Page 379 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

“With attempting to convince you to willingly join Moros’ side? Probably. He’s decided coercion is adequate. Though I must admit, none of us expected you to hold out so long. All that power funneled through one vessel? It’s a miracle you haven’t atrophied yet. Such a rare condition to have a test subject for. I’m sure our healers would be most satisfied.”

As if in answer, a pang shot through my spine and down my legs.

“And your price for this information?”

“My price is simple. When you at last bring the visions in my mind to life, you take her with you.”

“Blythe?”

“No, my vapid viper of a sister. Yes, Blythe. You take her with you. You hide her away in that bunker of yours and you finish this. For both of us.”

“Happy to. Mind telling us where they are?”

“Couldn’t even if I wanted to. I can tell you the witch likes to light candles—a tiny altar in her bedroom window. I thought at first she was attempting to light my curtains on fire, but it seems even in the depths of hell, she makes time to pray. Or… she did.” A flash of desperation crossed his features, jaw flexing as those dark brown eyes locked on mine. Imploring, he said, “I am at your mercy, Commander Porter. I fear she’s tipped my hand in a way not even I can remedy, and unless you hasten, he will break her apart piece by piece and revel in her agony while I watch.”

“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?”

“In another life, perhaps. In this one, I’ll settle for you defending a gentle soul…” He cleared his throat, eyes dropping. “A good and pure soul, in a way I envy you for.”

“We have intel⁠—”

“No, you don’t,” he said, shaking his head. “I fear you know nothing that could compromise my master. He is squaring off with a child—a newborn incapable of leading himself, much less an army. Victory is assured.” He arched a pointed brow. “I fear you are entirely on the incorrect path, and no matter how severe the consequences, there was nothing I could do to fix your stupidity and convince you to trade yourself and take her place tonight. Was there?”

Confusion deepened my scowl. “I think you’d have to kill every Grayshellian fighting in the streets to take me with you,” I told him, watching the breath leave his lungs. “I think the men beside me would tear you apart before you tried.” Confirmation settled in his eyes, even as lightning crackled in my fingertips. “As for Ally, we thought you had her in New York and intended to follow you to her location.”

“A valid guess, given the state of the city,” he drawled, shoulders easing just as a deafening roar and thunderous crash sent the walls shaking and windows breaking. Voice tight, Adrastos announced, “There’s our cue.”

In one synchronized movement, a wall of darkness rushed for us. Alec fired his pistol, Marcus leapt into the air with a roar, and I unleashed the pent-up lightning pressing against my skin.

The world ignited in black shadow fire.

Freya

Time roared back into existence. Carr’s eyes flew wide, an agonized scream shredding the air.

Vibrating with the power in my veins, I funneled it down into Atreus’ sword as everyone moved at once.

I ran toward Lana and Fae, passing Atreus as he slid across the ground on his knees, desperation in his voice as he barked, “Carrson!”

Jo and Cali locked eyes with me, vanishing from the circle of wolves just as quickly.

With a curse, Cyrus whirled, wide-eyed, toward me in search of answers we sure as shit didn’t have time for. Fear and confusion warred in that citrine gaze. It took only a second for his eyes to harden with understanding before he dipped his chin and turned back to tend to his cousin.

That kernel of trust… God, that was fucking everything. It soothed the wound still jagged and raw in my soul enough to let me put my head down and fucking finish this.

I launched myself toward my mother and aunt as they kept Marlana occupied and hurled the sword like a javelin.

Marlana’s magic flickered out—the darkness retreating beneath her skin—a heartbeat before the blade sank into her shoulder.

I was running before her scream fractured the air. Each step was precise, dodging pits of rot as they crumbled the earth. Across from me, Fae was screaming as she funneled her power down into the ground, trying to counteract the snake. Beside her, Lana bolted forward just as I did.

We both skidded to a halt as an enormous black bird of swirling shadows dove between us. Marlana threw a hand up through her rattling breath, and the moment her bloody fingers touched golden talons, they vanished.

Lana’s cry of outrage rent the night.

Panting, the sharp sting of disappointment slicing through me, I turned around⁠—

Atreus knelt forehead to forehead with Carr, whose teeth were clamped on a leather bit. Jo knelt beside them—the stump of his arm neatly sealed. And between them, glinting in the moonlight, steel contorted and swirled.