Every dog has their day... But

Their winning streak ended when a newcomer entered the pit—a hulking Voraxian mercenary with more scar tissue than skin and a belt lined with what looked like finger bones. The crowd parted like water around a shark. Susan wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and stood. "Oh, this’ll be fun." The Voraxian's laugh sounded like a rockslide. "Little human thinks she can fight." Susan cracked her knuckles. "Little human *knows* she can."

The first punch sent her skidding backward, boots screeching against the grimy floor. The second lifted her clean off her feet. Adam was halfway out of his seat when Susan spat blood and grinned. "Okay, now I'm impressed." The Voraxian charged. Susan ducked at the last second, driving her elbow into its kidney—then yelped when the impact barely made it flinch. A meaty hand closed around her throat. The room dimmed at the edges as her boots left the ground.