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Before anyone could move, before they even let go of one another, a man’s voice crooned behind them.
“Well hello, Killian.”
Chapter 49
- Elyse -
Fear and confusion overcame Elyse as she whirled toward the voice.
Two dozen men commandeered the lawn. They all wore the same brown leather vests, the fabric torn where the sleeves used to be. The men were various heights, builds, and skin tones, yet they were unanimously vile. It wasn’t their tattooed knuckles or countless scars that had Elyse’s heart in her throat. It wasn’t their crude muscles or sheer numbers. It was the sadistic look in each of their eyes, a promise of violence.
Their leader stood at the front of the cadre, a rugged-looking man with shoulder-length hair and a wiry beard. He stared Elyse through one dark eye, for the other was covered by a patch.
Killian immediately stepped in front of her. “Siamus,” he growled. “What are you doing here?”
Elyse’s jaw slackened as she stared at the leader. She knew that name. This couldn’t be—was Killian working with Rhodan’s Bastards?
She’d heard of the crew—had even sold to them before—but she’d never met Siamus. Now he stood before her, a brutal lust for power in his expression. He looked as she would have guessed: gruff and hardened. The eye patch only added to his menacing appearance, the bruised and swollen skin giving him a crazed look. Despite the sun that heated her skin, she shivered. She could feel her friends tensing beside her, sizing up the men just as she was.
“I found it curious that you would renege on our agreement.” Siamus began. He sauntered forward, a casual yet threatening air to his gait. His voice was taunting, a lion playing with its food. “What would make you change your mind about having us capture Elyse Crenshaw? The answer was obvious: you found her yourself.”
A sickening feeling clamored its way into Elyse’s stomach as she made sense of Siamus’s words. Killian had sought out the Bastards to help hunt her down. It shouldn’t have mattered—even Siamus admitted that Killian had called them off. Yet she couldn’t help feeling as if a wedge were creeping between them, driving away the trust they had rekindled.
Killian took another protective step in front of Elyse. “You have no business here,” he answered, his voice deep and commanding. “Leave now.” He glanced at Manny, and Elyse knew they were holding another silent conversation—a strategy among soldiers.
“Our business is over,” Siamus affirmed, a sly smile cracking his grim features, “though I do owe you my gratitude.”
Elyse observed the Bastards as her heart thundered against her ribs. They were each smiling, their expressions a macabre mirror of their leader. One of them cracked his knuckles, and another pulled a dagger from his belt to slide it between his thumb and forefinger.
Manny stepped closer to Sera as he shot a questioning look at Killian, waiting for his command. Jaime’s chest was rising and falling rapidly as he glared between Killian and Siamus.
“Get in the house,” Killian ordered over his shoulder at Elyse. There was a hostility in his eyes, aimed at Siamus. Beneath that, though, was an apology—and fear.
Siamus’s answering laugh was haughty. “You’re going to lead us here only to send her away?”
Jaime advanced on Killian, his finger pointed as he trembled with rage. “I knew you couldn’t be trusted!” He spat the words at Killian and flung his hands out, shooting blue sparks in his direction.
Elyse tackled Killian to the ground right as the sparks soared by.
Chaos erupted on the lawn as the Bastards took the opportunity to attack. Sera threw up a shield, protecting herself and Manny, as three men shot hexes their way. Elyse leapt to her feet and began firing off spells, Killian just behind her.
She was murderous. She was exhausted, she was angry, and she didn’t have time for this shit. They picked the wrong fight.
She didn’t hold back as she thrust her hands forward, knocking three men off their feet. Killian advanced on one while she took the other two, her knife making quick work of both of them.
Killian, a true warrior, moved with conviction and precision. His spells were powerful, his knifework elegant and merciless, but the Bastards had decades of magical training on him. Two of them cornered him, their barrage of hexes slamming against Killian’s shield. They taunted him, making a game of it, until Elyse’s knife found their hearts, ceasing their laughter.
Her eyes searched the havoc, scouring the faces to find her friends. Sera and Manny were at the far end of the brawl, Sera’s shield still intact as they backed away from an advancing man. Jaime was trying to fend off a Bastard, his brows drawn tight in concentration.
Elyse raced through the center of the fight, hexes flying from her fingers. It might have been easier if it were her against two dozen Bastards. She would have been able to suck the air from their lungs, to send fire to obliterate them. But with her friends there, she was distracted. They could barely defend themselves, let alone coordinate any sort of offensive attack. And if they were caught in the crossfire of one of her spells—she would never forgive herself.
Her heart flurried as she took down one Bastard, then another, all the while keeping an eye out for her friends. A mental checklist for each of their safety.
Killian, Sera, Manny, Jaime.
Elyse started toward Sera and Manny. A Bastard sent a stunning spell at her. She waved her hand to send it back toward him, the spell barreling into his chest.
Killian, Sera—
