Feral Magic

But the way his eyes roamed over her body made her want to cram his teeth down his throat.
He raised his voice rather than lunging for her. “Looks like we have another one.”
He inclined his head toward those behind her, an indication to walk. She could have run. Could have easily planted her knee in his groin and sprinted through the woods without worry, but something had her turning toward the other six. Her father would disapprove, but maybe she’d learn something. If not, the fight would at least warm her up.
Upon seeing her, the one with the black eye pleaded. “Help us, please.”
The tall one with the knife laughed and pointed the blade toward her. “What do you expect a girl to do? Look at her. She’s smaller than I am.” Vixin wasn’t sure which one she wanted to punch first. Greasy hair or loudmouth. “She couldn’t hurt a fly.” He licked his lips. “But I bet she screams better than you do.”
That caught her attention. Vixin stared him down, taking in his form. Eighteen. Nineteen maybe. All of them seemed about that age, though the boy trying to threaten her looked as though he hadn’t eaten in a month. Pale skin, lack of muscle. Yet annoyingly, probably popular among his clique of friends. Such was one of the many reasons her generation annoyed her so. No one knew what to value anymore.
A subtle nod toward his greasy companion sent a thrill of excitement coursing through her body. Vixin spun on her heel as he reached for her. She gripped his wrist, ducked beneath his arm, and wrenched the limb behind his back. He cried out, but not before she kicked his knee in and sent him to the ground. Vixin placed her body on top of his, twisting his wrist as a reminder to keep still if he didn’t want it broken.
Loudmouth gaped at her a moment, then tsked and grabbed the young man with a black eye. He pressed the blade to his captive’s collarbone. “Let him go or your friend paints the ground.”
Vixin couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her throat. “Friend? I don’t even know who they are.” She nodded toward the blade. “And your hold on the knife is wrong.” She tilted her head and pointed with her free hand. “It needs to be higher if you plan to slit the artery.”
His face tinted and he threw his captive to the ground before lunging for her. Vixin released his companion and stepped back, smirking when her would-be assailant tripped over his ally. Loudmouth scrambled back to his feet and ran at her, swinging wildly. His nostrils flared as he missed time and time again. Vixin smiled at his growing frustration.
He swung again, throwing himself off balance, and Vixin shot forward. She gripped his wrist and twisted. He cried out, dropped the blade, and she snatched it from the air before dancing away.
He gaped at her as she twirled the knife between her fingers. “Thanks for this.” Vixin grimaced upon examining it. “You couldn’t have at least sharpened it?”
“You stupid—”
Vixin dashed forward and had him on his knees before he could finish his sentence. She placed the small blade over the pulse in his neck. “This is where the carotid is and with just a tiny flick of the wrist,” she moved to add emphasis.
“I’m sorry,” he sputtered. His eyes danced between his companions, pleading for them to do something. “We were just playing around, right guys?”
Vixin glanced at the two on the ground and then shoved him forward. “Sure you were.” She pocketed the knife and pivoted from the scene. They wouldn’t be able to tell her anything useful. In fact, they probably thought this was all some kind of elaborate joke and had no idea dinner wouldn’t be served on a silver platter.
“What are you waiting for?” he roared. “Get her!”
Vixin huffed and ducked to avoid—her eyes widened. Was that a sword? She’d just let these bastards off easy and they were going to cut off her head?
She shot her foot out, sweeping her attacker’s legs before rolling to place some distance between herself and the other six. What the hell was wrong with them?
Thankfully, only one had a sword and he scrambled to his feet in a way that told her she had nothing to worry about. Playing around indeed. If they were willing to come at her like that—well—they wouldn’t be getting off so easy after all.
Five charged at once, two with pitiful weapons, the other three with their fists. Honestly, what group of men attacked a young woman?
Vixin ducked, dodged, and spun around her opponents with ease. She half wondered why her father had bothered training her so hard if this was all she’d have to contend with.
She counted the seconds, knowing exactly when and where their wild swings would strike and how to pivot herself around them so they’d all look like fools.
Her fist collided with the first’s jaw followed closely with an elbow to his solar plexus. She slammed her knee into the next one’s groin and broke the third’s nose with the palm of her hand.
The remaining two faltered, glancing from their friends on the ground to the girl still standing without a scratch.
Vixin walked toward them and they stepped back, creating a wide berth for her to stroll through. She picked up the two knives that had fallen on the ground. Not the best quality, but at least it’d be better than nothing. Vixin stuffed one in her boot and twirled the other between her fingers.
She turned to leave. “Untie us.” Vixin tilted her head back to the one with a black eye. He tried struggling to his feet, but failed and she realized they, too, were bound. “Please, just give me a knife.”
Vixin huffed and wiped the sheen