Page 84 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“Since when do psychics have’ta touch anyone to see shit?”

“Since it already happened, halfwit.”

With a reluctant sneer, I held out my hand. He took it, muttered something under his breath, and went quiet.

His eyes glazed beneath the mask. Then, softly: “Clever, little Wraith.”

“That little Wraith turned my men into kabobs.”

“Did they die? No? Then next time bring more than children. And she wasn’t alone. Quick thinking on her part.”

“There was only one masked intruder…” but I’d been grappling with the fact that we were all alive since the night she chased us through our city streets. He made a motion to continue and I smiled, shaking my head. “We’re not alive by chance. It was a smoke show.”

“If that conclusion hadn’t evaded your pea-sized mind for the better part of the month, I’d congratulate you on reaching it.”

Scanning his ridiculous black attire and leather mask, I jabbed, “Halloween was three months ago.”

“And yet the O’Haires are still breathing.”

“You want her. The girl. The one killing our assets.”

“For starters.”

“This is a recruitment, then.”

“An alliance,” he corrected. “One I forged with your mother centuries ago. She tossed me a bone a few decades back. I’m calling in a favor. A mutual enemy is rising. Best to shore up the defenses.”

I stared him down. “I don’t make oaths to faceless men without names.”

“Paris,” he offered. “You may call me Paris.”

I arched a brow. “And what does my mother call you?”

“Ask her yourself.”

As though he had summoned her rather than the other way around, the shadows trembled as the energy shifted, and the looming man across from me straightened. That was his only sign of unease or surprise, however, leading me to believe that even my best shot in the dark was fruitless. I’d done some reading after his first visit—between the ink splayed over those pages and my experience with my father, I had a decent grasp on how a seer worked; the closer someone was to the soul wielding foresight, the more details they would receive. The further disconnected the two were, the less they’d see.

While this alleged Paris and I had only had a physical encounter once, he left me with the distinct impression he was no stranger to me, even if I had nothing to go off of for him.

Which meant it was time to delegate. Let someone else handle the security risk. Someone like my cousin—unranked, untitled, and hopefully unseen.

Carr had rolled his eyes when I told him about the masked freak in our manor.

He hadn't said no.

Unfortunately for us, the masked man didn’t look the least bit rattled as my office flooded with shadows, closing in a perfectly executed ring.

Carr, Nix, Vesper, Orion, my parents—every Paladin within striking distance—materialized through smoke and shadow, our collective power humming like a war drum. My own darkness coiled tight, winding down my arms in sleek ribbons, ready to strike. Only our heiress remained shielded, locked in a safe house under our uncle’s watch.

Paris chuckled under his breath. “Your response time is abysmal.”

He raised his hands slowly, deliberately, letting the shadows peel away as he laced his fingers behind his head.

“Freeze!” Nix barked, his power launching forward to bind the man’s wrists in place. “Don’t fucking move.”

“Hello, hatchling,” Paris crooned, maddeningly calm. “I only intend to show you I mean no harm.”

“Reaching for your weapons hardly reads as peaceful intent,” my father replied, the iron in his tone sharp enough to slice bone.