Page 361 - Fourth Wing

Keeping my arm locked, Jack thrusts his knife straight at my chest, but

it’s deflected by my vest, skimming along my ribs to lodge in the mat.
“He’s using death blows!” Ridoc shouts. “That’s not allowed!”

“Pull it back, Barlowe!” Emetterio bellows.

“What do you think, Sorrengail?” Jack whispers in my ear, holding me
immobile with my arm behind my back. “Admit it. You and I both knew it

would be like this between us. Quick. Embarrassingly easy. Fatal. Your

precious wingleader isn’t here to save you.”
No, but Xaden will suffer…if not worse if Jack achieves his goal. The

thought spurs me to action. Ignoring the pain, I throw my weight into a roll,

subluxating my shoulder but freeing myself from his grip when he gets
tangled in my legs.

Then I kick him straight in the balls.
He hits his knees as I gain my feet, clutching himself as his mouth opens

in a silent scream.

“Tap out,” I order, picking up the dagger I dropped. “I can cut you open
at any second. Both you and I know if this were real life, you’d be done.”

“If this were real life, I would have killed you the second you stepped
onto the mat,” he seethes through gritted teeth.

“Tap. Out.”

“Fuck off!” He throws his dagger.
I throw up my hands to block, but it lodges in my left fucking forearm.

Blood streams and pain sears the nerves along my arm, erupting with

alarming poignancy, but I know better than to remove it. Right now, it’s
holding that wound as shut as it can.

“No throwing!” Emetterio shouts from the sidelines, but Jack is already

moving, barreling toward me with a series of kicks and punches that I’m
not ready for. His fist slams into my cheek, and I feel the skin split.

His knee forces the air from my body when he rams it into my stomach.
But I stay on my feet until his hands clasp my face. Agony fills every cell