Long, bright crimson hair in a half-braided ponytail flowed around Jade’s irate face. The bone and metal necklace dangled from her neck. She stood, straddling Alora, sword drawn high that caused her battle leathers to creep up her abdomen, revealing a hidden bandolier of knives.

“Any last words before I run you through?” Triumph glistened in Jade’s eyes.

Alora pivoted her head, searching for the High Prince.

He just stood there, face unreadable.Unmovinglike he couldn’t be bothered.

Rippling anger boiled inside her veins.He’s going to let me die.

She frantically patted her hand on the ground, hoping to connect with her sword, only to be met with Jade’s boot as she twisted it down on her wrist.

“How does it feel knowing that is the last thing you’ll ever do?”

A tingle caressed the inside of her mind. She heard the High Prince’s words again.Anything is fair in battle.

Sapphire eyes flashed to him again on the wall. His head was turned, speaking with Thalon.

A prickling sensation glided down her neck and into her arms.

“Anything is fair in battle,” she muttered.

“What was that?” Jade taunted, pressing her boot harder, leaning into it with a hand on her knee. “Don’t let your final words go unheard by at least one, not that I’ll tell the world of your existence. Come on, how does it feel?”

Alora threw her glare at Jade with a baiting grin. “You tell me.”

White flames burst from her hand. Dancing sparks blasted from her palm and stopped inches from Jade’s face, not by her own will.

Jade shrieked and stumbled to the dirt, cowering down to shield herself with her arm and sword.

And if Alora didn’t know better, that was unadulterated terror in her eyes while she trembled.

“Fuck you, damn witch! Can’t win with a blade, so the perfect littleprincesshas to use her powers. Nothing has ever been hard for you,has it?” Still vicious, Jade’s tone sliced like the very blade she held.

Alora jumped to her feet. Heat blushed her cheeks as she held her palms down at her sides. White fire danced in glowing spheres inside them. Her head tilted in search of her sword.There.With an outstretched arm, fire engulfed it as it flew into her hand, and she gripped it until the leather stretched impossibly between her fingers.

“Can’t stand to train and get strong like the rest of us,” Jade persisted. “I bet your entire life was fluffy pillows and dinner parties.” She stood and adjusted her armor, terror-ridden eyes locked onto the growing flames.

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