Page 67 of Horns of Wicked Ebony (Deathcaller Duet #2)

“She’ll have them,” he swore.

My hands trembled with both nerves and excitement.

Finally, Rokath was both agreeing to let me help and use my rare magic in a way the Angels could never anticipate—without vehement protest. Without shoving me behind him and calling it protection.

So much was going right, and I couldn’t help but grin.

“Then you’ll have a fresh group to call on.

You can march them back to the rest of the Angel army and take them by surprise. ”

A wicked smirk pulled up the corner of Rokath’s mouth. “With you at the head, claiming you defeated us.”

My mouth dropped open at the suggestion. “That’s brilliant.”

Rokath rolled his eyes. “Why do you think I lead the Demon army, little imposter?”

“It’s certainly not your personality,” I quipped, flicking my braid over my shoulder.

That pulled laughter from Kiira and Rapp.

Scraping filled the space around us as Rokath drew his sword again. “If this is the new plan, then we need to change up your training slightly. Once we gather your guard, you’ll have to learn to work together as a unit. Almost like the strike team we put together to rescue Banand and Zurronar.”

“With the way everything is going, you’ll have males and females scrambling to fill slots. Especially after that,” Kiira said, pointing up to the stands behind her.

“Good. Then we can select the best of the best,” Rokath growled. “For now, let’s ensure you can still pull together an Angel form. Pick one of the females and fight me.”

Nodding, I wove Araquiel’s body over mine, complete with white armor. From a separate pile, I selected a sword more appropriate to my current size. Rapp and Kiira settled in to watch again.

Rolling my shoulders and sinking into a fighting stance, I squared up with Rokath. Then, I raised the tip of my blade. Energy hummed through me, renewed by my excitement over the new developments in our plans. “Let’s go.”

Rokath swung, and I dodged, sliding forward and aiming a slice at his hip, where his armor exposed the barest bit of his undershirt.

He sidestepped, the sharp tip barely missing the fabric.

Air whooshed in my ears as I pivoted on the ball of my foot and held up my sword, just in time for his to smack against it.

The impact reverberated up my arm, nearly making me drop the weapon.

I bared my teeth, muscles trembling, and shoved back.

Rokath seemed utterly unphased. He used the barest amount of force to fight me which was so fucking unfair.

With a cry, I shoved off our connection and circled away from him, searching for an opening. He stalked forward again, bronze flashing. I ducked, aiming a kick at his inner thigh, where only straps secured the metal covering the front and back.

The connection landed clean, and he swung his leg back and away from me, leaving his non-dominant leg forward.

“Smart move,” he commented, flipping the hilt in his hand.

“I had a good teacher,” I purred, batting my lashes. A moment later, I thrust my sword forward, catching him off guard. He barely managed to parry it away.

An approving growl rumbled in his chest. “Use those tricks, little imposter. They might save your life.” He executed a complex series of strikes, sending me stumbling back. “They might not.”

I dug my heel in and attempted to hold him off. Our blades met, and I leaned my weight into it. “I thought you wouldn’t let that happen.”

“Why do you think I’m training you so hard?

I have to whip the foolishness out of you now so our enemies don’t on the battlefield,” he snapped back.

Lust ignited between us as we remained locked in that stance.

“No one will take you from me. No Angel. No Fate. Not even death. Because I am the Halálhívó.”

Desire coiled in my belly at the possession in his tone. I shoved off him, dropping my magic and flashing him a devious grin. He straightened to his full height, towering over me in a move that was meant to be intimidating but only sent heat rushing through my veins.

“Why is it that no matter how many times I have you, I can’t get enough? Why can I never satisfy my craving for you?” he asked, his tone all gravel and darkness.

“Because you constantly have to win me over, Halálhívó. What was it you said when you told me to run the first time? Your favorite game is catch?” I stepped forward until only a breath of space remained between us.

Subtly, I called on my magic, smoky onyx ready to explode from me.

“There’s nothing I love more than challenging you. Than making you chase me.”

More lust swept between us. But as Rokath reached for my head, I flattened my palms on his chest and shoved .

Ebony exploded from my hands, sending him careening backward.

He stumbled, falling to the ground, when I twisted my magic and wrapped it around his torso.

The shadows halted him mere inches from the unforgiving stone.

I prowled toward him, inky tendrils still swirling around us.

The fire in his eyes was entirely worth the victory I’d carved for myself.

“Eyes of devious burgundy,” he growled as power pooled around him, fighting against my own to right himself.

I released mine, including Araquiel’s form, and allowed him to rise.

“That’s what Kiira said about you before we even knew you existed.

” He stepped closer, tugging on my braid and forcing me to look up at him.

“That is who you have become, Assyria. And I am so fucking proud to call you my mate.”

The gong sounded, shattering our moment.

Rokath let out a frustrated grumble. “We’ll continue our training later. For now, it’s time for lunch.”

When we turned to head toward the dining hall, Rapp and Kiira were nowhere to be found. They must have left at some point during our second session.

“Thank you,” I said, halting him with two soft words. Yet they felt too small for everything he had given me.

“For what?” Rokath asked, his head tilting to the side.

“Not keeping me away from it all. For empowering me.” I paused, and Rokath did too, studying me with haunted intensity.

“When I was a girl, I dreamed of having a mate, actually. But one who helped me shirk society’s rules for females.

Who would love that rebellious part of me.

Who would garden with me.” My tone was soft, vulnerable, and I looked at my hands, unable to meet his gaze.

A finger under my chin lifted my eyes to meet his. “Truly?”

“Truly,” I replied. “It’s not in the way I imagined it…but you give me all of that.”

He crushed me against him, holding me so tight that I had no choice but to bury myself against his hard armor.

“I love you, Assyria. I will always protect you, always fight for you. But more than that, I will ensure you can do both for yourself.” Releasing me, he crouched so we were level.

“You are mine. I might be a possessive brute as you have called me, but I will not cage you like Vagach did. Not anymore at least. ”

“Will you still try to break me, to bend me to your will?” I asked, a smile blooming on my lips.

“Only when I am fucking you, little imposter. Because you love submitting to me. You love that you can trust me to make you feel good. To help you explore everything you were forbidden from doing,” he ground out, the heat in his tone going straight to my center.

Swallowing, he straightened, glancing around before adjusting himself. I dug my teeth into my lower lip at the sight of the hard outline in his pants. “Come, we’ll be late to lunch and I certainly don’t want all eyes on me.”

“Because you don’t want the soldiers to have anything certain for their fantasies?” I shot back.

“They don’t,” he grumbled.

I slipped myself under his arm as we walked, ever so slightly leaning into his side.

“Oh, but they do,” I teased. The first time I’d overheard a group talking about my mate, an insane jealousy had risen in me, until I realized I was the only one who would get to be with him that way.

Then, I got to brag shamelessly to my new friends.

Not that I’d admit that to Rokath. His ego was too large already.

Rokath muttered a string of obscenities under his breath. I laughed all the way to the dining hall, where we managed to slip in without any eyes snapping to my mate’s groin.