Free The Last War (Book #9 of the Sage Saga) by Julius St. Clair Page A

think we’ll lose?”
    “If we’re going by who’s stronger, you or them collectively, then our chances aren’t good. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to give up. You?”
    “Heck no,” he laughed. “We’ve been through worse.”
    “That’s my man,” she giggled.
     

Chapter 8 – Destiny
    Chloe’s assault was ruthless and relentless. Their previous exchange had been friendly enough, but now she was swinging with abandon, even aiming for his head. What had triggered her rage? Did she remember who she was fighting against?
    James blocked one of her blows and half of his bone scythe went flying into the base of a tree. He instinctively ducked under the next attack and scurried on all fours, trying to create some distance between them. Chloe kept up with his speed though and he was now on the defense. It wouldn’t take long before Chloe got lucky.
    But then she suddenly stopped.
    But why?
    Chloe stepped backwards and turned to the man walking up behind them. The beady-eyed man with the long, black hair and the black trench coat. James growled. Why was Kyran revealing himself?
    “Allow me,” Kyran said. Chloe stepped aside and then James saw what he was dragging behind him in the leaves. It was the unconscious body of his love.
    James’ nostrils flared as he stared down at her body. Kyran had been dragging her by the hair.
    “I need to see the extent of his insanity,” he said. Chloe nodded, though she bit her lip when she saw Catherine lying there lifelessly in the leaves. “James, I will hurt her,” he said. “You know I will. I need to see you lose control and come after me. I need to know if what they have said about you is true. If you have embraced the monster.”
    “No,” James said adamantly, his tar black skin rippling so fast it was as if hurricane level winds were in the vicinity.
    “I have to know,” Kyran said. Chloe looked at him with her eyes wavering.
    “So we’re not just going to capture him?”
    “There’s no point in capturing him if he is gone.”
    “He’s talking to us right now. He’s not gone.”
    “It may be a ploy. A way to get into Delilah and then attack.”
    “You’re the one who came to us!” James roared. The sudden outburst had been so violent and full of adrenaline that he found himself running straight toward Kyran. Chloe jumped between them and smacked James aside, using the surface of her blade like a bat. James sprawled into the leaves and ran in a circle around them, growling while they both looked at him suspiciously.
    “He’s a rabid animal,” Kyran said. “That’s all I see so far.”
    “Don’t look for a reason to kill him,” Chloe huffed. “He’s still our friend.”
    “You came with me to perform a job.”
    “And the job is to capture him!”
    “That’s enough!” a voice shouted as Kyran was suddenly kicked to the ground. He gained his composure and stared back at Chloe in rage. Her hands were up in surrender as Catherine was now awake and putting his wife in a headlock. The former Princess tightened her grip as she placed the end of her blade against the side of Chloe’s throat.
    “It’s finished,” Catherine shouted at Kyran. “Back away or I kill her.”
    “It’s not in you.”
    “Don’t TEST ME!” she shouted, and he took a reluctant step back. Catherine kept on squeezing on Chloe’s neck until Kyran reached a hand out.
    “Don’t, Catherine,” he pleaded. Catherine squeezed until Chloe went limp, and then she let go of her friend. Catherine nodded toward Kyran whose face softened in relief, and suddenly, his body went limp. James had gotten behind him and delivered a hard right hook to the back of his skull. The assassin fell face first into the leaves.
    “Let’s get out of here,” Catherine sighed and James nodded in agreement.
     
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    Bastion’s eyes fluttered as they tried to focus on the world around him, but he felt so exhausted that his eyelids