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The crowd roared in panic, and the warriors worked relentlessly to empty the coliseum of the civilians. She understood their actions. If Ajali were to lose control of his flames he could turn them all to ash in mere minutes. And if the beasts were to jump from the arena into the crowd, thousands of civilians
would die.
She wondered at the glorious beauty of the flames around him. The massive oak tree that stood only a few feet from the outskirts of the coliseum withered and turned to black ash as Ajali’s heat reached it. It did not catch fire and burn out, it simply turned to ash. Yet Tehdra instinctively understood that only a portion of his power had been unleashed.
“Easy.” A soft murmur meant to soothe and reassure.
She turned to see Gavyn gently circling Xian’s back. Tehdra’s gut tightened. The princess’ eyes were also pits of flames and the ground below her smoked. Her rage was more erratic and frantic. The Phoenyx was housed within her as well, yet she did not seem to control any of its chakra like her brother did.
His people screamed and hundreds of warriors flashed and perched on the edge of the coliseum, anticipating his command to drop into the arena. Hands rested on the hilts of their swords, waiting with deadly determination.
Tehdra knew what Ajali did. Even if thousands landed, they could not hope to defeat two summoned beasts along with their masters. Nurian warriors belched flames that made it hard for her to breathe, the heat was so stifling, but the speed of the wolyves made it impossible for them to even be singed.
The railing cracked under her hand as chains of molten fire with blades attached leapt to life from Ajali’s hands as he attacked. His speed was something to behold. Muscles rippled as he rushed in, swinging with brutal strength. Chains uncoiled and snapped out. The blades slashed and embedded deep into one of the beast’s stomach. The howl that rose from it was terrifying, mesmerizing. Long and mournful, the howl of madness and rage contained the sweet symphony of death and darkness.
The chain coiled around the beast’s head, and Tehdra blinked. She had not seen the beast move. It just appeared in front of Ajali, and slashed with ferocious claws. His chakra pulsated and bathed him in orange-red flames.
The deep embers of his fire were incendiary. His clothes melted, leaving his naked form coated in fire. Harsh gasps echoed from Xian, and Tehdra hummed in rage. It was a feral sound as the leash on her beast slipped. Claws sprang from her hands and curved deep into the balustrade.
Protect.
Fire filled Ajali’s mouth and heat rushed across the coliseum to be stopped by the energy barrier that the chakra formed. With a blur, the other wolyve rushed in, and the two lunged, the battle intensifying. The coliseum trembled as Ajali slammed into the wall of the arena. Before the beast could rend and claw, Ajali flashed up, and with a whistle, fiery blades slung from his hand and embedded deep into the neck of the closest beast.
The railing crumbled under Tehdra’s claws as her mate ran with the grace of a jagyuar towards the wolyve pinned on his blade. With the embedded sword and the momentum of his chain, he pulled himself onto of the beast’s back and pulled out his sword to slash it deep again. With a roar, flames flicker so bright Tehdra felt blinded.
The beast turned to ash before her eyes. The beast however could not be killed. When weakened, the demon returned to its master, to be summoned again when the Darkan’s strength was restored.
Her mate was magnificent.
Ajali stood like a conqueror. A raw moan of pain ripped from her throat. She did not turn to look as Uriah flashed to her side. Her mate was bleeding and hurt. The scent of his blood reached her, and madness nearly overwhelmed her. Her mate bled. His flames had died down to a soft glow and a massive furrow opened him from chest to hipbones. Blood ran in torrents down his legs. The chains coiled around his elbows once more, and he held his sword ready as the master and his demon observed the King of Nuria.
“We need to get warriors in there,” Bastien growled. “Ajali’s strength wanes. It takes an inordinate amount of chakra for him to rein in what he has inside.”
Xian screamed, and Tehdra felt it to the pit of her soul. Beast and Darkan rushed together towards Ajali in a flawlessly coordinated attack.
Ajali and the Darkan fought viciously. Her darkness tried to reach out to what was inside of him and felt only suppressed rage.
“Why is he suppressing his Phoenyx?” Tehdra rasped to Uriah, maddened by the scent of his blood and the knowledge that he was hurt.
“The Phoenyx is pure rage and destruction. If my king were to lose control when battling there is no force that could stop his flame from consuming us all. We would turn to ashes in mere minutes.”
“The barrier…”
“The barrier can only suppress less than a tenth of the Phoenyx’s power, Tehdra. Ajali cannot afford to lose control for the sake of his people. He would burn and burn, but he would neither die nor would his powers. They would only be reborn from the ashes of destruction he would leave in his wake.”
The cry that ripped from Xian tore into Tehdra’s being. The beast’s movements were so fast and brutal, and it attacked Ajali’s flank while he and the master fought. Ajali’s body slammed into the wall, and her beast went crazy inside at the pain that bled from him to her.
Hundreds of warriors dropped into the arena and fire spewed at the Darkan and his summoned beast. She could feel their rage and despair, but it only fed the beast and its master, made them stronger, more powerful. Screams split the air as bodies flew. Within minutes more than two hundred warriors lay dead.
“We need to get Ajali out of the arena,” Uriah said, fear cracking his voice. “We cannot send in any more warriors. They will only die.”
“I will go….” Xian’s voice trembled with fury.
“No,” Gavyn snapped. “You will be no match for the Darkan and its beast, and you have no control of your abilities. You are a greater threat to your people than our king ever was.”
“His blades will respond,” Uriah said, and all ten flashed onto the balcony and looked down into the arena.
“Gavyn!” Xian gasped, fear tightening her features. “Please…be careful. I cannot lose you.”
