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been down here for close to three hours, but a sparring session with James was something I’d never turn down.
    I tilted my head from left to right in an effort to loosen my muscles, popping my neck in the process.
    “You going soft on me?” I asked, when James remained silent. “If you’re too tired I understand, maybe you should go back to bed and I can pick you up around noon. I know how you like your beauty sleep. Like I said, the Blackmores aren’t going anywhere.”
    I was goading him, which wasn’t the smartest thing to do to a werewolf but despite my vigorous workout, my nightmare still weighed heavily on me and I needed an outlet.
    Taking one last swig from my water bottle I rose from my seat and walked towards him, stopping just inches away, an arrogant lift to my lips.
    “Terms?” I asked.
    James rolled his shoulders and turned his head from side to side.
    “Up to you,” he said.
    Yes! I knew he wouldn’t pass this up.
    “No weapons, no claws.”
    “Ah, you’re no fun.”
    I shrugged, unconcerned. While a sword against James was almost a necessity, it would give him the advantage of shifting and I was definitely not up for James in his wolf or warrior form. His warrior form was a mix between human and wolf, a daunting and ridiculously formidable sight. Being a shifter alone would give James a huge advantage in the strength department but at least in his human form, he was less likely to tear me in two.
    “No fire then,” James added.
    That was fine by me. I wouldn’t risk lighting anything up in an indoor space anyway. The ache between my shoulder blades was making me stiff. I inhaled deeply, exhaling through my nose in an effort to realign myself and push the slight pain out of my consciousness. Pulling in several more deep breaths, James and I faced off against one another, both waiting for the other to strike first.
    James’ patience ran out first after a short four minutes and he lunged, arms outstretched as he reached to grab hold of my shoulders. Twisting to the left, I sidestepped his reach while jamming an elbow deep into the center of his back before quickly stepping out of reach once again.
    James turned and liquid silver filled his gaze.
    The wolf was coming out to play. This could get interesting.
    I grinned and gave him a come and get me wave. James let out a bark of laughter before lunging again, this time coming in low, aiming for my stomach. I launched myself into the air narrowly missing his attack and threw myself over him, rolling to my feet once my body hit the mat, but I wasn’t fast enough. As soon as my feet touched the mat, my body was propelled backward as James tossed me over his shoulder.
    Tucking in my knees and allowing the momentum to turn me in the right direction, my body landed in a steady crouch several feet away from him.
    I heaved out a breath and swept the hair that had escaped my braid out of my face. The ache between my shoulders quickly blossomed into a full on throbbing sensation. I was having a difficult time ignoring it. Standing up slowly, I paced to my right, watching James through narrowed eyes as he did the same.
    This time, my attack came and I faked a punch to his left flank before changing direction at the last possible second and striking him in the midsection. My knuckles popped and cracked as they met the hard steel of his abdomen, but I ignored the slight pain and landed a left hook to his jaw.
    His head snapped back but only for a second before he was on me, his full weight holding me down against the firm mat. Arching my back and attempting to twist to my left in an effort to dislodge him, he held firm. After squirming for several seconds, I finally caved and looked up into his eyes. They were liquid silver now, a beautiful metallic quality much like mercury.
    James had a wolfish grin on his face.
    “What are you so damn happy about?”
    “I won.”
    I heaved as my lungs struggled for air under his weight. “You did not win,” I gritted