Page 125 of Aryn

“Four,” I correct, yanking my blade free from the one I just dropped. “Do try to keep up.”

He laughs—wild and exhilarated—and shoulder-checks me as we move to the next target. “Show off.”

We cut through the rest of them, our bodies moving in perfect sync. The fear from earlier melts into something electric, something fiercely alive. When the last warrior falls, we stand back to back, breathing hard with blood on our blades and bodies scattered around us.

I turn and pull him into a rough, desperate kiss, hands fisting in his coat. “Don’t ever run off like that again,” I growl against his lips.

He kisses me back just as fiercely. “Don’t make me run off by almost getting killed.”

“Lillith!” Taryn shouts, charging toward the field of bodies with Cameron on her heels. “Sweets, you’re bleeding.”

“It’s just a scratch,” Lillith argues, then grimaces as fresh blood rushes down her pants.

“An arrow is not a scratch! Are you kidding me right now?”

Lillith grins and swoops Taryn into a bridal carry. Despite the blood covering her skin and clothes, Taryn sinks into it. “Will you feel better if you’re the one to stitch me up?”

“It will be a start,” Taryn mutters.

Lillith chuckles good-naturedly, as if she didn’t just slaughter a dozen warriors while leaving her weapon in its sheath. “Did you see the way I threw that spear?”

“I did, sweetheart.”

“They were like a meat skewer,” Lillith says proudly.

Taryn fights a smile and gives her mate a stern glare. “Your leg is a meat skewer. Pants off so I can take care of it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lillith coos. “You know I like it when you take charge.” They disappear into the wagon as the rest of us glance around at the carnage.

Brihn walks over, assessing Cato with a curious expression. “You’re reckless, human.” Cato’s brows shoot up and his chin tilts in challenge, an argument clearly brewing. “But,” Brihn continues, “you possess a bravery that few others have. We could learn a thing or two about not stopping to analyze everything quite so thoroughly.”

“Please don’t encourage him to be more impulsive,” I grumble before glancing up at Cato. “You aren’t invincible, you know.”

“Close enough,” he says with a wink.

Brihn fights back a laugh as he watches the two of us. “Well, regardless of your questionable mortality, the region owes you a debt for helping dispose of that group. They’ve been terrorizing this area for years.”

“Well, now they can’t,” Cato says, using his foot to shove one of the corpses onto its back and expose those glassy, lifeless eyes.

“Now they can’t,” Brihn agrees. He walks away to check on his guards as they assess their wounds.

I grip Cato’s coat and tug him closer again. The fire in his eyes has dimmed, but it still burns from the battle. “You take far too much pleasure in fighting, you know.”

“So I’ve been told,” he answers as he leans down to kiss me.

I melt into his lips, then pull back and swipe some of the blood from his cheek. “Will you promise me something?”

“Anything, darlin’.”

“I won’t ask you to promise you’ll never leave me,” I say softly. “That’s an oath that isn’t always in our hands, and the Fates work in strange ways sometimes. But will you promise me you’ll try to stay?”

His brows draw together as he cups my cheek. “Of course I’ll try to stay.”

“You are wildfire, Cato. I know this. I’d never try to extinguish it. But you can’t run into danger without me there. You aren’t alone anymore. I’ve got your back.”

He closes his eyes for a moment and leans his forehead against mine with a long exhale. “And I’ve got yours.”

“Come on, lovebirds,” Cameron hollers. “We’ve gotta get moving before the predators come out for the bodies!” He leans against the wagon, and inside, Lillith dutifully sits back while Taryn stitches up her leg. The Bhotan looks more amused about the effort than anything, but she allows Taryn to dote over her with a fond smile.