Page 110 of Red Demon

“No,” I said. “Because if they use the brains I know they both have, they’ll realize someone with SBO wouldn’t be doling out acts of mercy like we’re about to do now. Do I look like a raving lunatic to you?”

Riverhawk’s eyes narrowed.

Eight blinked. “Mahakal said Asher is using his magic to keep you under control between battles.”

Ash tilted his head at me with a raised eyebrow, letting out one burst of laughter.

“He wishes.” I gestured to a rugged-cased gadget about the size of a small coffee machine. Straps snaked out from the sides, designed to be worn like a backpack. “You cleared our glamors with that magic blocker, so you know your machine works. Ash isn’t shaking on the ground from a seizure. Do the math from there.”

“What about her?” Riverhawk asked, gesturing to Faruhar.

“We need to go,” Faruhar hissed to me.

“Call off command, and you both live,” I said. “Riverhawk, please.”

She stared back, unreadable. With a groan, she touched the device in her ear. “They’re evading south, moving fast.” She winced at whatever she heard next. “Because we’re injured.”

I nodded to Faruhar once she released the audio. “You heard her. They need a reason why they can’t pursue.”

With a nod, Faruhar sliced through Eight’s Achilles tendon while simultaneously stomping her knifed boot into the bone of Riverhawk’s lower leg.

“Nine, scream quieter. She went easier on you,” I said.

He squinted his eyes at me through the pain. “Eight.”

“Ninth time you almost died.” I ticked a finger up.

He chuckled into another gasp of pain.

“You have about five minutes. They’re sending medics to our location,” Riverhawk said through her teeth.

“You look about my size. That’s enough time,” Faruhar said.

“For what?” Riverhawk said.

“Your Chaeten leather, please.” Faruhar ripped the crossbow bolt from her shoulder with a grunt. “Can all decent ka turn around while I help her out of her pants?”

“Couldn’t you have broken my leg af—” Then Riverhawk screamed.

Three minutes later, we raced through the forest with a magic blocker, Faruhar’s new set of armor, and two top-of-the-line crossbows.

Chapter 45

Fawn Rock

Mist folded between sky and ancient trees. We navigated the mossy path—emerald green, thick as a carpet—muffling the sound of our jog. And yep, the rock at the edge of that clearing did bear an uncanny resemblance to a sleeping fawn. Bria, through Faruhar, assured us we were alone. Far then melted back into the undergrowth and scaled a tree to keep a lookout for any more of Mahakal’s soldiers.

Asher dug away the damp soil with his dagger to find the code sequencer, wrapped tight in weatherproof cloth. Asher flicked a switch; the monitor blinked to life. He studied the device like it could talk. “I was hoping there might be a note or something.” He peeked inside with a click. “I still don’t get it.”

My heart ached for my brother, still clinging to hope that Mira meant something other than goodbye.

“We can’t go back to the city, Ash. You want to bury it or pack it?”

“I’ll give it a funeral.” Asher placed it back inside the hole, his shoulder slumping. “It felt more like planting a seed the first time,” he said, with the saddest laugh I ever heard.

“Someone is coming,” Faruhar hissed from the trees.

“Hide it,” I said, gesturing to Ash. “Let’s go.”