Page 75 of Castor
“Of course you are.” Baxter glowered at him. “I wonder who will fall prey to your charms next, you licentious asshole.”
“That’s a big word. I’m impressed.”
“Piss off.”
Taking advantage of her distracted opponent, Lysandra grabbed Baxter’s arm and threw him over her shoulder, slamming him to the dirt. “Keep fighting like this and you won’t make it five seconds when the real battle begins.”
“This is painful to watch,” Kyo said from beside me. He had transformed back into a human, and a part of me missed the dragon side of him I’d seen earlier that day when we’d swam together.
“Baxter is actually a good fighter,” Naida said, intently watching them. “Lysandra is just on a whole other level. A lot can be learned from her.”
Lysandra threw him to the dirt three more times before he finally managed to kick her feet out from under her and pin her down. She smiled. “Good!” And then she backhanded him across the face, knocking him off her.
“That was dirty,” Baxter said, wiping blood from his lip.
“You think battle will be fair, pinky?” Lysandra poked him in the chest. “Always expect your opponent to play dirty. Because they will.” She looked over at us standing at the edge of the field. “Who’s next?”
“I’ll have a go at you,” Raiden said before shoving the last of the pineapple into his mouth.
“Then get over here.”
Bellamy grinned. “This should be interesting.”
Lysandra tossed Raiden a long stick like the one she held, and right when he grabbed it, she dove in for the attack. But Raiden had anticipated it and blocked her blow before knocking her backward. Shock crossed her face as she stumbled a bit.
“Impressive,” she said, walking in a slow circle around him. “You’re quick for someone of your size.”
When she lunged toward him again, he dodged her with no trouble.
“Damn,” Baxter said, watching them. His busted lip was already healing, as were the bruises on his chest and sides. “He makes it look easy.”
A memory surfaced of me and Raiden training together as young boys. He had cried a lot back then, not wanting to fight, but Lazarus had toughened him up. Made him a warrior.
Sirena and her clan were skilled. No doubt about it. But there was a reason Raiden and the rest of us cursedwarriors were considered the most powerful of all the Nephilim. Not only for our powers but because fighting had been ingrained in each of us from a young age.
“Holy shit!” Baxter exclaimed when Lysandra was knocked on her ass.
Raiden held out a hand to help her up, and she slapped it aside before jumping to her feet. She tossed her stick to the dirt, and Raiden dropped his too. Fury consumed Lysandra as she lurched toward him again. She grabbed his arm and tried to body-slam him, but he pivoted on his heels and threw her to the ground instead.
“How long are they gonna go at it?” Bellamy asked, hand resting on his cheek as he leaned against the fence. “The sun’s going down.”
Both of them were drenched in sweat. Raiden had knocked her down each and every time, yet she refused to admit defeat.
“That’s enough for now,” Sirena said, appearing at the edge of the training arena. Her red hair was pulled back from her face and braided down her back, with a few strands falling free. “We must speak.”
Lysandra bowed her head to Sirena before approaching Raiden and holding out her arm. “Though my pride is wounded, I must say the challenge of fighting you was appreciated. It’s been many years since I’ve met someone with your skill set.”
“Ah, thanks.” Raiden clutched her forearm. “We can have a rematch anytime.”
She smiled. “I look forward to it.”
Other warriors approached the field, attention on their leader. Since our arrival the night before, the high-ranking warriors in her force were told of our reason for being on the island, but the others hadn’t.
“For many years, we have protected humans,” Sirena said. “And now the time has come for us to join forces with other Nephilim and defeat an even bigger threat to humanity.” She told them about Asa and the army he was building, and when she revealed that he was the son of Lucifer, the surrounding females bared their teeth, a hiss passing throughout the arena. “He will not succeed. We will make sure of it. Are you with me?”
In unison, they released what sounded like battle cries. Some pounded their spears in the dirt, while the ones standing around the fence banged their fists on the wooden poles.
“That’s kind of hot,” Bellamy said.
