Page 33 of A Touch of Iron
I shook out my hand and tried to release a burst of fire to test it out, but I was completely blocked. Air it was.
The King grinned. “May the best fae win.” With a sly wink, he hurled a gust of wind that flung me back against the throne room’s double doors. My back slammed against the heavy wood hard enough to bounce my head off the frame. I slid down the doors and slumped to the ground, dazed. I fought to catch my breath and not let the pain overtake my senses.
Playing to the audience, he crowed, “Oh, Lady Violet. Don’t gotooeasy on me!”
He grinned and hurled another blast of wind, but this time I was ready. I rolled out of the way and darted around the throne room, dodging each burst of air he chucked my way. He launched air so haphazardly, innocent bystanders got hit in the crossfire. Many scrambled toward the edges of the room to avoid getting hit.
“You can’t run forever, Lady Violet,” the King taunted.
He was right. I couldn’t stay on the defensive the whole time. I would eventually have to fight back, if for no other reason than to save the lives of the onlookers. My mind flashed to one of my first training sessions with Calypso.
“In a fight, before you make the first move, learn to anticipate your opponent’s move. How do you do that?” Calypso asked.
“You watch them first. Stay on the defense,” I answered.
She smiled. “Correct. Everyone has a move they favor over others. If you’re patient, you can learn what it is within the first five minutes of a fight.”
I remembered Calypso’s teachings and dodged the King’s blows, all the while scrutinizing his every move. I narrowed my gaze and determined his tell. He executed a lot of fancy maneuvers that included fanciful, air-filled shapes that packed a powerful punch. Other than a whip or balls of air, Calypso never taught me anything likethat.
Running at full speed, I stopped slightly behind the overconfident King and flung a whip made of air. With a jerk of my wrist, I snagged his ankle and dragged him across the room.
His eyes widened in shock, surprised by how quickly I gained the upper hand. With a satisfied grunt I slammed him against the doors as hard as he did to me. Dropping him to the floor, I started to lob a gust of wind his way when an invisible hand wrapped itself around my throat and lifted me into the air. My legs dangled uselessly and I watched in horror as he raised his hand as if his fingers were crushing my windpipe.
My toes grazed the ground and I scrabbled against the invisible claw that severed my breath. My mind raced with possible moves, but no matter how I tried to relieve the constricting pressure on my neck, I couldn’t free myself.
The King stood and strolled toward me casually with his hand extended in a grip. His face was smug, certain he’d bested me. Slowly, I reached my hand behind my back and found the waistband of my trousers where I’d stashed a dagger. The rules said I couldn’t use any other element besides air, but they didn’t say anything about not using weapons. I learned this trick from Creed. I guess he was good for something.
When he was a few feet away, I whipped out the dagger and flung it at his chest with murderous intent. He moved out of the way slightly, but the dagger struck him on the shoulder. He released me immediately, the smugness replaced by righteous indignation.
The glower on his face was unmistakable. He was furious.
I dropped to the ground on one knee and clambered to my feet, not giving him an opportunity to strike. Every moment was precious; I knew I had to act before he pulled out the dagger and flung it back my way. I cracked another air whip, but instead of lashing his ankles, I wrapped it around his neck.
He gasped for air and now he was the one who struggled to breathe. Holding the air whip with one hand, I used the other one to launch another ball of air, slamming it into his chest. Powerless to prevent the blow, he grunted from the pain, his bloodshot eyes gaping wide in fear.
For a second, I really thought I would win. There was no way he could beat me now. I glanced around the room and watched the eager crowd get to their feet, excited about my potential win. Then I looked at Alec and Ansel, the only ones who looked worried. I couldn’t see the Queen, but I imagined her expression was one of fascinated horror.
My decision made, I loosened my grip enough so he could wiggle free. He staggered and blasted me with all his force, dropping me to the ground with a groan. He pulled the dagger from his shoulder with a pained hiss and encapsulated me in a stifling bubble of air with no way to escape. It was large enough for me to stand upright, but the oxygen filtered out at an alarming speed and I began to sweat.
In a moment of clarity prodded by self-preservation, I decided to tap out and end the duel right then and there. Without a flicker of hesitation, the King released me. I watched the room’s attendees deflate as their hope for my victory was squashed.
Alec hurried to my side and helped me stand as I gasped for air. “Are you all right?” he whispered. I nodded, unable to speak. “You made the right decision,” he whispered again as he held my elbow.
“Well, I guess that answersthat!” The King sauntered over to us, slightly out of breath. “You might be the dragon reincarnated, but you’re no match for me.” He glared, his face tight and pinched.
I knew exactly what he was thinking. He only won because I allowed it. Iwasa match for him.
“Of course,” I murmured, offering a tight smile.
A slow clap caught our attention and we spun around to see the Queen approach.
“Wow, what a duel!” she congratulated in a whimsical voice. “You’re better than I imagined. How sad we don’t get to witness your other powers,” she pouted.
“We’ll have to save that demonstration for another time,” I replied politely, peering over at Ansel.
The Queen extended her hand to me to shake. “I’m the Seelie Court Queen. It’s very nice to meet you,Lady Violet.”
I shook her delicate hand. “Likewise, Your Majesty,” I said, offering a clumsy bow. “Welcome to the Unseelie Court.”
