Page 119 of Demon Found

He attacks first, a vicious whirlwind burrowing under my shield, picking me up, spinning me around. He uses the distraction to dump me close to him, too close. His air scoops dirt from the ground and he flings it in my face, blinding me. I scrub at my eyes desperately squinting at Seth.

A blast of fire hits out of nowhere, and I barely manage to dodge. The scent of singed hair hits me. Heburnedmy fucking hair. With a hiss my wings flip out and with one strong flap I douse his flames.

Pressing against Seth’s shield, I send one fireball after another in quick succession, visible to everyone. What the crowd can’t see is my air simultaneously squeezing his shield tight, compressing it. I shouldn’t be able to use both elements at the same time, not without aether. But like this, everyone is too far away to work out what I’m doing. Hairline fissures appear in his shield, splintering out, growing, and Seth snarls. Just as it disintegrates, he crouches, fingers to the dirt, sending a strong burst of energy into the ground.

Seconds later, a blast of air explodes under my feet and I’m catapulted into the sky.

That’s what wings are for, asshole. I flap once, twice, righting myself before clapping them to my side and diving, sending a fire tornado at his face in the same beat.

Seth ducks. A twist of his hand sends me flying. Suddenly there’s no air. I can’t breathe. My wings beat against nothing, and I spiral, my chest heaving, searching for oxygen. Failing.

I land with a thud on the hard ground, the impact driving the very last of the air from my body.

“Surrender, little sister, or I will send you to meet your weak-assed, inept father.” His foot lands on my chest.

How fucking dare he bring my dead dad into it. My aether surges, and this time I don’t hold it back. Fuck being subtle, fuck Seth. I blast him off me with a fire tornado so violent he spins halfway across the pitch, lit up like a firework. Without pausing I shoot after him. He lands on his back in the dirt, and I’m on him in an instant, holding him down with my air, fists flying at his face, each strike laced with flame.

His lip splits, and he shrieks in anger, shaking his head, blood flying everywhere. Some lands in my mouth, the taste of rich iron coating my tongue. I leap backward off him. For a beat, Seth lies still, staring up at me, his mouth moving without sound. My face tingles, my hands tingle.Shit. What’s happening?My teeth are too big for my mouth, my fingers are claws. What fucking spell is this?

He won’t get the upper hand. I won’t let him.

As he staggers up, I fly at him, quicker than I thought possible, bowling us both over in the dirt. My heart hammers, but above it I can hear his singing to me, begging me to stop it beating. I hold him, immobile beneath me. The asshole squirms but he can’t overpower me. Pinned, he flails harder, his pulse pounding in his neck. I wipe at the blood spatters across my face, peering down at him. My brother, the traitor.

I lick my lip, filling my mouth with the metallic tang of Seth’s blood. Gnawing hunger explodes in my chest, and I snarl. I willendhim. I lean in, face pressed up to his, enjoying the fear that flares in his eyes.

Seth struggles wildly before finally freeing a hand and smacking the flat of it hard to the ground, calling out to the ref, panicked.

“I surrender.”

No no no.

He doesn’t get to do that. He’s mine. A red sheen descends over my vision. He’s not getting away with everything he’s put me through. Not this easily. I toss his body up in the air, and he lands with a crunch. I pounce again. Gripping his shoulders I bury my face in his neck, ripping at the flesh.

“Stop now, chica.”

I snarl over my shoulder. No one is taking my prize away.

“You’ve won, but youhaveto stop.”

Chano’s hand lands on my arm and I shrug angrily. Suddenly more hands press in on me. My allegiance. They push power at me. It tingles, rushing over my skin, filling me. Giving, not taking. I release a breath. They’re offering power, trusting me.

My thundering heart slows slightly. The allegiance bond thrums and my thoughts clear. I pull my hands from Seth, leaving deep crescent nail marks etched into his skin.

My anger dims the moment I release him, and with it my energy drains. I slump sideways, caught by rough hands, bundled, cradled. Chano scoops me up, smashing his mouth into mine. I wrap myself around him, squeezing him tightly, our tongues dancing.

“Victory, Lorelei Smith.”

The announcement rings around my head, unnaturally loud. Fuck. I did it. I won. I can barely grasp it—everything is so, so loud. The noise intrudes on my thoughts. I can hear what the spectators are saying in the stands, the medics as they fuss over Seth, the beating of the ref’s heart. What fucking spell did Seth use? I pull back from Chano, clapping my hands over my ears. This has to stop. I can sense every teeny tiny little thing. It’s too fucking much. I bury my face in my hands but my finger catches on a tooth, ripping the skin open.What the hell?

I turn wildly to Chano, to my allegiance.

“What has he done?”

Farrell claps my back. “You’re okay. There’s nothing wrong with you.”

I glare at him. Everything is wrong. Too loud, too bright, too smelly. Fuck, I can taste the damn air, I canfeelthe grass growing. It’s too much.

Chano’s eyebrow quirks. “Well, we sure know what you’re crossed with now, chica. Everyone knows.”

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