Page 80 of Shadow Master
I looked at him. He’d understood Athos. Of course. Latrou had marked him with the communication symbol. His ability to communicate with the hounds was now enhanced, just like mine.
“What happened to teamwork?” bearded dude said with a curl of his lip.
I shrugged. “Athos is in charge of the hounds, and if he says no, then it’s a no.”
The bearded guy looked confused.
Balan winced. “Draka, Athos is able to communicate with Indigo. I believe she is simply relaying what he has said, right?” He looked at me.
“That’s right.”
The fomorian’s brows shot up. “You expect me to believe this?”
It was Hyde who responded. “The fomorian royal guard were able to communicate with their battle hounds, were they not?”
Draka blinked in surprise. “That is what history tells us.”
“Well, they sowed their seed in the mortal realm too,” Abram said. “The mark I gave Indigo seems to have enhanced her ability.”
“And mine,” Hyde said with a grin.
Draka shook his head in exasperation. “We need hounds on the front lines. They would be best served there.”
The hounds stay with the shadow cadets,Athos said.
He was being loyal, but Draka was right. The hounds would be more useful on the front lines.
I turned to him now and placed a hand on his flank. “Athos, I know you feel strongly about protecting the cadets. But you’ll be able to do that best if you’re on the front lines preventing the fir bolg from getting to them.”
His chest rumbled.You wish us to carry them?He jerked his head toward the fomorians.
“Yes. They’re our allies.”
He sighed.Very well.
I nodded curtly at Draka. “Athos and his hounds will ride with you.”
Draka inclined his head in Athos’s direction. “Thank you.”
Athos grunted.
Draka’s lips quirked in a smile that transformed his austere features into something more appealing. “Good. I’m glad we have an understanding.” He inclined his head and then looked to the other fomorian militia leaders. “We’ll brief our troops. I suggest you do the same. The fir bolg can be upon us any day now.”
“I know. We have scouts in sector three.”
“Yes, and so do we. In the meantime, we will prepare our weapons and strengthen our army.”
The militia moved out, and I turned to my guys. “Let’s spread the word and get the forge heated. I want weapons on point.”
Orion arched a brow as if to say,are you giving me orders?
“If you’re fighting alongside us, then you’ll take orders like the rest of the cadets.”
Lugh chuckled. “Yes, Orion. War makes men out of kings.”
Orion’s jaw ticked, but his response was cut off by a hearty caw, and then a shadow fell over us.
I looked up sharply to see a huge bird circling above. A real honest-to-fucking-god bird.
