Page 85 of Prisoner of Steel and Shadow

Without the other man supporting him, he dropped to his knees with a ragged groan. Not wasting a second, Ronan set the would-be killer ablaze and rushed to his friend’s side. Loren was already there.

“Go,” he said tersely, none of the champion’s usual swagger or charm on display. “You can still make it if you run.”

“What about you?”

“I said fucking go!”

Ronan looked to Bast, pale and covered in blood. “Sebastian—”

“It’s okay, Ronan. This is the way it’s supposed to be. Go get your girl.”

“But—”

“GO!” they shouted in unison, though Bast’s shout was a weak imitation of Loren’s resonant boom.

“If anything happens to him...”

“Other than being nearly disemboweled? I think we’ve probably dealt with the worst, but I’ll take care of him and get him to a healer. You have my word. Go. Finish this, Butcher.”

Holding Loren’s gaze for one drawn-out moment, he gave a curt nod. He stayed only long enough to pick up his weapon, a flicker of relief and gratitude filling him at the sound of Sebastian’s voice. Any manner of things could have gone differently, even a second’s hesitation and he may have never heard it again. Somewhere in the last couple of weeks, while he hadn’t been paying attention, the mouthy little fuck had wormed his way into being one of the few people Ronan actually gave a shit about.

Thank you.

Someone was watching out for them, which meant there was still a chance. This wasn’t over. He started walking toward the exit, unable to help but hear the men’s hushed conversation.

“You saved me. How... heroic of you.”

“Well, Iama hero. It’s what we do.”

“This is hardly your usual job. I doubt it will even make the headlines.”

“I don’t care.”

“You really are a hero.” Ronan was nearly at the door but glanced back in time to see Bast cup Loren’s cheek. “Myhero.”

Loren’s laugh was low but pained as he dropped his forehead to Bast’s. “When I’d heard what happened...”

“How did you hear?”

“Camille found me. She saw you go inside, guessed the rest.”

“So you came to my rescue? Why?”

“I guess one night wasn’t enough.”

The Bast he knew would have laughed, tossed back something flirty like ‘that’s what they all say’ butthisSebastian, the one Ronan was starting to suspect might be the man beneath the façade, fisted his hand in Loren’s hair and yanked his face down with a growled, “Good.”

Knowing he was needed elsewhere and assured that his friend was in good hands, Ronan threw open the door and ran like his life depended on it.

Because it did.

CHAPTER25

SHADOW

Shadow couldn't make herself look away from the gates. Nervous energy unlike anything she’d ever known had her heart pulsing in an uneven tempo, the first beat a slow lurch and its echo occurring at triple speed. That couldn’t be a good sign, but she didn’t know how to access her usual unaffected mien. She was too busy simultaneously willing the bell to toll and praying Ronan appeared.

"Don't fret, Shadow mine. This isn't the last you'll see of your plaything. I have quite the reunion in store for you."

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