"Ugh!" Nina struggled to rise, gritting her teeth as pain flared through her body. But she wouldn't stay down. She turned sharply, sprang to her feet, and charged at the emperor once more—hands raised like a beast ready to tear into its prey.
Too bad Emperor Kaan was about as rippable as a steel wall.
"Oh, does that hurt?" he drawled, faux sympathy dripping from his voice. The smirk on his face made it clear—he wasn't even trying to be convincing.
Nina spat thick, red blood onto the ground, gripping her stomach like she was holding in her own intestines. Honestly, it felt like she might be. But she wasn't about to show it. Showing pain was the fastest way to losing, and she'd rather die than give him the satisfaction.
Instead, she sneered, her expression all but screaming, Oh, I see what you're doing, you smug little jerk.
