Clang! Whoosh! Clang!
Sweat trickled down my bare chest and back as I swung my sword. The heavy metal slammed into Theo's upraised weapon.
Theo toppled, crash-landed, dirt flinging in every direction. Some of the grains sprinkled over my already dirty boots.
I needed the sweat. I needed something to take my mind off things. Off everything.
I hated that my father had this much power over me. That the mere thought of him made me angry. Broke me. And caused dark memories of my mother to flash before my eyes.
I hated it all.
And I needed blood.
I waited for Theo to stand, but the fool remained prone.
"Get up," I hissed.
"Can’t," he panted. "Also, I don’t want to."
I frowned. I had put the fierce Theodore to the ground four times. In only one hour. And Theo wasn’t even the worst-c
