Page 395 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

Eyes wide, I scanned each face, but it was Ansel who answered the unspoken question with a nod. Portal closed.

Then why the hell were they all looking between me and Mags like the world had just snapped in two?

“They’re coming,” Ally finally wheezed.

She didn’t need to explain. For Magnolia. They were coming for my mate.

I drew my blades just as Ally raised hers. Screams echoed from below, followed by a massive crunch that twisted our heads in grim recognition.

“They’re here,” Alec muttered, just as the serpent curled around the street corner.

Ally’s eyes met mine. She nodded once.

“Godspeed,” Ansel whispered, right before she, Alec, and August vanished. Thunder cracked overhead. A split second later, a hiss curled up from the street—chilling and furious. They’d found their mark.

Lightning split the sky as fire licked up the edge of the building. Magnolia’s hand found mine, warm and trembling. I turned to her, wanting—aching—to kiss her. To tell her I loved her.

Instead, I pressed my lips to the crown of her head and whispered, “Stay down. Stay behind us.”

“Why?” she breathed. But I was already moving toward the vortex of shadow forming across the rooftop.

Freya and Lana flung their knives. Moros flicked them away with a casual whip of power as he stepped through the spiral. His brother followed, that oily smile nearly distracting enough to overlook the two Renown at their backs.

Nearly.

We knew our roles and wore them like skin. Ansel and Lana would handle the Renown. Freya and I had the Balaskas brothers.

That was the last coherent thought before Adrastos lunged—and Freya and Cyrus vanished into the melee. Moros smirked once before he disappeared too.

Steel screamed as it met steel. Shadow tangled with shadow. My blood sang with war cries of vengeance. Adrastos struck downward with brutal force, nearly cleaving through my guard. I barely sidestepped, the displaced air skimming over my skin. I countered, but he slipped aside, unnaturally fast. Every blow pushed me back across the parking garage. I parried, blades shaking beneath the weight of each hit.

He was relentless. As relentless as Ally.

A kick slammed into my ribs mid-block, knocking me off balance. I grunted and shoved forward to stop his next strike, pushing into him instead of yielding ground.

You don’t get near her. Not while I breathe.

He was fast. Good—too good. But so was I. A headbutt landed, sending him reeling.

Freya spilled out of the shadows, her small body skidding across the rooftop—but I couldn’t break focus as this fucker advanced. Block for block, I realized with growing rage: he was my match. Nearly my size. Just as strong. Just as precise. He knew my moves a beat before they landed—like Ally did. Brute strength wouldn’t cut it. I had to outthink him. When he lunged, I dodged his blade and let his hand clamp around my throat. Magnolia screamed—but I kept my eyes on him.

Fire flared, embers swirling around us.

Time slowed.

I gripped his sword hand. Twisted. Hard. The blade clattered to the ground. With a roar, I spun him by the shoulder and slammed a dagger into his arm.

Shadows surged, and he vanished—only to reappear a foot away.

He stared at the blade protruding from his arm, then looked up at me with an expression that said, Really?

He retrieved his sword without breaking eye contact. I jerked my chin. Come on, then.

He charged. Our blades met again—but then we both froze.

A vision slammed down the bond.

Marlana. Appearing on the rooftop’s edge and severing Cyrus’s head in one clean, brutal swing.