Page 177 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

When he reappeared, covered in blood, a healer landed beside Freya with him. The witch dropped to her knees, joining the cluster of glowing hands over Jo’s wounds—the gaping holes in her neck where blood poured fastest.

Then Freya was glowing as she funneled light into Jo. We watched the skin knit back together. Cali sobbed, but I wasn’t watching her anymore.

My eyes snapped to Freya as someone yanked her to her feet. I rose just as fast—then froze…

Atreus was crushing her against his chest, face buried against her neck. The neck I’d memorized with my lips. The one I’d dreamt of sinking my teeth into more times than I could count.

“Thank you,” he breathed. “Thank you for defending my brother.”

Right.

Her eyes flicked to mine, but she nodded against him, and reality slapped me across the face.

I was the interloper here.

I was also fresh out of fucks to give. I glanced at Cali, where she cradled Jo against her chest. You two good?

We will be. She looked up at me with tears lining her eyes. I nodded, then glared at Carrson.

“Get them inside, now. Vesper?” She appeared beside me, wraith-like, never fully committed to one world or the other. “Run the perimeter. Take half the sentinels.” She nodded and vanished. I whirled toward Freya just as she wriggled free of Atreus. “Are you okay?” I demanded, closing the distance and cupping her face in my palms, looking her over while frenetic energy rattled through me.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Answer me, Freya. Are you hit?”

“No,” she bit out, confusion pinching her brow.

“Injured?”

“No,” she snapped. “Now answer my question.”

“You’re here.”

She blinked, dragging in a breath like her brain needed a second to process what I’d said. When it landed, the only word for her expression was rage.

“You’re here, so I’m here. End of story.”

“You violated a direct order.”

“And damn good fucking thing I did, because who do you think got that warning shot off, huh?”

“I’m sorry, is there a problem here, Cyrus? Beyond the obvious?” Atreus asked, shifting like he meant to put himself between me and Freya. Cute.

“No,” Freya bit out, but he kept watching me with a predator’s focus.

“Damn straight. I’ve got a whole fucking list—starting with why the fuck is my queen still outside in the open?”

“Agreed. We should get somewhere more secure.”

“Lead the fucking way.”

He glowered for a beat, then seemed to think better of it and reached for Freya’s hand. I shoved him between the shoulder blades. “Move.” I tucked her beside me, keeping my body between her and the woods as I scanned for more. “Now.”

Atreus led us left and down a long hallway, barking orders any time a servant came into view. Tea for the queen. Healers for Jo. Liquor for the rest of us.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Freya hissed when she realized my shields were still intact.

“Looking after you.”