Even with the water muffling my hearing, it didn’t stop the goosebumps from spreading down my spine from the general’s deadly tone.
A band of shadows coiled around Theon’s throat, his face bulging as he gasped for air. His control over the water slipped, and I seized the moment to inhale deeply, blinking water from my eyes. I twisted to the general—and a fierce-looking Rune. Her shadow fur lashed around her as she growled at Theon, copying the general’s whipping shadows, a dark echo of their power.
The general’s face was cold, his posture rigid. He forced Theon to the ground, unsheathed both of his swords from his back, and prowled toward him.
“No,” Theon choked out, throwing out his hand and squirming away with no luck. “Please.”
General Ronen cut off his cries as he replaced his shadows with a sword against Theon’s neck.
“Please. I was only trying to teach her a lesson,” he begged.
The general pressed the edge into Theon’s flesh. It didn’t slice him, but his skin sizzled, and he whimpered.
What kind of blade would do that?
“General! What are you?—”
The general pointed his second blade at Moira, stopping her question.
“Don’t worry, Squad Leader. I’m only teaching him alesson,” he said, tone soft and mocking, putting pressure on his sword.
A puddle of liquid spread out on the dirt beneath Theon, and when I glanced back at Moira, I saw a similar fear holding her tongue.
“Stand, Hellion,” the general commanded.
I did, but a bit too slowly for his liking, since his shadows helped me. Then Rune pressed in close, holding me upright.
General Ronen raked his gaze over me, holding his attention on the arm wrapped around my ribs. Shadows seeped from his body, encircling me, him, and Theon. Moira, the other squads, the arena—all vanished. His pitch-black eyes lifted to my face, held there, then he crouched next to Theon, avoiding his pee.
“I’m assuming by your piss puddle you understand what this sword will do to you?”
Theon gave the tiniest of nods.
“Good.” The general pointed his free sword at me. “You ever play dirty with her again, I’ll trap you in fucking agony for the rest of your miserable life. Understood, blood-banded?”
“Understood,” he whispered.
“Find a shovel and clean up your mess.” The general’s shadows dropped, and he sheathed his swords. “Squad Leader.”
“Yes, General Ronen?” Moira said, wary.
“From now on, Lucille will be paired with Ichi, and Ni with the Nephilim until they’ve improved. Understood?”
Moira’s face flushed. She pressed her lips together as her chest heaved. Metal rattled on the weapons wall behind us. She looked ready to burst.
He lifted a brow in challenge.
“Yes, Sir,” she finally gritted out and stormed away.
I held back my smile, a sincere thanks on my tongue for saving my life and pulling rank on his girlfriend. But the moment I met his pitch-black eyes and saw the ruthless, quiet rage still there, the words died on my lips.
He prowled toward me, and all our previous interactions flashed through my mind. He may have defended me from Theon, but he’d also called me a traitor and made it clear he wanted to be free of me.
I stepped back, Rune close at my side. The general’s shadows whipped around him as if ready to strike. One shot toward my arm, and I flinched, but it only brushed tenderly against my skin, somehow soothing my shaking hand.
Weird.
It was like my body knew the shadows wouldn’t hurt me, even as my brain screamed to get the hell away. I considered luscelering for a split second, but then I backed into the weapons wall, swords rattling behind me. He stepped forward, pushing Rune aside and caging me in. My chance to escape vanished.
