Page 40 of Dark Angel

“Do you concede?” her voice dances in his ear.

Her eyes flicker to the glass wall where she sees Daisy, Clarence and Jordan watching them. Clarence stands with his arms crossed, a proud expression gleaning his face. Daisy is frowning, clearly hopingMatthew will be able to defeat her this time. Jordan’s eyes meet her own. Kora sees a spark of something impressed in his sea-blue irises.

“No.” Matthew growls out.

Kora drops her blade, twirling and unravelling her arm from his neck before kicking his leg out from underneath him. Matthew falls onto his back with a thud, air knocked from his lungs as Kora looms over him, grinning.

“You fight dirty.” He grumbles, getting onto his feet.

“I fight by the rules, Matthew.” Reminding him.

He shakes his head. “I’m not done yet. Another round.”

Kora sets herself up again, standing in position as Matthew holds up his blade. She waits for him to approach her, his movements not as clumsy this time as his blade almost hits her. She ducks out of the way in time; the metal passing over her head angrily.

His leg comes out, hitting her in the stomach, and Kora stumbles backwards. Matthew swings again, almost striking her once more, narrowly missing her throat.

Grunting loudly, Kora jabs her blade at him, cutting at his trousers and drawing blood. Matthew curses as she uses the second of him faltering to bring him down to the floor, pinning him once again in defeat.

Her eyebrows rise as he growls up at her. “Do you concede now?”

“Fine.” He snarls up at her.

Kora grins, getting off him and helping him up. He looks at the thin, shallow scratch on his thigh, dripping a small amount of blood. “At least it’s not as deep as last time.”

“You fought well. You almost had me there.” Kora supplies.

He glares at her. “Don’t try to make me feel better. I won’t until I beat you. And I will beat you one of these days.”

Kora hides her smile, following behind Matthew, who stalks out of the room. “She got you again, Matthew.” Daisy’s face pinching in sympathy and she rubs his back soothingly.

“Don’t remind me.” Matthew grumbles, smirking at Daisy. “It’s your turn now.”

Daisy shakes her head slowly. “No. I’m fine. I think my head is still swimming from all of those drinks last night.” Giving a small shudder.

Kora swallows a laugh as Clarence steps closer to her. “Come on, sister. You and me.”

“The one person who can actually bring her down.” Matthew mutters as they walk into the room, closing the door to keep their voices contained within the training room.

Kora waits for Clarence to take a dagger off the wall, running a hand along the silver blade. “Are you ready?”

She nods, even though he can’t see her face. “Matthew’s easy to beat.”

Clarence’s face looks to where the three of them are waiting on the other side of the wall. “They’re watching. Move with the blade like I showed you.”

“I know how to fight, Clarence.” Kora reminds him.

“I know,” he turns to face her, meeting her in the middle of the room, “just watching out for you, like always.”

Her throat works as she knows exactly what he’s talking about. Their unspoken secret that they’ve kept hidden from everyone this whole time.

“Are you ready?” she asks, poising the golden blade, humming with power.

He mimics her stance, dagger in his hand, ready to fight. “Always, sister.” And he moves at her.

Clarence is her one true opponent. The one who has taught her every block, every movement. Making her train in their attic most evenings when they were growing up, ensuring that she’s powerful enough to defeat everyone else to avoid their secret being spilt.

He swipes at her aggressively.

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