Nevara
We moved to the center of a padded ring. Ressa bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, relaxed but ready. I mimicked her stance as best I could, fists raised awkwardly.
“Begin,” Kael called.
Ressa came at me fast.
I barely dodged her first jab—pure instinct. My heart launched into my throat as I staggered back, trying to remember anything I’d ever seen in a fight movie.
She didn’t let up. Her second strike clipped my ribs, not hard enough to bruise, but definitely enough to sting.
I gritted my teeth and lunged.
Surprise flickered in her eyes—probably because I didn’t go for a punch. I ducked and swept my leg, trying to take her down.
She jumped it.
Damn.
I swung again. She blocked. Her counter caught my shoulder, spinning me sideways.
I dropped, rolled, and popped back
