1. Kyros #3
“Astraea, I would say the pleasure is mine, but clearly,” he grunts, ripping the blade free with one hand and staunching the blood flow with the other.
“You, love, have had all the pleasure here…” The playful glint in his storm-clouded eyes makes me bristle and move closer.
Shayd notices and smirks before I pull her wrist. Forcing him to drop the grip he still held on her hand while also having to pry the blade from Astraea’s fingers.
Her hand is trembling where it now hangs at her side.
Threading my arm under hers and around her stomach, I pull her back flush to me and whisper in her ear.
“You did good. Always protect yourself, no matter the cost.” I rub my fingers in small circles at her hip and reassure her again until I feel her let out a shuddered breath. “You did good,” I repeat in her ear.
“Mhmm…So she is your wildcat.” Shayd says with a smirk as he studies her further. Astraea stiffens before pushing my arm away from her and stepping out of my reach. My jaw clenches as I keep my gaze shifting between the two of them. Astraea pins her glacial stare on Shayd.
“She is not a pet, and she is standing right here. If you’d please refrain from speaking about me like I am not.
” She interjects defiantly with her chin held high.
Though she is trying to prove a point, it just causes the pride I feel to swell even more.
I love bearing witness to her stoking the flame I’ve felt since the moment our eyes met.
Keep that fire burning, Shula. You’re going to need it.
“Oh, of course, love. I will be sure to speak more directly… as you wish.” As always, Shayd is salacious with the way he speaks his words. One thing likely meaning another, and I narrow my gaze on him. His lips curl up on one side before he turns away to hide it from view.
“I’m glad you’re here, actually. We could use your help.
” I admit, glancing at Astraea. She tries adjusting her cloak, but the fabric is torn, barely doing anything to cover her, and crusted in muck.
Eventually, she gives up and crosses her arms over her chest with an indignant huff.
Shayd turns back around after lifting his bow above his head with his uninjured arm and adjusting the quiver on his back.
We couldn't have run into someone better. Shayd is more than a friend to me. He’s one of the reasons Mavros and I are even here today.
He is who taught Mavros and me to wield our magick.
He has magick that is similar to our own, and Phaedra brought him into our training shortly after we were found to have access to the shadows.
“You?” He scoffs. “The mighty Hawk, Harbinger of Death, needs my help? Have I lost too much blood? I think I am hearing things…” He shakes his head with a laugh, and when he realizes how serious I have become again, his brows twitch and furrow. “Shit. It’s bad, huh?”
“I guess you could say we’ve run into a little trouble, and well, my magick…
” My voice lowers as I continue, “It’s not...
” I grind the words between my teeth and shake my head, not sure how I should finish that sentence.
Astraea looks at me for the first time without emotion clouding her features in pain.
It’s as though she is just seeing me clearly for the first time since we landed on the other side of the portal, and a hint of concern enters her eyes.
Shayd looks between Astraea and me, giving a slight nod in understanding at the seriousness of our situation.
“Where is your close circle? Mavros and Zinya? Viltarin?” He asks, scanning the otherwise empty forest around us, and I shake my head.
His focus returns to Astraea, where she swallows uncomfortably under his gaze, and he ends his scrutinizing with a question for me.
“Who is this Kyros?” He asks, looking back at me through narrowed eyes, and I purse my lips, giving him a serious look.
“Not here,” I growl. He looks around the dark forest for the potential of prying eyes and makes a decision. He peels his cloak off and holds it out to me.
“For her.” He presses it into my chest, holding my gaze before nodding when I take the cloak. “Follow me.” Shayd says resolutely. Looking down at the cloak he’s placed in my hand, I make a fist around the material before stepping closer to her.
“I promise we will talk about the betrayal you understandably feel, but right now I just need you to be here. I need you to keep fighting. I need you to survive.” I say solemnly.
Astraea’s face is stern as she discards the shredded cloak from her shoulders.
She tosses it to the ground, never breaking eye contact with me.
“I’ve been fighting to survive my whole life, Kyros.
It’s what I do; it’s the only choice I’ve ever truly been given.
” She says, and the small amount of concern I saw is replaced with anger.
I close my eyes and allow her words to hit me like a slap to the face that I deserve.
She takes the cloak from my fist with more aggression than I’ve experienced from her and throws it over her shoulders, following after Shayd and leaving me with my thoughts that feel an awful lot like regret.