Page 70 of Rise of the Siren Queen
I turned to Kieran, meeting his gaze head-on. His stance was effortless, exuding control. He had no doubts about how this fight would end.
“I won’t go easy on you.” His lips quirked, almost amused.
“Wouldn’t expect anything less.” My voice was even, but the tension coiling in my gut betrayed me.
The second the fight began, he moved like lightning, because hewaslightning.
A crackling bolt shot toward me, splitting the air with a deafening snap. I barely dodged, the heat licking at my skin as it seared past. No hesitation. No warning. He was already throwing his next attack, a barrage of shimmering, razor-sharp lightning blades.
I countered, summoning water, shaping it into a shield, but he was faster. Stronger. The impact sent tremors through my arms, my body resisting the force.
“Is this all you’ve got, hybrid?”Kieran’s voice dripped with amusement, his confidence infuriating.Mocking.
I gritted my teeth, heat rising in my chest. I need to turn this intomyfight. Reaching for the water, but Kieran was already moving, already charging the air with electricity, feeding off the energy around him.
The moment I saw the flicker of power gathering at his fingertips, I knew it was too late.
The next strike landed hard.
A chain of lightning surged between us, pain lancing through my ribs as I staggered, breath stolen, muscles locked in searing agony. My vision blurred, the world tilting as I fought to stay standing.
And then came the last strike, merciless, brutal.
The impact sent me crashing into the water, knocking the breath from my lungs.
“Round one goes to Kieran.”
Ronan’s voice was casual, but I could hear the smirk in it, the satisfaction.
I sucked in a ragged breath, pushing myself up. My body screamed in protest, but I didn’t care.
Pain meant nothing. Losing wasn’t an option.
I wiped the blood from my lip, my breath still uneven but my resolve solid.
“Round two,”I called out, my voice steady. This time, we’d take it to the pond.
And this time, Iwouldn’tfucking lose.
The shift came effortlessly, carving me like a blade through flesh. My body elongated, limbs reshaping into something more powerful. The water welcomed me, not as an old friend, but as a part of me, an extension of my will. Power surged in my veins, raw and untamed, a storm waiting to be unleashed.
Kieran mirrored my form, his dark eyes gleaming with somethingthat could’ve been amusement or a warning. He wanted to put me in my place. That much was clear.
Let him try.
The ocean darkened, shadows slithering in the abyss. Kieran struck first, his body a blur of motion as lightning ripped through the depths. Bolts carved through the water, turning it into a flickering, electric graveyard. The force of his power should have terrified me.
Instead, I smiled.
I focused, calling upon the water, manipulating it into a swirling barrier that absorbed his lightning strikes. With a surge of confidence, I summoned the energy from the depths, merging with it until I felt sizzling power coursing through my veins.
He was strong, but so was I.
The power coiling beneath my skin demanded release and I let it.
“You’re not the only one who can strike,” I grumbled, surging forward.
The ocean bent to my will, a thrumming, living thing at my command. I moved faster than thought, a streak of gold and shadow slicing through the depths. The moment I reached him, I didn’t hesitate. I slammed my palm against his chest, releasing a pulse of raw, unfiltered energy.
