Kira moved first.
The blade cut toward Logan's throat, fast and precise, and he barely threw himself backward in time, the edge slicing a thin line across his collarbone instead of ending him outright. He hit the floor hard, his wound from the training yard screaming in protest.
"Kira!" Elena drew her sword and stepped forward, but Kira's free hand shot out, catching Elena's wrist with bruising force.
"Stay out of this," Kira said, her voice flat, controlled. "This is not your fight."
"He is bleeding," Elena snapped, trying to wrench free.
"He will bleed more before this ends, unless he finally shows me what I came here to find." Kira shoved Elena back hard enough to send her stumbling against the wall, then turned back toward Logan without hesitation, the knife already rising for ano
