My Wild Beast

Relief flashed through Nova at the sound of her mate. The jungle was charged with his energy, the animals fearful, fleeing, the remaining eagles wary, but Nova welcomed the force they dreaded, the raw might of him that steadied her heart.

That relief, however, was short-lived as she remembered how far away Yoa was, and the dire sitatuation they were all in. She hadn't even glimpsed into what was happening with him. There had been no time to think past surviving Ixana.

And she was barely surviving. Nova knew the woman was toying with her. Her arrogance clearly was what helped her stay alive for this long.

Talons swiped out, grazing past Nova's cheek. Her distraction almost cost her more than a graze. The force of those talons had unravelled the rest of her hair from the half-up hair style she'd kept it in.

Ixana was so close to her now, remaining so intimidatingly close, the warmth of her breath ghosted along her face.

How she was still alive was some damn miracle at this point. Yet somehow glaring at the woman that had left more than a few cuts along her body seemed like a great idea, followed by the daring words hissed past her lips, "You're not untouchable."

Her gaze flicked to the scratches and red marks from the hits she managed to land on the Sky Matron.

Ixana's grin returned, sharper, hungrier. "No," she whispered, her claws hovering at Nova's throat. "But neither are you."

"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to play with your food?" Nova clipped back sarcastically as the sharp points of Ixana's talons tickled her skin in a deadly caress, reminding her of the fragility of her situation.

Ixana could end her right here and now. But she hadn't because she deemed herself invincible, and was hell bent on slashing up Nova's skin before making that final strike that could take her from this world.

Her words made Ixana's cruel smile widen, eyes glinting in amusement. "My mother taught me how to play with my food."

"Of course she did," Nova replied bluntly before she could stop herself.

Ixana's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice cutting through the charged air. "I've grown tired of this." With languid cruelty, she drew back her talons, hand raised high, her other arm clamped around Nova like a vice. The tips of her claws pinched deeper into flesh, coaxing beads of blood that slid down Nova's skin.

One small twitch, one whim, and it would all be over.

Nova could see it in Ixana's eyes. She was done playing with her.

This. Was. It.

She had no more hands to play.

A sharp whistle split the air. Ixana's head snapped toward the sound, wings flaring instinctively. Yet it was too late. A knife struck, the impact thudding into her side and forcing a grunt from her throat.

Still, her hold did not falter. Ixana was intent on sacrificing her, a knife to the side wasn't about to make her lose, the psychotic bitc-

Nova clawed at Ixana's grip, breath hitching with the sting of blood. She could curse at the woman later!

THUD.

Ixana staggered, her head jerking forward by force. Her grip loosened, and Nova seized the chance, twisting and slipping free, tumbling across the dirt as feathers and dust scattered in her wake.

Gasping, she lifted her gaze. Aiyana stood before her, staff already whipping toward Ixana in a deadly arc. There was no taunting, no commentary, just true focus on finishing her foe. Like usual, Aiyana looked like a badass, her expression stoic, unbothered by the Sky Matron glaring at her.

The crack of wood and slash of claw resounded through the trees as Aiyana and Ixana charged at each other, the difference in their fight becoming abundantly clear. Ixana really had been playing around with Nova because if she had gone at the same speed and power as she did now, Nova would have been a goner within the first two minutes of their meeting.

Nope, scratch that. Make it 30 seconds.

So fiercely Aiyana fought the eagle shifter, Ixana had completely forgotten about Nova. Her men were all distracted fighting Atia and were falling down one by one like a domino effect.

Ixana yanked the staff free and tossed it aside, closing the distance between them, dodging Aiyana's fist before elbowing her arm, and grabbing it and shooting skywards.

Nova could only watch, her chest heaving as she clutched at one of the deeper cuts into her stomach, warm crimson slipping through her fingers.

Aiyana didn't allow her to take her any higher, her claws slashing for the Sky Matron's eyes. She screeched, releasing her, tearing her face away.

Aiyana then barrelled in the air, using the momentum to kick Ixana's chin back. But the land was her domain. Her movements weren't as quick and she couldn't dodge flying blades mid-fall. Ixana's wings snapped wide, halting her fall, watching her hidden knives hit her mark.

Aiyana hissed, a blade catching her chest and shoulder as she crashed into the ground.

Nova gasped, her body moving before her mind caught up. She sprinted for Aiyana's staff that was just to the side right as Ixana's wings folded back, her body leaning forward.

She snarled and shot towards Aiyana, claws glinting in the light, vision tunnelling onto her prey.

"Oh no you don't!" Nova swung the staff, catching Ixana by surprise and slid along the ground, tackling her to the ground.

They rolled along the dirt. The heavy wings almost crushing Nova but she reached for them and yanked on the feathers. Ixana screamed out.

She might not be a warrior, but she wasn't about to let her friend die by this psycho's talons!

Dirty fighting as it was… She was just trying to survive.

"You little-"

Ixana reached for Nova, but her voice broke, choking.

What…

Claws flashed across her throat in one savage motion as Aiyana landed elegantly to the side, crouched, ready. She tilted her head, eyes locked on Ixana's, her claws dripping crimson.

"You insulted me today," Aiyana said quietly, deadly, cold. "You sent your men to Nova's only male guard, forgetting the strength and wisdom of one of your own. For a woman in charge… that was very foolish of you."

Ixana opened her mouth as though to speak. Her eyes wide with shock, like she couldn't believe what had just happened. Instead, she choked, whispered breaths passing her lips that opened and shut.

Aiyana cleaned her claws on Ixana's wings, leaning closer, and dropped her voice to a whisper as though she was telling Ixana a secret in her final moments. "I don't play with my food. I go straight for the kill."