Free Vigilante by Sarah Fine

CHAPTER ONE
    Heaven turned out to be pretty damn disappointing.
    When the Judge had released her into the Countryside, Ana had been ecstatic. She’d been certain, in those last moments outside the Mazikin nest, as her vision faded and her heart stuttered into stillness, that her future was in the dark city, that she was doomed to wander, lost, without any memory of these years, of all she’d learned. That she’d have to start over.
    But no. The Judge had decided that nearly four decades of service and dying on the field of battle was enough. She’d decided Ana was ready.
    Ana should not have trusted the mischievous glint in the Judge’s eyes. She should have known something was up.
    Because here she was, surrounded by the lushest terrain she’d ever seen. She was sitting on a rocky outcropping, looking out over an emerald sea of grass dotted with the ruby and amethyst buds of flowers, all of it gleaming in the light. People lay in the meadow, laughing and talking, some of them kissing and cradling each other, some of them merely sitting side by side in contented silence. All different skin colors, ages, sizes—the only thing they had in common was their smiles. The sweet scent of grass and lilies, the cool breeze against her skin, the billowy white clouds overhead, the soft rush and babble of a nearby stream … everything was perfect. There was no hunger in her belly, nothing but strength in her limbs.
    But something wasn’t right.
    Takeshi wasn’t here.
    She’d walked straight out of the Sanctum and into a field of flowers, certain he’d be standing right there. Of course, it had been ages since she’d seen him. He’d been taken by Mazikin all those years ago. But Malachi had killed the Mazikin who’d stolen Takeshi’s body, which would have released Takeshi’s soul from their hellish realm. Every night since, Ana had dreamed of the moment she would walk into his arms. Because Takeshi would come for her. He would find her. He would wait.
    Her fist slammed into his stomach, and his breath burst from his throat in a surprised gasp. It wasn’t enough. So she drove her other fist into his side and kneed him in the thigh. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her too close to maneuver, but she twisted and dropped to the floor, rolling away before rising to her feet again. She kept her focus on his hands.
    Looking at his face was always a mistake.
    “Ana. Your opponent’s eyes will tell you his intentions.”
    “Shut up.”
    His soft, amused sigh sent fury shooting through her veins. She drew the baton from her belt and extended it into a staff , throwing herself into the attack. He barely had time to get his own staff up before hers descended, but as soon as he did, she was struggling to keep control. His movements were so powerful, so quick. So controlled. Unlike her, he wasn’t fighting out of anger.
    His staff cracked down on hers, sending a numbing shock reverberating up her arms. “Why don’t you look at me when we spar?” he asked, breathing hard.
    She didn’t answer as she spun to the side and executed a downward strike. He blocked it and jabbed his staff into her shoulder, knocking her off balance. It didn’t hurt. No matter how hard she struck him, no matter how dirty she fought, he never lost his temper, never hurt her in the way she deserved. Malachi was more accommodating. He would happily knock her to the mat, happily elbow the air out of her lungs and leave bruises across her ribs if she pushed him. But Takeshi … he was much less cooperative.
    Her gaze darted up to his face. Strands of his thick black hair hung over his forehead. His eyes, dark and deep, were on her, always on her. His skin, honey-colored and shining with sweat, made her fingers twitch. His mouth curved up at the corners, much softer than the rest of him.
    She avoided looking at him because it was devastating. Confusing. Because she couldn’t hate him when her eyes were on his face. Her staff fell from her hands and she