Raven's foot connected with his ribs.
Not hard — not the full-force kick of a man trying to damage, but the flat, precise kick of a man correcting a direction — and Gareth went sideways, his shoulder hitting the stone tile, his bound hands taking some of the impact.
"Breathe," Raven said.
"I WILL KILL YOU—"
"You keep saying that." Raven walked to the center of the room. Unhurried. The walk of a man in his own space. "Let's find out if it's true."
Gareth pulled against the rope at his wrists.
The knot did not move.
"Fight me like a MAN." The words came out through his teeth. "If you're a man — untie me and fight me like a—"
Raven turned.
He looked at Gareth with the warm, brief consideration of someone who has been asked a question they have already answered for themselves.
He walked to the nearest wall.
