Page 442 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

A woman called… “Freya.”

“Keep going.”

“You hate her,” I breathed as somewhere beyond the visions, something snarled.

Nix’s voice was strained when he finally gritted out, “Yes.”

“And love her.”

A grunt of effort, and a smacking thud, as images strobed through my mind. The next word was a breathless scoff. “No.”

I snorted, realizing this was my gift. The thing Moros kept locked down. The thing he wanted. “You can’t lie to me, Nixon.”

“A little help?” he grunted. But the visions were shifting—the war outside these walls came into a whole new light. He’d been ordered to fight for Adrastos. Ordered to serve him, and Adrastos sent him to…

Kade.

Kade of the necromancers.

The same Kade Nix respected—who provided his only refuge through years of abuse.

He tortured people, this man who’d clothed me.

Enjoyed the power of it. Of doing the breaking instead of being broken.

And then the portals opened.

The portals opened, and the balance screamed.

The balance screamed, and he took up a blade to push against the monsters tearing apart the innocent.

Got trapped in an explosion.

Saw a handful of Grayshellians close the goddamn portal…

With me at the center.

I’d…

A brutal impact sent me flying to the earth with a thud, ribs screaming as the arena came back into view.

“What the fuck?” I wheezed, turning just in time to shove my dagger into a naked beast with gnashing teeth. Spittle flew across my face, my eyes widening as I groaned, rearing back to avoid them.

A harsh slash across its throat brought it down, and I whirled.

Another rabid demon dog was charging at me, and I shifted my hold on the blade, kneeling to grab a spear, luring it in with the surety of an easy attack⁠—

Jabbing the spear forward the moment it leapt. The impact ripped the weapon from my hands. I grabbed another.

Nix was cutting down the last of them, so I turned. Found Moros on his feet and threw.

The spear hurtled directly toward the king, people screaming in fear, like they’d only just realized we could reach them in the stands. Only, the weapon ran into an invisible wall. A shield.

More and more pieces clicked into place as Nix’s memories faded.

Moros was…

Oh, fuck.