Page 72 of The Last Aether

I pressed my palm harder against his heart. “I have to. I have to show them I’m not afraid.”

Phoenix’s jaw worked back and forth, but he finally nodded.

Releasing my hold on him, I turned and stepped into the ring.

Aiden grinned as his gaze ran over me. “This could be fun, Little Aether.”

I wanted to snap at him not to call me that, but I wouldn’t give Aiden the satisfaction. Instead, I took up a loose fighting stance. We moved around one another, each of us sending out testing blows to see how the other would react.

Aiden was the first to land a punch. One that forced all the air from my lungs with a single blow. But I didn’t let myself stay down. I used the momentum to send a hook shot into his side, right at the kidneys.

He let out a grunt and kicked low, sweeping my legs out from under me.

I hit the mat with a smack, light flashing in my vision.

Aiden was on top of me in half a second, hand around my throat.

The world darkened around me. The panic of not being able to move was too much. I bucked my hips, trying to get free, but Aiden wouldn’t move.

His fingers tightened around my throat. My vision tunneled. But then that panic broke through. It gave me a burst of adrenaline I desperately needed.

I rolled us so that I was on top of Aiden and landed a hard hit to his cheek.

Aiden cursed, throwing me off him.

I clamored to my feet, raising my hands to protect my face and body.

“I was trying to take it easy on you, Aura.”

I dodged a jab. “I don’t think choking the life out of me qualifies as easy.”

He grinned. “Trust me. It’s a mercy.”

Something about the cockiness in that tone had my anger sparking. My foot struck out, catching Aiden right between the legs. He dropped like a stone, face going pale.

Several guys around us let out pained “ooohs” along with laughter.

Aiden’s face went from white to red in a flash. He moved so quickly I didn’t have time to prepare. He was on the ground one second, and the next, he’d grabbed me by the hair and wrenched my arm back.

I tried to twist out of the hold, to kick back, but he was too fast. There was a telltale crack of bone and then nothing but blinding pain.

40

The world tunneled around me as the pain took over. It was as if everything else was hazy. I could see it but not clearly. And it all felt like it was happening in slow motion.

Phoenix. Charging into the ring. His first punch sent Aiden flying to the mat. But he didn’t stop there. Blow after blow. The sickening crunch of bone. Blood spraying the floor.

Shouts sounded. Sarge and three other massive guys hauled Phoenix off of Aiden. He raged and twisted, trying to break free of their holds. They forced him towards the exit and then Sarge gave him a hard shove. “Get the hell out of here, Ash. Cool off before you kill someone.”

Flames danced around him as he struggled to get himself under control.

Sarge’s eyes narrowed on him. “Don’t pull that shit with me or I’ll ban you from class for the rest of the semester.”

Phoenix’s nostrils flared and then his eyes collided with mine. I couldn’t help the soft whimper that escaped me. I wanted to go to him. To help. But I couldn’t move, the pain was too much.

Phoenix started forward, but Sarge gave him another shove.

“Go. I’ll make sure Aura is treated.”