Page 111 of Sapphire Flame
Before Kryder could react, Grant shot away from Kryder to float in the air twenty feet distant. He was breathing hard, his gaze fixed on Kryder.
Kryder flew slowly, low near the sand in the direction of Natalie and the net-team. Each wolf stood his ground, but it was like watching a wall of muscle the size of small car approaching. Kryder kept wiping blood off his mouth.
The team started levitating backward to get out of his way, but Kryder finally stopped. He then turned back to face Grant. He reached behind him, and Natalie watched in horror as he removed a small, needle-like blade from the waistband of his leather loin cloth.
She’d heard of this before. Alpha Fergus had almost died from a similar attack in a dominance fight.
Grant, watch out. Kryder has a blade in his possession, very small and needlelike.
I’m not surprised.
She glanced up at the gallery.Ryan is almost done with the wolves. Your pack has incredible discipline.
Yes, they do. One more reason to finish this…now.
She smiled as she said,Do it.
She waved to the wolves around her and spoke quietly. “This is it.”
Each nodded, then secured the net more firmly. Discipline was exactly the right word. She knew Grant ran drills with his wolves over and over and not just those who had warrior abilities or inclinations. All the pack wolves drilled with Grant.
Her heart set up a terrible racket. She knew a thousand things could go wrong and if Grant wasn’t careful, that blade could end his life.
~ ~ ~
Grant descended slowly. He noted Kryder’s left hand curled around what was no doubt the blade Natalie had mentioned.
Her voice entered his mind.The team is ready with the net.
If Ryan isn’t back in time, use your judgment, Natalie. I trust you.
We’ll act as soon as you knock him down again.
That was all he needed to hear as he levitated to once more hover just a few inches above the sand.
Kryder no longer walked but flew toward him. He picked up speed, his left hand now a fist and ready for action.
Ryan’s back,Natalie said.
Good deal.He switched telepathy and threw a final command at Ryan.Kryder has a blade. Let’s take this bastard now.
We’re headed your direction,Ryan said.Try to get him on his back.
Grant bent his knees and kept his eye on Kryder’s abdomen. The direction the muscles shifted would tell Grant which way he meant to move.
Grant saw the lateral shift then swept in and caught Kryder’s left wrist pushing his arm up. The man was strong and began to force Grant’s hand back.
There had never been a question in Grant’s mind that Kryder outmatched him muscle for muscle. He felt it now, the sheer brawn in the man’s arm.
“You thought you’d take me,” Kryder whispered close to Grant’s ear. “You don’t stand a fucking chance. I know you saw the blade, so guess where it’s going?”
Grant strove with all his might to put return pressure on Kryder’s arm. All he felt was a cement-wall of power pushing against his hand. From the corner of his eye, he saw the sharp blade and felt Kryder switch trajectory. He was aiming for his neck.
But Grant hadn’t battled for years or drilled or trained without knowing a couple of tricks. Levitating away from Kryder, he fell backward onto the sand. With his momentum having disrupted the alpha, he kept going until he’d rolled Kryder backward as well.
He felt a sharp pain on his arm as he flew up and away from Kryder.
He turned in time to find the alpha on his tail, a malevolent gleam in his eye. Grant rolled, stretched out parallel and caught Kryder sideways across his abdomen.
