Drawing his sword, Rowan glanced at Celaena, who was prowling around him like a cat. Oh, he enjoyed her Fae form. Her eyes glimmered with delight, and she bared her canines, grinning wildly, as she took a tremendous leap into the air and launched into an attack.
He tossed his hair and grinned back at her. He was so ready.
They twisted and turned, fighting viciously. Celaena was lithe and agile, sliding under his giant swipes and dodging each massive kick. But Rowan had been training for months now, and he was a godly mass of muscle and power. Every fumble she made, from lack of bodily use, he took advantage of.
She feinted a parry, while scooping up a dagger that he had dropped, but when she took aim to throw, she hesitated a second too long. He barreled at her, throwing her down to the floor. He landed squarely on top of her, and aimed his bow at her throat.
Her eyes fell. "Damn it, I thought I could still beat you," she said. It was rare for Celaena to give up, and he felt rather awful.
"You just need some training, you lazy ass, and then perhaps it'll be a fairer game."
He lowered his bow, turning slightly to lay it on the floor, and that's when she pounced.
She slid out like water from underneath him, bringing up her pointed boot to land solidly in his face. Using the power of the kick, she propeled him onto his back, and he skidded down the length of the sparring room.
Springing up, she ran nimbly over to him, jumping down on top of his chest and pinning him to the ground. She drew her hunting knives and laid them down across his throat.
"Don't be such a pompous bastard, and maybe you'll win next time."
Speechless, he blinked back tears of surprise and pain. That kick to the face had really hurt.
She got up, and strode away to put the knives back. Then she curled up, shaking slightly, and slowly shifted back into a human.
She took one look back at him, gave a malicious smile, and left.