Free Crimson Wind by Diana Pharaoh Francis

to Horngate.”
    “Doesn’t it?” Giselle smiled mysteriously. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
    Max sat forward. “What aren’t you telling me?”
    “So many things. And none of them is any of your business.”
    At that moment, Thor came in with Xaphan close behind. The fire angel was as tall as Tutresiel and shared the crimson eyes and perfect physique, but that’s where their likeness ended. Xaphan’s hair was short and white, and his expression was slightly gentler than his steel-winged cousin. He wore jeans, and his chest was as bare as his feet. His wings were iridescent black—like oil—and blue and orange flames licked the edges.
    He eyed the group around the table, smiling at Max, who returned the greeting with a tight smile of her own that faded as quickly as it appeared.
    “This isn’t really about my family at all,” she said slowly. “This is about Horngate. You’ve had a vision. That’s why you want me to go.”
    Giselle smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “If it makes you feel better to think so, then sure.”
    Max scraped her burned fingers through her charred hair. “Can’t you give me a straight answer for once?”
    “What would be the fun in that? It’s so much more entertaining to jerk the string and watch you pounce on the catnip.”
    “One of these days, I will kill you,” Max said, her eyes glittering.
    “You’ll try. One more thing. Take Alexander with you.”
    At the mention of his name, Alexander started and stared.
    “What? Why? What’s he got to do with this?”
    “Call it precaution. If he goes with you, then he can’t take Prime while you’re gone.”
    Neither woman looked at him. He might as well have been on the moon. Fury twisted into a hot tornado inside him. He held himself still, waiting to hear the rest. He was not impulsive like Max. He liked to know what he was getting into before he jumped into the fire.
    “You haven’t bound him to Horngate,” Max said to Giselle. “He can’t be Prime.”
    Giselle snorted. “Don’t underestimate him. He’s strong and he’s motivated. Being Prime is in his nature. He won’t be able to help himself, and if he takes it far enough, I’ll have to bind him.”
    “Far enough?’
    “Taking over while you’re gone. Killing you when you return.”
    “You think he’d beat me? Your confidence in me is underwhelming. I’m so flattered. Anyhow, if he is better than I am, you should want him to be your Prime. Only the best for you, right?”
    Giselle’s mouth tightened, and she spoke quietly, her words as hard as iron. “I’ve told you before—I only want you. Horngate needs you. And I’d be very surprised if you didn’t beat him in a challenge. But it is a risk I don’t intend to take. I searched for you too long and worked too hard to make you. He’s not worth nearly what you are to me.”
    “And so he shoots me in the back of the head when I’ve got my back turned. My family is fucked and I’m dead. I’m better off going alone.”
    Alexander thrust to his feet, ready to protest Max’s accusation, but the look both women directed at him sealed his lips before he could speak. This was part of their ongoing war. He sat back down, crossing his ankles out before him and folding his hands with a look of casual ease. Inside, anger burned white-hot. Soon he was going to have his say. He was not a toy for their tug-of-war.
    “You need someone to help you, and if I know you, you’ll refuse anyone else, even if it kills you. So as not to rob Horngate of defenders if the Guardians attack again. Am I wrong?”
    Max made a face and gave a grudging shake of her head. Score for Giselle. But Max wasn’t done. “So I take him with me, and what? Let’s suppose he doesn’t stab me in the back. What then? Do you want me to take him out? Hell of a way to pay him back for all he’s done for Horngate. Anyhow, I told you before, you claimed him, which makes him one of my Blades. I don’t abandon my own.”
    Giselle