Her voice took on a desperate edge, cutting through the stale air of the hall. "I do not want to talk about Theo."
"I do not want to hear about Tremor, or conspiracies, or the lies that are rotting this house from the inside out."
"I want to hit something that will actually hit back..."
"I want to feel the impact of a blow that doesn't break. And I want it to be you, Rex... because you are the only person left in this godforsaken household strong enough that I do not have to hold back."
Rex studied her for a long moment. He saw the tremor in her hands, the way her pupils were blown wide with adrenaline and grief.
He knew that if he refused, she would either collapse or destroy herself against the training post. He stepped back into the center of the open floor, rolling his shoulders, his stance shifting from passive observer to lethal combatant.
"Come then," he said, his voice dropping into the low, focused register of a man preparing for violence.
She exploded toward him.
