Page 367 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

Aren wrapped his arms under hers and hauled her back—dragging her away from where Adrastos bled out on the pavement. The instant her boots hit the ground, she spun on him.

“I will never forgive you for this,” she hissed. “You coward!”

Aren’s eyes shuttered in agony. His mind reeled—body wracked with pain I could feel even from a distance.

I didn’t understand. I hadn’t seen this. How the hell hadn’t I seen this?

Of all things for the threads to withhold…something so crucial, so central? Unheard of.

No matter how tightly I tried to grip the strands, they refused to form sense. Not even when Ansel raised his Glock, training it on the prostrate body at Magnolia’s feet. Her cry broke the paralysis in my limbs.

I yanked on the threads, but they gave me nothing. There was no outcome where Adrastos didn’t stand. He was meant to bring us a great treasure. But what the fuck was it?

“Ansel, don’t!” Magnolia’s voice tore apart as she lunged forward. “Please, gods, don’t⁠—”

Ansel’s eyes cut to mine. They were bright with demand—his hands twitching in the air, fingers flicking a silent question.

Do I fire?

A sharp ache bloomed in my chest. Her pain? Mine? It didn’t matter.

I gave the smallest shake of my head. It wasn’t enough, his eyes steeling in quiet resolution.

When in doubt, eliminate the risk. God, he and Aren had taught me that. But this time was different.

We can’t kill him. Not here. Not now. You have to trust me.

Magnolia’s wail ripped up her throat, pure grief coating every syllable.

“Don’t you dare!”

“Magnolia!”

Aren’s voice cracked through the chaos, and she froze—her beautiful face folding in confusion as she finally took in Aren’s expression. His terror. His grief. His conviction.

“That’s not Bellamy,” he said, voice trembling with devastated fury. “That’s Adrastos.”

“What?” she breathed. “No…impossible. Aren, I⁠—”

Her mind fractured like glass on stone—each piece reflecting a memory that couldn’t quite hold. Her body swayed, shaking, failing to stay upright.

“Ar,” I said, crossing the space, my throat tight as I looked between her and Adrastos.

He met my gaze, wide-eyed and pleading.

I jerked my chin toward her, warning him mind-to-mind. She’s lost too much blood. She’s going down.

Magnolia’s fogged gaze found him one last time as she whispered, “Save him…”

And then her eyes rolled back, knees buckling.

PART 3

THE ENDGAME

SIXTY-EIGHT

MONSTER