Page 246 of Knot Their Soldier: Part Three

Blaise steps closer, his chest brushing my back, and points toward the hidden wire with the same reverence another person might use to show his mate a garden in bloom.

"That one is Bitey Betty."

I close my eyes. "Of course they have names."

"She’s shy."

"Betty has razor wire and a grenade. She doesn't seem shy."

"She contains multitudes."

I turn in his arms and look up at him. He watches my face like he’s waiting for a verdict, and frack help me, I like what he’s built far more than any sensible person should. My Omega, traitorous little beast that she is, practically purrs over him, so I sigh and squeeze his hand.

"Go on then, show me your other torture devices."

Blaise lights up and takes my hand as if I’m about to walk into a ballroom instead of a carefully engineered nightmare.

"Step where I step," he says.

"No shit," I murmur under my breath and follow him.

He stops in front of a fallen trunk and crouches, tugging me down beside him. Up close, Bitey Betty is even more horrifying than from afar.

"She catches ankles," he says, pointing without touching anything. "Cuts right through the Achilles tendon, then the grenade finishes the job. The noise works as an early warning system and will bring a patrol down on any surviving trespassers."

"Aren't you worried our patrols might get caught up in your… creativity?"

I stare at the grenade pin held taut by the wire, ready to be tripped by the slightest movement.

"Sure, but it's excellent encouragement."

"Encouragement to do what?"

"To pay attention to their patrol. I’ve found terror does wonders to improve concentration."

A laugh slips out before I can stop it, and Blaise’s pleased growl answers immediately. He tries to look serious, but the bond gives him away. He loves making me laugh, and I love that he's able to pull himself out of his darkness to joke with me. It warms me more than the heavy coat I stole from Knox’s chair.

He leads me deeper between the trees.

The next trap is hidden beneath a patch of leaves so ordinary I step toward it without thinking. Blaise catches me around the waist and hauls me back against his chest.

A protective growl vibrates against my shoulder.

"Left foot back, Sparkles."

I freeze, then shift my boot away from the leaves.

Blaise exhales against my hair, and his scent rolls over me, wildfire and a pulse of possessive Alpha worry.

I tip my head back enough to glare at him, and he kisses the corner of my mouth, quick and smug. "This is called Blaze's Bad Choice."

I glance at the harmless-looking leaves. "Let me guess, stepping on it is a bad choice?"

"Oh, it's a really, really bad choice."

I don't ask what's underneath the innocuous-looking leaves. I don't think I want to know.

He walks me around it, keeping his arm around my middle longer. I'm glad because I feel less likely to step on an active trap, and because my Omega is embarrassingly pleased by his fussing.