Boris stepped forward—and in an instant, he vanished.
Liam's eyes snapped wide. Dragon Steps was still active. He felt his body respond before his mind caught up, tilting just to the side as a jagged blur of movement slashed past his face. The dagger missed by a hair's width.
A whisper of wind passed his cheek.
He pivoted instantly, dragging in a lungful of cold air. Three minutes left, he reminded himself. Dragon Steps wasn't infinite. He had to end this, and fast.
Boris didn't pause. With terrifying precision, he swung again. Liam ducked low. The tip of the dagger whistled above his head, slicing a lock of his hair as it passed. Liam twisted on the ball of his foot, launching a sharp kick toward Boris's knee.
Crack!
Boris grunted. The kick connected—just enough to knock him off balance.
Without delay, Liam lunged forward, throwing a brutal left punch into Boris's ribs. His fist slammed into the armored coat with a dull thud. The armor cracked slightly but didn't break.
