Page 370 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

Her pupils expanded as Marlana curled her thin lips into some contorted attempt at a smile, shifting to keep all three of us in her periphery as Cyrus stalked closer. “August prefers a clean approach, whereas I… well, I like to get a little messy. But you know all about that, don’t you? As for me,” I drawled, shoving my hands into my pockets as she shifted from side to side, head whipping back and forth as she tried to keep all three of us in sight. Beasts bellowed around us as the scream of alarms and sirens filled the air. Unbothered, I said, “I’m known for a rather specific skill set.”

“Last I checked, being a thief garnered no acolytes, darling.”

I grinned, that wicked sideways thing Lana was best known for. “Negotiations, darling.”

“Negot—” Her mockery cut off with an abrupt cackle of laughter, her shield glimmering where we encircled her. “Please. What could you possibly negotiate?”

“The Obsidian Crown,” I purred. “Who else do you think spirited it away in the first place? But of course, brother dearest told you that, didn’t he? No?” I said giddily when her eyes sharpened. The change was incremental, but just enough for me to flash a smile. “He does love his secrets.”

“And what could you possibly want in exchange?” she asked placatingly. “The King won’t part with Alvara.”

“Oh,” I scoffed, waving her off like a barnyard fly. “Please, you’ve signed your own death warrant with that one. Keep the traitor.” Those dark eyes narrowed. Cyrus and Carr were in position. I was just waiting for Gio to give me confirmation before we struck. “You’re delusional if you don’t think Aren was planning to get rid of her before she detonates.”

Shadows pooled off her shoulders like she was preparing to mist away. “Then what are you looking for, Wraith?”

“Your head on a pike,” I said, grinning, canines lengthening. “For starters.”

“Original,” she deadpanned.

“Your brothers on their knees,” I added with all the care of reading off a grocery list. “And Dr. Briar returned in exchange for the Crown.” A thunderous crash emanated from the building behind her, all of us jolting as the windows shattered in unison.

“You’re not worth the time.” Marlana’s jaw hardened, but she rolled her eyes, turning toward the Crown. We would not fail. We could not let her slip our grasp.

Drawing deeper from my well, I scoffed, “I knew Agamemnon was the idiot in the family.”

Marlana froze, still eyeing Cyrus. Behind me, Orion bristled as Dammit, Freya echoed through the line.

Her voice was a hiss so low I almost missed it. “You?”

“My,” I drawled, “Adrastos does love his secrets, doesn’t he? Your brother whimpered like a little bitch when I sank my teeth through his neck, by the way.”

Her head inclined, shoulders still as a wall of fire flared hot enough to singe the hair off my skin. None of us flinched—no one moved.

“I’m sure you concocted some warrior’s end in your mind, but honestly it was pathetic. Died alone on his back like the whore he always was.”

With that last taunt, she whirled, sending a wall of billowing darkness hurtling toward me. I threw my hands forward as the guys did the same. Darkness tangled with darkness, the shields dissolving as shadows rolled. I latched onto that rotting well in her chest, yanking hard as ice and shadows flew.

Marlana dodged each spear with annoying precision, her own power over the shadows deflecting every strike. A whip of power lashed for my chest, but with a wave of my hand, fluttering black butterflies took its place, floating away as her sword descended. Mine was there to meet it.

Strike for strike, we parried as Cyrus and Carr continued trying to leash her.

“You think… I don’t know… what you’re doing?” she spat between blows.

“Oh, I’m counting on it,” I said, baring my teeth as steel collided.

With a snarl, I dropped low, shifting the blade to strike for her waist, but she vanished just as quickly. Diving through the in-between, we parried and struck, again and again, each blow as vicious as the last.

Back in the corporeal, I slammed an energy attack forward, sending her staggering back. Already in pursuit, I jabbed the sword out, snarling as she bent backward to avoid the blade.

Cyrus materialized beside us, swinging for her neck. She shifted just as quickly, misting away as the needle swept clean through the air where she’d just been. Carr and I both threw walls out, caging her in as chaos erupted behind her.

“Enough!” Marlana barked, the burst of magic so violent it sent all three of us flying. The ground hit hard and fast, knocking the air clean out of me as my sword screeched across the asphalt.

I rolled onto my side, wheezing back a breath as she stalked toward me, the blacks of her eyes devouring the rest.

She’s shifting, I warned.

Get out of there, Cyrus barked.