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A new ring graced his left thumb. “How’d you get it?”
“Hades gave one to Taliyah.”
Rathbone thrust Neeka behind him when she geared to attack.
“You stole from my girl?” she shouted. Dang it! If she hadn’t mooned over Rathbone’s last comment to her, she would be free of the final restraint, and they’d be home already. But nooo. Her stupid feelings had to go and foil the perfect plan. Although, how Azar had known to acquire a key to the Realm of the Forgotten, she could only guess. Grenwich. Her mother must have tracked them there.
“I’ve wanted a go at you for a long time,” Rathbone stated, palming daggers of his own.
“The feeling is mutual.” In a blur of motion, the Astra swiped at him, each blade swinging in a different direction. A totally baller move Neeka planned to learn.
Rathbone dodged, shifting into some kind of prehistoric leopard as he sprang into a counterattack. As the two grappled with inconceivable savagery, she did everything in her power to ditch the stupid wing pinner. Weak as she was, she got nowhere fast. But maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing? Despite the cramped quarters, neither male came close to her. Rathbone, her pretty kitty, continued to steer the violence as far from her as possible.
“Hurt him good, Red Rocket!” she called, certain she watched him with goo-goo eyes.
Both combatants landed blows. Arcs of crimson sprayed across the cell. Some hot droplets splattered on Neeka’s skin. Medicine! Strength! Oh, how she needed strength...
Her mouth watered as she bent her head. The scent of exotic spices and juniper berries left her shivering with want. But... She sniffed, catching a hint of an unfamiliar fragrance. Azar’s?
Ugh. A mix of bloods would only confuse matters more. If Azar’s blood made her sick yet Rathbone’s calmed her stomach, she’d learn nothing and wonder harder. Wasn’t worth the risk.
Suddenly the bone Rathbone acquired clattered to the floor. The guys wrenched apart, reacting as if they’d heard an end-of-round bell. Her king shifted into his original packaging, and both opponents stared at the piece of Lore. Then they focused on each other. Well,focusedwas too mild a term. They warred with their eyes, two starving animals sealed inside an arena with a single slab of meat.
One...three...six heartbeats passed in suspended silence as Neeka contemplated her options, using her foresight to measure the odds of success. Dive for it? No. The flashers would beat her there. Throw herself at the Astra, allowing Rathbone to reclaim it? Yes. That. Not the most brilliant of plans but effective.
Before she made a move, however, Azar tossed a dagger—at her! He lunged, going for the bone, leaving Rathbone with a split-second choice. To her astonishment, he materialized directly in front of her. The blade sank intohischest but still she jolted. He’d saved her from a cut and a bit of pain instead of collecting a precious bone? Neeka’s eyes widened. What did this mean?
Her knees knocked as he flashed again, going for the bone next, but he was too late. Azar already had it in hand. The Astra backed up, smug.
She rushed to Rathbone’s side, eager to read his lips.
“Big mistake, warlord,” he stated as the males faced off once more.
“I won’t fail my brothers or my task,” Azar intoned. “I will take the rest of Lore’s remains from you, revive her and end her for good. Nothing will stop me.”
Rathbone arched a brow. “Are you sure you won’t be too distracted?” Smiling coldly, he chanted, “Forget, forget, forget.”
With a hiss, the warlord stepped forward. Disciplined to the core, he stopped himself midway. “You are an excellent spy. Noted. Whatever you think you’ve learned matters not. You’ll be dead soon enough.”
“Astra, I will eat your armies for breakfast and your comrades for lunch. You, I’ll save for dessert.”
Okay, trash talk time was over. “Time out, everyone.” Neeka took a post between the pair, dodging Rathbone’s arms as he attempted to grab her. “Let’s get real for a sec. Imma be honest, okay? You’re both fighting for a losing cause.” The truth spilled from her at last. They needed to hear this.
Foresight whispered,Yes! There’s no better time.They were both major players in this living rom-com—romantic tragedy?—and they were finally ready to hear what she had to say. Or somewhat ready. Mostly not ready at all. But it was a risk she must take, even if it meant losing everything she’d come to crave. Nothing else had changed the future for the better.
Now or never.“Lore is evil, and she plans to kill us all.” There. The information was out there. No going back. “As soon as she comes to life, she is the one who unleashes the horde of ravenous shadow monsters with glowing golden rings in their eyes, who eat everyone but Erebus. She births them, and he cheers her on. They are lovers. Heck, he might even be the dad.”
Azar glared at her. “I know Lore is evil. Once, she was called Jezebel the Destroyer, her list of conquests legendary. But I’m onto your tricks now, oracle. You mix truth with lies. I’ve traversed countless realms, and I’ve never come across any such thing as shadow monsters able to eat gods.”
“Maybe they’re a new species.”
He shook his head. “Grenwich warned me you’d weave some kind of tall tale to aid your male.”
Wait. Grenwich wasn’t an oracle. How had she known the future? Or had she simply taken precautions as a just in case?
Neeka balled her hands into fists and looked to Rathbone. He was as stiff as a board, aggression pouring from him. Ugh. Did he doubt her, too, or already hate her? Both?
“I’m telling the truth, the full truth, and nothing but the truth,” she vowed, solemn. Though she couldn’t blame either male for his suspicions. She’d brought this on herself. “Look. Why else would I seem to betray the General, a woman I dearly love? I’m doing everything I can to change the future and save us all, but so far I’ve proven unsuccessful.”
