“Don’t let your daughter grow up and be forced to go to war, Connor.Any sacrifice is worth avoiding that.”
“Keeping her safe is worth any sacrifice,” he agreed, letting his honest, whole-hearted feelings come through in his voice.
Alison studied him intently.“Then we agree.”
“On that?Yes.We absolutely do.”He kept his hands loose, far away from his hidden weapons, as he stepped toward her and offered her his arm.
Elation crossed her features as she reached out to grasp his arm in a warrior hold, as she’d done before every single one of his missions.Including the last one.“You’ll fight with me?”
For a second, he was looking into familiar eyes.Filled with love and pride.He tucked the moment away in a corner of his heart.I’m sorry, mother, for what I have to do.
“I made a vow to fight for peace, and I’ll keep it,” he said, holding her arm tightly.“In a way that doesn’t put either of my daughters in danger.”
Alison looked taken aback at his words.“Either…”
“Did I neglect to share that with you?My other daughter, Veda, stayed with my mate in Eldridge.”
Shock lit her eyes.
“That’s about how I felt, when I heard you’d betrayed me.Didn’t believe that something so monumental could have escaped my notice.”
Her eyes quickly shifted to a level of malice he’d never seen before.It still hurt, even though he’d prodded the shift with his words.
“I’m taking you in for treason, Ali.”
“No, son.You’re not.”The words were soft and steady, tugging his heart toward gentle memories.
Pulling her knife with the speed she was known for, she wrenched him forward by their joined arms and drove her blade home, right between his ribs.
Instinct built by endless hours under her strict training had him returning the movement.The pain slowed his reaction slightly, but he still managed to cut her with his blade as she shoved him back and spun away.
The glint of her blade barely caught his eye before it came toward him again.Never give your opponent time to recover.Her voice sounded in his head as he moved to block the strike.She faked her initial movement, redirecting it as he blocked the wrong spot and slicing the knife low across his stomach.
She smirked as he hissed in pain and jumped back.“Still weak on your blocking, kid.”
Shallow slice, but it was bleeding.He resisted the reflex to cover the deeper gash with his hand.Blood made gripping a knife difficult.
Stepping forward, he swiped toward her and grazed her, his arm locking with hers as they entered a battle of strength.
“You really going to kill me, Connor?”she asked, pressing her advantage.
“No.I could never kill you, Ali,” he admitted, dropping his arm and ducking away from her.
“But I could.”Thalia’s voice rang from somewhere in the dark.
Thalia’s voice surprised him, and Alison’s fist caught his jaw when he came up.He staggered back from the force of it as she spun around, searching for the new threat.
Keeping one eye on Connor, Alison moved further away from him, her attention on the mass of trees surrounding them.
Deciding it was time to disappear, Connor ducked into the trees to hide his movements.Pain and blood radiated from his middle, and he fought to counter both as he assessed his wounds.Bad, but he’d live until they finished this.He cleaned off his blade on his pant leg.
Connor threw his magic out, trying to track both of them.Alison was directly ahead of him.Thalia ahead and to his right.
“Go ahead, Thalia.I’m sure you have more to say to me than that,” Alison called out.
“You killed my mate.Admit it!”Thalia yelled.
“Jax was a good warrior.Did she die painfully?Before you could get to her?”Alison asked tauntingly.
