Page 109 of War

“War!” I shout.

His head whips to me. This far away, I can’t tell what expression the horseman wears, only that after a moment, he sheathes his sword behind his back and gallops towards me.

War closes the distance in less than a minute, pulling up to my side.

“Wife,” he says, grinning, his eyes a little mad. “Enjoying that gift?” He nods at my bow.

“I need your help,” I rush out.

This isn’t going to work.

His expression changes in an instant from crazed to serious. “And you shall have it.”

We’ll see about that …

He reaches out for my hand. I grasp his palm and let him pull me onto his saddle.

“What is it?” he asks, once I’m settled in front of him.

I wet my lips, turning my head half towards him. Now the tricky part.

“I’ll tell you, but first, we need to get there,” I say.

It’s a testament to War’s own belief in me that he goes along with this, letting me direct him back to the beachside building without protest.

Zara is where I left her, her nephew still cradled in her arms. Even from here I can see that she’s murmuring soft things to him.

I know the instant War sees Zara. Behind me, his body stiffens.

The horseman pulls back on Deimos. “What is this?” he demands. All gentleness has drained from his voice.

I turn to him in the saddle and place a hand on his cheek. “Please,” I say.

Beneath my touch I feel a muscle in his jaw jump.

For a moment, the two of us simply stare at one another. I’m hoping against hope that he feels enough for me to help. But I’m not positive he does.

Before he responds one way or another, I hop off his steed and head back to Zara’s side.

War is slower to join us, though to give him credit, hedoesdismount his horse and follow me. I wasn’t sure he would.

“You pull me from battle to save one ofthem?” he says behind me. “Is that what this is?” His voice is rising with his anger.

I crouch next to Zara. She’s shaking, either from fear or grief or both. Her nephew has gone even paler, though his eyes flutter a little.

“If you don’t do anything, he will die.”

“Have you gone mad, wife?” he all but bellows. “That is the exact point! And you tear me from battlefor this?” His eyes are inflamed with his fury.

This is the first time I’ve ever truly seen War in a rage. Even when he kills, he isn’t like this.

I think he might actually be experiencing regret for the first time, right here, right now. All at the hands of his human wife.

I take a deep breath, trying to ignore how my own body has begun to quake with fear. He’s terrifying enough when his emotions are under control. But seeing him angry makes me feel like my insides have liquefied.

War takes a step closer. “Have I not sacrificed enough for you already?”

I rise to my full height, despite my terror. I’ve seen another side of this man. I just have to coax it out. So, going against my instincts, I walk back towards him.