"Firebird attack. They've locked us in here while they deal with it."
His expression darkened. "Fools. They need every warrior they can get."
He was right. I'd seen what firebirds could do, had fought them myself. My ribs still ached from the attack a few days ago. The settlement's weapons might be advanced, but the birds were fast and vicious and hunted in packs.
People were going to die out there.
And we were trapped in here, unable to help, unable to fight, unable to do anything but wait.
20
NYX
The walls wouldn't give.
I slammed my shoulder against the metal again, felt the impact reverberate through bone and muscle. The structure shuddered but held. My wings scraped against the ceiling, unable to fully extend in this cramped space.
"Nyx, stop." Lexa's hand found my arm. "You're going to hurt yourself."
I pulled back, breathing hard. My throat still burned from dehydration, each breath scraping through damaged tissue.
Outside, the sounds of battle intensified. Screams cut through the air, sharp and terrified. The distinctive shriek of firebirds hunting. Weapons firing in rapid succession, the unfamiliar crack of human technology mixing with more primitive sounds.
People were dying.
And I was trapped in this box.
I circled the small office, searching for weaknesses. The walls were solid. The door was barred from the outside, no mechanism on this side to force it open. Even the desk was bolted to the floor, useless as a battering ram.
My claws scraped against metal, leaving shallow grooves that did nothing.
Lexa moved to the far corner, running her hands along the seams where different sections joined. Her expression was focused, analytical. Looking for the structural weakness that would give us an opening.
"We’re getting the fuck out of here," she muttered.
Another scream, closer this time. The sound of something heavy hitting the ground, followed by the wet crunch of impact.
The firebirds were everywhere.
A massive impact shook the entire structure. The ceiling buckled inward with a screech of tortured metal. Dust and debris rained down, forcing me to shield my eyes.
Lexa stumbled, caught herself against the desk. "What the hell?"
The roof groaned. Metal bent at the wrong angles. Through the growing gap, I caught a glimpse of crimson feathers and massive talons gripping the edge of the torn ceiling.
The creature's weight was too much for the already damaged structure. The ceiling collapsed further, opening a jagged hole directly above us. The bird shrieked, startled by the sudden instability beneath its feet. Its wings flared, catching air.
It launched itself skyward, leaving the damaged roof behind.
"Go!" Lexa was already moving, scrambling onto the desk. She jumped, caught the edge of the torn metal, and pulled herself up with impressive strength.
I followed, my wings giving me the advantage of height. The metal edges were sharp, cutting into my palms as I hauled myself through the opening. I ignored the pain, focused on getting out, getting to safety.
Getting my mate to safety.
The roof was unstable, sections tilting at dangerous angles. I grabbed Lexa's arm as she found her footing, steadied her as the metal shifted beneath us.
The settlement spread out below, a chaotic mess of burning structures and panicked humans. Firebirds wheeled overhead, at least a dozen of them.
