“Shut up,” Zayne and I said in unison.

A laugh came from the general direction of where Roth sat. “You two are on such the same page.”

Proving just that, we both ignored him and got down to business. “Without your vision, you have to rely on your other senses. They’re just as important in hand-to-hand combat.”

I wasn’t so sure that was true, but I nodded nonetheless.

“Hearing. Smell. Touch,” Zayne went on. “All of those things will give away your opponent’s next move.”

“Especially if they smell bad,” Roth added. “Or they’re loud and clumsy.”

I grinned at that.

“You’re going to need to concentrate really hard to do this,” Zayne went on. “And I mean really hard.”

The corners of my lips started to turn down. “Okay.”

“You cannot allow yourself to become distracted. Everything in this room, especially the uninvited third wheel, needs to fade away.”

“Hey,” Roth scuffed. “That’s offensive.”

“This is my I-don’t-care face,” Zayne replied.

I planted my hands on my hips. “I think I know how to concentrate, Zayne.”

“And I think I’ve been around you enough to know that you have the concentration level of a puppy on its first car ride.”

Roth laughed.

I opened my mouth and then closed it. Could not argue with that observation. “I feel personally attacked by that statement.”

There was a low rumble of a chuckle from Zayne. “Once you concentrate, you’ll notice things you haven’t before. Okay? Let me know when you’re there.”

I stood there for a few seconds. “Ready.”

“You sure?” Zayne sounded doubtful.

“Yes.” I shifted into my stance, bracing myself as I waited for—

Zayne’s hand hit my forearm, startling me. I reached out and ended up brushing my hand over his chest, which meant he’d made his move. We tried again, breaking apart, and then he was on me once more. Again and again he moved, and I... I just stood there, missing his every move and virtually blocking air. Worse part was, he was pulling his punches and kicks.

“I can’t see you,” I said, dropping my arms. “At all.”

“That’s the point,” he reminded me.

“Well, yeah, but...” I trailed off, shaking my head as I opened and closed my hands.

“You can’t get frustrated already.” Zayne stayed close this time, not backing off.

“I’m not.”

“Sounds like it,” Roth chimed in.

“Am not.” I jerked my head in his direction.

Fingers curled around my chin, guiding my head back toward Zayne. “Yes, you are.”

I wanted to argue, but it was pointless, because I knew he was picking up on it. “I just... I don’t think I can do this.”

“You can,” he said, and I thought he’d stepped back. “And you will.”

I reached out, my hands feeling empty air. I’d been right.

“You knew he wasn’t there,” Roth said. “Right?”