Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,170
before any of that could happen, I had to destroy the fucker trying to kill me and get Emersyn safely out of the Harpy’s grasp. Killing Ishida was pretty damn high up on that list as well, and I knew Nix was working on breaking down his defenses, weakening him with every blow.
The Pertyon charged, his hooves eating up the ground and churning out snow in his wake. Tucking my onyx, feathered wings back along my body, I galloped toward him in the worst game of chicken I’d ever played.
My horn glinted in the moonlight as I ran, ready to skewer him with it as I came up with a plan to dodge those blackened, serrated antlers. At the last second, he flapped his wings and yielded, flying over me and heading toward the trees before circling around again.
Nix zoomed by, her tail feathers streaking like a comet as she flew toward Ishida, sending blasts of fire at the Kitsune who blocked them with warded shields.
Worry roiled in my gut, but I knew Nix could handle her own. The image of her frying the fuck out of Khan had stayed with me, reminding me of my mate’s strength and power. Anyone who underestimated her was a fool.
The battleground was already littered with blood and bodies, though thankfully none of our own. I’d already healed Hiro, Tao, Cedric, and Theo, but Killian refused to allow me to waste my energy, sporting his wounds like trophies. I was tired, but I pulled on my energy reserves as I stretched my wings and, with a powerful flap, soared into the night sky, nearly camouflaged against the midnight blue. Almost a second too late, I saw the Peryton dive from above, his antlers glinting in the low light as he descended. He thought he had me, but I was too fucking fast for him. I angled my wings and took off, keeping him on my tail until I ducked into the trees a few hundred yards away. I heard him approach and counted the seconds, holding back my Ceraptor who wanted to trample the fucker. Peryton were known for being adept hunters, their bloodlust second only to shifters such as Maldonado. There was no chance he’d give up the search and retreat, a fact I was counting on.
Three more seconds. Two. One. I put all my strength into one large wave of my wings, catapulting my large body past the treetops as I sunk my horn in the Peryton’s belly, jerking my head and ripping a jagged line down his stomach. Blood poured onto my head, matting my fur and slicking across my face.
An agonizing screech rent the air as the Peryton huffed, nostrils flaring as his breath misted in the cold air. His wings floundered, and he lost altitude for a moment before turning and flying back toward the main fight. I gave chase, staying on his tail until he ducked toward the ground.
Blood dripped in his wake, staining the snow red, and I knew that asshole was as good as dead. Good. I hoped he was just off trying to find a good place to draw his last breath. I waited, expecting that part of me that controlled my guilt to rise and consume me, but right now I didn’t feel bad about being responsible for another death. Maybe after the adrenaline wore off and I had Emersyn safely in my arms, I’d feel differently, but this right here? This was war, and casualties were inevitable.
I pried my eyes off the limping Peryton to look for Nix, hoping I could help her take down Ishida, even if I was simply a distraction while she drew on her incredible powers and charred the guy to a crisp. Fiery meteors were streaking across the sky, and I swallowed hard. Fuck, this was bad. Where the hell was Nix?
I didn’t see her, and my worry spiked until I heard the sound of high-pitched, pain-filled yips. My adrenaline soared, and I whipped around, searching the ground. My heart froze when I spotted Hiro impaled on one of the Peryton’s horns. The beast shook his head, dislodging Hiro and sending his limp body into the snow, stomping and struggling to get free of the vines Hiro had managed to wrap around the fucker’s legs while I’d been distracted.
“Hiro!” I tried to call, but it came out as a panicked whinny. Oh God, this was all my fault! A blue glow surrounded me as I dive-bombed the Pertyon,