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“Not if you make the wrong decision.”

“And right there lies your biggest mistake.”

His brows lowered. “And what’s that?”

She lifted her gaze, facing the storm head-on.

“Assuming that after being bound in chains, I would dare let anyone else dictate my life.”

His black gaze swept over her, from the wet strands of hair clinging to her cheeks, to the way her soaked top molded to her skin, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Despite the chill in the air, the heat between them was hotter than the sun, and for once, she wanted to be consumed by it.

Khalani leaned forward, expecting him to back away and abandon her. But Takeshi’s dark gaze pooled with unfathomable want, and he lowered his head.

But there was a sudden whoosh of air, and Takeshi flinched.

Her green eyes bulged when she saw the arrow sticking out of his back.

13

War begins when one hand extends for help.

And the other breaks it.

Takeshi shoved Khalani to the ground, covering her body with his own. The low whistle of Takeshi shoved Khalani to the ground, covering her body with his own. The low whistle of more arrows whooshed by, surrounding them. The guards on the walls started screaming as a high-pitched alarm echoed through the air.

“Takeshi, your back!” she gasped.

Takeshi momentarily twitched, and in one swift movement, he reached behind and ripped the arrow from his cloak. His eyes were murderous as he threw it to the ground.

The tip of the arrow glowed with a faint, pulsing light, crackling with electricity.

Khalani’s mouth fell open when he reached under the back of his shirt and pulled out a thick leather casing for his blade, a hole embedded in it.

She froze in quiet shock.

If the arrow had been a few more inches to the right…

“Are you ok—”

“I’m fine, Kanes,” he interrupted, locking eyes with hers. “We need to get out of here.”

Rain pummeled their bodies in the middle of the street, andshe flinched as more screams pierced through the torrent, but it was difficult to see and everything was disorienting.

Khalani’s head snapped to the left, blood draining from her face when two small figures were flung from the large wall, their wails cut short by sickening thuds on the ground.

A haunting voice started to sing in her ear, a twisted lullaby she couldn’t silence.

You’re about to die.

You’re about to die.

You’re about to—

“Stay with me, Kanes!” Takeshi pulled Khalani to her feet, crouching beside her. He cupped her face, his fierce gaze pulling her in, beckoning her to look at nothing but him.

“We can make it to the house,” he declared, eyes darting to the yellow house they’d been staying in. It wasn’t far, but arrows continued to rain haphazardly around them, making it a near impossible path to traverse.