Page 128 of Commanding Flame and Shield
“So, you know how much time I have left to make good.” He chuckled. “As do I.” He turned his forearm up to reveal his own arm had my initials branded into his flesh, with the same numbers beside it. In sync, both markings clicked down to 21.24. A timer, I realized. I stared at him, and my awe must have been obvious because he chuckled. The expression touched his eyes in that vulnerable humanity I did not expect. “Let’s get you home.”
FIFTY-ONE
BROKEN WARD
AUGUST
If someone didn’t make a God damned game plan to bring the bickering to an end, I was going to explode. Literally, burst into flames as violently as Alvara had only hours ago. My Alvara. Captive, in enemy territory. And the coven was dissolving over how best to liberate her. A good thirty minutes of bickering had passed after those bones circled perfectly around Florida. A piece that looked like a cross settled over one of the islands farthest to the south. So that was where we would begin. But the who, what, and how of the matter had both Commanders’ neck veins popping out as they debated. Aren wanted to go in guns blazing. Marcus insisted they would guard her with that entire army and only a fool would go in without reinforcements.
I was leaning towards grabbing Alec and Ansel, and spiriting her away ourselves. One look at the two men focusing only on me, and I knew they would join me in a heartbeat. Only, we didn’t know where exactly the camp was, or the size of the host concealed on the island. Didn’t know where she would be within it. Or how they were ranked so we could best infiltrate. Aren’s all-guns-blazing idea wasn’t looking too bad if I was honest. Burn the whole Goddamned place to ash, as Ally would for any of us.
They were shouting again, and my rage was to the melting point.
“Enough!” I slammed my hands on the counter, pausing when the island trembled. “Ally would already have a plan by now, goddammit. You don’t have another seer? Someone who can tell us which route will work?”
“Well boys, I must say, it is nice to feel useful.” We all spun towards the drawling voice behind us. Goosebumps erupted as quickly as my shield did.The man of Renown from the hallway. From the visions.Adrastos, I realized with no small kernel of horror. His great mass was nonchalantly leaned against the balcony’s doorframe.
A feral growl tore through my chest, echoed by each male beside me. Marcus, between Aren and me, sprouted dark claws between his knuckles. I bared my teeth. Adrastos clicked his tongue loudly enough for us to hear his admonishment. “Leash your pet, Commander. I have something that belongs to you.”
“Watch your tongue, Adrastos.” Aren stepped forward, flames dancing between his fingers. Dual swords glowing against his back.
“I was talking tohim.” Adrastos jerked his chin in my direction, eyes flashing with the challenge.
“Where is she?” I growled.
“Safe. Sound. Waiting in between.”
“In betweenwhat?”
“Worldsprinceling. Waiting between worlds.”
“Bring her back,” I snarled. The air began to stir, pendants above the island swaying and clinking, papers rustling, the bones on the map sliding off the counter to clink onto the floor. “Unharmed would be in your best interest.”
Adrastos’ head inclined sideways, the movement too similar to Alvara’s feline assessment. But he knew that, judging by the chiding grin on his face.
“Now.” Thunder clapped overhead. Inside the loft. Adrastos’ muddy eyes flicked upwards, cocky grin unruffled.
“Interesting. Are you as spicy as your mate, princeling?”
“Don’t you fucking touch her.”
“Ooooh, I like you. Now don’t go worrying your pretty head, Alvara is fine. I didn’t touch her.” He narrowed his eyes and bobbed his head from side to side. Debating the truth in the statement, by the look of it. “Well,” a lover’s smile, “not in the waysyou’reworried I would.”
“Bring her back.” Aren repeated the demand.
“Oh, I will. Once, and only once, you’ve agreed to the terms.”
“What.”
“Alvara carries a message from me and mine. You are to hear it out, in its entirety. You are to consider the proposal. In exchange, she will be returned,unharmed.”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch, Commander. Your word for my own. An alliance—a flimsy one, by the looks of it—can be struck.”
“Go to Hell,” Alec, slowly prowling forward, a blade in each hand, spat towards the man. Ansel loomed behind him, motionless as marble.
“Interesting. A fiercely loyal group of males, this woman has.” A dagger soared towards Adrastos’ face as he spoke, and he barely twisted out of the way in time to avoid the full force. Still, red bloomed across his cheekbone. He wiped a finger down it, wincing as it instantly healed, and popped the bloody finger in his mouth. “And females, evidently.”
