His heart thrummed so quickly in his chest, his breaths came so fast, he didn’t hear Runeak’s approach.If he hadn’t been scouring with his heat sense from all directions, frantic to identify threats, he’d have missed her altogether.
When Lucifer possessed Errshek, an additional heat signature had layered atop theDaemoenic.The Runeak approaching was just her.Just Runeak.
The distinction did little to calm him.
Her boots came into his view.
“You are afraid.”A sliver of satisfaction glimmered in her remark.
The declaration needled at him, and a shred of that very fright bled away.“You are observant.”His voice rasped, but managed to carry a modicum of the self-assurance he aimed for.
Wrath huffed, but Saer wasn’t foolish enough to mistake it for a laugh.
He shut his eyes and focused on slowing his breathing, the texture of the grass under his fingers, the cool wind brushing over his face.“Our maker always comes to them?”
“When they mean their oath, yes.”
“I didn’t hear any oath spoken.”
“Because you cannot hear it does not mean it did not occur.”
Of course.He’d been privy to Lucifer speaking in his mind.
“What happens if they don’tmeantheir oath?”
“They die.”
The insane pounding of his heart slowed between his ears.Talking helped as much as the distance between himself and Its presence, much as he loathed admitting the fact.
Runeak’s boots stepped closer, and Saer blinked his eyes open when she crouched in front of him.“You fear your own unmaking.”Not a question.
Saer couldn’t resist the impetus to argue, even though it sounded petulant to his own ears.“I have things to do.”
Errshek to kill.
“Father knows you are here, now.”
Taking in a deliberate, shaking inhale, Saer leaned back to sit on his heels so he could view Runeak’s expression.She looked ready to pounce, in her crouched position.Runeak was never prey.
“Are you saying I should run?”Saer asked.
Her calculating eyes gave nothing away.“You would be unmade already, if that were his wish.”
She was right, and he hated it.
Why hadn’t he been unmade yet?Was Lucifer biding Its time?How much longer did he have?
Why hadn’t Lucifer possessedhim?
Saer turned away from Wrath, considering the implications of her words and his next best course.Finding the Twins could lead him closer to Errshek.
At his ultimate end, however, he desired to fight.Not flee.No matter how dire the circumstances.To do that, he required her experience in all forms of combat.
Saer lifted his chin towards the stores of weapons at the edge of the sparring grounds.“You said you and your men can teach me how to use those?”
Runeak’s nostrils flared as she followed Saer’s gesture.
He swore the edge of her lip twitched in a satisfied smirk.
