"Guardian," he said, lifting his chin in greeting. He was waiting for her in the boxing ring.
"Puppet master," she replied.
"Leave us." This order was to the surveillance team. They obeyed faster than they ever would a command from the Black God, who still struggled to control his vamps.
Jenn ignored him and went to the punching bag she'd adopted as hers. Xander was in the gym whenever she was, no matter what time of day or night she went.
"Not in the mood, I see," Xander said.
"Just warming up. I'm gonna do it this time," she told him with a grunt as she unleashed a kick-punch-kick combo into the bag.
"Beat me?"
"Yep."
"It's good to have delusions."
"We call it optimism. If I could get rid of every single one of your kind, I would."
"You'd have nothing to do if we weren't around to kill," mused the bored predator.
"I can live with that," she replied and straightened. "I'm not here to entertain you, Xander."
"Why else do you think I gave you back your power? Should make what comes more interesting."
"I'm ready." Her blood was moving and her head clear. No part of her believed he'd let her live if he didn't have a reason to keep her around. He unceremoniously offered to return her Guardian power to her a week before in exchange for blood, part of a plan only he understood. The bites in her arm still hurt. Until that time came when their sparring became a final battle, she'd learn as much as she could from the ancient warrior.
Jenn joined Xander in the ring. She was dressed in clothing meant to facilitate her movement, but Xander wore heavy boots and clothing, as if he'd just come from outdoors. If one of his steel-toed boots connected with her head, she'd be dead.
One day, she would beat him at his own game. In the meantime, she wasn't about to go down without a fight. She'd figure out his weakness and hold onto that knowledge for when she needed it.
She struck first, not bothering to soften her blows as she might with anyone else. Xander deflected and attacked. His strikes were hard and fast and seemingly from every direction. She'd learned to stop thinking when in the ring with him and listen to her senses, to include the mind control talent. Anything that would indicate where his next strike would fall.