Page 27 of Echoes of War

It was time for the others lingering in the woods to know their next meal awaited.

He shouted at me, applying pressure to both my wrists. “What the fuck are you doing?” Something in the tone of his voice made me jump, and for the first time, I saw thebloodhoundSloan warned me about all over his face.

“Dinner time, boys.” I grinned at him, shaking myself free and bringing singeing fire to the surface to keep him from attempting to grab me again.

One step, two steps back and I swiveled on my heels making a mad dash. I was unarmed, my guns back over near my bag at the tree we had rested under. I stopped in my tracks, ready to be surrounded by the five Pansies now headed in my direction.He can do this, I know it.

“Whatever you’re surely going through right now,” I taunted over my shoulder, this was fun. “Channel it. Let it guide you.”

Closing my eyes, I smiled, and fell back into the snow.

I was at peace with whatever came next, but a voice in the back of my mind told me Alexiares would never let it get that far. If he couldn’t handle the task, well shit, I guess I would become their next easy meal.

It was over in moments. I heard him yell, my eyes still closed and thuds sounded around me. One thud. Two. The sound of what was likely ice piercing the wet, soft skull of another. A burning, sickly sweet scent filled the air and my eyes flashed open. Alexiares stood over me, his face red with anger.

His hands shot out as he grabbed the necks of the remaining Pansies, and he turned them to ash.

Never had I seen him so flawless in his execution. He had total control. Alexiares’ light brown eyes had turned dark, lethal. Theywere hard in a way I hadn’t seen since before we’d left Monterey. He was furious.

My neck snapped back as he yanked me off the ground in one swift movement. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you insane?”

“Starting to think that’s my new nickname,” I mumbled, admittedly slightly frightened by him for the first time.

“You could have died.”

I was left standing around the slaughtered Pansies, staring at his back as he stalked toward the tree to grab my bag. My words were lost to the wind, “I mean yeah, but I didn’t.”

He ignored me, turning back in my direction and grabbing my wrists to address my wounds. The herbs he placed under the wrappings burned against my open flesh. I examined the area around us, making sure no others lingered in the area after the commotion.

“Listen, we’re out of time.” I attempted to reason, somewhat apologetic. “I’m sorry but I had to force your hand. What happens if I’m not around, Alexiares? What happens if I’m dead? That’s a real possibility you know? I could die before this is over.”

“Stop it.” He stopped wrapping my wrist, dropping it aggressively, but his face softened. Fear replacing anger.

“No. That’s a reality in one of Moe’s many, many possibilities. So what? If I die, are you going to give up? That’s it? Fuck the world?” I needed to drive that point home.

It wasn’t that I didn’t think he understood the gravity of our situation, because he did. They all did. But what they all failed to accept was that my role in this had been made a turning point in this war the moment Seth had left. I now had a major target on my back, and the arrow was someone who knew every play in my playbook.

“Now who has all the questions,” his voice was softer now, filled withunderstanding.

“My point is, Alexiares, yes, channeling that emotion is great. But it won’t win us this war. I needed you to dig deep, know what controlactuallyfeels like. Manipulate whatever you’re feeling in here,” my finger rested against his heart. “And now that you know it, learn it. Then abandon it. Because banking your power off emotionsiswhat gets people killed.”

He glared at me, knowing I was right but not liking any second of it. Shaking his head, he brushed past me. Pulling the knife out of the first Pansie I had hit, Alexiares tossed my bag over his shoulder and took off.

“No.”

“No?” He stopped, not bothering to face me. “No what.” His words came out forcefully, it wasn’t a question. It was a challenge.

“Again.” I pushed, “We go again, and we keep going until you can’t go anymore.”

An unhinged expression crossed over his harsh features as his head whipped toward me. He smiled at me, eyes narrowing as he tossed my bag over to the side. Within moments Alexiares was in my face, only a whisper away.

“Soon enough, you’ll learn I can go all night. I don’t get tired, princess.”

I threw a punch to his gut, and he dodged, arms lining with flame as water pulled from the lake soared over my head. A waterspout formed inches above me, my curls flying in the wind. I crouched low and lunged.

Alexiares

It was an odd feeling, being in control.

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