Eris shook her head. She was breathing hard, but godsdamn it, she didn’t even look like she was in pain. Who the seven devils was she?

“Yield!”

Eris’s eyes narrowed and she smiled. What—

She threw her head back, then slammed her forehead into Nyx’s nose.

Cartilage cracked and blood wet Nyx’s lips. Bel’s balls, that shit hurt.

Nyx staggered back, spitting blood onto her shirt. Eris didn’t even hesitate; she sensed an opening and took it, smashing her fist into Nyx’s face.

Nyx fell to the floor. The breath left her lungs and she struggled for air. Eris straddled her, knees on Nyx’s upper arms, pinning them to her side. Her forearm came down hard on Nyx’s throat.

“Yield,” Eris said, baring her teeth.

Nyx tried to let out a growl, but it only came out as a short gasp for breath. Eris’s forearm dug into her throat.

“Damn it, Nyx,” Eris snapped. “Yield before you pass out.”

The small sound Nyx made might have been a laugh if it didn’t sound so pathetic. She struggled to stay conscious as the black crept into the corners of her vision.

“I’m taking that as a yes,” the other woman said. “Don’t even think about hitting me again.”

The forearm came away, and Eris rolled off her. Nyx sucked in precious air. She shook her head once, twice, and her vision mercifully began to clear. The headache was new and un-fucking-welcome.

Eris settled on the floor next to Nyx, brushing her hands on the front of her jumpsuit. “I won. Now spill.”

“It doesn’t count as a win if I didn’t yield.”

Eris let out a short laugh. “You wouldn’t have yielded before I’d broken your windpipe and killed you, and you know that.”

Smart ass.

Nyx dragged herself up into a seated position. “Fine.” She focused on breathing in and out, forcing her heart rate back to normal. Her nose throbbed. She pressed the bottom of her shirt against it to staunch the blood.

“Your nose is broken,” Eris volunteered.

“I’m aware.” Nyx pushed the pain away. She’d get Ariadne or Rhea to help her patch it later, already dreading the way they’d fuss. Nyx slumped against one of the gray columns, the coolness nice against her sweat-slicked skin.

Eris stayed quiet, her elbows resting against her knees. The dark curls by her hairline were plastered to her skin. She said nothing, letting the silence stretch.

After three minutes, Nyx caved. “If you’re not going to leave, talk. Ask. Whatever. Don’t just sit there and leer at me.”

“What, they didn’t teach you silence technique during torture training?”

Nyx learned how to stay quiet under pressure or intense pain. Even prayers to the God of Death were to be made in thoughts alone, never spoken aloud. That was a weakness to be beaten out of you.