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Chapter Thirteen

Jade laughed outright at Niko’s expression before studying her blood-stained blade and weighing whether or not to wipe it on her pantleg. Seeing her plight, he leapt in to assist, showering the blade with a jet of water he’d summoned with his magic.

The telltale current of telepathy branded the air around them, and seconds later, an unfamiliar presence registered to her senses.

The shiver that stiffened her spine had nothing to do with cold.

There, in the flesh before them, was the crown’s lead Sentinel. Blood spattered and expressionless, Asher had phased in several yards away without fanfare.

Physically daunting, the male towered over her at six and a half feet tall, every inch of him a study in strength. Coiled muscle banded over long limbs, his olive skin tone alluding to Persian descent. His solemn stare seemed to peer directly into her soul, judgmental yet entirely serene.

Above a flat, masculine brow, his inky hair was such a dark red it was nearly black. It trailed down over his right eye, and was shorn short on the sides and back.

While his physical appearance was breathtaking to behold, the sheer weight of his magical energy was almost oppressive.

Asher was clearly of phenomenal power; his presence alone was a tribute to that.

An aura of danger surrounded him, but it was a threat Jade wouldn’t cower from.

Her heart caught in her throat as she battled her cat’s sudden need to flee.

Too overcome by the primitive awareness of Asher’s dominance, her leopard submitted and lowered her gaze.

Blue eyes, so light they were nearly white, regarded her with disinterest before flashing toward Niko. “Are you unharmed?”

“Mostly.”

The trace of humor in Niko’s voice took her entirely by surprise. Jade couldn’t understand how he could speak with Asher with such casual familiarity.

As her attention dragged over to the younger Sentinel, she noticed the blood that coated his arm. Suddenly, her skin felt too tight. She hadn’t even known he’d been injured. Clutching the sword tightly, her animal leapt to the forefront, checking for itself that was Niko’s only wound.

Her fellow CEO looked exhausted—and with good reason. He’d phased them across the continent twice, and used magic consistently in the last hour. The slight drooping of his eyelids and the looseness in his shoulders seemed to hint that he’d overdone it.

“You decided to bring a tagalong.” Asher’s indifference should’ve been a good thing, but Jade’s pride would never allow it.

“I held my own.”

Instead of dismissing her a second time, he merely confirmed, “So you did.”

“Six in this shack.” Niko cleaned his sword the way he’d cleaned hers. “In yours?”

“Eight.”

Niko cursed. “The nests are growing again.”

“The fifth in three months.” Asher turned to solemnly regard the shed they’d exited. Already, the acrid scent of death had begun to permeate the small clearing.

Jade couldn’t help herself. “Is that a lot?”

“It’s a ton,” Niko replied. “There’s been an escalation in nests across the United States, but Julian’s territory is teaming with them.”

Asher looked pensive. “A pity he rarely—if ever—lets me in to take care of them.”

Truth.

Frowning, Jade studied the lead Sentinel. Her ability had never led her wrong before, and if what Asher said was true, that would mean Julian had purposefully resisted help. Why would he do such a thing?

There had to be a reason. “Julian doesn’t take care of them himself?”

“No.”

The man gave new meaning to the word laconic.

Before Jade could interrogate him further, a barely detectable shield slid in place around the clearing—Niko’s doing.

As if that’s what he’d been waiting for, Asher turned toward the shed and flicked a hand almost absently.

A burst of magical energy scrubbed abrasively at her skin, surprising her, as fire ignited across the shed’s outer structure.

Jade watched in silent awe as the shed was swiftly swallowed by flames. Though she was a safe distance away, the heat of it seared over her skin, drumming against her. Asher conducted the flames like a symphony and he, its maestro.

Pyrokinetic .

One of the deadliest abilities a Sagani could have. Worse, the man’s control was unfathomable. If Jade had any reason to fear him before, it only doubled now.

It took less than five minutes for the building to be entirely engulfed in flame, the wood charred, and the metal sheeting of the roof melted on the ground. Neither of them moved until all that remained of the structure were embers.

“We’ll speak later. Go treat your wound, Niko.”

Asher was gone in a barely detectable phase, leaving her and Niko alone in the now-deserted woods. He spoke first. “Shall we, dove?”

There was a tiredness in his voice that Jade hadn’t noticed before. “I’ll take us back. No use in overexerting yourself to impress me.”

“So, I’ve impressed you?”

That ravishing grin returned, and Jade couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Then, too quick for him to resist, she grasped hold of him and phased them directly into her apartment. From the way Niko’s eyebrows had risen toward his hairline, he was undoubtedly shocked to be standing in her personal space.

She thrust him onto the sofa and commanded him to sit still until she returned. Before he could get a word in, she was off to her kitchen.

Off-white marble countertops accented her black cabinets.

Her smaller appliances provided the splash of vivid red color.

Everything had a stately air to it, and though she didn’t cook often, she loved the space’s aesthetic.

It made the knots in her shoulders loosen somewhat, and she grabbed her first aid kit and returned to find Niko had made himself at home on the couch.

“How long have you lived here?”

“Five years,” came her absent reply, dropping the first aid kit onto the coffee table and popping it open.

“It’s gorgeous.”

She began examining his wound with the care that Quinn had taught her. “Bite?”

“Bite.”

As she slowly cleaned the laceration, her mind circled back to the brief conversation they’d had with Asher. “Why did Asher say Julian didn’t let him take care of the rogues in his territory?”

“Why?” He shrugged, earning him a light tap on the shoulder to keep still. “There are plenty of reason Julian doesn’t want his territory breached. But I don’t blame Asher for not dealing with First Legion territory threats without an invite.”

“Why not? Does he receive an official slap on the wrist? A fine?”

Niko’s breath caught. “No. The last time Asher came into your territory to kill rogues without his express permission, your sainted Julian used a silver tipped whip to put Asher in his place.”

Truth.

Horrified, Jade dropped the antiseptic pad she was using to clean his wound. “That can’t be true!”

The look on his face confirmed it as much as her ability had.

“How do you know that? Asher didn’t seem particularly forthcoming,” she bit out.

“ He didn’t tell me.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Roman did when he tasked me to take over for Asher until he was back on his feet. It took weeks before he was able to hunt rogues again.”

Jade rocked back on her heels. An immortal taking that long to bounce back meant he had been near death. A silver-tipped whip could have conceivably killed one of their kind.

Her thoughts immediately raced towards protecting Julian. Her prime must’ve had a reason for his actions. As her mind worked, Jade continued cleaning Niko’s wound.

“There has to be a reason Julian doesn’t want Asher in legion territory. Why else would he purposefully keep him out?”

For the first time since she’d known him, Niko’s jovial nature vanished entirely, a hard glint in his eyes. “Asher is a good man.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

Her words screamed déjà vu. Niko flinched as her ministrations became deeper. She murmured an apology, then gently let her fingers linger on his forearm.

“It’s hard for me to reconcile your truths with mine,” she said. “I’ve been in Julian’s legion for centuries, and he’s never treated anyone unfairly.”

She frowned as she processed what she’d just said. It wasn’t entirely true.

Lark was a shining example of what happened when Julian treated someone as ‘less than.’ In his eyes, his daughter had no rights. However, instead of allowing her to live her own life, he’d laid down constricting rules. As long as she followed them, he ignored her. Purposefully .

“Those words didn’t sound like your own,” Niko said quietly.

When she looked up at him, it was to see that he’d rested his head against the back of the couch. He was loose-limbed and every breath seemed to be labored.

“You okay?”

His eyes took a moment to open, and he gave her a lethargic half-smile. “Fine. Just tired.”

“Can I get you anything?”

Shaking his head, Niko said, “No, all I need is a good night’s rest. And about what you said, I guess it’s harder to see things from the other’s perspective. I’ve never heard of the Reaper being spoken of with endearment before. He’s a hammer, and to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

Jade chuckled. “Believe it or not, Azrael is kind and fiercely protective. He’s taken care of me and Lark since that night, taught us both how to handle a blade.”

He wouldn’t ask which night she was referring to.

The single most important event in Sagani history, the night of the coup that ended their royal line.

It lived in infamy among the Sagani. Too many people had died in the mutinous attempt to usurp the throne.

Many of Jade’s own legion kin had been lost, including Lark’s mother, Sierra.

Judging by the haunted look in Niko’s gaze, he’d experienced something similar.

“Who did you lose?”

The words were out of her mouth before she could control them, and a look of vulnerability pinched his features. Reaching out, she curled her fingers around his—and then froze.