Page 23 of Dragon Me Through Space

That explained the pads on the ceiling.

The sounds of them hitting each other were so loud that I cringed each time.

“Breathe,” Preston whispered.

I exhaled. “I am.”

He chuckled.

Okay, I hadn’t been, but it was just because their fight was so intense.

Their fight moved all around the room and even came close to us, but Preston shoved Wayne away when he got close.

“When they spar like this, they lose track of their surroundings,” Gage explained as he came to stand on my other side. “That’s why we had to make the room so large.”

“They jumped so high that they busted through a floor,” Preston said with a chuckle.

“That’s pretty dangerous to do while on a spaceship,” I whispered, my eyes still focused on the two fighters who didn’t look like they were tiring.

“Yes, that’s why we put the pads,” Preston said.

I glanced at him with an arched brow. “How do the pads help?”

“If you hit the pads too hard, they shock you,” he answered.

Note to self: Do not get slammed against the pads.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Your turn,” Preston said. “Who do you want to spar with?”

I shrugged. “That’s up to you.”

He beamed. “Wonderful, then you get to fight me. I wasn’t able to witness any of your feats and I’d like to see what you are capable of.”

“Don’t go easy on him,” Zeke said from his spot sitting on the floor.

Wayne and he had decided on a draw instead of continuing their fight once they’d started bleeding. They said that they hated trying to get their bloodstains out of the pads.

With a nod to Zeke, I walked out to the middle of the room and took a ready stance.

Preston stood before me and raised his hands up to his face. “Ready when you are.”

“Sixty percent,” I whispered.

Scout chirped an acknowledgement.

Preston scowled. “Using your toy is not allowed.”

“I’m not using it,” I told him. “I’m providing notes for the recording.”

“Recording?” he asked.

I nodded. “I record all of my fights to analyze later. To see what I could improve and to learn my opponents’ moves should I fight them again later.”

He smirked. “You may record whatever you want of our time together, pet.”

My cheeks warmed and I dropped down, attempting to sweep his legs out from under him.