Page 50 of What Fury Brings
“No breakfast tomorrow?”
“Food doesn’t seem to motivate you, so I’ll have to resort to other means.”
“Such as?”
“Only one way to find out,” she said.
The exit wasright there. Just over her shoulder. If he could only get to it.
Fighting her would be absolute lunacy. If he made her bleed, she could have him killed. But if he did not fight, if he didn’t try, there was no guarantee that he would have another chance like this any time soon.
He could choke her like he did the other guard…
He looked her up and down. They weren’t oiled or naked. He wasn’t furious past the point of reason. This would be agoodfight.
Sanos deliberately tossed the manacles off to the side.
Olerra grinned, as though he hadn’t disappointed her in the least. In fact, he felt like he’d fallen into her plans once again.
This was exactly what Olerra needed. A chance to pit herself against her would-be husband to see who would come out on top. Could she win as she was? Unblessed by her goddess. With Ydra hiding behind the door in the hall, there was no way this could end terribly for her. She had planned this encounter carefully. She’d wanted to confront him, and she’d wanted an excuse to fight him.
Andrastus had fallen into her plans beautifully.
Olerra undid her sword belt and tossed it behind her so it wouldn’t get in the way. She was going to discipline this man, who had a good fifty pounds on her. She took a step forward.
The prince held his ground.
Smiling, she took another step.
Andrastus shifted backward ever so slightly. Then, realizing that’s what he was doing, he made himself hold.
But a third step in his direction proved to be too much for the prince. He dove toward her, taking her advice from earlier to heart.Attack first.
She sidestepped him easily and drove an elbow into his back. He was slow. Perhaps not to most, but everyone was slow to her. He barely avoided losing his feet, and he grunted. Andrastus blinked as he turned around, finding her in his original position.
Then he tried to run.
Olerra caught him after three steps. She tripped him, hooking an ankle under one of his feet. This time he went down. There were no mats in this fight. The fall had to be bruising.
Olerra didn’t want to hurt him. She reminded herself this was a fair fight. In fact, it was a fight in his favor, as he was likely stronger. He just didn’t know the fight was in his favor. And she had to keep him from leaving. She had to put on a display. This was a punishment.
When he rose next, he turned toward her, realizing he had to dispatch her if he wanted to carry on with his plans for escape.
At least he’s not stupid.It was a point in his favor, despite the ill-conceived escape attempt. She had a running mental list of his flaws and attributes. He was a good fighter who took orders well. He had a nasty temper, but the way he looked at her with a heated gaze at times…
Oh, she wanted to see that temper come out in the bedroom. She wanted to match it. Dominate it.
She flashed him a smile as he sized her up, searching her from head to toe for a weakness.Perhaps he’s a fast learner, she thought. That would be another point in his favor.
He rushed her again, but it was only a feint. She could tell he anticipated her to dodge right again, so she went left. When she spun around, she pressed her toe against his ass, shoving him to the floor. He did not like that. His scowl was evidence enough. She wondered if he’d fare any better if he had a sword. As it was, his attempts were half-hearted at best. Then a thought struck her.
“Are you—” She paused. “You’re trying not to hurt me.” It was a statement rather than a question.
“I don’t have a death wish,” he said.
“No, you don’t, but surely you’ve guessed by now that I would pardon you if you made me bleed while we fought. Something else is holding you back. Tell me what it is. You’ve had opportunities to strike me, yet you’re only going for a grapple.”
There was a pause in which she didn’t expect him to answer. Then he said, “A man does not strike a woman.”
