Read Commanding Scythe and Sky Online Free by S.J. Barnett

“Do you expect me to believe that Cadoc Hawthorne, the King of the Assassins, somehow didn’t know second-hierarchy demons breached his wards—hell, that they even got within a hundred yards of this place—undetected? Bullshit, Freya. And you know it. And where the fuck did that light magic come from? Nobody has seen something like that in decades.”

Something flickered in her eyes. Relief settled into my blood as her attention snapped to Atreus, a question hanging between them. I took the opening and kept going.

“And where was her goddamn security detail, Carrson?” I barked, turning on my cousin as rage warmed my blood. “The queen of England always had someone within six paces. Where the hell were you? How did they get this close?”

“Following orders,” he deadpanned.

“Fuck orders,” I snapped. “If orders put her at the center of a bullseye, fuck the orders.”

“I assure you, there was no malicious intent,” Atreus ground out, pacing in front of the enormous painting on the wall. “Freya is my betrothed. I would not let harm come to her.”

My hands shook as I cracked my neck, a dangerous smile carving across my face when I caught his gaze. “That will not be happening.”

“Last I checked, the Stuart line is dead. You hold no power here.”

“And yet, here I stand.”

“A decision I still don’t comprehend.”

“Enough,” Freya snarled in exasperation. “Cyrus, stand down.”

“Yes, Cyrus,” Atreus said with a smarmy smile. “Stand down. I’ll handle it.”

“You’ll handle it?” I scoffed. “Over my dead body will you handle another security detail for my queen.”

“That can be arranged,” he said coolly, a disarming smirk tipping one corner of his mouth.

“I’m sure it can,” I ground out, holding his gaze. “And in my stead, the Wings take my place.”

“Am I missing something?” Atreus asked dryly, gaze flicking from me to Freya and back. “You seem awfully defensive of your mother’s executioner. Why is that?”

“Because she is everything!” I bellowed, chest heaving as Freya’s eyes widened and she staggered back. “She came to set the broken pieces of this world right without apology, and her people—my people—recognize that. Even when I didn’t.” I tore my gaze from his punchable fucking face and found wide, glimmering jades before looking back at the prince. “So go ahead. Cut off one head and three more will grow in my place. Her destruction was foretold by seers far more powerful than me. My people—her people—will not be caught this unprepared again. You have my word.” I looked at Freya. “We’re going home.”

“One of us is,” she snapped. “You’re dismissed, Captain.”

My jaw clenched hard enough to hurt. We weren’t done. Not even close. But I’d undermined her enough for one night. Carrson met my glare and nodded. Holding Freya’s gaze, I dipped my chin and knelt. “Yes, Commander.” Gods, the fire in her eyes could’ve ignited me from across the room.

“A pleasure, as always,” Atreus drawled, tracking me as I headed for the front door.