Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

Indeed, the pain only made her angry, and she ignored the injury as she stepped neatly sideways around the advancing male, effectively putting both him and Melora in front of her.

And help was coming. From the corner of her eye, Siray could see Genlie rushing towards her, batting away the random attacks of other opponents as she hurtled across the sand, her shoulder-length blonde hair flying back from her face.

Melora, who had only been retreating from Siray as part of the ruse to distract her, now leapt back into the fight, apparently eager to use the brief advantage of numbers to take her opponent down.

So Siray began shuffling back, circling further around to put her back squarely towards the onrushing Genlie. As she moved, she whipped her staff around and inverted the weapon with a neat spin, aiming the tip at the male’s groin.

Predictably, he whipped his own blade around to the defensive and turned his body side-on to minimise the target.

Using this reaction to her advantage, Siray raised her hands on her staff and swung its bottom tip back up and around in a blurring arc, her arms straining as they hefted the entire length of the weapon with speed. The staff connected solidly with the side of the male’s head. He dropped like a stone and Siray smiled with satisfaction.

Then Melora was there, glaring at Siray as the female went all in—desperately attempting to gain the upper hand.

But she was too late—Genlie had arrived.

Side by side, Genlie went low while Siray went high, their combined attack giving Melora two choices. Stand and try to defend herself against a dual attack, or back off. For a moment, Siray thought and hoped that Melora might be stupid enough to stand her ground. But then the female began retreating.

Siray’s hope turned into annoyance, and she was about to begin to circle around to Melora’s other side in order to split her attention between her and Genlie, when another shout came from behind her. Siray whipped her head to the side and back again, the swift glance allowing her to see that there was no attack coming up behind her. Annoyed at the brief distraction, she refocused on Melora.

But then Genlie surprised her. Also hearing the shout, Genlie had also turned to assess the threat too. Unlike Siray, Genlie hadn’t then turned back to continue the fight. Instead, it was like she had completely forgotten Melora existed, and she left Siray and hurried away.

Siray’s anger burned hot at the desertion, but her emotion at the betrayal still wasn’t equal to the simmering hatred she held for Melora. Pushing Genlie’s actions aside as something to be dealt with later—like giving her a sound beating, perhaps—Siray refocused on Melora.

It was an easy thing to do, with Melora’s expression turning from one of surprise at Genlie’s prompt departure to a spreading grin.

That grin snapped something in Siray, and she threw herself forwards, all self-regard forgotten as she let her anger drive her, give her new strength. It felt good to give in to it, a small part of her realised, as she spun her staff in a blurred circle to crush her opponent’s throat.

Yet Melora managed to parry the blow at the last instant, using a deft flick of her staff to knock Siray’s aside.

But Siray’s temper was growing exponentially, the heat of it filling her mind and driving her body. She wanted to end this female who had challenged her, who thought she could compete.

But first she wanted to see her bleed, beg for her life, and announce that Siray was her better.

The look on Melora’s face as Siray launched herself bodily through the air towards her would have been worth the risk of the move itself, if Siray had had the awareness to notice it. But she was too focused to register small details anymore as her mass flew through the space between them and landed fully on the other female, winding Melora and tipping her weight back, until she went sprawling backwards to the ground, Siray landing atop her.

For a moment, Melora lay there unmoving, stunned by the impact and gasping as she tried to regain her breath.

Siray didn’t hesitate but used that instant to spin her staff around her body and press part of its length against Melora’s throat. Brutally holding it there, she applied more and more pressure as Melora struggled, trying to toss Siray off by bucking her hips.

Siray only leaned more of her weight forwards and exerted still more force.

Melora’s movements began to slow as her face slowly turned red, and the female gave up on trying to dislodge Siray and instead attempted to push the weapon away from her throat as her need for air grew.

As Siray’s pulse continued to pound, Melora’s face started darkening to purple, her movements growing weaker with every moment, until her attempts to fight Siray off were reduced to almost nothing.

When Melora’s eyes finally began to close, Siray allowed herself a small, victorious smile, one she hoped the female saw before she passed out.

And when Melora’s entire body went slack, Siray relented for just a breath … and then wondered why. She glanced up towards Master Herrin, who was looking at her curiously, but who hadn’t yet moved to stop her. I can kill her now, she thought, and be done with it.

So Siray leaned forwards, a smile spreading across her face as she moved her staff aside and grabbed either side of Melora’s head.

CHAPTER TEN

‘RRRAAGGH!’

The sound of Genlie’s battle cry startled Siray, and she released her grip on Melora’s skull, her intention to snap the female’s neck forgotten as her friend’s yell reached her.

The first thing she saw upon turning was Genlie fighting fiercely. Her anger, which had stirred earlier when her friend had abandoned the fight with Melora, returned, but it was somewhat balanced now by the realisation of what she was seeing.

Genlie was battling with a viciousness that was unequalled by