Thorns of Fate: Serendipity Saga Book One

Chapter Twenty-Three

Carson darted across the mats toward me, barely allowing me enough time to throw myself wide of him. He stopped but didn't hesitate, dashing closer again. This time, he slammed into my shoulder, knocking me off balance. I barely managed to stumble to a stop and keep on my feet.

He grinned at me, diving forward again. I had expected it this time, knowing he wasn't pulling any punches. I rolled to the side, coming up in a leap and hoping that I hadn't overshot. Fortunately, I came crashing down on his back, flipping over him and lashing out behind me with the sole of my shoe. It connected somewhere near his hip and sent him sprawling forward with a gasp.

He whipped around, snatching his arm out and grabbing my ankle, pulling us both to the ground. I kicked off of him and leapt back to my feet. When I had turned to him, he'd already risen.

His eyes locked with mine and the tension there wasn't entirely related to fighting. I could tell when he kicked his power on because the room suddenly felt like too much space between us.

I sucked in a breath, circling him. He broke the line first, diving into me. I lurched away, hooking my foot across his shins. He went down with a heavy grunt, but again, it didn't keep him down for long.

He jerked toward me and my fastest reaction was to simply lash out with my fist. It connected with his chin and he recoiled, glancing curiously up at me, blood running from his lip. I felt bad for one solid moment but reminded myself that in this scenario, this wasn't Carson. It was Henrick or one of his dozen goons.

I could feel the awareness creeping into my body, the tainted sexual allure rolling off of me. He didn't look different except for a slight glow around his eyes. Though the smile on his face rocked me.

I had to take several deep breaths before I could think of anything other than that smile and his soft, warm lips. Focus. I hissed to myself mentally.

I dove towards him, sliding back onto a leg bent beneath me, one leg extended forward. Once I'd crossed into near enough range, I leapt out, surprising him and knocking him back. My arm stabbed out into his belly and when he looked startled, I loosed the other, Aimee for him chin.

His hand locked around my wrist and I gasped. My vision darkened until there was only him.

He was breathing hard, that trickle of blood nearly dried. His skin glowed now, though it was faint. The glow crept from his fingertips to the skin of my arm and I stared, watching it casually brush across my skin.

Then his mouth was on me.

I could deny him nothing as he pressed kisses onto my lips. I kissed him back, hard. He clutched to me, pulling me into his body. I couldn't seem to get enough breath around him. But it didn't matter. It was still him.

He was stronger than me, even if I hadn't been distracted by the force of his incubus side. He was faster than me too. Which left me with one viable tactic. And for that, I needed space.

I pull magick from the air, pushing it away from me almost immediately. It swelled out and against him in a rush. It didn't break through his barrier, sweeping up his body and out but distracting him just long enough for me to shove into his chest, hurling him away.

I had meant to create distance but what I hadn't meant was for him to go soaring out of the pit and across the room. He managed to land on his feet, narrowing dark eyes on me. I could feel that call radiating across the gym and pulling me toward him.

No. My mind shouted, trying its damnedest to push any attraction I felt away. I whipped my hands forward and was surprised to find that much like it had for Achillia, long streams of magick solidified, forming a long whip extended from my arm. It cast the room in darkness by its brilliant light and where it touched the floor, sparks crackled up like a split wire.