Page 198 of A Kingdom of Wild and Power
‘Scared to fight me?’ Alina called, hoping to provoke her.
Saren only chuckled, clearly seeing straight through the attempt.
When nothing changed, Alina shifted her strategy.
If Saren refused to fight her properly, then perhaps she could use the time differently by wearing her down, tiring her out. And while she did, perhaps she could pry more information from her opponent… truths she could lock away until the moment came when they truly mattered.
‘Why are you helping Hagan? And how do you know him?’
Saren slipped neatly past another of Alina’s strikes and laughed, clearly delighted by the question.
‘Out of everything I’ve said, that’s what interests you?’ she replied. She licked her lips before darting to the right, narrowly avoiding another blow. ‘Hagan is irrelevant. Just another mortal to be used. He leads the witches, and the witchescrave revenge. It was simply…convenient. A perfect way for us to rid ourselves of the kingdoms.’
‘But why do you want to destroy the kingdoms?’
Saren gave a casual shrug. ‘Why not? My sister and I wish to begin again. We will tear everything down and build the world anew.’
‘Your sister?’ Alina frowned, trying to recall everything Hessa had once told her about Saren. She was certain, almost certain, that Saren had never had a sister.
Saren laughed again.
‘Oh, you really are innocent,’ she said mockingly. ‘Thick, too. You truly believe I’m actually Saren.’
Alina nearly stumbled.
Was Saren admitting the truth, that she was not the woman whose body she wore, but something far older… a god inhabiting mortal flesh? No. That could not be possible.
Alina faltered when she suddenly saw Hessa standing beside her.
She looked exactly as she had in life, long brown hair falling over her shoulders, warm sun-kissed skin, and those unmistakable white eyes.
Gods, how Alina had missed her.
‘Don’t give up now, amira,’ Hessa said softly. ‘Fight!’
Alina nodded.
She twisted sharply and lunged at Saren, throwing her entire weight into the attack and forcing the other woman backwards. They both lost their footing and crashed into the sand.
Alina raised the staff high above her head and brought it down with all the strength she possessed. But Saren shoved her aside and rolled clear at the last possible moment, the staff striking the ground where her body had been only a heartbeat before.
Alina lunged again, gripping the staff and driving its tip down with brutal force. But each time she aimed for Saren’s skull, the woman rolled aside just in time, the weapon striking nothing but sand.
Again.
And again.
Frustration burnt through Alina’s chest.
Then Saren’s foot lashed out, slamming into her stomach with punishing force. The blow sent Alina hurtling backwards, the staff flying from her grasp and skidding across the sand, far beyond her reach.
Alina cursed under her breath.
Before she could recover, Saren struck.
Her fist crashed into Alina’s face, splitting her lip. Blood burst from her mouth as her head snapped back. Alina tried to push herself up, but Saren was already upon her.
She dropped down, planting her knees hard against Alina’s ribs and pinning her to the ground.
