Page 61 of Veradel
How many lives do werewolves have?I joke, barely out of breath. No wonder the original Thirteen Guardians were able to take down Veradel with the element of surprise. Fighting a werewolf doesn’t require any training at all. It’s just second nature.
Merrick whistles.Damn, she’s fast.
I already know that, Lucan reminds us.
But you’re stronger,I say, climbing off of him.If you had anticipated my move half a second before it happened and adjusted, you’d have ripped my arm clean out of the socket.
Lucan snaps his teeth hungrily.Got it. Somehow anticipate what you’re about to do, even though you’re doing a damn good job of blocking it out mentally right now.
I can’t explain it,I add,but it’s like I can see everything in slow motion. Maybe if you try to be a little less predictable, do some more feints, it would be harder for me to keep track of your movements.
Noted, Lucan growls.Again.
Oh, hell yeah,Soren hoots. We’ve got ourselves a lovers’ quarrel.
Just as Lucan springs off his hind legs without warning.
I swing out an arm, but Lucan twists in midair before my fist can connect and lands two inches away from where I anticipated.
His momentary triumphant smirk splits through me, which only fuels my competitive edge. I manage to twirl in a circle around him until I’m at his monstrous back, hooking my fingernails into his fur to throw him to the ground. But instead of fighting me on that, he turns his head and clamps his teeth around my right wrist. Not hard enough to break my new marble skin, but just enough to fling me sideways, off of him.
That’s all you’ve got?I tsk breathily as I land on my feet in a crouched position.
Funny you think I’m using my full strength,he replies, already circling me again with a glint in his eyes that suddenly makes me feel like prey in the best way possible.
Don’t go easy on me then!
Just as I’m about to launch myself at him again, he does it first—and leaps completely over my head. Before I can spin around to face him, I feel two large, human hands grab me and push me to the ground until I’m face-first in the grass, spluttering.
I try to kick back, but Lucan’s already on top of me, pinning me down with his giant human body, one hand wrapped around my throat as his canines brush the shell of my ear.
“You look good pinned down beneath me,” he says, licking my throat.
I laugh and squirm against him, although pride bursts through me when he releases me and I turn around to view his triumphant face framed by the halos of the sun above us. “What took you so long?”
“Took me a minute to figure it out,” he observes with an arched eyebrow before he beams and extends a hand to help me up. “How you maneuver. How you calculate your next step and how I should time it. You’re graceful, but in a reactive way. Like your next move is only based on what you think I’m about to do. And knowing how well you can see, I may as well just stay on offense.”
“My turn!” Vivian shouts, bursting our bubble.
Lucan grins, but not before he warns, “Hurt her for real, and you’ll have to answer to me.”
Vivian rolls her eyes, but gives him a sarcastic, “Yes, alpha.”
I turn my focus on her. She’s quicker on her feet, using her small size to her advantage, and manages to pin me within two tries. Merrick is almostas strong as Lucan, but he moves better in the air and manages to pin me in three. Soren, on the other hand, could use a little work.
“Behind you!” he shouts at me a few hours later, pointing over my shoulder, but I shake my head and parry.
“Not falling for it this time.” Not that I should have fell for itlasttime, either, but I’m not about to tell him that.
Soren strokes his chin in apparent contemplation, and I use the opportunity to take a swing at him. He catches me by the wrist, twists, and nearly manages to fling me down before I kick him in the shins. As soon as he releases me with a groan, I pin him to the ground.
Lucan whistles. “This might be easier if you’d just shift into a werewolf, Soren. She’s going to beat your sorry ass every time if you don’t.”
“Listen.” Soren sighs at the first signs of sunset in the sky. “My mother used to say, if you ride bareback first, using a saddle will make it ten times easier.” At my confused expression, he adds, “That’s back when the kingdom had horses and shit.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I pant, getting up.
“Nobody ever does!” Vivian laughs from the sidelines.
