Page 164 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

Unbothered, Cyrus nodded toward us. “Though it pains me to admit this embarrassment and I share blood, should you spill his, there’ll be no stopping the war you’re starting. I’ll petition on his behalf—for your sake—to let him go.”

“I’m gonna need more than that, Cyrus,” I hissed, tightening my hold. His asset groaned, the air tanging sharp with copper. “I’m not the Wraith by accident.”

Cyrus raised a hand—somewhere between protest and promise.

“You have my word: we’ll send you on your way alive and unharmed, if you release him in the same condition.” He gave it a beat, then narrowed his eyes. “Do we have an accord?”

“Like our last one?” I gritted out. My breath came fast, body trembling with the fight. I scanned my odds and opted to bargain with his humanity instead.

The man in my grip started to go limp. I squeezed harder and growled into his ear, “That’s for Blaz, you piece of shit.” Then I shoved him off.

He hit the ground like gelatin and someone swore. I barely had time to scramble to my feet before a body slammed into mine. My blade skittered across the concrete with a metallic shriek as I was tackled down.

I thrashed, catching at a mask. Hands struck and seized, pinning my wrists above my head, the heavy body bore down on mine, weight and heat and rage.

Cyrus.

His mask was askew, revealing a brutal scar cutting through his brow and down his cheekbone. My breath caught as confirmation sliced through me.

Oh, hell. Pinned, heart pounding, I forced a snarky smile onto my face as he wrapped one hand around my throat.

“Harder,” I choked out, eyes wide.

“Jesus H. Christ,” the second woman muttered. I might’ve laughed—if I could breathe.

I jerked my knee up, aiming for his balls, but someone threw themselves over my legs, slamming my joints back to the ground.

“Cal!” Cyrus barked.

A slighter-framed woman rushed forward with—fuck me—a glowing blue syringe in hand.

All humor vanished.

I lost it—thrashing, bucking, shoving with everything I had. But he was twice my size. His grip on my neck was steel. His other hand yanked my head to the side. And ‘Cal’ stabbed me.

Terror surged. The memory of Darius’s brutal death flashed behind my eyes.

“We had a deal,” I croaked as the world started to tilt.

“And we still do.” Cyrus’s voice was calm. Cold. “I never said who I’d release you alive to. I believe Lonan is expecting you.”

My heart nearly beat itself to death in its cage.

Lonan.

The name cracked something inside me. A nightmare made flesh. More merciful than only the devil himself. And the way my buried magic stirred confirmed the worst.

That ancient bond was still alive.

Some debts don’t die with you.

“Get fucked,” I spat.

A rumbling chuckle followed me into the dark.

August

“Hello…sister.”