“You’re too slow,” Khoa whispers, lips curling. Before you have time to react, he kicks your ankles out from under you. His sword is against your throat in the next moment, blade a breath away from your skin. “You’ve gotten better.”

That’s as much of a compliment as he’s going to give you. He likes seeing the fire in your eyes as you fight back.

“But you’re still hesitating,” he says. “Why? Because I’m your soulmate? I don’t hesitate with you.”