Page 135 of Commanding Flame and Shield
Ansel let out a long whistle, and leaned back in his seat, crossing an ankle over a knee. He scrubbed his hand along his jaw, mirroring Aren’s motion. “Well, that…complicates things.”
“Lucky for us, Alvara is a fucking badass, and August is more than capable.” Alec shrugged. “More power to you—if you don’t have to…face surviving that.” He stared at Fae, and his eyes filled with pain. He shook his head. “I couldn’t ever…couldn’t endure…that.”
Each head in the room nodded, even Aren. Ansel leaned forward. “I have. Have had to outlive her—never for long, but…the agony is…devastating.”
Lana's face had gone pallid, and she nodded slowly, lips pursed and eyes fierce.
“So. You two are mates. Adrastos won’t hurt you because he intends to use you. Agamemnon is the loose cannon we have to watch.” Fae mercifully spoke up, changing the subject. I hoped she could sense my gratitude, my relief. Ansel narrowed his eyes a fraction, the movement barely detectable, but it was to him that I looked.
“Sometimes it’s not the blood thirsty ones you have to watch.” He dropped his leg down and leaned his elbows onto his knees. “Adrastos might be playing nice now—cousin,my sweet, and all that bullshit—but…when we don’t comply…his lethal side will inevitably come out. I say we take him out before he can do the same. And go after Agamemnon with the full force of our host. Did you get a number on theirs, by the way? You didn’t mention.”
“Not exact, but it’s in the thousands. I didn’t get a good look at the war camp, didn’t get to read him. Enough to…concern me.”
“What are the pros and cons if we…if we accept the alliance?” If hearts could stop beating, they would have when those words left August’s lips. Every pair of eyes landed on us.
“Are you mad? He means to-”
“Enslave the humans. Yeah, I get it. But what if we accept the alliance and survive…thehorsemen.” His voice dripped in skepticism. "Deal with Adrastos and Agamemnon later, when the timeline isn’t as…severe.”
“Deals between celestial power wielders are…binding, August,” I held out my arm, exposing the brand on it. “I hate not knowing what they’re up to today, but I’m only as calm as I am because he placed the wager of his life on his promise. Branded it on his skin, too. Breaking a bargain like that…I don’t know if it can be survived.”
“Besides,” Aren interjected, shaking his head forlornly. “If he’s as clairvoyant as Alvara...there would be no way to hide that kind of treachery. He’d sniff it out years before we could pull one over on him.”
“So...if Agamemnon doesn’t release your power tonight, what happens?” August raised his brows.
“Adrastos dies. To pay the debt. Beyond that…” I bit my lip.
“The rest of us bring the full force of the hierarchy down on Agamemnon personally. His death would also satisfy the debt, evidently, and her power would return then as well.” Aren rubbed at the back of his neck.
“Is it wrong that’s how I’m hoping it goes?” Alec grimaced. “Let the brothers self-destruct. Bring an end to the crazy one. We already fought the angry one—he’s nothing special.”
“The crazy one. Is he...though? Crazy, I mean?” Fae spoke up, voice soft, expression wary.
“Let’s be real,” Lana cut in. “All the hot ones are.”
Four sets of male eyes jerked to her. Ansel and Alec wore matching scowls, August’s mouth hung open in shock, and Aren’s face had furrowed like she’d announced a weekly orgy, earning a snort of amusement.
“What?” She shrugged, unapologetic. “We were all thinking it.”
“No,” August said indignantly as Aren barked a laugh. He looked to Alec and Ansel for backup. “We certainlywere not.”
Shaking their heads, brows furrowed, Ansel and Alec echoed the sentiment with a chorus of, “Hell no.”
When August’s attention snapped to me, I laughed, nodding as my face flushed. “Yeah...we totally were.”
“Jesus,” Aren muttered, chuckling as he shook his head.
“Anyway,” Fae interjected, as Lana gave her mate a smug, satisfied little smile. “He doesn’t seem crazy. Convicted. Poor moral compass. But...by the sounds of it. He’s oddly civil, and well-spoken for a Renown.”
I nodded my head. “He’s...convicted, certainly. I didn’t need my gifts to see that he truly believes what he speaks.”
“Can we reason with him?” Lana stroked the pommel of her sword, the Celtic knot upon it.
“I...I don’t know. He...was quite confident we would come to his side of things. I don’t see him…wavering, faltering, or fleeing. Adrastos will be an enemy to contend with.”
“Why don’t we go in hot—now—guns blazing, while they expect us to be complacent?” Alec turned to Aren.
“Inevitably, there’s another trap waiting. Without Ally…I don’t feel like we should pull trigger on anything.” Aren crossed his arms and sighed. “Which is, of course, the reaction they’re expecting after the stunts they pulled. Counting on it, I’m sure.” Ansel nodded his agreement, and Aren bit his lip. “It’s Christmas. It’s…the wrong week for bloodshed. We should be celebrating!” He ran his hand across his hair.
