Not my problem.
He ignored her obvious disgust and locked them in together. The hum of the mesh steels reversal surged to life. His gift returned to him,
following by white noise. It was a signal deep in his brain to prepare. The collar felt lighter. He stretched his neck from one side to the other. Muscles and joints loose. Ready for battle.
So what can you do? she asked, arms crossed.
Im Clan Garnis. What do you think?
Speed. Reflexes.
In a blink, he shot behind Nynn. His crooked elbow held her in a chokehold. She gagged when he pressed just above her collar. A great deal of speed, and excellent reflexes.
His reflexes were so astonishing that, on occasion, he felt as if he could see his opponents moves before their minds twitched with the thought. To his knowledge, there were no other Cage warriors of Clan Garnis. He had no one to ask. Besides, why would he reveal something so advantageous to anyone he might one day face?
He shoved her away. Nynn landed on hands and knees on the padded floor. A coughing fit arched her back.
Fight me, he said. Or I get nasty.
She held up her middle finger.
Another blink of speed. Another surge of power. He kicked her in the gut.
She clutched her stomach and clasped one hand over her mouth, as if she was ready to be sick. The heavy supper would fuel her body. Eventually. Right now it was a hindrance. Hed be impressed if she managed to keep it down.
This will only get worse if you resist.
With blond hair in disarray around her heart-shaped face, Nynn glared at him. Fiercely. Her unearthly blue eyes took on the intensity of a predator. Leto was surprised by the snap of primal awareness. Manhandling her, watching her wash, hearing her begnothing had jolted him so strongly. Instead, it was her outright defiance.
A killer instinct, with titanium behind it. A true warrior.
He had hoped for competence. Maybe even skill. The wrath in her expression was a bonus that affected him physically. He would teach her, watch her win, and then he would have her for his prize.
Shaking his head, he reminded himself that her training was his true goal.
Again, a blink. He moved with speed that could barely be seen, or so he was told. He landed a punch against her right kidney.
You freak! Give me a chance, for the Dragons sake.
You speak of the Dragon but you lived as a human, he said, not even winded. Its blasphemy.
I cant help how I was raised.
Bullshit, as you say. Leto leaned against the mesh steel. You were cast out, I assume. I cant imagine he was worth it.
She stood. Slowly at first. Knees unsteady. She lifted her chin. That killer instinct had returned. Leto breathed in and relished the sight.
He was worth everything Ive endured, everything I ever will. And youve never felt its like.
Anger lifted in Letos chest. Almost pain. Almost shame. Because she was right.
Blink. Kick to the lower back. Scream.
This time she didnt fall. She whirled on the balls of her feet. The blaze of her silvery eyes caught with his. An uncanny glow stopped him cold.
Fireworks.
He tried to shake away the illusion, but it remained. Intensified. Thousands of fireworks bubbled inside a concentrated circle between Nynns hands. Sparks. Pinging blasts of flame were trapped in a sphere of energy that built and builta balloon ready to burst. Her face contorted. Sweat trailed down her cheeks. She shrieked with the fury of a Pendray in the throes of a full berserker rage.
The bubble burst. Leto scrambled out of its path, but even he wasnt fast enough.
Pure concussive force threw him against the mesh steel. He hit face-first and grunted. He couldnt hear. Had he landed on the brushed concrete of the genuine Cage, he wouldve busted both kneecaps. With any more force, she wouldve broken every bone in his back.
He used the mesh steel to climb to his feet, ready to defend himself. But Nynn was on her hands and knees, shaking.
He hadnt expected her to leave her first Cage match with all four limbs intact. Part of him hadnt believed the pictures of Dr. Asters damaged lab. A hoax? An incentive to challenge him? Yet Nynn possessed the most remarkable gift hed ever witnessed. She was a volcano bursting open and flinging burning, breakneck debris.
Nynn rasped, What was that? Then she sagged onto the Cage floor.
He staggered forward. His extraordinary senses returned.
From a corner of the arena room came slow, deliberate clapping. A shuffle and the thump of a cane followed. Letos gaze sliced through the darkness. Entirely bald and pushing eighty years, Old Man Aster emerged from the shadows. His maniacal grin carved wrinkles into the pantomime of a clowns smile. He was only missing the face paint. His sallow complexionafter having spent
most of the last five decades belowgroundwas eerie enough.
No matter his value to the Asters, Leto was always disturbed by that warped, skeletal appearance.
I told you. His voice was cultured, but scratched by his advanced age. Shes amazing. Shell rival you one day, my champion.