Page 76 of Battle Lines

Height and build suggested a male opponent.

Since Lombardi had been my only sparring partner, having someone larger and stronger than me wasn’t anything new. Lombardi had accompanied them out and like me, the new opponent said nothing.

“Standard rules, avoid mask strikes.” That was not our standard rule, but I got it. “Keep all body targets to the torso. Maintain your distance. Two blade strikes require a back step.”

More new rules. I pursed my lips. Because to object, I’d have to say something. It was a cagey choice, but I could hardly fault him. He might be rethinking his decision, but I was ready for the freshness of the fight.

“After the first match, you may choose to do a second and potentially a third. Either of you can call it by lowering your sword. Understood?”

I saluted him and I wasn’t alone.

“Well done,” he complimented us both. “Take position.”

I shifted my focus to my new opponent, and what buzzing thoughts still managed to haunt me silenced utterly. I didn’t know this swordsman. I didn’t know his tells or his style. I could play it two ways. The most obvious was to be safe and force him to come to me, while disguising my own abilities.

The second was far more fun. I went straight to engagement. To my delight, they didn’t retreat but engaged swiftly. Two strikes of our blades flowing off each other as we backed off. Then again. The parry, riposte, parry demonstrated his training was at least as involved as my own. More, he’d trained with Lombardi because I recognized a couple of moves. Including the slide and slap against my hand guard that threatened to disarm me.

Laughter surged through me as I danced backwards. The motion required absolute focus, so I didn’t trip while I kept his sword engaged, and then I was under his guard. I managed two points for the one I sacrificed to him. Then he retreated, forcing me to pursue. If the battle was going to be one of endurance, he might very well win because I was already tired before we started.

As it was, we actually scored to fifteen at exactly the same moment and Lombardi applauded as we straightened to salute each other. The interior of my mask was humid and the sweat made me sticky. The headband kept it out of my eyes, but barely.

When my opponent lifted his blade to hold the salute, I recognized it for what it was. A challenge.

He wanted round two.

My mind wasn’t a whirlpool of madness anymore. If anything, my thoughts came into sharp, almost painful focus. This was better than I could have hoped for as a result.

Yes, I would go one more round.

I met his salute with one of my own. Lombardi called for us to begin and everything faded away. The night before. The day. Lombardi. The room around us. Everything drifted off and we were swiftly attacking and retreating. I wanted to laugh because in some ways this wasfunand in others, it was fulfilling.

I enjoyed it so much that I almost didn’t mind losing, seeing as he scored his fifteenth point on me fair and square. Lombardi actually swore.

“I’ll be damned, both of you,” he said, mopping at his flushed face with a handkerchief. “I told you to obey the rules and to avoid the facial strikes.”

“We did,” a voice I would know anywhere said. “She’s a fine opponent, Lombardi, and you were right. This is exactly what I needed.”

I stared at my opponent as he stripped off his gloves and mask. Sweat slicked down his hair as he stared at me.

Adam.

How thefuckwas he Adam?

“I need to meet this talented creature.”

“Reed,” Lombardi warned. “I told you the rules, specifically.”

“Rules are meant to be broken,” Adam said. The angry splotch of darkness on his cheekbone and down his jaw was a vicious testament to the battle we’d waged the night before. “Don’t you agree?” The last he said to me and I shook my head.

No, I didn’t want to introduce myself.

Not when I’d just found a sense of peace.

I shook my head, backed up a step, and then pivoted to leave the training room. I barely made it a step.

“Dammit, Lainey,” Adam said with a sigh. “I know it’s you.”

If not for the slack-jawed look on Lombardi’s face, I might have been more irritated with the man. Of course, Adam knew it was me and Lombardi hadn’t known.

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