Page 340 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

Watching Mags walk away on that sidewalk had been the hardest goddamn thing I’d done. Dying knowing I was leaving her to this hell—knowing I’d never experience the full magnitude of the mate bond—had been worse.

To stand here, with her luscious curves in arm’s reach, poised to lose her for good until her soul could wander back…

Excruciating.

When my eyes started burning, I turned back toward the path ahead, tracking the light in its subtle arc, deciding we could cross at least two more today before our bodies demanded reprieve.

If there was anything I’d grown exceptionally skilled at, it was setting aside the needs of this body to accomplish what needed to be done.

Holding my hand out to her, I gritted my teeth as she slid her warm palm against mine, trying to ignore the heat she always pulled from me. The soul-deep need to be consumed by this woman.

This woman a demon dragon had called a daughter of death. Why were all the women I loved so irrevocably tied to the element I’d so brutally courted for centuries? What was Magnolia’s tie beyond hearing him within the shadows? Ally had stewarded more souls to and away from him than even I cared to record, her moniker well-earned and hard-fought for.

“Dammit,” Brody muttered, and, gritting my teeth, I turned to find him looking skyward, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “We’ve got company.”

“What?” Mags demanded right as I nodded.

“Have for about a day,” I said, glancing skyward to spot the enormous shadow so far overhead he nearly blended into the blinding mist above us.

“And you’re just now telling me that thing is stalking us?”

“It hasn’t attacked,” I pointed out.

“I slept with Balorath seconds above my head?” she asked indignantly. Rika remained entirely silent, color draining from her face.

“Like a couple of babies,” I said, smirking. The dragon hadn’t made contact. Hadn’t dived for us through the pines or taunted us with his plans. Instead, the beast soared above the cloud cover in great circles. A few miles north, then back; a few south before turning again—a steady infinity loop, stalking, searching, almost…

Well. Almost like it was gathering intel.

“That’s not funny,” Mags said, her skin ashen when I pulled my gaze back to hers.

I shrugged, smirking beneath a raised brow. “It’s a little funny.”

“I’m with the doctor on this one,” Brody said, shifting so his back was to us as he tracked the thing through the gaps of the pines.

“I kept watch,” I vowed, jerking my head down the slope, relieved when Mags was quick to follow me, now clutching my fingers so tightly it was nearly painful. A discomfort I welcomed, because it meant she was here, crossing the goddamn Middle with me.

“‘M not gonna lie, I’m a wee bit disappointed you didn’t notice him sooner,” Jason said as he strode down the path. He’d opted to stay in his human form, for once feeling like the cat would be at a greater disadvantage than his true vessel and a sword.

“Notice him—” Rika’s protest turned into a splutter as she blinked back at the shifter indignantly. “How in the names of all Seven Sisters are you serious right now? How the hell would we notice that?”

“Spidey senses not tingling?” I teased.

“Not all of us have fucking cat ears. And we were a little busy surviving the climb,” Rika said, but I was too busy giving her sister’s hand a little squeeze, trying to ease her back into her body as shadows poured up from her feet and spiraled down her shoulders as though she’d vanish within the shadow realm.

“Hey,” I said softly. “I have you. I’ve been sensing the intent of demons for a millennium, little dove. If there’d been danger, you would’ve known.” Most of our encounters with first-hierarchy beasts involved running for our lives or fighting for them. This behavior was… intriguing.

“Why isn’t he attacking?”

I shrugged a shoulder, hopping down over a boulder as tall as I was. Turning, I reached up for her. “Been trying to work that out myself.”

Mags’ eyes narrowed a beat before she vanished into shadow, materializing beside me. “Trouble,” I accused, smirking at her. I kept my hands raised for Rika, who gladly took the assistance.

I motioned the guys past us, twining my fingers back through Magnolia’s to keep her beside me, needing the reassurance of her warmth against my palm. Rika hesitantly followed them, but my eyes were for my mate.

“What exactly happened between you and Balorath in that mall?”

She shook her head, a grimace marring her stunning face. “I tried and failed to outsmart him.”