We skidded apart, boots carving furrows into the smooth floor of the colosseum. Dust hung in the air, catching the light, swirling with the ghost of our previous clashes. I could feel the aftershocks of the sonic explosions vibrating through the soles of my shoes, my chest still heaving, but the grin on Belle's face told me everything. She wasn't even close to trying.
"Still holding back," she said, voice light, almost teasing.
"So are you," I shot back, trying to sound confident, but my chest tightened. I could feel the tension in my muscles, the way my heart was racing at a speed that wasn't normal. This isn't a normal fight. Not even close.
