Page 33 of Tell Them That I’m Coming

Thane’s smile is slow and sharp. “You couldn’t afford her, but I’ll take whatever gold you’re carrying when I win. Ready?”

Morgane lifts his own sword. “Always.”

As they approach, something in the air shifts. I tighten my fingers in Binx’s fur, unable to look away as the fight begins.

Only it’s not a brawl, is it? It’s a dance.

In Sombra, a challenge between males isn’t all that common. However, it’s nothing like this. When a male demon challenges another, it’s a battle between the might of their horns. They rush and they ram, and the stronger demon often wins. Whenever you see a male in Nuit with a broken horn, you’re often looking at the challenge loser.

This is nothing like that.

Their swords meet in flashing arcs, steel gliding and kissing rather than crashing. Their footwork is precise, bodies turning and pivoting with effortless grace. They circle, advance, retreat… constant probing for weakness, looking for the opportunity to draw first blood and end the fight.

The other fae laughs as he attacks. “You’ve gone soft, Aurex!”

Thane parries smoothly. “And you’ve gone predictable, Morgane.”

A flurry of strikes—too fast for me to follow—ends with Thane spinning aside, cloak flaring like a shadow given form.

I realize my hands are clenched. Not in fear, though. In anticipation.

By my ear, Binx snuffles softly, cheering Thane on. Seeing the fae male protect me from his clan… in this moment, Binx has decided that Thane’s worthy of sharing me with my soul-pet, and that’s more of a shock to me than what happens next.

Because even as the other fae presses him, I know—deep down, all the way to my bones—who will win this fight.

A feint.

A turn.

Thane steps inside the other fae’s guard, blade flashing once in a clean, decisive strike across Morgane’s middle.

Golden blood sprays, arcing right at me.

It splashes across my cheek, warm and startling, and I gasp as the fae staggers back with a sharp hiss, clutching his gut. He drops to one knee, breathing hard, but though it must hurt, it’s nowhere near fatal since his head is still on the stump of his neck.

He’s alive, and Thane’s the victor.

Morgane looks up at Thane, bowing his head in quick understanding of that face. A hollow laugh escapes him. “Still dangerous, I see.”

Thane lowers his sword. “Lesson learned?”

After a moment, the other bandit rises, keeping his arm wrapped around the front of his torso. “For this eve.” His gaze flicks to me, undeniably curious and just a touch disappointed. “Enjoy your prize, Aurex.”

Then, before I can wonder if he means me or the bag of clinking gold he flings at Thane, Morgane melts into the woods, as though he’d never been here at all.

I blink, stunned, trying to make sense of what just happened. My lips part, but I can’t even think of what I want to say other than, “Oh.”

Hearing the soft sound, Thane turns to me immediately, leaning in close to wipe the blood from my cheek with the side of his thumb.

“You alright, demoness?”

I… I think so? “Um. Yes?”

His eyes laugh at me, his familiar amusement at the questions in my voice. “You frightened?”

That’s definitely one thing that I’m not.

I shake my head, heart racing. “No.”