Page 76 of Xeda

The arena was on fire, the roof covered with cracks and open wounds where fire and smoke were seeping through. Out from the flames, she saw a figure running across.

A painful whimper rose in her throat as she nearly collapsed against the rail.

Xeda was flying across the rooftop, dodging bursts of fire and jumping over open vents. Rushing toward the building, toward her.

"He's crazy," she heard Zachary whisper. He brought his hand up, glaring down at his wristpad. He plugged something in, then brought it up to his mouth. "I need all available security active right away. We need to go into lockdown."

Ophilia let the knife slip from her sleeve. She gripped the hilt, then took a breath and lunged. As he whirled around, she caught him in the gut. Zachary staggered back, cursing.

"You bitch," he said in surprise. He tried to backhand her across the face, but she side stepped away. He fell to the ground, clutching his stomach, his back resting against the rail.

They stared at each other as blood coated his lips. "Kaxek will have this victory," he mumbled. He grinned at her with bloody teeth. "He always does."

She tugged the knife from him as his body went limp. She turned back to the fire below, looking once more for Xeda, and found him along one side more than halfway across.

Then she saw Kaxek, who had somehow climbed his way up, coming to meet him.

Heart dropping, she looked back at Xeda. With all her breath, she leaned forward and screamed his name, tearing her vocal cords.

Xeda slowed and looked up, and they locked eyes.

He looked ready to fly to her when she quickly pointed her knife toward Kaxek who was rushing toward him at top speed. Xeda turned his head just as Kaxek leapt into the air.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Xeda

He saw Kaxek appear out of the smoke, falling toward him, his talons swiping across Xeda's arm as he blocked him just in time. Xeda leapt back as Kaxek came at him again, striking with impressive speed.

Xeda was able to dodge the first few until Kaxek lashed out with his tail. As Xeda blocked again, Kaxek kicked with enough force to send him flying.

Xeda rolled, then landed on his hands and feet in a crouch. The heat of the fires roared behind him, embers catching on his head and shoulders.

"You really thought you could escape?" Kaxek hissed. "You are weak. Less than a warrior. You're a loser." He showed him his fangs. "I may not have a queen, but I am predomis alone. Here, I am king. You don't escape me."

Xeda slowly rose. His bad arm was already starting to ache, but he didn't let any pain show. "No," he said, keeping a fighter's stance, ready to strike or defend. "You are a disgrace to our kind. You are no vrisha. You are nothing."

Kaxek roared, then charged him.

Xeda, this time, was ready. He shot toward him, meeting Kaxek head on.

Fists and talons struck, tails flew, striking hide, sending scales flying. Kaxek tried to get a hold of him, but Xeda slipped out of his grip every time.

The fires grew worse around them, the cracks in the roof spreading, creating bursts of flames and heat. Xeda could feel the vibrations under his feet wherever he stepped.

Kaxek whipped his tail toward Xeda's head, and as Xeda ducked, Kaxek kicked him again, this time sending him back into a burst of fire.

Xeda hissed as the flames licked against his back and shoulder. Even this heat was almost too much for him. He leapt back out of the flames in hopes of blocking Kaxek's view through the smoke, losing him in the smog that started to spread.

Xeda searched around him, circling, waiting. The ground beneath him began to shake, and he wondered how long the roof would last before it collapsed.

As he decided to start running for the edge again in case it did, Kaxek broke through a pillar of smoke and slammed into him, sending them both falling then rolling across the surface. As Xeda tried to stand, Kaxek rushed him again, tackling him back to the ground. Kaxek tried to go for Xeda's throat, but Xeda twisted his bad arm, using it as a shield. Kaxek bit into it, crunching into bone. Xeda barked in pain, trying to wrench him off.

As Kaxek tore into him, he kept Xeda on his back, slashing at his chest, digging his talons into his side as Xeda tried to kick him off.

Xeda bucked and writhed but couldn't move him. He was beginning to feel his strength waning already.

No, not again. Not now.

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