Defiance c j redwine

The Cursed One shudders as I press more buttons, willing it to get over whatever issue it has with the Commander’s necklace and destroy him with fire. It shudders, giant ripples tearing along its frame, but it refuses to attack.

“The foot protects him. Where did he get it?” He mumbles beneath his breath, listing options, trying to make connections.

“Who cares where he got it? Let’s go rip it off of him.”

“He’s had that necklace for as long as anyone can remember.

In drawings of him protecting the first survivors fifty years ago, you can see the chain around his neck before the rest of it disappears beneath his coat. That was right after his team returned from the beast’s den. It’s a trophy. He must have killed another beast. The Cursed One’s mate? Its children? No wonder it won’t attack. The lingering pheromones must keep it at bay. What do you want to bet all the city-state leaders have necklaces just like this one?”

“I don’t want to bet anything. I want the Commander to suffer and die. We have to kill him ourselves.” I’m already reaching for my knife, but Logan stays my hand.

“Keep the Cursed One as close to him as you can to distract him.” He throws off his cloak, drops to the forest floor and draws his sword. “I’m going after him.”

“Wait!”

He looks at me, cold purpose on his face, his dark-blond hair turned red by the flames behind him, and says, “I know you want to be the one to kill him. But please don’t ask me to send you