Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,136
winced. This was going to hurt. Really, really badly. Luckily, I had a mate who was a healer…
When Hugo struck at me again, his claws grasping for purchase, I let him grab hold. I could feel the bone in my leg break, and a screech tore from my throat. I dug my talons into his claw. He thought he had me, I could see the smug look in his eyes as his beak darted down. In an instant, I pushed forward, letting the shift take me. His claws were embedded in my leg, the pain incredible as he held onto the break. I flung my body around him, using my elbows to deflect his beak from my sensitive organs, as the weight of my body dragged us both toward the ground below.
Screams rang out as Hugo tried to pull away, but my weight on his body was too much. His bird was big, at least twenty pounds, but that was no match for my one hundred and twenty pound human body wrapping around him, or the way I tore at his wings, seeking the pin feathers. His bird screamed, and his magic gathered as he attempted to transform and use his own body weight against me. He wasn’t quick enough though. The damage I’d done to him, the awkward positioning, and the rate of our plummet was simply too much. I rolled and pushed him beneath me, my leg screaming in pain as I twisted the bone. We hit the ground with a sickening crack of flesh and bone, the soft snow no match for our bodies coming down from that height. Pain tore through me and spots danced before my eyes, but I held onto consciousness with a steel grip. Hugo was barely breathing underneath me.
“You can kill him,” Ciarán commented idly, and I hissed at him, coughing around the blood in my mouth. “He’s still conscious, though barely.” It only took a glance to see that he was correct. Hugo’s face was gray with pain, but his eyes were slits, his face angled up at me from where he’d gone into the ground. He attempted to move his arms, but having taken the brunt of the fall, they were too damaged to be much help.
“I’ll kill you,” I spat at Ciarán. My own arms were shaking, but I lifted a fist and, with everything I had left, drove it directly into Hugo’s jaw. His eyes rolled back into his head and his body became limp beneath me.
“The challenge goes to Nix!” Ciarán called, wearing a grim smile on his face for the crowd. His eyes, when they met mine, were soft and filled with concern, with pain… maybe even regret. Running feet stampeded toward us, and I knew my mates would reach me in the next few breaths. Which was a good thing, because I was fairly sure I had a punctured lung. Blood spilled from my mouth and onto the man below as Ciarán disappeared, allowing Ryder to dive forward and grasp my hand. His purple hair was a mess, his eyes frantic, as he pushed healing energy into me so fast and hard it made me dizzy.
“No!” Risa screeched, stamping her foot. “No way! She knew she’d survive the fall, that her mates would heal her, and she’d revive. It’s a use of powers. She forfeits.”
Damien turned on her with a snarl. “The law is that she cannot use her powers. She isn’t dead and hasn’t resurrected during the fight. Therefore, no powers were used. That she risked her life rather than have her alter stripped from her—or ours from us—just shows how fucked up you are.” I couldn’t believe he was swearing.
“Ry,” I rasped, as the pain in my chest lessened. I was hurting terribly still, especially as the adrenaline wore off. “Wait. Hugo.” I slid to the side, gasping at the tearing pain in my leg. “Heal him.”
“Nix,” Ry said warningly, and I attempted to wave a hand.
“He won’t revive. I’m not dying, just hurting.” The words were a whisper. “Okay, really hurting. He’s not going to survive that fall for more than a few more minutes.” I ought to know, I had barely survived it and I’d landed on top of the guy. If his wings hadn’t slowed our descent slightly, neither of us would have survived that drop.
“That was reckless, Nix.” Gaspard’s voice shook slightly, and his face was dotted with sweat despite the cold air.