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"No. It was. And you did the right thing. You went for a vulnerable place." He shook it off, righting himself.

Elise backed up a step then placed her hands on her hips. "So, what's this about letting your guard down too much? How easy are you making this for me?"

Nezka tilted his head in a shrug.

Elise threw up her hands. "How can I learn to get better if you go easy on me?"

"I'm trying not to put you back into the same state you were in when we first came here."

"But somebody else might," Elise countered. "If I can be faster than them, then there's a lesser chance of that happening."

"Maybe." Nezka started back across the courtyard.

Elise went after him, catching his arm. "One fight," she said, walking beside him. "At your best. I just want to see."

Nezka snorted. "No, you don't."

"I do!"

She watched him roll his eyes then stop and look down at her. "You really don't know what you're asking. I could seriously injure you. Remember how you said you'd never had a broken bone?"

"I trust you won't mess me up that much."

Nezka laughed. "I don't trust me."

He went to move, and Elise caught his arm again. "Please."

He glared down at her, and Elise shot him with her best dolly-eyed look. He turned toward her and sighed. "One. One fight. But as soon as I make a clear hit, we are done."

Elise grinned. She moved back into the courtyard and took position, raising her fists and taking up the stance he taught her.

Nezka placed himself opposite her and didn't so much as lift his arms. "Ready?"

Elise nodded. "Yes."

"Go."

Nezka shot over and was on her so quick Elise almost missed her block. He swung so fast and hard that all she could do was dodge and shield herself from his blows. Even with her armor, she could feel the hits to her arms all the way to her bones. She circled, jumping back, never hesitating for a second, trying to keep up with him. To her dismay, she found herself retreating farther from the middle of the courtyard until she was at the door. She never turned her back to run, but his attacks never stopped. Heart racing, she led him down a passage and back into the main foyer where she was also forced to step around fallen pieces of glass and metal while escaping his blows. At one instance that she ducked his punch, his fist landed on the side of a stone obelisk in the middle of the room, and a piece of it shattered and crumbled to the ground.

Elise cursed. Thinking quick, she rolled to the side then jumped up. As he turned, she saw an opening and went for it. She swung out her leg, hoping to strike his midsection, but Nezka was too quick. He swerved away from her kick and instantly stepped to the side, snapping out his arm.

His fist collided with her chest, and she went flying back, the air sucked out of her lungs as she landed on her ass and slid across the floor. She lay back, stunned, the glass roof above going in and out of focus. She thought she heard a growl from somewhere and tried to lift her head when Nezka was beside her, lifting her into a sitting position. Elise blinked and gazed up at him.

He looked pissed.

"Are you hurt?" he asked in an angry growl.

Elise opened her mouth but for a moment couldn't seem to speak. She touched at her chest and looked down and found the armor plate cracked on one side. Oops.

She took a deep breath but was relieved to feel no real pain. She glanced back at him and smiled. Then quickly dropped the grin when his expression didn't change.

"I'm all right, honestly," she said. "That was incredible."

His eyes narrowed as he studied her. His hand lay flat against the middle of her chest, as if his touch could gauge whether she told the truth. His face came close to hers, and he closed his eyes. Elise went still, noticing his other arm was around her back. She watched his face, noting the skin was beginning to heal where it was burned, his teeth were nearly covered with a new layer, and she could no longer see his cheekbone. Now there was only pale new skin forming over it. Where he was still purple in shade, she was close enough to notice a set of small scales knitted tightly together, kind of like a snake, making what she assumed was a smooth surface. She had a sudden crazy urge to touch and see if it really was smooth. Her hand started to lift up when his eyes opened to look back at her and all she saw was bright orange.

"You’re fine," he concluded. He released her and stood, pulling her up with him. Elise wiped dust from her suit.

"Well, at least I held my own for a small time. Next fight will be different when I've practiced more."