The Shang Zhou Shuffle (Virasana Empire: Sir Yaden, #5) by Beryll Brackhaus & Osiris Brackhaus

Author:Beryll Brackhaus & Osiris Brackhaus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Hopepunk, Adventure, Queer, LGBTQ
Publisher: Osiris Brackhaus
Published: 2022-01-12T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9 - Roof Fight

Late in the morning, the flat rooftop of the apartment block was pretty much deserted. It was a perfect space for a good sparring match without unwanted spectators who could feel disturbed by how neither Ivan nor Miya were paying much attention to proper conduct.

It was the day of the Annual Aptitude Test and Talent Show of the district. Yaden was already at the mall, giving the Auspicious Hearth a deep cleaning before the event. Ivan had offered to help, but Yaden had declined, saying that Ivan would only get in the way, which meant that he would be using his psionic abilities to create a small, tightly controlled sandstorm inside the izakaya. Knowing that he would be working his ass off later today, Ivan had instead seized the opportunity to hook up with Miya.

So now they were circling each other, the grit of the roofing crunching under their feet. The air was crisp and humid, the neighbouring apartment blocks rose from the haze like dark islands. But the sun was getting stronger by the minute, the sky above them gaining a pale blue tinge with occasional rays of sunlight reaching down.

Miya lunged at him, and he stepped aside just as much as he needed to avoid her blow. It only served to infuriate her, snarling and trying to hit him with a high kick which he blocked with his crossed wrists.

“FUCK!”, she spat.

Whirling around, she feigned another high kick, but this time coming up from the same motion and trying to double punch him in the gut while he was leaning back. Her speed caught him by surprise, and she actually landed a blow.

Not that the pain registered much, he had suffered much worse at the hands of his birth family. But it kicked up his adrenaline, and soon they were exchanging blows, whirling around each other, Miya dishing out blows like a hailstorm, Ivan blocking most of them. It didn't take long for Miya to become too awash in adrenaline, her blows turning harder and harder, while becoming less and less accurate at the same time. But there was no doubt she was thoroughly enjoying herself – flushed and grinning, she looked alive and happy.

Eventually, she missed what should have been a simple straight right, her hands white and her shoulders cramping with the strain.

“Enough.” Miya held up her hand in the same gesture the fighters in the basement club had used.

She leaned over, bracing herself on her knees, her breath coming in short, hard gasps. With a groaned curse, she dropped all pretence of combat readiness and dropped on her ass. Yet somehow, she managed to grin through all her attempts to get some air back in her lungs. It was the first time she seemed truly at ease.

He wasn't nearly as winded as she was. He could hide much of his skill, but pretending to be less fit was another matter. Though, judging by her relaxed expression, he didn't need to. He

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