Page 18 of Twist of Fate

Luke didn’t obey. He held his ground and fought as a warrior, adjusting his stance impressively as he jabbed the second attacker in the throat. “You get back. This isn’t your fight.”

Connal scowled. His mate had once more positioned himself too close to his attackers. Connal grabbed the first creature by the throat when it attempted to move closer to Luke. His options were limited with his mate in the path of danger.

Luke must not understand, otherwise it would mean his sweet mate had no sense of self-preservation. Impossible.

“I will protect you.”

Luke landed a well-placed kick between the creature’s legs. It groaned and doubled over in pain. “I don’t need your protection. I need for you to get out of my way.”

Connal admired his mate’s fighting prowess—and if he noticed the beauty of his mate’s form, well, how could he ignore such perfection?

The attacker pulled at Connal’s wrist, trying to detach Connal’s grip on his throat. Luke clearly wasn’t going to listen. Connal needed to take control of the situation. If only Luke would get out of his way.

Luke kept moving and shoved the second attacker, still-choking from Luke’s jab, back a few steps. “What are you even doing here? Did you follow me?”

How could Connal explain? Fortunately, he didn’t have to. The first attacker leapt, releasing an angry growl. Connal slammed his fist into the creature’s face.

“No.”

It was the truth. Technically, he’d followed the call of the Queen’s magic.

“No?” Luke once more moved to place himself between Connal and their enemy.

His sweet, perfect mate thought to protect Connal. Magnificent, if slightly reckless. Goddess be praised.

“I will handle this.”

Luke scoffed and landed another impressive strike. If their attacker had been human, it would have done some serious damage.

“Incoming.”

Asterius’s voice cut through the alley a heartbeat before he dropped from above them. The ground shuddered under the force of his landing.

Connal reacted instinctively, dragging Luke a half step back as Asterius straightened, rolling his shoulders as if he’d merely stepped down from a curb instead of crashed down from above.

Luke let out a startled yelp and leapt out of the way. Asterius flashed a grin—bright, eager, and entirely inappropriate for the situation.

“Apologies,” Asterius said as he turned toward the attackers who’d appeared in the entrance. “I believe I am late.”

Even more figures poured into the alley behind him.

Too many. This was not random. It was a coordinated attack.

Connal flicked his eyes over them, counting, analyzing angles, before dismissing any concern. Asterius would handle them. He always did. Connal’s attention needed to remain on his mate.

“What the⁠—”

“Shh. Do not worry, my Luke. My brother will guard our backs.”

Asterius lifted the first attacker and flung him headfirst into the wall with a satisfying crunch. The man remained still. It should have frightened the others, slowed their attack. It should have scattered them.

Instead, they recovered too quickly and re-formed, driving forward toward Asterius.

Asterius’s delighted laugh echoed through the alley. “Oh, this is new.”

No, not new. Wrong.

Connal’s attention sharpened. Exactly who were these creatures and why were they after his mate?