Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,137

beginning to make me loopy. Ry had moved to Hugo, his power pulsing over him in waves as he worked to stabilize him.

“Never, ever do that again,” Killian told me, burying his face in my hair. I could feel him trembling, so I reached up my bloody hand to lightly pat his.

“I never would have guessed he was a Stellar Sea Eagle,” Theo muttered, his hands gentle as they assessed my injuries. I dragged in a gasp as my leg shifted when I tried to see him.

“Is that what he was?” I asked, my words slurring slightly.

“Yeah,” Joshua replied with a nod, his face pinched tight as he chewed his lip. “I’ve seen a few of them before. They’re nasty. They’ve been known to carry baby seals off for meals.”

“Huh,” I grunted, as Ry turned back to me, his face pale and his hands soaked in blood.

“He’s stable,” Ry barked at the onlookers who had gathered. “Pick him up and get him to the infirmary. He’ll stay unconscious through it, but I can finish fixing his wounds there.”

“He’ll live?” a smaller voice asked, and I saw a lithe, dark-haired female with tears in her eyes. Her hands were twisted in front of her, her cheeks stained with tear tracks.

“He’ll live,” Ryder assured her, turning his attention back to me. “Hey, mikró pouláki,” he cooed at me. “Let’s see about that leg, hm?” Power pushed into the bone, the pain racing through me and making me gasp as he swore. “He shattered the fucking thing,” he muttered.

“Felt like it,” I muttered. “I needed him to have a good grip, though, to give me a chance at grabbing him.” Healing energy attacked the tears on my arms where his beak had ravaged me in an attempt to get me off him. I breathed deeply as he worked, thankful Ryder had already fixed my lungs. Theo stripped his shirt over his head, draping it gently across my body, and I flashed him a grateful smile. Always the gentleman, my Theo.

“That was bloody brilliant,” Valleria remarked, her awed tone breaking through the agony of my healing. “I can’t believe you shifted midair like that.”

I attempted to shrug and swore at the pain. Ryder clucked his tongue, though he didn’t bother speaking as he focused mending me. “Hail Mary,” I admitted.

“That never should have been a thought, Nix,” Hiro scolded. I could see color finally returning to his cheeks as he watched Ryder piece me back together.

“Well, I wasn’t about to risk losing my alter,” I snapped back at him, the pain making me pissy.

“And we weren’t about to risk losing you.” His dark eyes were serious as they met mine, and I softened.

“I know. I wasn’t going to lose any of you,” I promised him. “I just knew I had to get him down to the ground to finish this. I wasn’t expecting him to be a bird.” I grimaced at that. “So much for our brilliant plan of attack.” I groaned when Ryder pulled his hands away. “What I wouldn’t give for a long soak.” The healing had helped, but I still ached. I was covered in blood and other things I didn’t want to think about right now. I was sure my hair was an absolute nightmare.

“You’re the leader of Faction Opal now,” Valleria reminded me. When I arched a brow, she smiled. “You get a cabin. A big one.” A smile crossed her face as she added, “With a tub.”

“Huh. Maybe I should have done this earlier.”

I yelped as I was lifted from the ground, Theo’s arms tight around me. “Don’t even joke about that,” Theo scolded. “Or I’m going to be the next one to get in on these spankings.”

“Promises, promises.” I waved a hand, careful to keep the fabric around me. When he went to walk away, I placed a soft hand on his arm. “Spread the word to Opal. Two new rules. First, no one else can challenge for the use of a power—I’m not having anyone else manipulated like I was.” I tried to force strength into my words. “Second, no one else can fight as my representative for Opal. They wanted me to fight for it so badly, I’m keeping it.” Exhaustion wove through me, and I leaned against Theo. “Everything else I’ll deal with later.”

“I’ll tell them,” Valleria assured me.

“Let’s get you in the bath, my love,” Theo murmured into my ear. “I think you’re overdue for some pampering. Even if I have to create