Page 26 of Shardless
Skye took a step back, and the golden mist crowded around him. She could see the moment he made his decision. The mist shifted, taking on a more corporeal form, and it shot out to her right. So she dodged left, laughing lightly. “You’re going to have to do better than that,Emrys.” Taly couldn’t help giving him a cocky grin as he grasped at empty air.
“Okay.” He stopped to wipe the sweat from his brow. “You’re definitely better than you used to be. I guess I can get serious now.”
“You weren’t serious before?” Taly taunted. She couldn’t help but goad him a little. It was just too much fun. “Remember, if you lose, Aimee’s going to be moving in. And this time, I’ll gladly give her my room. I know you’re going to want her close by.”
Instead of replying, Skye abruptly charged.But Taly was watching his gilded doppelganger, and she anticipated his advance. She waited, letting him get close, before relaxing her body at the last moment, successfully ducking out of his grasp just as he reached for her. His fingers grazed her sleeve, but not enough to grab her. She rolled away, putting some distance between them.
Skye was starting to look frustrated now. He wasn’t used to being beaten. Not by a mortal, at least. He considered her stance, watched her movements—and Taly waited, her eyes trained on the glimmering aura only she could see. While her newfound ability had saved her life more than once on a salvaging run gone wrong, this was the first time she had ever used it in hand-to-hand combat. It was exhilarating.
“Giving up, Emrys?” she challenged.
“Not by a long shot, Caro. I’m going to be seeing you for dinner in two weeks’ time.”
Taly saw the psychic aura shudder restlessly, flickering in and out, starting to take form and then shifting back into a chaotic assembly of particles. He was thinking about flanking to the left, but he wasn’t sure yet.
Let’s help him make up his mind, she thought devilishly. She lowered her arms and stood a little straighter, just enough to relax her defensive posture and create a small opening. Just as she predicted, he took the bait. The aura condensed into a solid form and leaned to the left.
Taly braced herself when she saw him charge, waiting until he came a little closer to dodge. She made a slight miscalculation, however. Skye was fast, even for a highborn. She stepped to the side, but his hand shot out and found purchase in her collar. He dragged her in close, but she wasn’tgoing to be caught that easily. She twisted her body, grasping at the thin fabric of his shirt as she pulled herself forward and slammed her forehead into his nose. He released her as he rocked back and fell to one knee.
Taly giggled as she easily regained her footing and circled him. “That’s two!” she sang.
Wiping away a trickle of blood from his nose, he snapped, “That was a cheap shot, Caro.”
She ignored him. “So, tell me. How exactly do you intend to express your love to the young Miss Bryer? Flowers? Chocolate? Oh, I know,” Taly said, hopping from foot-to-foot. “You’ll probably take her to Halcyon Hill. That’s where you used to take all your dates in Ghislain, right? Oh, Shards—that is so sweet, Skye. I always knew you were a romantic.”
Skye looked up at her, his gaze cold and angry. The golden haze roiled and seethed around him. Taly tensed as she waited for him to determine his next move. She knew him. He was most likely going to charge her again.
A slow smirk began to surface, spreading his lips, and then he sprang forward. But this time, his specter kept pace with his movements.
What’s he doing?!
The aura split as he approached, darting to both the left and right simultaneously. It converged right where she stood. Taken aback by the sudden change, she hopped back a few steps, hoping to dodge his attack, but it wasn’t enough. He feinted right, and then flanked her from the left, grabbing her arm as he shoved her to the ground.
Taly fell, hitting the dirt hard. She had seen him pull back at the last moment, but she was stilla little disoriented. Skye was much stronger than her, even when he pulled his punches.
He was crouched over her now, and he seemed far too pleased. As she started to regain her bearings, she tried to move, first her arms and then her legs. No luck.
Damn.He had her pinned.
Refusing to go down without a fight, she tried again, putting a little more effort into her struggle, only to be rewarded with a smug laugh from her captor.
“You’re going to have to do better than that, Tink.” He smiled as he extended one of her arms, reminding her that she was well and truly stuck. “Do you surrender?”
“I know the rules as well as you do,” Taly dodged, her brows knitting together in a frown.
Skye laughed and pulled at her other arm. “I know. But I want to hear you say it. C’mon, Tink. Let me hear those three little words I love so much. ‘Em, you won.’ C’mon. You can do it.”
He was uncomfortably close as he searched her face, waiting for her to capitulate. She could feel the heat from his body even though they were barely touching, and the way his muscles flexed when she struggled against him made her stomach clench in a very confusing way. When she still didn’t submit, he shifted, letting more of his weight press against her as he pushed her into the ground. All she had to do was surrender, and he would help her up. Everything would go back to normal, and they’d have a good laugh.
She hated losing, though. Especially to him.
“Skylen!”
Taly saw his face fall just before he hung his head. Still unable to move, she whispered, “Andthere’s your biggest fan.”
He snorted humorlessly, his hair tickling her nose as he lifted his head to look at her. “Well, at least I managed to save myself from the horror you would have inflicted upon us all.”
Standing, he reached down and pulled her up with an ease that left her slightly off-balance. His hand hesitated at her waist as he waited for her to find her footing before he reluctantly turned to greet the girl that had just emerged from the house. “Good morning, Aimee.”
