Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,56

largest snake I’d ever seen, the wrath of his temper bulking him up beyond his normal size. His tongue flicked out in a hiss, and his beady eyes focused on the hinges of the door. He coiled and then struck, the clang and groan of bending metal scraping my eardrums as I scurried away a few steps, catching myself on the back wall of the cell. A normal snake never would have had the kind of strength to bend metal, but my father and I were far from normal. The texture of the cement blocks was rough against my flesh as I scrambled to stay upright while my father struck again and again, making headway, but not fast enough.

The flames closed in on either side, and I saw the terror on Tao’s face as he realized there was no longer a way out—the only exit through the flames that burned hot enough to destroy flesh and bone. Orange light flickered in his brown eyes as my father lunged one last time, his Basilisk’s nose bloodied and torn. The cell yielded, and with a hiss that exposed his deadly fangs, my father’s magic fizzled over his skin until he was standing before us again, heaving and coughing as he wiped the back of his hand over the crimson blood coating his face. I climbed through the bent steel as my father quickly pulled his pants back on. Once I was free, I ran forward, and he gripped me tightly around the shoulders before pulling me into a hug that said more than words ever could. His relief at seeing me alive and his fear of how to keep us all that way were conveyed in his tight grip and the way his muscles shook.

Tao ripped off his shirt and started batting at the flames, trying to smother them enough in one area for us to get through the wall of fire. My father joined him using his own, but it was a futile effort. We were completely surrounded. I coughed again, realizing we were going to need something more drastic if we had any hope of getting out of here alive.

My Basilisk hissed in my head, and I let him surge forward to take over my human form in a quick shift. I rasped out a noise to get Tao and my dad’s attention, and their eyes grew wide as I slithered forward confidently.

“No! Joshua. Our snakes are used to heat, but not like this.” He held out a hand, trying to stop me, but I nosed him out of the way. “You’ll kill yourself. Think of Nix… the others. For fuck’s sake, think of me!”

Venom flooded my gums, aching in my fangs as I used the extra power Nix’s blood afforded me. I opened my mouth and stretched my jaw so wide it hurt. Tipping my head back, I aimed as best as I could and let a spray of venom loose. It coated the flames directly in front of me, dampening them enough to tamp down the fire.

I slithered forward, repeating the process until I was climbing the stairs as Tao and my father followed in my wake. We burst through the door, but the entire Lodge was engulfed in flames—drywall cracking, logs burning, and smoke so thick you couldn’t see through it.

I pushed my body in a fast slither, extinguishing flames where I was able, my scales burning as my large body flew toward a window. I smashed my head against it, breaking the glass into small shards that rained down like glittering diamonds. I pulled back and urged my dad and Tao to get outside. Smoke billowed out as they climbed through and jumped to the ground that wasn’t too far below.

Pain seared my tail, and I hissed in agony as I shifted back to my human form, knowing my Basilisk could never make it through the window with his large frame. Glass scraped and cut my naked flesh as I climbed through, and then I flung myself into the snow that offered blessed relief. My Basilisk hated the cold, but right now we were both grateful for having a means to our charred flesh. I cried out as my vision went red, gritting my teeth as my blood stained the snow.

“Holy shit.” Tao reached for me on one side and my father on the other as they helped me stand, supporting my weight that my injured legs refused to hold. Together, we hobbled backward, taking refuge