The second Avalon's hand touches my skin, something breaks. Not my bones or anything physical, but something deep inside me, something I've been holding together with pure willpower. The bond hits me like lightning, surging up from wherever I've been shoving it down, and my whole body jerks away from him.
Heat rushes up my spine, overwhelming and dizzying. I can't breathe properly, can't think straight. The sparring match hasn't even started, but I already know I'm going to lose.
"Begin!" the instructor shouts.
I push back, breaking contact as fast as I can, but it's too late. The damage is done. Avalon looks just as rattled as I feel, his eyes burning with something wild. Confusion, maybe. Frustration. Something else I don't want to name.
We start circling each other, slow at first. My legs feel unsteady, like I'm walking on a ship in rough water.
"What's wrong with you?" Avalon asks, his voice low enough that only I can hear. "You look like you're about to pass out."
I don't answer.
