Page 94 of My Vigilante Valentine

“You’re holding back,” she said after a while.

I raised an eyebrow. “Of course I am. This is training.”

“No, I mean... you’re moving at normal speed.Humanspeed.” She straightened, shoving a few loose strands of hair out of her face. “How am I supposed to learn to defend myself against someone with powers if you don’t use yours?”

I knew where this was going.

Didn’t like it.

“Luna—”

“I know you’re worried about hurting me,” she cut in. “But what if I have to face someone like you someday? Someone enhanced?”

Cold—that was what my blood felt like now.

The idea of her fighting someone like me—someone who could take her apart in seconds—sent ice straight through my spine.

“That won’t happen.”

“You don’t know that.”

“It’shighlyunlikely. Unless all those Marvel guys are real.”

“You’rereal.”

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. “I’ll think about it. Maybe next time.”

It was the best I could do.

“Deal.” She glowed brighter as she dropped into a fighting stance, eyes lit up with her perceived victory. “Now, come at me again. And this time, don’t treat me like I’m made of glass.”

I smirked. Everything about her was a contradiction.

Soft but unbreakable.

Wild but calculated.

Funny, but always—always—dead serious about the things that mattered.

And that? To me, that mattered.

We circled each other. This time, I struck a little harder, a little faster. She blocked the first hit and then the second.

She was quick. I’d give her that.

But on the third strike, she did something unexpected. Instead of blocking, she ducked under my arm—fluid, instinctive—sweeping my legs right out from under me.

Sure, I could’ve caught myself. I could’ve used my speed and reflexes to recover. But the move was so perfectly executed that I let myself fall, just so she could feel the thrill of that win.

She followed me down, knees bracketing my waist with her hands braced against my chest. “Ha! Got you!”

I gazed up at her, chest rising fast under her palms. “You did.”

She was triumphant.

Radiant.

Mine.

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