Niko grabbed my wrists and thrust me toward the cabin. I hit the wall with a gasp, my lungs trembling. The pain was immediate, but instinct told me I couldn’t just shrivel up and forfeit this time. As soon as Niko released my wrists, I reeled my leg up and kicked him in the stomach, sending him staggering back onto the ladder. Satisfaction blossomed to see him trip over the ladder, watching the ladder come crashing down—but he pulled himself away before it landed on him.

“Fucking ...