Gadriel closed the space between them. He did not look kind as he grabbed her arm. She tried to jerk away, but his grasp was firm. Agitation flashed through her at his strength. She looked up at him with anger. He fixed his gaze on hers as he spoke.

“Listen closely, ungrateful witchling: I need you to succeed. I’ll have your back if it kills me. Oh my goddess—”

“What?” Amaris looked around, head jerking nervously at his sudden shift in tone.

“What’s that smell?”

“Go fuck yourself.” She rolled her eyes. As if she weren’t already suffering enough.

His anger and support were incongruous. His words clashed defiantly against his tone and posture. His fingers began to hurt her arm as his dark eyes burned into hers. Yes, she definitely hated him. She was fairly certain that she didn’t want the others to die, though.

“Get off me, demon,” she said as she attempted—and failed—to shake him loose.

“You’re stuck with me.”

“And Cai? Uriah?”

The general relaxed his grip slightly but continued to hold her forearm loosely.

“Both instructed to hang back. You might need help in the castle or outside of its walls,” he said. He made a face, his touch grazing against her forearm as his grip slowly fell away. “I guess I’m your man on the inside.”

She was both baffled and appalled. How could a man who claimed to lead militaries have been this foolish?

“I am telling you with absolute confidence that your presence is going to do more harm than good. I already have backup.”

“You have your reevers,” he agreed, “I know. But the queen and her men know Ash and Malik are here. They don’t know I’m in their walls. You can never be too careful.”

Amaris seethed with his recklessness. How could Raascot trust him to lead troops if this was the sort of thing their general found acceptable? She took a few steps away, moving with her back to him as she paced toward the wall.

“How could you even risk coming here?” she asked angrily. “If the queen is hunting for dark fae across her lands—”

Gadriel didn’t let her get too far. With one swift movement, he turned and spun her until she faced him. With a steadying grip, he used both hands to hold her at the elbows. He squeezed gently until she looked at him. The moment she met his burning gaze, she regretted it. Heat filled her, and she jerked her head to the side.

“What?”

He cupped her face with gentle intensity, forcing her to look at him. This arrogant, insufferable crow had never touched her like this. It was too familiar, too intimate. She raised her hands to grasp his forearms, intent on dislodging his hold. As she tugged at his grip, Gadriel tightened his hold.

She squirmed. “Gad—”

“We have never had a hope like this.”