Page 24 of Godless Saints

“Also terrifying.”

“Then I circled right back to charming again. Range is everything.”

Perfect. Just what this moment needed.

His gaze flicked up, landed on me, then Cillian, then the space between us.

The Aster boy beside him went still.

Sawyer dropped his bag. The sound cracked across the salle.

“You.”

Cillian lifted both hands, gym bag hanging off one shoulder. “On my way to the boxing hall.”

Sawyer’s smile cut sharp. “Through the fencing salle?”

“Scenic route.”

“Bullshit. Try again.”

Cillian glanced at me, then back to Sawyer. “I’m just saying hi to my favorite Aster prince. Problem?”

My grip shifted on the foil.

Sawyer’s smile turned feral. “Moon. Move.”

“Excuse me?”

He stepped in, shoulder knocking mine as he wedged himself between us. Cillian leaned back slightly, head tilting as he watched Sawyer. Sawyer planted two fingers against Cillian’s chest and shoved.

“Aster has enough problems without Thorn leaving fingerprints on our Patronage candidate.”

Cillian’s eyes dropped to the fingers against his chest, then met Sawyer’s eyes. “Careful, lad.”

Sawyer scoffed. “Or what?”

Cillian’s smile stayed calm. “Try it. I’ll break the hand before I bother moving it.”

My hand shot out, fingers wrapping around Sawyer’s shoulder as I yanked him back hard, pulling him away from Cillian.

“Sawyer,” I said, sharper than intended. “Step away from him.”

Fuck.

That was supposed to come out the other way around. I should have told Cillian to step away. Instead I’d dragged Sawyer back like I was protecting him.

In front of both of them.

Cillian’s gaze snapped to me. He tilted his head again, eyes bright.

Sawyer’s expression sharpened. “Him?”

“Drop it,” I snapped.

“You protecting him now?”

Sawyer’s fingers curled around the crushed paper, knuckles white. “Fine.”