My fists landed where they could… jaw, shoulder, throat. Not clean. Not pretty. But effective.
Rovan snarled and shoved me hard. I hit the ground on my back, the impact knocking the air out of me completely this time.
For a heartbeat, the sky spun above me.
Get up.
I rolled just as his foot came down where my head had been. I scrambled to my knees, chest burning, sweat slicking my skin.
Don't stay down, Kaelen said inside my mind, his tone flat, almost irritated. Stand.
I pushed myself up, shaking but upright.
Rovan's eyes flicked over me, reassessing. He was breathing harder now too. A thin line of blood traced from the corner of his mouth.
"You're tougher than you look," he said.
I didn't answer.
We circled each other again, slower this time. Measured. The
