Beta Sinta stops and squints at the riders, focusing on their leader. “Gods, what did you do? Eviscerate his mother?”
I laugh. It’s high-pitched and completely inappropriate, but I can’t help it. He’s right about the way Otis is looking at me. Hate, hate, hate. It doesn’t bother me. I’m pretty sure I hate him more. “People don’t think when they’re angry.”
Beta Sinta grunts. “You should know.”
My nostrils flare. I’m nothing like Otis. If I were, I’d still be in Fisa. “This isn’t the time for snide remarks. They’re going to massacre us.”
“They can try.”
I smile at that. It’s more a baring of teeth.
Beta Sinta glances at me. “I thought there was no us.”
Did I just use the u-word by accident? “Untie me,” I say, ignoring what I can’t explain and don’t want to think about. “Give me my weapons.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“You can’t fight tied up like this, and neither can I!” I feel him hesitate. “Oh, for the Gods’ sakes! I give you my binding word I won’t escape during the fight.” That doesn’t mean I can’t escape later, and I’d rather stay with Beta Sinta for now than battle Otis like a sitting duck. At least the Sintans don’t want me dead.
Gray eyes lock on mine. “You won’t try to escape?”
I shake my head, unable to look away. “No. I swear it.”
“Ever. You won’t try to escape me ever. Not as long as I live.”
My eyes widen, and I gulp down a scathing retort. “That’s a lot to ask,” I say roughly.
“I have a lot to lose,” he answers just as roughly.
My heartbeat pounds against my ribs. Otis or Beta Sinta? Fisa, possibly death, or this, whatever this is. “It’s out of my power if I’m captured.”
His expression hardens. “Then I’d better not let that happen.”
I swallow the sick lump in my throat. As far as choices go, it’s not the hardest I’ve faced. Poseidon set us on this course. Would my God Father steer me wrong? He sent Beta Sinta to me with an oracular dream. What am I supposed to do with him? Probably not let him die. Or get killed myself.
My lungs feel scratchy, and I have to rip the words from my throat, regretting them as soon as they’re said. “I won’t try to escape you as long as you live.”
The vow takes hold with a jolt of magic, jarring me. Scaring me.
A look of pure triumph crosses Beta Sinta’s face. “I’ll protect you, Cat. I swear it.”
My heart clenches violently in my chest. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. It displeases the Gods.”
His deft fingers work fast, untying the knots. He stuffs the rope into his saddlebag, drags me onto his lap, and then plants his mouth on mine.
The kiss sizzles through me, quick and rough and shocking me to my toes. My lips tingle from hardness and warmth. Heat explodes through the rest of me, racing under my skin like a storm on the wind.
He pulls away, glaring at me. “Whatever happens to the rest of us, you live.”
My pulse going wild, stunned, I shove him and sputter, “Gross!”
Sort of.
Not really.
Damn.
Beta Sinta grins and dumps me off the horse. “Go. Turn invisible and hide.”
My jaw goes slack. “I’m not running away!”
His eyebrows slam down. “You’ll do as I say!”
“Yeah, when has that ever ha—”
My head whips around. Power stings my skin as an arrow whistles past, trailing Chimera’s Fire in its wake. My blood pulses, grabs the magic, and stops the arrow inches from Flynn’s chest. Flynn of the belly laugh. Flynn who defended me, who fought for me when I was in pain.
Fury paints the world red. I gather the scorching magic, flip the arrow around with a swipe of my hand, and then fling it back toward the bowman, ramming it through his eye.
“Gods, Cat!” Flynn breathes a sigh of relief. “That would’ve burned me alive.”
“Good thing I’m here,” I say saucily.
“And modest, as usual,” Beta Sinta mutters even though he looks impressed.
“You’re one to talk!”
“Go!” he growls.
I hold out my hand. “Give me my sword.” My knives are somewhere in Flynn’s bag.
He does. He thinks I’m going to run.
There’s another bowman nocking an arrow. He’s a little far away. I reach…reach… Got it! He lets fly, and the arrow spins crazily up and then back down again, splitting his skull. Ha!