"Do you think I'll let you?" Emperor Kaan snarled, raising his hand.
The dust around him surged like a living force, racing after the trail Riona left behind. But he focused too long—just long enough.
Thorin's fist connected with his jaw in a brutal arc, snapping Kaan's head to the side and halting the spell. The emperor staggered a step, the attack jarring him out of his tunnel vision.
"Your opponent is me," Thorin growled. "What's the matter? You'd rather chase a girl than face me? I thought vampires had manners."
He wasn't insulting Riona—never that. He knew her strength better than anyone. She could go toe-to-toe with him and win if she wanted.
But he knew exactly what would get under Kaan's skin. And this—this was a direct hit.
"She rejected you. Move on. I thought even you had more pride than this," Thorin said curtly.