Page 237 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“Well. Isn’t this a surprise?”

We turned to find Nix, a pistol outstretched…with a glowing blue magazine locked on me.

“Nix,” Carrson warned, stepping forward. “I know what this looks like, but it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Stand down,” Cyrus ordered, walking slowly forward, subtly placing his body between me and his cousin. “We reached an accord.”

“An accord?!” Nix barked. “You just handed her—whatever’s in that bag—and met alone on Reyna’s side of the divide!”

“To negotiate a ceasefire, I agreed to meet her on neutral ground.”

“Neutral?!” Nix’s voice cracked with rage. His eyes didn’t even register Carrson or Ajax moving to block me. Not until Ajax pulled me behind him did his focus snap to mine.

“This bitch is an enemy of the crown. You jumped somewhere with her, Cyrus. Fraternization is treason—fuck you and your accord.”

“Nix,” Carrson warned again, drawing his blades.

“Lower the gun and I’ll explain,” Cyrus said. “Stand down. That’s an order.”

But Nix was already gone, the rage now steering the ship.

“A dead enemy, and a dirty Stuart. I’ll be a fucking hero.”

I knew, then, how this was about to go. My stomach rose into my throat. Wind whistled through the cemetery trees.

I lunged for Ajax.

Too slow. It was daylight. I’d only siphoned shadows, a kiss of ice, and life force from Cyrus. No burst of wind could shove him aside fast enough if that gun went off.

Ajax gripped my hand, ready to jump right as Cyrus lunged.

CRACK!

Ajax staggered, giving a grunt before stepping toward Nix as my ears rang.

Crack! A blood-curdling scream tore from my chest as I lunged for him, horror icing my veins as Ajax crumpled.

Crack!

The world exploded into fire and agony.

FORTY-FOUR

FATE IS A RAGING BITCH

CYRUS

“A dead enemy, and a dirty Stuart. I’ll be a fucking hero,” Nix sneered—my instincts shoved me forward before I could think. Carr released his blade as he bolted for him.

The first shot fired, and my vision flared red a beat before we collided.

Carr lunged for the gun as my fist slammed into Nix’s face.

He discharged again.

Freya’s scream pierced my chest—and the motherfucker fired again.

The world went silent.