Page 10 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

“I will pass him through to your arms,” I repeat. “You have my word.”

A beat passes and the man finally starts to untie the straps on his chest. I shake my head and unsheathe a dagger. “We need to move faster,” I whisper absently as I start cutting away the straps, grabbing them before they can fall to the ground and stuffing them wherever I can. We can’t leave them behind. Hiding our means of escape will buy the two of them time.

Behind me, I can hear the shouts from the castle. Smoke drifts into the air, filling my nostrils. How big did the fire get?

We get the child unlocked from his father’s back before I ever get my answer and I tuck my blades back into place quickly as he passes me his son’s body. I hold the thin boy’s frail corpse against my chest as the man turns and moves towards the opening Regis has provided for us. He looks back once, eyes crinkling with anguish. He meets my gaze and I nod, stepping after him.

It’s an easier fit for the man as his back presses to the stones and he slips through. No metal shrieks and then his arms appear in the darkness, waiting. Carefully, I turn the child and pass him through the thin opening. Sweat collects at the top of my forehead and behind my neck, sliding down into my clothes. Air brushes over my flesh, sending several droplets skittering down my spine. It’s just enough of a warning.

I drop the boy into his father’s arms and turn, withdrawing one of my daggers from my leather arm sheath at the same second a man slams into my front. I don’t even hesitate. The edge of my blade cuts over the man’s eyes and blood squirts.

“Fuck!” Harsh, deep, and grunting, his voice slides over my ears as my back is pressed into the stone. Divine scent hits my nostrils, like fresh overturned soil and wisteria trees. Not a God, but a Mortal God. He’d moved fast enough to make me question it, though. So silent that I hadn’t detected him until that last second.

Fingers grip at my throat, but I turn my blade from his face and slice through his wrist. A fist slams into my abdomen and air escapes my lungs. The fist cracks into my ribs and it’s only because of my blood that I know I’ll heal quickly. Even still, it fucking hurts. A wheezing breath leaves me, but I don’t curse. I don’t say anything. I can’t. I’ve blinded him quickly enough that I doubt he’s seen me, but the healing abilities of Mortal Gods differ—there’s no telling how fast he’ll heal from the wound.

A flash of raven hair flutters in front of my face, combined with a chiseled jaw and a straight nose. Of course—he’s fucking gorgeous. Definitely Divine in some capacity.

“Quick bastard,” the Mortal God snaps. “Did you really need to go for my damned eyes?” Despite the words, he doesn’t sound especially angry—more shocked, almost impressed. His lips spread into a smile and pearly white teeth shine through the darkness. I feel like he’s baring them as both a reward and a warning.

Yeah, dumbass, I really did. It was either that or risk him identifying me later. Silver hair and gray eyes may not be entirely uncommon, but put them together along with my youthful face, and well, it’s not a risk I’m willing to take. That is … if I don’t kill him here and now.

Quick as a shot, I duck under his other arm, only to come to a slamming stop as he tackles me to the ground. Dirt fills my mouth, sliding across my tongue, and I rear back, spitting it out and coughing as my hair is gripped in a fist. “Ah. Ah. Ah.”

The body pressed against mine is rock hard and cut like a warrior’s. Wide shoulders press my back down, strong legs clamped on either side of mine. The sound of his voice, though, as he’d spoken was light and amused.

Is he fucking playing with me?

“Not so fast,” he says against my ear.

Oh yes, that fast. It’s hard not to reply to every word aloud, but I manage it. I can hear Regis on the other side of the gate along with the other two. Their shuffling footsteps are unsure. Fear tinges the whole area, permeating everything around us. Tossing back my elbow, I nail my attacker in the temple. He grunts but maintains his hold.

Stubborn fucker.

“I’m not going to kill you,” he seethes, “but you’ll pay for blinding me first.”

What a little fucking baby. I roll my eyes. He’ll heal up soon enough anyway.

I slam the point of my dagger into the ground ahead of me and use the anchor to drag myself out a little bit from his embrace, rolling and kicking against his stomach. His sword clanks at his hips, undrawn. Why?

Before I can figure it out, however, another dagger comes flying out of the darkness from somewhere behind me. It slams into the man’s shoulder and his grip doesn’t just loosen. One of his arms goes completely slack and another curse spits out of his lips.

Regis! I use the opening he gave me to slip out of my attacker’s hold and sprint towards the gate’s opening. I slide right through the too small space, my clothes catching on the metal, but I don’t care. One sharp stone cuts against my thigh and I wince, smelling my own blood in the air. So much for not leaving any evidence, but it’s too late now anyway.

A roar echoes at my back, but I don’t let it give me pause. Already the human family ahead is rushing to escape. As soon as I’m on the other side, Regis shoves my cloak into my arms—he must have retrieved it while I was fighting—and grips my arm, yanking me after them. Our stronger bodies catch up with them quickly and Regis casts me a look. I know what he wants.

I head for the woman, tossing my cloak around her shoulders and then scooping her up in my arms as Regis heads for the man. Now that we’re out of the God Lord’s castle, all we need to do is put some distance between us and those dangers. If it weren’t for my height, I might’ve taken the man myself—since we both know I’m the stronger of the two of us, but then again, carrying him as well as his son would likely give my Divinity away. It makes more sense for Regis to take on the bigger load of the two of us, if only to keep these two from finding out my secret.

Once they’re both clasped in our arms our speed increases, and with the fire and shouts at our backs, we disappear into the darkened woods.

Chapter 5

Theos

The wet slick sounds of the pussy slapping down on my lap numb my ears. I close my eyes, relaxing back against the silken cushions and pillows of the bed as Rahela rides upon my cock. Up and down, back and forth. Her moans increase in volume until they start to penetrate my mind with little pricks of annoyance. Why does she always have to be so fucking noisy? At first, I hadn’t minded it. In fact, I’d relished in the vocal proof of my skill, but now…

What was intended to be a well-deserved break and reward for myself has quickly become worse than a bore—it’s become a vexation.

Over me, Rahela shudders as she rides herself to completion. Her completion—not mine. I can tell when her insides suddenly clamp down on me and contract in little bursts of movements. Her lips open as she gasps for breath and then smiles at me all bleary-eyed as she bends forward. I turn my head as her mouth tries to fall upon mine.

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