“We’ve been followed.”
Chapter Forty-Five
The Firebound Few
They were outnumbered, outmatched—yet fire made them more than men.
The warning had barely left Matteo’s mouth before Storne barked,
“We’ve been followed. Into the forest—now!”
The world snapped to motion.
Hooves struck stone.
Startled birds tore skyward in a rush of wings.
The company exploded into motion.
Viktor didn’t think—he only shoved Amerei toward Obsidian’s reins. She mounted quick, cloak gathered in her fist, eyes flashing wide. He swung onto Ruby, teeth clenched against the pull in his side.
Storne’s voice cut through the chaos, eyes locked on Viktor:
“Don’t you dare let her out of your sight.”
Viktor gave a single nod.
A vow of blood.
Branches whipped low as the column tore down the dirt path, the thunder of hooves devouring the hush of Bernewood.
Amerei flicked her reins, Obsidian surging to Viktor’s flank, her cloak snapping behind her like a banner, hair streaming wild in the wind.
“We need to become a moving target!” Viktor called. “Can you handle the trees at a gallop?”
She shot him a look, fierce through the rush. “Can you?”
His lips curved despite the danger.
Fecking marry me already.
He drove Ruby harder into the shadows beside her, the forest swallowing them whole.
* * *
Gabriel urged Faerin forward, the mare leaping roots like a hound loosed from its chain. Evander’s face was pale but set, fingers white around the reins.
Gabriel didn’t let him breathe.
“Eyes up, Lieutenant—riders coming hard!
But Evander’s gaze flicked anyway—to the red glow cutting through the trees, torches weaving like hunting serpents. Shapes moved fast between the trunks, steel glinting, hooves pounding.
Zeporah’s men. Closing.
“Don’t look at them—look where you’re going,” Gabriel called, yanking his mount to clear a fallen trunk. “If they cut us off, we’re ash.”
A branch raked Evander’s shoulder, tearing fabric and flesh alike. He hissed through his teeth but didn’t fall back. Gabriel’s eyes flicked to him—shaken, green as spring—but dask, he held the line.
