He changed direction, reaching for her waist.
Felix smiled.
"You're quick."
"So are you."
The crowd murmured.
For the first time, Mara was forced to defend a position rather than dictate the pace.
Felix tightened his hold.
"Got you."
Mara looked over her shoulder.
"Not yet."
Felix attempted to follow, but his momentum carried him beyond the angle he needed.
Mara turned.
Felix stumbled forward.
He tried to bridge and escape.
She shifted with him.
He rolled toward the edge of the mat.
She followed, maintaining the position without allowing his movement to create space.
Felix's expression changed.
He had expected a contest of speed.
Mara adjusted her grip.
Felix recognized the submission threat and immediately tapped her arm.
Once.
Twice.
Mara released him.
The clock showed forty-six seconds.
A low murmur moved through the room.
Two black belts.
Two taps.
Less than a minute of combined action.
Felix sat up, staring at his hands as though they had betrayed him.
Disbelief.
Adrian remained perfectly still.
Mara rose and stepped away.
"Are you injured?" she asked Felix.
He shook his head.
"No."
"Good."
The simple concern seemed to embarrass him more than a taunt would have.
He stood, brushed dust from his gi, and avoided her eyes.
Ronan moved toward Adrian.
"Your turn."
Adrian did not respond immediately.
He was replaying both exchanges in his mind. He had seen the mechanics, the transitions, the points at which each man had lost his balance. He understood why they had been defeated.
What troubled him was the consistency.
Mara had not relied on a single trick.
She had adapted to two different styles, recognized their mistakes, and controlled the pace of both rounds.
Adrian looked at her.
"Where did you train?"
Mara adjusted the cuff of her sleeve.
"Many places."
"That isn't an answer."
"It's the one I'm willing to give."
He studied her face.
Then he stepped onto the mat.
"All right," he said. "Let's see whether your approach works against someone who doesn't rush."
For the first time that evening, Mara's expression changed.
Not much.
Just enough to suggest that this was the opponent she had expected all along.
"Good," she said.
"Why?"
"Because I was beginning to wonder whether anyone here was interested in learning."
Adrian lowered into his stance.
Victor raised his hand.
"Remember the rules."
Adrian nodded.
Mara did the same.
The third round began.
Adrian Cross did not attack immediately.
He moved in a slow circle, watching Mara's feet and shoulders.
He wanted information.
Every feint was a question. Every step tested a possible reaction.
Mara gave him very little.
When he reached for her sleeve, she withdrew her arm.
When he attempted to control her wrist, she rotated her hand free.
Adrian frowned.
He had expected her to become more cautious after defeating the first two men. Instead, she appeared entirely comfortable.
"You don't seem tired," he observed.
"Should I be?"
"You've already completed two rounds."
"They were short."
"Short rounds can still be exhausting."
"Only if you spend them fighting the wrong battle."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
He changed his approach.
Instead of reaching for her upper body, he attacked her lower stance, attempting to create an angle that would force her to defend a takedown.
Mara lowered her center of gravity and prevented him from securing the position.
For a moment, he succeeded.
Several students leaned forward.
This was the position Adrian wanted.
He tightened his hold.
Mara controlled his nearest wrist.
Adrian immediately changed his grip.
She changed with him.
He stepped around her hip.
She pivoted.
He attempted to force her downward.
She widened her base.
Their movements became faster, but neither fighter made a reckless commitment. Adrian was technically disciplined, and Mara respected that.
Adrian noticed.
"There you are," he murmured.
Mara glanced at him.
"Where?"
"Under pressure."
"Is that what you think this is?"
He tried to sweep her leg.
His posture broke.
She moved behind him.
He was quick enough to avoid the obvious counter, but the adjustment exposed his arm.
Mara secured it.
He tried to pull free.
She shifted her hips and followed.
Adrian recognized the developing threat and changed direction again.
Then Mara reversed the position.
Adrian was now on the mat, with Mara controlling his arm and shoulder.
He attempted to bridge.
She adjusted.
He tried to rotate toward her.
She followed.
His escape routes narrowed.
She had allowed him to make a series of reasonable decisions, then used each adjustment to remove another option.
Adrian understood the problem.
Mara applied controlled pressure.
"Do you have an escape?" she asked.
Adrian did not answer.
"Adrian," Victor warned, "if you need to stop, stop."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
He attempted one final movement.
Mara adjusted her position, maintaining control.
He felt the limit of his mobility.