“That makes itworse,” I snapped.
They only grinned wider. Before I could flee, Mara lunged. I dropped the rope and dodged out of instinct—years of pit-fighting kicking in—but she pivoted smoothly,catching my elbow and twisting me into a roll that forced me back upright.
My blood surged.
My claws extended.
A growl built in my chest.
“Oh yes,” Mara purred. “Let’s see what the desert made.”
My fears and anxiety melted away as my mind settled into battle.
I dodged Mara’s sweep, and twisted free from Yazmine’s hold. They were laughing—actually laughing—as they pushed and tested and matched each dodge with sharper, quicker moves. For the first time in my life, I was fighting without trying to kill. And for the first time in my life, I think I was enjoying it.
Mara caught my ankle and I nearly face-planted. She yanked me sideways, but I landed in a crouch, chest heaving.
Mara hopped back. “He’s fun!”
Yazmine nodded. “I like him.”
I froze. “You like me?”
Before they could answer, a screech split the air.
I’d heard it before from Perri, but this was different. A distress call–raw and terrified.
My heart nearly stopped beating in my chest. I put a hand to where the pain was, stopping. Yazmine landed a kick to my jaw, then immediately apologized.
I didn’t hear or feel any of it. The only thing I was aware of was the distress cry of an unmated female, rattling my system like I was being burned alive by fire.
This was awful. How did the other males stand it?
I turned to see Nerissa’s youngest daughter Nava in the air above us. My heart sank further.
“WHAT THE HELL—?!” she shrieked. “WHY AREYOU ALONE WITH THE UNMATEDS?!” Her wings exploded wide, her voice echoing off the stone like a war horn. “HE’S TRYING TO BREED THEM!”
“I’m not—” I started, appalled, but it didn’t matter.
Nava had already launched into the sky, screaming the distress call again, louder, a beacon of impending violence.
Within seconds, wings thundered around me, shouts erupted, and claws and feet pounded the rocks.
Canavar.
Nasi.
Benedict.
Kieran.
Half the fucking island came racing toward the lava tubes at full speed.
To kill me, probably.
I stared up at the swirl of wings and teeth and fury bearing down on me, and all I could think was: I’d finally felt safe.
For five minutes.
