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“You absolutely did not.”

A larger shadow crossed both of them. Kesta looked up and found Dreven standing at the edge of the training circle with his arms folded across his chest. He had apparently come directly from the condenser inspection. Red dust coated his boots and lower armor, while a shallow scrape marked one cheek beneath the dark scales at his temple.

His silver gaze traveled from Tavi lying beneath Kesta to the practice knife at his throat. Amusement warmed his eyes.

“Tavi.”

“Yes, Commander?”

“You appear comfortable.”

“I am sacrificing dignity for education.”

Dreven's mouth twitched. “Then continue.”

Tavi promptly rolled away from Kesta and stood. “I believe the student requires a more advanced instructor.”

“You mean a larger victim,” Kesta said.

“Exactly.”

Dreven held out his hand for the practice blade.

Kesta rose and gave it to him hilt-first. “You think I can't put you down.”

One dark brow lifted. “I think there will be people on this planet you cannot put down. Learning what to do afterward seems useful.”

That was irritatingly reasonable.

“Fine.”

The gathering around them widened.

Dreven took position without drawing the knife. His tail settled behind him, relaxed but not still, and Kesta watched the subtle shifts through his shoulders and hips as she searched for the movement that would betray his intentions.

He noticed.

“Good. Stop watching the weapon.”

“Why?”

“Because I have several ways to knock you down before I need it.”

“You have a very high opinion of yourself.”

His smile appeared slowly. “I have evidence.”

Kesta attacked before he finished the sentence. Dreven moved with an efficiency that annoyed her almost as much as it impressed her. He let her get close enough to believe she had found an opening, caught her wrist, and turned with her momentum. A heartbeat later, her back rested against his chest. His forearm lay securely below her collarbones while his tail curved behind her knees without tightening. Every part of him seemed to surround her. None of it hurt.

His breath warmed the side of her neck. “What now?”

Kesta's pulse jumped. The copper symbols at her wrist brightened. Dreven felt the change in her before she did. His hold loosened immediately, but Kesta did not take the release he offered. Instead she stamped his instep, drove her head backward toward his shoulder, and twisted toward the side where one horn carried an old fracture line. He released her before either of them could be injured. Kesta spun, knife raised.

Dreven's pupils had widened until the metallic silver was little more than a ring.

“You used the fracture.”

“You have been displaying it since I met you.”