Page 57 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

A warm hand clamped onto my shoulder as I knelt in blood and silt and filth.

So close. So fucking close, and I’d overshot by inches.

The motherfucker had slipped through my fingers like smoke, and no amount of demon or Renown blood could quench my thirst to see his spilled at my feet.

“Not now, Alec,” I grumbled.

“Try again,” came a Scottish drawl as thick as molasses.

I rose and turned to find Kade watching me, apology written across every inch of his face.

“Evenin’, gentlemen.”

“About damn time.” I extended a hand, and he clasped my forearm in greeting before tipping his fedora to Alec.

Alec remained suspiciously quiet, his amber eyes trained on Kade like he was a viper about to strike—not an ally who’d lent me his entire legion over the last four months in my quest to find Ally.

“I knew you’d have it under control.” Kade’s eyes narrowed on my face before lazily sweeping over my frame. “You’re leaning sideways, Mr. Porter.”

“Didn’t have it under control,” I admitted.

A dry smirk tugged at his mouth. “My apologies for overestimating you.”

“He could’ve been killed,” Alec cut in, his voice low.

Lethal.

The corners of Kade’s lips lifted, his eyes heavy with amusement. “I apologize for bein’ late. Hope you’ll forgive me.”

“We have somewhere to be,” Alec said before I could answer. “What is it you need, Mr. Balaskas?”

“A private word with the Commander.” Kade’s gaze flicked toward me. “King Calloway, may I have a moment of your time?”

Alec deadpanned, one hand resting casually on his blade.

“You’ll want to hear this,” Kade said, his eyes locked on mine and heavy with implication. “Though I ’spose you might wish you hadn’t. Plausible deniability and all that.”

“What you can say to August, you can say to me,” Alec insisted, his power becoming a tangible force at my side.

Oh, he was pissed.

I just wasn’t sure whether it was with Kade or me.

Kade’s aqua eyes shifted from Alec to me, like a cat twitching its tail in annoyance. “That volunteer you requested? I found him.”

Intrigue quickly overtook confusion, even as pain crept through my nerve endings.

Holy shit, what the hell had I broken in that car wreck?

“It’s a suicide mission,” I warned.

“Aye. He’s prepared. A lamb, if you will.”

“Who?” Alec demanded. “What mission?”

“Apparently, that open communication was one-sided. Shame, that.” Kade shot Alec a sidelong smirk.

This could go sideways faster than a short fucking fuse. Aren’s people were all ticking bombs at this point.