Zane's murderous glare could have set the entire courtyard ablaze on its own. His golden fire roared to life around him, licking up his arms and shoulders until he looked like a blazing spirit descending from the heavens. The ground beneath his feet seemed to crackle from the sheer heat radiating off him as he took a step forward.
Ryker, who was never one to back down from a fight—especially not if that fight was with Zane—tightened his fist until his knuckles whitened. His lips curled into something between a smirk and a snarl as he charged forward to meet Zane head-on.
Their fists connected simultaneously.
A wave of heat burned across Ryker's face, so hot it made his skin sear, and he could smell it—like burnt toast. But Ryker didn't stop. The force of his punch sent Zane flying back once more, crashing against the same tree he had been perched in earlier.
