As much as I hated the idea of putting Assyria in harm’s way, her Imposter gift was one we could leverage to free Banand and Zurronar. As the thought flitted through my mind, my chest clenched. Violently. I flattened my palm across the middle of my ribs, right where the shadows of my magic swirled around our bond, and pressed, trying to ease the pain.

There was no way in all the worlds I’d let her go alone or even without me.

But what kind of male wields his own mate to win a war? I loathed myself for considering it. Fuck, allowing her to join us. But I’d hate myself more for silencing her, keeping her hidden away, just like her fucking husband had done.

My nails raked over my tunic as my hand curled into a fist. Never had I been so conflicted in my entire life.

At least the power the Giver blessed me with was enough to render me invisible under the cover of darkness, and others in the camp possessed similar skills that would aid us in our surreptitious entry.

Which left only one problem to be solved for this rescue mission.

Assyria squared her shoulders as she stood beside me, staring the officers down. Compared to those of us surrounding the table, she was tiny. Yet her confidence made her appear statuesque.

If the Angels captured or harmed her again, I wouldn’t stop until their whole camp—their whole realm—was in ashes. I’d hunt down every last one of them. No mercy. No second thought. Should they seize me too, I’d give them anything they wanted so long as she was safe and air continued to flow through her lungs.

And that was a very dangerous fact.

Once everyone had arrived and settled into their respective places, I turned my attention to the Parancsok. “I need three female Angels captured and brought to me.”

One sucked in a sharp breath. “Why would we waste our precious resources on them?”

I’d already used my daily allotment of ‘because I said so’ and unfortunately, I couldn’t solely rely on my authoritarian rule, not when I wanted cooperation and enthusiasm for the changes to come. While fear was a fantastic tool for control, so was belief. My cousins and I had wielded the two together to ascend to our roles, after all.

“Because the Giver blessed Assyria with the magic to take on the form of another, but only if she has time to study them. I want to use her power to rescue the Demons being held prisoner by the Angels.”

Eyes widened and lips parted. Rapp was right—Assyria’s power was ‘cool’ as he had termed it. It was also extremely useful for a scout. All seven’s attention landed on my mate. To her credit, she didn’t flinch.

“You’d risk your mate for this mission?” one asked, tearing his gaze from Assyria and letting his garnet eyes collide with mine.

I bristled at his question. A low growl rumbled in my chest as I planted my fists on the table and leaned in. “Do you doubt my devotion to our cause?” Obsidian leaked from between my fingers and drifted in his direction, out of my control.

How dare he voice the very question eating me alive.

The male shifted his weight from foot to foot. “No, Halálhívó. I simply thought you wouldn’t want to place her on a path that could lead to her death. Or yours.”

His insinuation had my lips curling back from my teeth. I knew when it came to Assyria, I was totally fucked. I didn’t need the same thought curling in my subordinates’ minds.

“When the time comes to carry out this mission, I won’t be weak,” my mate snapped, mirroring my posture and glaring at the offending Parancsok. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have burgundy eyes too. Just because I don’t have a dick doesn’t mean I’m incapable of taking on such a challenge. Especially when I am bonded to the Halálhívó and have him to train me.”

Rapp’s brows shot up his forehead, and he covered his mouth to hide his amusement. Assyria was a fighter—I’d learned that firsthand every fucking day as she refused to bow to my command. And these males, in her eyes, were no different.

For her own protection, I wanted her to be stronger, both with her power and her body. Future separation during a skirmish was inevitable, and while she’d never be completely on her own, I never wanted her to feel helpless against an opponent either.

The Parancsok dipped his chin. “Apologies, mate of the Halálhívó, I meant no offense.”

“This is the type of attitude that must change,” she stated, her tone blistering with fire. “For too long, you males have assumed us the weaker sex because we have not fought back. Just because our strength does not match yours does not mean we are helpless. My abilities will aid us in winning this war. I merely have to use them to the extent the Giver intended.”

Pride bloomed in my chest as she claimed her place by my side.

“Aye,” Rapp agreed, the corner of his mouth twisted into a wry grin. “Females have strengths of their own we do not possess. We’ll all do well to remember that.”

“Of course,” the Parancsok replied, and a few others murmured their assent.

“Now, if we can return to the matter at hand,” I said, smoothing out the transition. “Once we have the Angel captives and reports on potential locations of the Demon prisoners, we can hold the Angels here for a few weeks while I train my mate.” The beginnings of a plan were forming in my mind, but I’d need time to mull over all the possibilities and probabilities before we struck. The scouts who’d creep into the night to survey the Angel camp would assist in that as well. Their reports were essential to any decisions we’d make.

“I will lead the next charge, Halálhívó,” one of Trol’s Parancsok volunteered, rapping his maroon-gauntleted knuckles on the table. “We will capture Angels for your mate, and we will join you in rescuing our fellow soldiers.”

That was the attitude I’d been searching for. “Your sacrifice is appreciated, Parancsok.” Though I hoped the losses stemmed from the attack wouldn’t be too severe.

“The success of this mission hinges on cooperation and sacrifice for the greater good. The Angels cannot realize we’re intentionally seeking out prisoners, or they’ll start wondering why, after all this time, it has become part of our strategy. It must look like an action of opportunity.”

The Angels had never been keen on being captured—which was why I’d abandoned the idea of using them as leverage long ago—and would fight tooth and nail to avoid it. Dozens of memories of daggers crossing their own throats, plunging into sides of necks, or even throwing themselves off cliffs arose in my mind. They’d rather die than surrender to the control of a Demon.

Their suicides made it difficult to gather additional intelligence about their plans, beliefs, and next moves. I suspected that was intentional on Zahal Ishim’s part. Most of the information we worked off of in the Demon Realm was what was available to the public in the Angel Realm. And much had changed in the last few centuries since Koron Stadiel took the throne.

“You’ve gathered the scouts?” I asked, tearing my thoughts back to the present.

The Parancsok provided their chosen names along with proposed routes based on quick surveys taken during the day. Assyria listened intently as we rolled over plans, modifying them as more information was revealed. Finally satisfied with our path forward, I peered further into the future.

“We hold the Angels here for as long as we can. We know how to survive these harsh environments. They do not. After this attack, do not move again unless provoked. Waiting them out might be the key.”

“Aye, Halálhívó,” they said.

“You are dismissed. Send out your scouts and remind them why we fight this war,” I commanded. They offered me closed-fisted salutes, then departed. The Parancsok who had volunteered his unit peeled off to prepare them for the skirmish they were to initiate in the early hours of morning.