Page 178 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

“You’re not my goddamn keeper.”

“Apparently someone has to be.”

“Carr has it handled.”

“Handled?” I snapped, glaring down at her. “This is what handled looks like?”

“Tell me the truth. Why are you here?”

“Could ask you the same thing.”

“You know why. We need this alliance.”

“My mate isn’t on the menu.”

“Mate?” she scoffed, voice going lethally low, sending goosebumps over my skin. “So, I’m dead to you until another man wants me, and suddenly you think you can lay a claim? That’s not how this works, Stuart.”

“You’ve always been mine, Freya. That doesn’t change just because we piss each other off.”

Her shove caught me off guard, and I stopped so abruptly the sentinels behind us nearly collided with our backs. My hand shot out and caught her wrist, holding her there.

“Are you doing this as payback?”

Her eyes narrowed to slits, her voice a low snarl that reignited a flame I’d thought dead in my chest. “Do you really think so little of me?”

“Did you really think I’d be okay with this?” I retorted, aware we were losing the group and not giving a single shit.

“You were there. You said nothing to the contrary.”

“Cyrus!” Carr barked from the end of the hallway.

“Coming!” I shook my head down at her. “We’re not done here.”

“We’re done when I say we’re done.”

“Bet.” Still shaking my head, I flitted through the shadows to catch up.

Once Atreus ushered us into the great room, Cali and Carr laid Jo across the leather sofa. Her blue eyes were still bleary, but the healing held. No sign of the blond. I assumed he’d been spirited off to the healer’s rooms.

Fuck, I wanted to put this motherfucker through a wall. Two decades of training were the only reason I settled for grabbing the lapels of his torn jacket instead.

“Cyrus!” Freya barked right as Carr did.

“What the fuck was that?” I snarled, shaking the bastard once.

Atreus’ hands shot out and shoved me off him before dropping into fists at his sides. “A godsdamn attack. What did it look like?”

“Like my queen was left unguarded and exposed on your fucking terrace the day second-hierarchy demons just so happened to breach in broad fucking daylight?”

“We were taken by surprise. We’ve never been breached, and I assure you I will take the necessary steps to make sure it never happens again.”

“By surprise?” I echoed, my voice dropping into the same promise of pain I used on lowlifes. “Bull-fucking-shit.”

“Cyrus,” Freya snapped, stepping between us, hands raised like I was the threat here.

“Freya, you cannot take this schmuck at face value. I’m telling you right now⁠—”

“Did I ask for your goddamn opinion?” she snapped back.