Page 17

“I thought Neverland had changed you,” he said. “You’re going to have to learn to trust someone, or we’ll never save her.”

He patted my shoulder just as Sawyer stepped forward again.

“We accept the terms,” he said, spitting into his palm and offering it to Nico.

There were few who could rival Nico’s size. Sawyer was one of them. He stood at least an inch taller, with shoulders broad enough for two grown males. Nico didn’t flinch. He stepped forward and shook his hand with a firm grip.

“Who do you name as your champion?” Nico asked.

“It’s you and me, cub king,” Sawyer said with a smirk.

Nico’s jaw clenched at the insult, but he nodded and turned to prepare for the fight. “If things go sideways, take Mic and Fallon north to Vaelryth,” he told me, tugging his hair back into a knot as he pulled off his tunic. “There’s a portal in the ruins we visited as kids.”

“Here’s a thought—don’t lose,” Luca muttered, taking Nico’s clothes before gripping his shoulder.

Nico shrugged him off, refusing the energy boost Luca tried to give him.

His honor was going to get us all killed.

Sawyer handed a worn leather chest plate and a belt heavy with weapons to Levi. The armor was clearly too small for his frame—and far too expensive for a man living in the slums of Dunharrow.

Either his family had fallen from grace at some point, or he was a damn good thief. Either way, he wasn’t someone to be messed with.

The two of them stood ready in the clearing, the sun bleeding through the ancient canopy and highlighting the patch of green.

Nico raised the small blade in his hand and ran it over the veska on his chest—the small scar we all bore.

The place where we drew the blood offering to release our beasts from their corporeal bonds.

The air shifted around me, hitting like the soundless blast of a solric as Nico shifted. A massive bear now stood where my brother had been. He shook his molten copper coat, raw muscle rippling in the sun as he settled into his new form.

My skin crawled with the urge to join him, the veska on my palm ached. My own beast keened for release. But this had to be a fair fight. If any of us got involved, everything Nico was trying to accomplish would fall into chaos.

Sawyer sized him up briefly before drawing his own knife across the veska scar on his forearm. Another wave of energy crashed through me as Sawyer’s beast tore free. I stared in stunned disbelief as a giant white bear shook its enormous head.

“A spirit bruin,” Luca breathed. “I didn’t know they still existed.”

I’d heard of spirit beasts—a high gift given by the Divine.

They were rare and said to possess special powers.

Legend claimed they could weave the veil of the cosmos to their need and walk between the spirit realm and the physical world.

I’d never seen one before in my life. Some even considered them a myth.

“Fuck. What the hell has Nico gotten us into? Start thinking of our best escape route,” I muttered to him.

Sawyer’s every movement was fluid, each step calculated, like he carried something otherworldly on his sloped shoulders. His pale blue eyes regarded Nico with an unsettling calm, a stillness that seemed to seep into the surrounding forest.

I leaned against a tree at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed tight over my chest, trying to appear indifferent. But I wasn’t fooling anyone—least of all myself.

Nico broke the silence with a piercing roar before he charged.

Black taloned claws tore into the rich soil as he barreled toward Sawyer.

Their bodies collided with a thud, like falling trees, echoing through the glade.

Nico went on the offense, his hooked claws drawing first blood.

Crimson standing out in stark contrast against white fur.

It was a glancing blow, and Sawyer shifted with preternatural grace.

Nico was relentless, vicious teeth snapping, trying to seize the upper hand.

Each strike was a contest of primal strength, but it wasn’t clear if this was a battle he could win.

Sawyer’s sheer size alone gave him the advantage, and Nico couldn’t avoid his brutal counterattack.

Blood spilled from his wounds, leaving dark, matted patches on his copper coat.

He moved with precision, but there was tension in his movements I hadn’t seen before.

Sawyer was relentless, every swipe of his claws was a brutal reminder of how high the stakes were.

Each impact vibrated through the ground, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep the bile from rising in my throat.

The onlookers cheered, their excitement grating on my nerves.

Idiots. They had no idea what was really at risk.

To them, this was entertainment. To us, it was survival.

Luca circled the perimeter, scanning the males to ensure Nico had a fair fight. A solid clap on the shoulder was all it took to render one useless. All of their energy drained away in a heartbeat. His magic was impressive, but it made him a piss-poor sparring partner.

I sensed her presence before she stepped beside me. Her scent hit like a wave, ripping my attention from the fight. My breath hitched, and for a moment, all I could do was stare. Her eyes burned with determination as they locked onto mine.

“What’s going on, Lu?”

“Mic—” Her name tumbled out of my mouth like an admission of guilt. “I didn’t expect you to… are you…” I stammered. My brain scrambled for a coherent thought. Damn it, pull yourself together.

Her gaze flicked past me to the brawling bears. “You didn’t answer my question. What’s happening?”

“It’s…” I glanced over my shoulder, watching Nico and Sawyer collide again, their snarls ripping through the clearing. “It’s nothing. Nico’s got it handled. They’re just sorting things out.” I shifted to block her view, hoping to distract her. “I thought you were still bathing?”

She crossed her arms. “The cabin was shaking like it was about to collapse. Seeing as we’re being hunted, I thought I’d make sure you weren’t all dead.”

Guilt prickled at the back of my neck. “Shit, Mic. I’m sorry. We didn’t think?—”

“No, you didn’t,” she snapped. “None of you have given much thought to my feelings at all, have you?”

Her words hit like a blow, and I stiffened, unsure how to respond. Before I could find the right words, she sighed, her expression softening.

“But that’s beside the point. Are you sure Nico has it handled?”

I hesitated, glancing back at the fight. Sawyer landed a brutal blow, and Nico stumbled—his coat saturated with blood. My throat tightened. “He’s the best fighter I know,” I said, though my voice lacked conviction. “He won’t lose.”

“Why are they fighting?”

My jaw clenched. How much should I tell her? She deserved the truth—but how could I explain this without making her worry?

“Nico’s proving himself,” I muttered, the words bitter in my mouth.

Her brow furrowed. “Proving himself? This is about pride? Are males in every realm this predictable?”

“It’s not just that,” I said, voice low. “The Raven’s Hand wants to turn us over to the crown. Johan’s put a price on our heads. Nico’s making sure that doesn’t happen.”

The color drained from her face. “The crown,” she whispered. “So we’re back to running for our lives?”

Before I could answer, a roar ripped through the air—raw and primal.

Michaela flinched, and instinct took over.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her back just as Sawyer’s massive paw swiped too close for comfort.

We hit the ground hard, and I wrapped myself around her, shielding her as dust and debris filled the air.

“Mic, are you alright?” I asked, voice tight. My hands trembled as I held her shoulders, searching her face for any sign of injury.

“I’m fine,” she said breathlessly. Her wide eyes met mine, and for a moment, the world stilled.

Guttural sounds rumbled behind us. I scrambled to get Mic back to her feet. I knew what was coming. The bond we all shared with her was harder to ignore when our beasts took over. Sawyer had crossed a line. Nico would never let it stand.

The vibrations grew until a roar exploded from Nico like rolling thunder. He charged Sawyer with renewed fury. The bears reared up, colliding mid-air. Nico’s jaws locked around Sawyer’s neck, shaking his head and slamming him to the forest floor like a rag doll.

The ground shuddered, the land itself crying out beneath the weight of the vicious blow.

The white bear lay vanquished on the ground, making no attempt to fight. Nico pinned him down, standing victorious over his opponent. He let out another thunderous roar, reverberating over the crowd—settling the score once and for all.

“Is he… dead?” she whispered, shooting a wary glance at the silent crowd, who stood in shocked awe.

“No, he’s just showing reverence. He’ll be fine,” I said, keeping her tucked against my side in case these vagabonds lacked a sense of honor.

Nico stepped back, blood dripping from his muzzle.

His copper bear ambled out of the clearing, the remaining males parting to let him pass.

He returned a heartbeat later, a tangled mess of leaves, crimson flowers, and their dirt-caked roots clutched in his jaws.

His eyes found Michaela, and my chest tightened.

He moved toward her, each step deliberate.

My body tensed, but I stayed locked in place—torn between the instinct to protect her and the knowledge that this moment wasn’t mine to interfere with.

Nico lowered his massive head and placed the tangle of flowers at her feet. Crimson dahlias caught the light, their vibrant hue mirroring the blood-stained ground.

My heart sank.

I knew the significance of the gesture. It wasn’t simply an offering. It was a claim.

Before I could process it, Nico shifted back. Bruised and battered, he knelt before Michaela, his devotion written in every line of his body.

I looked away, fists clenched at my sides. This wasn’t a battle I could win.

“Nico, are you alright?” Michaela’s voice was soft and full of concern. She knelt beside him, her hands fluttering over his injuries. I forced myself to stay back, watching as she tore a strip of fabric from her dress to tend his wounds.

“I’m fine,” he said, voice rough but steady. His dark eyes flicked to me briefly before returning to Michaela. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

Sawyer’s voice interrupted. “Son of Artos,” he called, his tone surprisingly light despite his injuries. “I almost had you.”

Nico chuckled, rising to his feet, shaking Sawyer’s hand. “You’re stronger than I expected.”

Sawyer smirked, wiping blood from his face. “The spirits were worried I was about to join them. If I’d known your fated was here, I might’ve been more cautious.”

My stomach dropped. Fated.

The word hung heavy in the air, and Michaela stiffened. She opened her mouth to speak, but Nico cut her off.

“It was a fair fight, Sawyer. You’re the one who kept the fact that you’re a spirit shifter a secret.

I didn’t know any still existed.” A smooth transition—one he clearly didn’t want to explain in front of her now.

How could he? None of us really knew how we fit into the tangled mess of bonds that tied us to this beautiful human girl.

“We’re more common in trying times. Maybe it’s the Divine’s way of evening the odds,” Sawyer said, saying nothing further on the subject.

“Let me get cleaned up, and we’ll make plans for you to fulfill your part of the bargain.”

Sawyer’s grin widened as he swept into a dramatic bow.

“Let me start by introducing you to the leader of the Raven’s Hand.

” His voice rang out like a performer on stage.

“Sawyer Briarhart, humble captain of the most notorious band of outlaws this side of the Caldreim River. At your service, My Lord.”

A flicker of intrigue crossed Nico’s face before he schooled his expression into a mask of mild indifference, tilting his head as if he’d expected nothing less. A practiced smile curved his mouth.

“Well then, lead on, Captain Briarhart. We leave in the morning. Lucius,” he called, turning to me. “You’ll stay behind and keep an eye on Mic while we’re gone.”

“I’m coming with you,” she announced, like it was already decided.

Nico stared at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. I wondered if he would go back on his word and use his powers to sway her mind. Anger began to stir in my chest. I wouldn’t let him crush her free will with a flex of power.

“Alright, Mic. If you’re up for it, you can come,” he finally agreed and she let out a breath, a look of triumph lighting her face.

“Fair enough. We leave at dawn,” Sawyer proclaimed, settling the matter.

As everyone began preparing to leave, I stayed close to Michaela, my protective instincts on high alert. I couldn’t voice everything I felt, but one thing was certain: no matter what happened, I’d do everything in my power to keep her safe.

Even if it meant watching her slip further out of my reach.