Page 98 of Dark Night of the Soul

I hoped he was right.

Silas provided us with weapons, tactical clothing, accelerant for the fire, and some tech we’d need to get in and get out.

The following day, I tried to rest, stay calm, and mentally prepare. This was nothing like I’d ever faced before.

By the time nightfall came, I dressed, knife at my belt. Wishing it was my own jade-handled dagger instead of this borrowed blade. When I emerged, he gave me an unreadable look. Jaw tight. Like he hated everything about this. Even so, he didn’t try to talk me out of it.

“If something happens—” I started.

“It won’t.”

“But if it does—” I stepped closer, rose on tiptoe and pressed a kiss against his cheek. “Thanks for not giving up on me.”

I started to step away, but his hand landed on mine. He pulled me back then kissed me. Reminding me of that kiss before I climbed the mountain in Meggido. It stole my breath.

“What was that for?” I asked, when we broke.

“Luck.”

Then we headed to the car in the dead of night. I was ready.

Vormund thought he’d made me into his masterpiece.

He was about to learn he’d made me into his executioner.

Chapter 31 | Kincade

The drive was silent. She sat with her hands folded in her lap and her gaze focused on the road through the windshield. Like she was mentally preparing.

Over the last week, I’d been testing the bond, opening it a little at a time to gauge her thoughts. Sometimes erratic and all over the place. Sometimes laser focused on what she intended to do. Sometimes analyzing her feelings about us—thoughts I wanted to hear but had no right to intrude on.

Always Anna.

But tonight, I didn’t listen. I wanted her to trust her instincts without interfering. Even though every instinct in me said to keep her out of harm’s way. I reminded myself she wasn’t the woman I’d carried out of Bagras weeks ago.

I parked the car a mile away from the facility concealed in a wooded area. We’d hike the rest of the way.

We geared up in silence. I checked the pistol, made sure the magazine was full, then slid it into the holster at my hip. Knife at belt. Small device for looping camera feeds into my pocket.

She pulled on her tactical vest, then tucked her own knife into the sheath strapped to her thigh. Two bottles of accelerant went into the pack she’d carry, then she slung it over her shoulder. Her movements were precise, practiced, like she’d done this before. Like someone else had trained her for it.

When she was ready, she looked up at me.

“How do I look? Like a future cover model for Guns and Ammo?”

“Terrifying,” I said, with a nod.

“Good. That’s the look I was going for.”

There was no hesitation. No fear. Nothing but determination, sarcasm, and accelerant.

I wanted to tell her to be careful. To stay behind me. To let me handle it. But she’d never go for it. She wasn’t that person anymore. She never had been. I’d underestimated her all along.

“Let’s go, soldier. We don’t have all night.” She smirked.

“I go first. Give me ten minutes to take out security, then follow me in.”

She nodded.