Page 62 of The Mating Fire
Not gonna get the drop on her again. Harper snarled and blue fire shot out of her hands, hurling at the knife-like talons striking, trying to make her bleed.
She retreated at the same time he did. A shiver ran down her spine as Jared advanced, his dark eyes smoldering with intensity. His mere presence sent tingles of sensual need rushing down her spine, mingling with the alertness of a coming battle.
"Ready or not, here I come." Jared's voice was like velvet, smooth and alluring.
Harper tensed, her determination burning bright. She knew that mastering her abilities was the only way to protect herself from the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
Without another word, Jared reached out his hand, his touch sending fiery sparks flying between them. Harper closed her eyes, focusing on the energy coursing through her veins, channeling it into a blazing inferno of coldfire.
Flicking out her fingers, she unleashed a torrent of blue flames, the intense coldness radiating from her fingertips. Jared’s own power crackled in the air around them, but was doused by her coldfire.
Suddenly he was airborne, flying above her and then landing as quickly behind her. Jared flicked his wrist, sending a rush of fire toward her. She easily repelled it.
“See? I can handle you,” she said, shaking her head. “This isn’t any different from what we practiced at the castle.”
“Oh?”
An arched eyebrow, and a knowing smile.
Sweat dripped down Harper’s pale brow as she danced around Jared, her gaze centered on his lethal talons, the sharp hooks at the V of his wings.
Power shimmered inside her, magick she held at bay out of concern for Jared. Poised, she watched his body for the tell,the move that accompanied every strike. Fingertips tingling with pulsating coldfire itching for release, she waited.
For such a large, muscled male, he moved with sinuous grace, obsidian wings unfurled, creating shadows on the flowers. His bare feet crushed the delicate blossoms as he circled around her. Gaze burning with a fiery glow of his power, he unleashed the darkness within him.
Just a little.
She sensed he held back. Because of her? No, something else made him resist using all his dark powers.
"Harper," he purred, his voice a seductive melody, "You know you cannot win against me. Not without your magick. Embrace the coldfire within, and let it be your shield."
With a flick of his wrist, Jared’s talons elongated.
Harper's heart raced as Jared lunged at her. Instinct overtook reason. Blue coldfire roared out of her fingertips. The luminous power created sparks of cobalt blue dancing in the air before sailing toward his chest.
His heart, the most vulnerable organ.
Jared's talons slashed through the blue stream and cleaved it in half before it touched him.
He shook his head, scowling at her. “Faster, you must be faster, Harper. Do not give your enemy time to react, to do as I just did. Strike the most vulnerable heart of your opponent.”
This time she countered with a surge of coldfire that twisted into ropes of power. Instead of directing the stream at his heart, she aimed lower.
Coldfire slammed into his groin, igniting it in a shower of blue sparks. Gasping, Jared clapped hands over his genitals, wheezing as he reeled backward.
“Well done,” he squeaked.
Harper rushed over as he bent over, wincing. “I’m sorry! You said to hit where it would hurt most.”
“I did.” He drew in a deep breath. “Son of a bitch, so I did. Give me a minute.”
As she put a quivering had on his shoulder in comfort, he straightened, and struck. Suddenly she found herself flat on her back in a bed of soft petals, staring up at Jared straddling her waist.
“I told you, Harper. Never let your guard down.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You were injured!”
“No compassion, no surrender. If you even show a glimpse of pity, they will cut you down and slice you to ribbons.”
