Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(80)

Boomer lunged up and attacked before Evalle reached him. Fists the size of small boulders swung at her face and chest. She ducked, but he caught her in the ribs, cracking several. Gasping for air, she whipped the pole across his leg.

Bone gave way and he went down on a knee.

She hit his shoulder, crushing more bones, then whipped an uppercut that shattered his jaw.

Jumping back and forth as she attacked, Evalle landed off to one side after her last hit. Adrenaline had overshadowed her mending ankle, which chose now to give way, but she managed to stay upright, if leaning a bit. She’d rather not kill Boomer, since she needed to recruit as many Alterants as she could.

If she could convince them the Medb offer for immortality was a trick.

Winning this battle without killing him would go a long way toward talking him into leaving with her.

Boomer twisted his neck and shoulders, bones cracking and popping back into place.

He regenerated faster than anything else she’d ever seen. Talk about a smug look on a beast face. He stood up and held his hand out, trying to lift her with kinetics again.

She pushed a hand up, using her energy to hold herself down, then swung the pole with her free hand. Time to gamble. She forced her jaws to work and gave the pole an order loud enough to be heard. “Break Al-ter-ant.” Swinging across, shoulder high, she smacked Boomer’s neck.

A loud crack sounded from his spine.

Boomer’s head lolled to the side. He fell backward, arms and legs limp when he hit the ground. At the same time, the kinetic power pushing at her subsided. She walked over, using the pole to prod at his body.

Broken neck. Crap. Not as if she’d had a choice.

She turned to claim her victory, but hesitated when she heard a grunt of pain.

Before she could turn around, the pole was snatched from her hands and a hit of power shoved her sixty feet across the domed area. She smashed against the warded boundary.

Electricity sizzled across her skin.

Boomer had to be a nickname for Boomerang, as in he bounced back. That would be his strength, but arrogance was his weakness. Killing him might be impossible at the rate he healed, but cutting the head off anything usually worked, and she’d just changed her mind about his usefulness.

Growling, she powered up her kinetics and shoved off the warded boundary, spinning around as Boomer came at her. She called up her dagger that flew to her hand. She pointed it at his groin, then pulled back to throw.

Boomer skidded to a stop, dropped the pole and covered his genitals with one hand, then shoved a kinetic hit at her with the other. A one-handed blast was easier to dodge.

In the same second, she launched herself up in the air and forward, then whispered to the blade, “Stay put,” as she drove the blade into Boomer’s throat with deadly accuracy on her way past him.

The blade buried to the hilt, sticking out both sides.

She hit hard on her bad ankle.

He grasped the handle, gurgling and staggering as he fought to pull it out. Blood gushed from around the wound and out of the corner of his mouth. He wheezed for air. His face swelled and turned as red as a thumb smashed with a hammer. When he stumbled around toward her, hands reaching for her throat, Evalle dragged herself backward.

Boomer went to his knees, then fell on his side, making gurgling noises. His eyes closed.

He shifted into his human form.

She snatched her dagger out and straightened up to shouts, jeers and cheers.

Because she’d won or because she stood with her back to them, buck naked?

A guard walked out with two robes. He handed one to her, then dropped the other robe on Boomer and left.

She pulled on the thick burgundy robe and turned around to find Storm with his arms crossed, waiting as they’d agreed. He would give her time to talk to the other Alterants. She’d told him she’d touch the emerald on her chest if anything odd happened and she needed to let him know she was fine.

For a man who had shown limitless patience with her, she could tell just by looking at him that he practically vibrated with the need to come inside the dome.

She touched the emerald.

His eyes moved, following her action, then the stone warmed against her skin, sending a soothing balm through her. He smiled and winked.

Had he really pushed his majik through this stone?

Dame Lynn declared, “Moonlight Warrior wins her Elite round and the option to negotiate with the Medb. A deal has been struck for the loser Boomer. All fighting will cease in Battle Theater One.”

Searching the stands, Evalle’s gaze landed on Tristan and Kizira. And Petrina, Tristan’s sister, was there.

Evalle met Tristan’s gaze.

He nodded slightly and Kizira scowled, her gaze locked on Boomer.

Evalle poked the big Alterant with the tip of her boot, pushing him onto his back.

Boomer’s eyes opened. He coughed and rolled to his knees, clutching his neck that was already healing. Hate glared at her.

Definitely not a recruit, but neither had she wanted him traded to the Medb. “The fight is over.”

More glare. Not so mouthy after losing.

She called upon her beast power and forced her ankle to finish healing. She could feel it mending more quickly now that she’d burned the rest of the venom from her body.

Or because Storm had sent her a dose of healing through the emerald.

Dame Lynn announced, “All surviving Alterants not already claimed by the Medb are directed to Battle Theater One to wait as the Medb representative completes negotiations for trades.”