I released him, and Assyria shoved him to the ground. The male clutched the cut beneath his jaw. We needed him alive after all. “Because I know we will lose to them after seeing their power in Fured. Better to survive than to live for a Goddess who is not protecting us,” she explained. A flit of horror crossed her face as she mixed up the words for live and die.

A chill colder than the ice dug into the boulders swept down my spine. In the heat of the moment, Demonic curses could be overlooked. But with his entire focus trained on her, that one wrong word could upend our plans.

Anxiety flooded our bond. Assyria’s thumb pressed into her forefinger, searching for a ring that wasn’t there.

I kept my gaze firmly on the male, gauging his reaction. My hand twitched, ready to slaughter him if he caught Assyria’s mistake.

The male at our feet didn’t seem to notice—thank the Reaper. His face twisted into abhorrence as he started up at the visage of his former officer.

“Run and tell the others to meet here if they wish to survive the rest of this war,” I growled in the common tongue, tearing his ire to me. He shrank away as I leaned ever so slightly forward. The raw, helpless fear in his eyes was delicious and everything I’d been missing these past months.

Assyria kicked him in the ribs with the side of her boot. “Now!”

He wasted no further time scrambling to his feet and bolting through the trees. The soldiers behind us let out sinister laughs as we watched him race away until his white hair was no longer visible in the dark.

“What do we do now?” Uzadaan, a ruby-eyed male who had known Assyria from the beginning of her journey, asked. After his performance with her in the initiation ceremony and learning his magic allowed him to freeze blood and thereby render a person unable to move, I permitted him to join her guard. He very much understood the consequences of harm befalling my mate.

He’d protected her well during the Battle of Fured too.

“Leave the bodies. They’ll likely return knowing that we didn’t burn them. But first, we leave a message.” I found an Angel with a flayed-open stomach and dug my fingers in. They squelched as I pulled them free, coated in his blood.

I went to one of the rocks and cleared it of snow and ice. The Angels wanted a Goddess? I’d give them one in Assyria.

I painted my message in steaming garnet.

JOIN OR DIE

“Loot the camp and let’s get going. It’s fucking cold and we have a long march back to the wall.”

The firelight flickered over the dark art, one line dripping into another as I smeared it in all three languages to ensure I was entirely clear.

When I finished, I found the Deathveiled rummaging through bags. A few knocked over tents and caused general mayhem with wicked grins on their faces. Assyria drifted to my side, still wearing her stolen skin. Her brows were pinched, and her hand hovered over her stomach like she was going to be sick.

Unfortunately, she’d have to maintain her magic until we were safely beyond the wall again. A scout spotting the transition would ruin our plans, and now they knew the Myrza was about, they’d be everywhere searching for him and the supposed survivors.

“You did well,” I praised her, resisting the urge to reach for her. Any affection on my end would indicate something amiss too.

“I fucked up,” she stated. “Twice.”

“He didn’t notice,” I tried to reassure her, but she shook her head.

“I have to do better.” A muscle feathered in her jaw. “There is no other option.”

“You will. I’ll make sure of it.” That seemed to ease some of her lingering frustration.

“What will you do if a group of Angels returns here, actually wanting to join us?” she asked, changing the subject.

I snorted. “They won’t. One Myrza isn’t enough.” Not that I truly thought any would. They’d rather die than be captured by us. Who would willingly surrender to our control?

The soldiers stuffed their packs, hefting them onto their shoulders. One by one, they trudged into the trees. I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder as we followed, almost expecting another dozen Angels to emerge from the darkness.

Silence, save for the crunch of snow and twigs beneath our boots, reigned as we returned to the wall. An icy breeze rustled the branches overhead, dusting us in a fine white powder. I brushed my shoulders off, not wanting my armor to rust. Assyria shivered, and instinct roared to wrap her in my arms, to offer her what heat I could.

“We’ll be back soon,” I reassured her. After almost losing her in the battle, I’d become even more attuned to her needs. The slightest shift in her down our connection snapped my focus to her. The next time our bond went mute, I’d know the instant it happened.

Because I wasn’t naive enough to think that another occurrence was impossible.

She nodded, eyes trained downward. A male beside me cursed as he tripped on a hidden rock. This was why we’d taken so long to approach. Silence was our shield. Yet our return trip didn’t need to be as surreptitious. Flickering flames atop the wall greeted us half an hour later. A yell went out, signaling our return.

Those at the top threw down ropes for Assyria to climb, while the rest of the Deathveiled called upon their wings to carry them to the top. Unfortunately, my mate hadn’t quite figured out how to use the fake white wings of the Angels to propel herself. I was more concerned with her learning the language since we had other methods of transport.

I followed behind her in solidarity. When we reached the top, Trol, Rapp, and Kiira were waiting.

“How did it go?” Rapp questioned the moment my boots struck the stone.

“We’ll see the reaction once we find the next group,” I told him, heading toward the guardhouse. A fire burned in the hearth, chasing the chill from my skin. I stood beside it, soaking the heat into my bones. Assyria dropped her magic, shaking out her limbs like she was trying to rid herself of the lingering effects of impersonating our enemy. With a groan, she collapsed at my feet like one of the hounds. Skittering echoed down the stairs, and then Grem and Zeec bounded forward, barking a greeting.

“Oh, yes, come here,” Assyria cooed, dragging Zeec to the floor and curling around him like his fur was the key warming her body.

I rolled my eyes. “It wasn’t that cold.”

“Speak for yourself,” she shot back, her voice muffled. Grem lay on her feet so she was nearly smothered by black fur.

Kiira joined her on the ground, and they had their own conversation while I turned my attention to Trol and Rapp.

“We’ll leave at first light–” Assyria made a noise of protest, but I ignored her. “We’ll leave at first light, Trol. Are you sure you’re alright with the numbers you’ll have?”

“Aye. We’ll have enough to manage whatever the Angels deem is necessary to throw at us,” he replied. “A forward scout returned while you were gone. There’s another exploratory group half a day ahead.”

“Good. We’ll give them the same treatment as here,” I announced. “What of the larger force’s position?”

“A day’s ride down into the valley. I think the closer groups are testing for weaknesses,” he ventured, rubbing the back of his neck.

That made sense. “Try to pick them off however you can. And whatever happens, holding the wall is of the utmost importance.”

“Yes, Halálhívó.”

I offered him my arm, and he grasped it. “We’ll try to get a few hours of rest before our departure.”

“Sleep well,” he told us, then disappeared the way Grem and Zeec had come to one of the chambers on a higher level. The soldiers were in the barracks just below the wall, with the ones who would continue on camped outside them.

“Come on,” I said to Assyria, who had straightened and was petting the greedy hounds.

“Ugh,” she protested as she rose to her feet. “I hope they put out the thick fur blankets.”