Page 71 of The Mech Who Loved Me
Malloryn's calculating gaze slid toward Kincaid. "Trouble?"
"Nothing you need to knowabout."
Sometimes he didn't know why he was there. He was human, half-mech, and a lot of his principles didn't align with Malloryn's. The only thing they shared was the past. Both of them had fought to tear down the corrupt prince consort, though sometimes Kincaid wondered why Malloryn had lifted afinger.
Power?
He'd already been on the ruling Council ofDukes.
And he liked to glide through the shadows, even now. No. Malloryn's motives were completely opaque, and Kincaid wasn't sure if he wanted to know why the man did whathedid.
"You," he said, pointing a finger at the duke and tilting his head toward the mats, "and me.Let'sgo."
Malloryn stilled. "I don't think that's agoodidea."
Kincaid couldn't stop a grin. "Why?" He rolled his shoulders. "Think I'm going to spray those pretty teeth all overtheroom?"
"He's got one hell of a punch on him," Charlie warnedMalloryn.
"Or do you save all those suave moves for a waltz at court?" Kincaidtaunted.
Malloryn's eyes narrowed to thin slits. "If you think you're going to bait me into a match by referring to my conceit, then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I've been called many things in my time. Coward isn't something thatrilesme."
"Pretty boy?" Kincaid suggested, and if possible, those eyes narrowed evenfurther.
"It's probably not a bad idea," Charlie said, his eyes meeting Kincaid's in a brief flash of conspiracy. "If we're attacked, Your Grace, then you'll need to know how to defendyourself."
"I know how to defend myself." Malloryn sounded irritated. "And if you call me 'pretty' one more time, I'll have to assume you're courting me. I've already got someone warmingmybed."
"As well as a fiancée," Charlie pointed out, and Malloryn's scowldarkened.
"No interest in courting," Kincaid said. "Though I'll give you a love taportwo."
The pair of them circled him, and Malloryn's gaze swung between them. Charlie bounced on the balls of his feet, eyes alight in anticipation, "I promise I won't tell anyone if hebeatsyou."
"Fine. Let's do this then. Once." Malloryn pointed at Kincaid. "You, on the mats." Shrugging out of his jacket, he turned that cool look on Charlie. "And to make this even, you can join him. If the two of you can take me down, then I'll forward you an extra month’s worth of wages." Malloryn tossed his coat toward a chair and started unbuttoning his sleeves and rollingthemup.
Charlie crowed, but Kincaid paused. In his experience, it was rare for a man of Malloryn's arrogance to walk willingly intoatrap.
Which made him wonder about Malloryn's fightingability.
He'd never seen the duke fight, though he knew Malloryn was devilishly handy with a pistol. He'd proved that when they all rode to rescue Byrnes lastmonth.
Malloryn wasn't the sort to set himself up for embarrassment. No. He was the sort to set a trap, and as he caught Kincaid's eye, he smiledfaintly.
Son of abitch.
This was going to hurt, hesuspected.
The pair of them danced around the duke as he limbered up. Malloryn had stripped to his trousers, like they had, and the duke was surprisingly muscular for a man Kincaid hadn't seen actuallydomuch.
"Anytime the pair of you are ready," Malloryn said, shooting Kincaid a mocking littlesmile.
He went in, hammering a blow toward Malloryn's weaker side, but the duke was suddenly not there, striking up with a chop of his hand that slammed into Kincaid'sthroat.
He hit the mats, feeling like he couldn't breathe, and knowing Malloryn pulled the blow. Fuck. Charlie was dancing around, faring a little better, and Kincaid swallowed hard, before kicking the duke's feet out fromunderhim.
Malloryn wasn't down for long. He arched his back and flipped onto his feet, turning to keep them both in his line of sight. He looked mildlydiscomposed.
