Page 73 of An Oath at Midnight

I did as she said as she walked around the truck and undid the massive hunting knife strapped to her thigh. She held it out to me. “Take this as well.”

“Ash—”

“Take it. A couple good whacks and you’ll just about take a head clean off, even those thick-necked fucks.”

She wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and I wanted to hug her for it. I resisted. Asher wasn’t the hugging type. “Thanks.” I strapped it on as well.

“I know I’ve given you shit in the past about going on patrol, but you’ve been ready for a while. Draven was nervous, being protective. I should have forced the issue. I didn’t and I’m sorry.” She gripped my shoulders. “But you’re a fucking warrior, Mags. I’d trust you to have my back any day of the week.”

I swallowed thickly.

“And don’t forget, if you even think you’re about to be outnumbered, run like fuck. Demon blood’s your best camouflage. Go high when you need to rest, but only if you really have to. Staying in one spot for any length of time’s the worst thing you can do. If you don’t have time to remove their heads, incapacitate and keep moving. It’s a better option for conserving your energy anyway, and a wounded demon’s easy eating and will distract the others in the vicinity while you get the fuck out of there.”

I nodded as she went over all the things she’d taught me the last six months.

She tapped the side of my head. “You control what’s going on in here, and you can do anything, Mags, yeah?” She released me and stood back.

“Thanks, for everything, Ash.”

Her jaw tightened, then she held out her fist. I pounded it, and she strode around the truck and opened the door. “Don’t die, or I’ll never hear the end of it from Iris.”

“Not planning on it,” I said, refusing to let her see the nerves rioting inside me. “See you in a couple days.”

“See you in a couple days.” Her gaze grew intense. “Now go get your male.”

Then she got in her truck, turned around, and drove away.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled down to the number I needed.

It rang twice. “Yeah?”

“Payne, it’s Magnolia. Is Bram with you?”

“If he’s not answering your calls, then take the fucking hint. Don’t call again.”

“Wait!” I said before he hung up. “This is important. And it’s you I want to talk to.”

“We have nothing to say to each other.”

He was the most arrogant asshole I’d ever met. “I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to keep it to yourself, for now, anyway.”

A beat of silence. “And why would I do that?”

“Because if you give Bram my message now, he’ll come for me, and he can’t do that.”

A low growl. “Cut to the chase, witch.”

“In thirty-six hours, I need you to tell Bram to stand behind your family’s tree house and face the clearing.”

More silence, and this time it was heavy as hell.

“Payne?”

He laughed darkly.

“Will you do that?” I asked, refusing to let his reaction piss me off.

“You’re not fooling me. First, if you think you’re strong enough to do the demon run in thirty-six hours, you’re even more fucking clueless than I thought. Witch, you aren’t capable of making it in the forty-eight allowed. I see through you, though. You think I’ll tell him and he’ll come running to stop you. But I won’t let you use him anymore. Bram’s a warrior, not your fucking lapdog. You are selfish and self-centered, and I won’t let you twist him up in knots only to cast him aside again. It won’t fucking work.”