Avenger (A Halflings Novel) - By Heather Burch Page 0,1
skills were still amazing.
Even when outmatched, there’s always a way to win. Find the hole in the machine. Then throw a wrench in it.
So Deux was a better fighter. It didn’t matter. One thing this journey, this new life, had taught her was that things could change in an instant. Her whole world had. One second she was a semi-normal teenage girl, the next she was a Halfling. But her transformation of sorts gave her one serious advantage: the awareness brute strength — even Halfling strength — wasn’t the only way to win a fight.
Nikki smiled and blinked a few times, ignoring the pain now flooding her lips. She lowered her hands and loosened her body posture. When she dropped a shoulder and cocked her hip flirtatiously — a move she’d learned by watching Glimmer — Deux’s hands fell to his sides.
His gaze drifted down over her while she pretended not to notice. And to add to her attractive assault, Nikki pulled the two pencils out of her hair — her makeshift hair clasps — and tossed them to the ground. Her long hair cascaded around her shoulders, and when the wind grabbed it she shook her head, letting the breeze have its way. Deux was helplessly pinned — a boy attracted to a girl, one who suddenly seemed interested.
“I could learn a lot from you.” Nikki’s voice dropped to a purr. “Like those blocks. Could you teach me?” Being this bad shouldn’t come so easy. But she didn’t want to linger on that truth.
“I would enjoy teaching you many things, Cherie.” He took a few steps toward her, one brow arched seductively.
Except it wasn’t seductive at all. It made her want to snicker. She bit her cheeks to keep from laughing, because he was playing right into her plan. He mistook her reaction for more flirtation and winked.
For a while, she listened as he instructed her on the blocking technique. She took it all in and waited for the right moment to strike. When Deux rocked back on his heels and crossed his arms over his chest, the opportunity arrived. He was no more ready for an attack than a duckling in a pond was ready for the alligator lurking just below the surface.
Snapping with her signature jumping front kick, she planted her foot against Deux’s stomach. Rock-hard abs softened and his body flew back as if yanked by a string. He landed on his behind with a roar of laughter rising around him.
From his seated position, feet straight out in front of him, he shook his head. “I can no longer consider dating you, Nikki. I’m sorry, but trust is paramount in a relationship.”
She giggled — just couldn’t stop herself — and reached out a hand to help him up. “You can trust me.”
“It is not you I’m concerned about. I cannot possibly trust myself with such a wild animal. You are driving me crazy.” Before she could pull away, he tightened his grip on her hand. His foot slid against hers. After a powerful tug, she landed on top of him.
She tried to roll off, but Deux’s arms were suddenly everywhere. As she tumbled, so did he. She squirmed, but he wouldn’t let go. With each passing second, she struggled harder to break the hold. No luck. The crowd was chanting, for her, for him, for both of them.
When she had the upper hand and was almost free, they cheered for Deux. But when he clamped his powerful arms on her, they cheered for Nikki, shouting ideas on how to break his hold. Fickle crowd.
Grunting and now face-to-face on the fresh grass, Nikki reached behind her back, curled her fingers around his thumb, and pulled.
Deux arched his back and let out a yell so loud that Nikki felt terrible. But she was free at least. She sprang to her feet, turned, and hit a brick wall.
Mace.
He glowered at her from eyes filled with a curious blend of concern, anger, and maybe a tinge of disappointment. Her wrist was in a stranglehold. Drat, trapped again. This time in Mace’s iron grip as he dragged her from the courtyard and into the house.
“Can I not leave you alone for two seconds without you getting into trouble?” Mace tried to slow his racing heart, but when he stepped outside and saw Nikki and Deux fighting, rolling on the ground, his pulse had gone into overdrive and wasn’t likely to slow down anytime soon.