"No," Tasha protested, but her voice had lost its edge. She was still trying to break free, but her movements were weak, unfocused. "It's not… I can still…"
Jayden squeezed tighter, applying pressure in very specific points… not enough to truly hurt, but enough to target the nerve clusters in her back and sides.
Tasha let out a soft gasp, her entire body going limp in his arms. The lightning blades dissipated, dissolving into motes of blue light that faded away. Her legs gave out, all strength leaving her body as the carefully applied pressure shut down her motor control.
She couldn't move. Couldn't speak beyond a whisper. Could barely keep her eyes open.
"What… did you… do?" she managed to ask, her voice barely audible.
"I gave you a merciful defeat," Jayden replied softly.
He shifted his grip, sliding one arm under her knees and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly in a princess carry. She weighed almost nothing to him.
