BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

stubbornness. 
    She aimed at his shoulder, shocked when her weapon skipped off and connected with the side of his neck.  Gasping, he staggered to his knees, disoriented, and Sal flicked an ear at Zep – who said nothing.  Her fellow soldier couldn't take more of this, she decided.  It was time to end it.
    The staff fell from her hand as she pulled the practice knife from her belt.  Darting in, she looped her left arm around his neck, flowing with his movement as he tried to spin.  Her right hand held the knife securely at Kinetry's throat, the point to his jugular, and she squeezed slightly while he pulled at her arms.  Zep just watched, showing no signs of calling the match.
    "What more do you want?" she snarled at the Blade.
    "Could you do it?" Zep countered.  "Could you finish him, or just secure him for a stronger, harder soldier to come clean up your mess?"
    She tightened her arm on Kinetry's neck and growled, locking her ears back.  Humans always assumed her small size meant weak.  Always!  She would show him just how "weak" she was.  Her lip curled slightly, the low, deep sound resonating in her throat.  Eyes locked with Zep's, Sal held the pressure while Kinetry's struggles grew weaker, his hands struggling to pry her arm from his throat.  With one leg shoved against his back, she waited for the weight of his sweet-smelling body to be completely in her control.  Eventually, his eyes rolled in his head and his mass sagged to the ground. 
    Zep finally called out, "Luxx wins!"
    She eased the man down while he gasped for breath, then stepped back.  Shift, Riblour, and Saong stood just meters away, the scent of their surprise strong on the spring breeze.  Shift moved to Kinetry's side, placing his hand on the recruit's neck to check his vitals with a deep sigh.  Slowly, Kinetry's breathing eased and his eyes fluttered open. 
    "Sorry, man, you lost," Shift told him.
    "I knew I would," Kinetry croaked through his damaged throat.  "I saw her that first day, and no one taught me how to beat that type of agility."
    At the respect in his ragged voice, Sal's anger subsided, leaving shame for her lack of control in its wake.  Maybe the humans were right.  She'd done it again, acting like little more than the beast they accused her of, all because the human had taunted her.
    "Zep," Shift said, never taking his attention from the man on the ground, "you're supposed to shake the hand of the victor." 
    Still glaring, Zep offered his hand and Sal grasped it, expecting the rotten feel of human flesh.  To her surprise, his mind crawled weakly into her consciousness, his touch warm and pleasurable.  Standing so close to him, she smelled nothing but human sugar, but otherwise he felt like the other Black Blades. 
    I didn't think you had it in you, he admitted, I was wrong.  I just don't want fancy footwork to be all I have to back me up if things go bad.
    Dark eyes glared at her with seeming hatred, but his mental voice acknowledged that she'd impressed him.  Slightly.  She sent the equivalent of a mental nod, having nothing else to say, and held her lips closed.  He was like no human she'd met before, and she didn't trust him.
    Kinetry was assisted to his feet and taken to the infirmary while Shift escorted his group back.  The other recruits lounged around the fountain with LT, relaxed and waiting.  Their conversation hummed in excited tones.
    Sal moved to a clear spot.  Riblour and Saong sat with a group of recruits across from her, keeping their distance.  She could see them talking, their heads turned in her direction.  No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, telling herself that soldiers loved to gossip and the rumors would only make them keep their distance, it didn't stop the resentment.  Evidently, she'd never be anything but a freak.
     
     

 
    Chapter 4

     
     
    Around the courtyard, stablehands were lighting lanterns, easing the grip of coming night.  The warm glow cast flickering