Page 84 of Horns of Wicked Ebony (Deathcaller Duet #2)

“Red for imminent attack. Gold for requesting aid. Blue for sickness. Green for storms. White for diplomatic approach. Smoke for lost position,” a different Parancsok listed off.

“And if we lose a guard tower or section, we must press forward on either side and retake it as quickly as possible,” I reminded them.

They nodded their acknowledgement.

“Good. We’ll spend the rest of the day integrating the new magic-wielding units into your battalions.

Gauge their responses, and when we meet in the morning, we’ll decide who to send where.

” My focus locked on the map of Keleti carved into the table and the stones dotting the length of the wall that divided the realms. “Remember we have the power. We have the positions. And we have us.” I indicated my mate and me as I snapped my gaze to each of the officers in turn.

“With our combined powers, we are unstoppable. Relay that to those who dissent.”

Then, I straightened to my full height. Assyria too rose, uniting our front. “Dismissed.”

Chairs scraped. Boots thudded. Murmurs drifted as the Parancsok coordinated their next tasks.

My two Hadvezér lingered. “What’s in the box?” Trol asked when he was certain we wouldn’t be overheard.

“The dick and balls of a coward,” Rapp snarled. My gaze snapped to my Hadvezér. We hadn’t discussed it with one another, but he knew. To see his reaction now, as violent as my own—perhaps even more so—was interesting .

Trol didn’t even flinch. “Tell me how the integration actually went so we know what to prepare for here.”

Assyria huffed a laugh and collapsed into her chair. “What we really need to prepare for is the males trying to seduce their new female compatriots. I swear, if I have to deal with another fight over one…”

Rapp chuckled, his dark mood dissipating. “We’ll have a tough time with that here. Most of these males haven’t been with a female for a year or longer.”

“We need to ensure everyone remembers why sexual activities are discouraged in the war camp,” I groused, pinching the bridge of my nose. “And that if it is non-consensual, the punishment is death, per a new decree from the Kral.”

Assyria bolted upright, her earnest gaze trained on me. Tears welled in those gorgeous almond-shaped eyes. I brushed the backs of my knuckles across her cheek, capturing one as it fell. “The Kral has also seen to it that all fallen are released from their compulsory duty.”

“Really?” she breathed.

“Written in his hand,” I murmured, stroking her soft skin.

“So…he’s listening?” she questioned, almost like she couldn’t believe it. Fuck, I wasn’t sure if I did either.

“If there are fallen among those stationed at the outpost closest to Uzhhorod, then yes.”

A watery smile bloomed on her face, and something between a sob and a laugh choked out of her. “I did it.”

“You did, little imposter.” Wrapping my arms around her tiny frame, I pulled her in tight. A mosaic of emotion flooded our bond. I welcomed it, letting her pour everything into me.

A light tap sounded on the outer door, and Kiira appeared in the entry. “Is everything okay?” she asked, studying how I embraced Assyria .

My mate pulled away from me and beamed at my cousin. “More than alright. You should sit down.”

Brows pinched, she rounded the table and dropped into a seat near Rapp. Trol cleared his throat and excused himself to attend to helping the Parancsok sort through the new arrivals.

He shut the door behind him, giving us privacy.

Rapp brought the box out from his lap and slid it to Kiira. “Fair warning, the contents are…gruesome.”

She eyed it warily, attention bouncing between the three of us. “What is it?”

“A present from Xannirin,” I stated. “There’s also a note, though none of us spotted it in the split second we looked inside. If you want Rapp or me to extract it for you, we can.”

Kiira’s mouth thinned. Reaching for the box, she brought it closer. She hesitated for only a moment before flicking the latch. Then, with a sigh, she lifted the lid.

A small shriek fled her as she slammed it shut, much like Rapp had done. “Is that what I think it is?” she questioned, her voice shaky.

“Yes,” Rapp replied, taking it from her. “Do you want the note?”

“Later,” she said, her skin taking on a sickly sheen. “I need to go lie down. Assyria, do you need to as well?”

My mate jumped to her feet immediately. “Of course, it’s been a long ride. Rokath, where can we sleep?”

“I’ll show you the way and leave the dogs with you too. Rapp and I need to go help Trol. He’s worked hard enough lately and deserves a break.”

“That he does,” Rapp agreed, rising without a single sway or pained expression.

Thankfully, the nicest rooms were only one passage away from the command center.

Trol had secured one for himself, leaving the other three empty for us.

I opened the door to the one typically used by the highest ranking officer in residence.

It wasn’t anything special compared to how we had been living at the military academy, but it was clean with an attached bathing chamber.

“We’ll have your belongings sent up once we step out,” I promised my cousin and my mate.

“Thanks,” Assyria shot back, her arms around Kiira, who nodded weakly. “I’ll let you know if we need anything else.”

I brushed my lips against her temple, then left the females alone in my room. Rapp fiddled with the rings in his lip as we walked away. “Hold on a second. Left my dagger in the command center.” He trotted off without waiting for a response.

I watched him go, suspicion curling in my gut as I noted the blade attached to his hip, as it always was. Yet I remained still. The chill of the winter mountains crept down my spine. He returned moments later, red-faced and teeth raking over his lip.

“Did you find it?” I asked casually as he strode past me.

“Yes.” The word was short, clipped. I shook my head and let it go as we stepped into the sunshine.

We found Trol and slipped back into our normal army routines like we’d never been away at all. By the time dusk fell, I’d almost forgotten about Rapp’s odd behavior and how severely the Kral felt threatened by my mating bond with Assyria.

Yet dread coiled around my ribs like an icy wire. The Angels hadn’t merely retreated out of our realm into their own. They’d disappeared like locusts at the end of a plague, hidden away until their next attack.

And I had no fucking idea when that was coming.