Nyktos laughed. “Does that mean you don’t actually plan to throw your life away then?”
Gritting my jaw, I stalked forward. I knew he was taunting me on purpose. He wanted me mad, and it was beginning to work. “You know what I think?”
“Hmm?” Nyktos glanced down at his shirt, flicking a piece of lint from it.
“I think you keep shadowstepping because you know I will land a hit if you stop doing it.”
“I know.” He winked. “But this is more fun.”
Nyktos blinked out of existence just as I swung, reappearing behind me. He continued that way for quite some time, and I started to sweat. I didn’t move when I felt him behind me, knowing he would shadowstep before I could respond.
“Tiring out already?” Nyktos asked.
“A little,” I whispered.
There was a beat of silence. “It could be the Culling—”
I twisted, kicking out. I made contact this time, landing my boot in his stomach. Nyktos grunted as he staggered back. Bright eyes met mine. “Pure trickery.”
Grinning, I started for him, and this time when he disappeared, I knew where he was headed. I swung around, bringing my knee up. Nyktos blocked me.
He tsked under his breath. “You’ll never be fast enough.” He moved, ending up behind me. An arm came around my waist, spinning me out. “No matter how much you try.”
I caught myself, pushing the braid over my shoulder as my heart rate started to pick up. He shadowstepped in front of me instead of behind me as I’d expected—and caught my chin. The grip wasn’t painful at all. “I’m a Primal.”
“Congratulations,” I spat, the words sparking a memory that made the embers in my chest hum as I reached for him, but this time, he was near the pool’s edge.
This was what Taric had been doing, I realized. When I fought him in the throne room. Being reminded of thatdidpiss me off. Because I’d been utterly helpless then. Fighting him had been pointless. I hadn’t been fast enough. Just like I wasn’t here. The crack in my chest hummed, the feeling becoming stronger and stronger as we continued, Nyktos taunting, and me being too slow. It happened over and over until my chest and skin felt like a fire.
Nyktos shadowstepped once more. Then he was behind me, his arms trapping mine before I could even take a breath.
“Godsdamn it,” I growled.
His chuckle was rough as he hauled me back against his hard chest. “Now, how would you get free from me? You can’t reach that dagger or any other weapon, even if you had them. What would you do?”
I strained against his hold, only succeeding in having him draw me closer. “Scream loudly?”
“No.”
“Beg?” I suggested, tensing as I felt his breath on the side of my neck.
“There are very few things I would be interested in hearing you beg for, and your life is not one of them,” he said. “I can feel the essence in you ramping up. It’s there. Charging the air. You can summon the eather. Will it to manifest into energy that can break my hold. You won’t hurt me.”
I had been able to feel it, too. Keyword beinghad. “I’m not worried about hurting you.”
His cool breath grazed the shell of my ear. “Then what’s stopping you?”
“Those few things you’re interested in hearing me beg for.”
Nyktos went still behind me.
I grinned as I pressed my head back against his chest. I knew I should be focusing, but I couldn’t draw upon those embers even if I did feel their power. And now I was feeling impulsive.
And more than a little reckless.
“I bet I can guess at least one of those things,” I said.
There was a beat of silence. “And what would that be?”