Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 12]

Raven let go of me, giving me a chance to slash back for her. She dodged between each strike, laughing the whole time.

[...]

With a roar, I dove at her. "Give it to me!"

The world exploded in pain and white light as her fist buried in my stomach. I'd not seen her move, let alone prepared for the blow. I folded over her fist, the sword slipping from suddenly nerveless fingers.

"I don't give anything. If you're not strong enough to take it, you don't deserve it."

Gasping, I slumped to the floor, darkness creeping in from every direction. The last thing I saw was Raven stepping over my body, and I heard her call out to Vernal.

"Bandage, food and water. Let him rest tonight, but no fight tomorrow. Now that he has the lust for it, let's see how he handles going without it."

—Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 12]