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Xavier tipped his head, studying me. “What does she smell of?” he asked Cameron.
Cameron raised his head and inhaled deeply, his lips curving in a slow smile. “Cinnamon. The same as the lovely fragrance Imogen said Samkiel never brought her.”
“You,” Imogen hissed, glancing at Cameron for confirmation before turning back to me. “You were the one who wore my face that day.”
I held my hands up in mock surrender and wiggled my fingers in a small wave. “Guilty.”
Twin fireballs appeared in my hands the next second, and I threw them at Imogen and Xavier, sending them flying backward. Cameron ran at me, jumping onto the table. My leg shot out, sending the large marble table flying into the nearest wall with him on it. Books flew through the air, the wall shaking from the force. The ring Camilla had made me vibrated, a forsaken blade appearing in my hand as I spun.
The sound of blade on blade rang out in the council hall and Xavier’s eyes widened. He took in the jagged bone edges and my red eyes and knew exactly what he was dealing with.
“Ig’Morruthen.” The word left his mouth on a whisper.
I shoved him a step back, his braids swinging with the force of the push. I twirled the blade in my hand and took a step forward. “Shocking, isn’t it?”
A shiver of power came from behind me, and I spun to my left, meeting Imogen’s and Cameron’s blows. I was out-skilled and outnumbered at three against one, but I would hold my own, blocking every slash and countering every move. I remembered how fast they moved, where they moved, and the feeling of power that went with them each time.
“You have to breathe, Dianna. Otherwise, you’ll be winded and dead.” Samkiel spun that stupid wooden staff again. I wanted to snatch it out of his hands and shove it up his ass. I lay on my back on the mat as he circled me. His movements reminded me of a predator, slow and assessing. His eyes stayed on me in a way that said he could eat me alive but chose not to.
“I know how to fight, you ass.” I flipped up from the ground, firmly landing on my feet as I raised my staff, knocking his out of the way. He stood in front of me and grinned.
“Yes, other creatures maybe, but not me and not—”
“The Hand.” I sighed and rolled my eyes as I waved my hand. “I know, I know. You only tell me every day.”
His smile grew, but he was right. Bruises and red marks marred his perfect bare chest, evidence of the hits I had managed to land, but I couldn’t take any of them, not yet.
I shrugged. “I mean, it’s not like I am ever going to fight you or them.”
“No, but I’d still like you to be prepared for whatever is coming.” He raised his staff and lightly tapped the top of my head, causing me to scowl. “Now, less talking. Remember to breathe, think, and focus. Every move has to be premeditated, not driven by emotions or feelings, or you’ll be sloppy. I have a feeling Kaden will use both against you. He will seek to make you falter, and then,” he disappeared and reappeared in front of me, sweeping me off my feet again, “you’re dead.”
I glared at him as I hit my ass once more. At least Drake wasn’t watching us this time. I couldn’t stand to hear him laugh at me again as I got my ass handed to me.
Samkiel read my expression and cocked his head. “Just try to feel for me.”
I swallowed hard. How could I not? I felt him the day I met him, and my awareness of him grew with every moment we spent together. Even when I avoided him, trying to keep my distance, I still felt him.
“Watch the air around me. You will see the molecules charge as we pull the energy to move so quickly.”
He disappeared and reappeared on the other side of me. “If you pay attention and feel it, you’ll catch even me.”
I nodded and jumped to my feet. Samkiel smiled at me with possessive pride.
“You’re a quick little bird.” Cameron’s voice came from my left just before I felt the air shift, and he appeared on my right. My blade sang as I swiped at his head. He bent back, my strike narrowly missing. “Really quick.”
Even in fight mode, he seemed impressed. Rubble moved behind me as Xavier extracted himself from a pile of debris. “You will not defeat us, Ig’Morruthen. We were trained by Samkiel,” he said, all traces of the easy-going warrior gone. Now he was a pure death dealer, and he had me in his sights.
“Trained by Samkiel?” I snickered. “Funny story. So was I.”
Imogen thrust her sword at me, aiming for my middle. I grabbed her wrist and slammed the hilt of my sword against it. She dropped her blade, grunting as I spun with her in my arms. Cameron and Xavier froze.
I wrapped Imogen’s long blond hair around my fist and slammed her head against the broken table. Her body went limp. I picked her up and tossed her across the room. Spinning, I grabbed Xavier’s blade, stopping it before he could run me through with it. The steel cut my hand, but I held on, our gazes locked.
A second burst of energy behind me heralded Cameron’s attack. It felt like fire licked my back with a razored tongue as he slashed at me. I dropped Xavier’s sword and dodged, barely avoiding his strike as he spun, aiming for my head. I fell and rolled away from a kick from a heavy boot. Jumping to my feet, I had about two seconds to remember why I’d been so wary when I’d first met them. I had two seconds to dodge, to move, to escape them. It was like watching a deadly dance. For every move Cameron made, Xavier had an equal one. Where one pushed, the other pulled. They were a deadly duo, and I was growing tired of them both.
I watched and allowed them to get closer. Cameron sliced at my shoulder, and Xavier went for my legs. The pain was blistering, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I pulled them in, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses. I studied the steps to their dance, learning which tactics and skills made them so deadly. One would kick lower, the other aiming higher. One would swing a blade left, the other right, waiting for their opponent to dodge one and get caught on the other. They would be unstoppable if it weren’t for one thing. I had nothing left to live for, and they did.
Cameron’s blade swung left, and I moved, raising mine as Xavier thrust from the right. I threw my sword to my other hand, my fist shooting out and connecting with Xavier’s face. He dropped to his ass with a thud. Cameron ran toward me. I spun in a tight circle and side-stepped, my blade flashing. Xavier’s eyes went wide. Cameron halted, his next breath a gurgle.
