Skylar’s inquisitive gaze went to me, eyes narrowing. “And why would Braxton need a guard all of his own, I wonder?” she mused, turning her attention to her boyfriend.
“He will have to tell you that, I’m afraid.”
“Is that so?” Her focus made it back to me, eyes narrowing.
“I was wondering if my sword was ready,” I said instead, lips twitching.
Her narrowed eyes transformed into a full scowl that rivaled Kingston’s. Holding my gaze in warning, she slowly walked all the way to the shelf next to her desk while my guard snickered behind us. She was definitely her father’s daughter.
Returning to our side, Skylar placed a beautiful wooden case with intricate carvings on the counter before us. The top of the box displayed a monogram with the letter “B.”
She had that case made for me.
Taken by the sight, I reached for it, but she pulled it away, her brow arching defiantly. “I believe you owe me something first.”
A smirk tilted my lips. “What do you think, Asher? Can she be trusted with my secret?”
The look his girlfriend leveled him with said he would hurt for days if he didn’t say yes, and it took everything in him not to laugh.
He made a face. “No, not really.”
A loud gasp escaped her, but amusement mixed with her mock-outrage.
“Dude, you dead,” I mumbled under my breath.
Laughter erupted from us as Asher lifted his hands in surrender. “I was joking, Love.”
Skylar’s scowl pinned him fiercely, and something told me he enjoyed riling her up. They seemed like one of those couples who loved messing with each other.
“Do you want your sword back or not?” she warned, turning her lethal glower on me.
Chuckling, I nodded, leaning over the counter to reach her ear. “My father was the Harbinger of Justice.”
“Hallowed be his name,forever,” Quinn and the others immediately echoed like a prayer.
“I knew it!!” Skylar’s gasp reverberated all through the market, a hand smacking the counter just to accentuate her shock. “I knew this sword was something special! It was his, wasn’t it?”
It was my turn to mock-scowl at her. “Just the sword? I thought I was special too.”
“Nah, sorry.” She shrugged, but a mischievous air captured her features when she winked. “And you are going to fight for us like he did, so now you need a guard,” she concluded.
“So now I need a guard,” I confirmed.
“I’ve risen within the Legion, Larie. I am now his commander,” Asher announced, causing amazement and pride to capture her features.
“Congratulations, Love! No one deserves it more than you.” Her eyes bounced to me. “So, you get to order Asher around just like I do.”
Laughing, I nodded. “Just like that.”
“Exactly the same.” Asher winked.
“It all makes sense now,” she admitted, her gaze returning to the box, and she caressed it thoughtfully before handing it to me. “Open it.”
The instant I did, golden light shone out of it. The pieces of theAnima Crystallumconnected to my essence before I even touched it, igniting my eyes. Thankfully, I wasn’t wearing the ring, so the combined power couldn’t take hold of me. This time, there was only one source.
Sounds of amazement rang all around me, including Skylar’s, who took a step back from the shock. Clearly, the sword hadn’t done that when she handled it. I ignored them, glancing down at the weapon through the hue that captured my vision. Its golden hilt gleamed brightly, reflecting the radiance coming from the two crystals right under the hilt at either side of the blade.
The first time I held this sword, I wondered who would put glass on a weapon…
