Page 74 of A Sea So Cruel
As if someone were dragging a stick through the dirt around them, a circle drew itself around the two fae males, pushing Asta and the almond-haired guard out.
Then, General Bohr lifted his blade and lunged for Gyrial.
Gyrial blocked his father’s strike with ease, his feline reflexes allowing him to swiftly duck and swing when necessary. Now that the pair were moving fluidly, it was hard to tell the difference between the males aside from their attire.
The fight went on for some time, Asta and the almond-haired soldier pacing around the fight like caged lions awaiting a meal. Whatever magic had drawn the duel ring prohibited them from stepping over it.
Kaid’s heart felt like it would soon beat directly out of his chest. Why would Asta ever involve herself in such a fight? They were accompanied by two siren warriors and a sea dragon, for Knud’s sake. Asta was a brilliant fighter, but she was not trained to battle fae warriors.
Or was she?Gyrial had been the one to train her, after all.
Kaid watched as Gyrial raised his sword and came straight down above General Bohr’s head, the male barely having enough time to bring his enormous blade up and block the blow, but for the first time, the general stumbled back a step. It was just one step, but it was monumental. Asta shouted encouraging words to Gyrial as the other fae soldier begged to be tapped in.
Gyrial attacked with strike after strike, pushing his father back more with each swing of his blade. Although the general was blocking each, he was wearing down.
“Forfeit!” Gyrial shouted in his father’s face. However, his father only answered with a grin before reaching back and tapping the fae soldier’s arm. The magic allowed the third male to enter the fight.
The soldier sprung forward, diving for Gyrial. But General Bohr did not back down. He, too, continued toward Gyrial with an onslaught of hits.
Kaid didn’t understand. The general had tapped out, so why was he still fighting? Asta was clearly thinking the same thing as she watched, bewildered.
“You cheat!” Gyrial bellowed as he was pushed back by the two opposing fae.
“You were never good with fae wording, son,” General Bohr laughed. “I said tap in your second as needed. I never said that meant you tap out.”
Kaid then realized what that meant. Even if Gyrial tapped Asta in, it would still be two incredibly powerful fae warriors against an out-of-practice fae soldier and a human-born siren. Kaid only hoped that Asta learned to use her merfolk strength and agility quickly.
Asta reached out her arm multiple times, attempting desperately to reach Gyrial in order to tap in.
“Tap me!” she insisted.
“No!” Gyrial responded.
He would rather lose—or die—then let Asta enter the fight. He never planned on letting Asta duel. Kaid suddenly earned respect for the male, and though they sought after the same woman, he knew that they would both give their lives for her as well.
Gyrial just barely parried a hit to his shoulder—which would have severed his arm—using his short sword as Asta screamed. Her shrill noise caused distraction for a moment, and Kaid’sheart stopped as Gyrial’s hand connected with hers on his withdrawal from the attack.
It was Asta’s turn.
The blonde princess came in like a hurricane made of steel. She did not parry using a short sword, but instead, opted for holding two long swords. Kaid couldn’t believe her strength as she battled with two swords that, before his transformation, Kaid could barely hold himself.
Though Gyrial was clearly distraught with her maneuvering her way into the duel, he did not let that stop him from joining her. Together, they moved in unison, pushing the other pair closer and closer to the boulder path.
Asta jumped as Gyrial’s father swung for her shins and before her feet landed back on the ground, she struck his exposed elbow with her sword. Blood sprayed from the wound, decorating the warriors and dirt in red. She was the first to draw blood.
Asta hissed, bearing her siren teeth, but Kaid realized before it was too late. A bloodthirsty, newborn siren was like no other creature.
She moved so quickly that she was a blur. The only part of her that was discernable was her blonde tresses. The almond-haired soldier stumbled, falling flat on his back. Gyrial took advantage and kneeled above the male, holding his sword to his throat and pinning his arms to the forest floor with his knees. The soldier let out a grunt, his feet kicking but ineffective.
General Bohr made the mistake of glancing toward his partner for only a millisecond, and that’s all the little blonde siren needed. She kicked the male square in his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. He doubled over and she kneed him in the face, his nose making a crunch of defeat. Blood once again sprayed and covered Asta, but she did not stop. She grabbed the male’s hand and wrenched the sword from it, tossing it far awayfrom the fight. Then, she grabbed the general by the back of his head and yanked him until his knees hit the ground.
Asta bent down and spoke so closely to the general’s face that spit smattered his skin. “Forfeit, or I swear to the gods I will snap your neck and leave you here.”
General Bohr swallowed loudly before whispering, “I forfeit.”
Soren let out a surprised laugh and Kaid heard Tova whisper, “Fuck yeah, asshole” under her breath.
Asta, however, did not let go of the general’s locks. “You will also apologize to your son.”
