The warriors looked skyward, searching. Their heads turned and eyes darted. They couldn’t see me.

But their animals could sense me. Only now did I notice the leather armbands they each wore—protection from their hawks.

I turned and darted away, pushing my wings to carry me far and fast. My heart thundered in my ears as the dogs barked louder and faster. A flash of black appeared in my vision.

A hawk!

It bombed, going for my wings. A sharp prick of pain flared in my left wing. The hawk had gouged me with its claws or beak.

I darted away, but another hawk met me, digging its sharp claws into my arm. It took everything I had not to cry out. Not to drop the illusion.

The birds attacked with ferocity, somehow sensing my presence. I veered away from the path back to Cade. I wasn’t going to be able to outrun these creatures. I couldn’t lead them—and the hunters—to Cade.

Pain flared all over my body as I tried to outfly the hawks. Wind tore at my hair. I occasionally dipped low enough that the tree branches clawed at my legs, but the hawks kept coming.

I drew my sword and shield from the ether. With a hiss of pain, I swung the shield toward an oncoming hawk. It slammed into the metal, then wheeled away. But another bird came after it. And another.

Mayhem shot from the forest below, flying right for a hawk. She shot a blast of fire toward it, singing the hawk’s wings. The bird shrieked and spun away. But there were still a dozen of them.

Mayhem did her best, darting around in full attack mode, her dragon form flickering over her pugly one. She was able to keep some of the birds off me, but others darted past. They were too fast to hit with my sword, and they drove me lower, toward the ground.

“Go, Mayhem!” I didn’t want her getting caught by the hunters.

They thundered along below, their horses’ hooves a cacophony against the forest floor. The hounds bayed, bloodlust in the sound.

Panic thundered in my chest, my heart threatening to break my ribs. I panted, awkwardly trying to dodge tree limbs as the hawks drove me on.

I just needed to get up high again!

Except the hawks flew above me, keeping up their attack. More joined them.

So many!

Lungs and muscles burning, I was only fifteen feet above the ground when I caught sight of Cade running through the forest, headed for the hunters, who hadn’t yet seen him.

Idiot!

He’d try to save me. And maybe he could go up against twelve hunters and six hounds—very possibly—but it was such a risk. And these hawks were so damned ferocious.

I extended my power of illusion to him, turning him invisible. But the hounds’ baying faltered. They turned their heads toward him, nostrils quivering.

Damn!

They’d caught his scent. Just like the birds had caught mine. The dogs wheeled, darting toward him.

Pain flared at my scalp. A hawk dug its claws in. Agony shot through me. My wings faltered. The pain distracted me, and a branch struck my left wing. I lost control, tumbling through the air.

I skidded against the ground, rolling head over heels, until I slammed against a tree.

Panic flared in my chest as I struggled to rise. My wings made it hard, so I absorbed them back into my body.

My magic faltered, the illusion flickering due to the pain and exhaustion. Invisibility was the most difficult skill, and I was starting to lose my grip on it.

When a dog jumped on me and tore at my shoulder with his teeth, I felt the magic fall away completely. In the distance, Cade appeared as my invisibility magic fell away from him, too.

Shit!

I slammed my shield against the war dog, forcing the animal away, and threw an illusion toward Cade, imagining his bone structure changing slightly. If we were going to run into Cocidius, we didn’t want him recognizing us. I used the last of my magic to give Cade lighter brown hair and heavier features. I did the same to myself, praying that it worked. They were small changes, enough for me to hold on to, but hopefully they’d do the job.

The dog came for me again, muzzle drawn back from its fangs. I raised my sword and shield, crouching low. More dogs prowled closer, and in the distance, the eight mounted riders approached. Four more hunters were off their horses, necks broken.

Cade’s doing?

I swung my sword, making the attack dog back up and growl. As I held off the dog, I watched Cade leap for a fifth mounted hunter.

He’d nearly reached him when one of the men threw a silver rope toward him. It glinted as it flew through the air and wrapped around Cade, pinning his arms to his side.

He roared, face turning red as he strained to break the rope.

“Struggling will have no effect,” one of the men shouted.

I shouldn’t have been able to understand him—it was clear that his language was different—but somehow I could. Magic of the godly realm, perhaps.

Cade thrashed, but it did no good. A war dog plowed into his side, throwing him off his feet and to the ground.

The dogs that lunged for me suddenly quit their attack, darting away. I had only a moment to feel dread before silver glinted in the air.

A rope slammed into me, the ends wrapping around me like a terrible embrace. My arms pinned to my sides, I dropped my sword and shield, unable to maintain my grip.

Panic flared, my skin chilling.

I left my weapons where they lay. I didn’t need to retrieve them, or even store them in the ether right now. The expensive magic that allowed me to use the ether as storage would retrieve them for me. And I didn’t want to reveal to these hunters that I had that power.

A dog crashed into my side, sending me flying to the ground. Leaves lodged in my hair, and my cheek rubbed against the dirt. Overhead, hawks circled and cawed.

A man leaped down from his horse. I struggled as he stomped near, desperate to break my bonds.

In the distance, Cade was lifted by three men and tossed into the back of a small wagon that I hadn’t noticed earlier. He was still bound in the magical rope. If he couldn’t break through, neither could I.

I lay still, panting. The boots stopped in front of my face, and the man bent down and swung me up over his shoulder.

My stomach slammed into his shoulder and the breath whooshed out of me, pain flaring in my middle.

“Bastard,” I muttered.

He chuckled, an ugly sound, and carried me to the wagon. He tossed me in next to Cade. I was aligned so that I could see the back of his head. We had both lost our backpacks in the fight.

Fortunately, I hadn’t seen Mayhem in a while, which could only be a good thing.

“Yah!” shouted a man, and the cart began to move. It bounced slowly over the forest floor as the horse pulled it behind the warriors.

The dogs trotted along, sniffing us, their gazes bright with interest.

“So, this isn’t ideal,” I murmured.

Cade turned until he was facing me. No one was around, so I let the illusion fall away. He looked normal again, thank fates.

“At least we’re headed straight for him,” Cade murmured.

“I hope so.” I recalled the symbol on the back of the man’s tunic. It was our best hope—and if we were lucky, they lived in the same place as Cocidius.

“Let’s see how this plays out,” Cade murmured. “It could work in our favor.”

I shifted against the tight binding, every inch of my body burning from the pain of the animal attacks. Blood slicked much of my skin, cooling in the night air. Darkness was falling, bringing with it a greater feeling of danger.

“I hope you’re right,” I murmured. “Because this feels pretty dire.”

* * *

About thirty minutes later, after the sun had fully set and I’d used some of my magic to heal my wounds, I heard the sound of a town. Talking people and lowing cattle, along with the clang of metal and a low thudding noise.

“I think we’re almost there,” Cade murmured.

“Thank fates.” It had been a miserable ride. I was freaked out about what we might face in town, but I was beyond ready to get out of the cart.

Nerves made my breath come short as golden light began to glow in the distance. I called upon my magic, giving Cade and myself the same simple glamour I’d done earlier. I didn’t know if we’d see Cocidius, but just in case, I wanted to be prepared.

Fortunately, it was getting easier and easier to use Loki’s magic. Which was good, since the last thing we needed was for Cocidius to recognize us. And I was tired, most of my power sapped.

For his part, Cade suppressed his magical signature, keeping it tightly controlled. He left the scent of a storm at sea so he didn’t appear completely powerless—that would send alarm bells of its own since powerful supernaturals could conceal their magic. Better to try to run under the radar as nobodies. I did the same, having to work harder to conceal my new magic. It didn’t come naturally to me. Hopefully the hunters hadn’t noticed earlier.

The cart bounced toward the town. As it rolled past the first ancient round building, I caught sight of a wary looking man with a metal ring around his neck.

I frowned.

Yeah, that guy didn’t want to be here.

Behind him, the round building was made of wood with a thatched roof.

“Iron Age,” Cade murmured. “A common type of dwelling.”

“It looks like Cocidius likes to live in the old style.” We’d gone back in time. Sort of. I didn’t know how.

“Or it’s all that his realm can manage.”

“More likely.” We rolled past more simple round structures. Smoke curled up from the center of the conical roof, glowing orange in the light of dozens of flickering torches.

All around, people stared at us. Those with iron rings around their necks looked dead-eyed. The bigger, heartier individuals—nearly all male—barely spared us a glance.

They were the warriors—the elite in this realm of the warrior god.

“This isn’t what your realm would look like, right?”

“If I had one?” Cade shook his head, which was a bit weird, since he looked different. “Hell no. I don’t mind rustic so much. But all these people in chains? The warriors stomping around like they’re the baddest jerks in the place? Not for me, thanks.”

“That’s what I figured.” I took it all in, searching for an escape route—searching for Rowan.

I should’ve felt her, right?

I had to assume so.

She was my sister.

But I hadn’t felt her before. I’d faced off against her—fighting to kill. I’d almost killed Rowan.

The thought made me shudder.

“You all right?” Cade murmured.

“Fine.” But I couldn’t help the gross nausea that pooled in my middle. I could have killed her and never realized.

But now I knew. And I could only hope that whatever curse they’d put on her, I could break it.

I just had to figure out what it was.

And find her.

I craned my neck to get a better look around, hoping to see her despite the fact that I couldn’t sense her here. It was really more of a war camp than a village. There were no families or children—just warriors and slaves. They were all either cleaning weapons, making weapons, or cooking.

Fighting and eating seemed to be all they did here. The dark night created a dome over the warmly lit camp, and it’d be cool to be witnessing history. If I weren’t tied up in the back of a cart about to be fitted with a metal collar of my own.

The cart rolled to a stop in front of a rustic, covered pavilion. A large table was spread with scrolls and small wooden figurines.

My breath caught for a half second before I realized that Cocidius wasn’t here.

“Where’s Cocidius?” I whispered. This was definitely the headquarters of his war camp.

“I can’t sense him here,” Cade said. “But these are definitely his men.”

A hulking bruiser of a guy stepped around the table. He was draped in rough leather, with a variety of wicked looking blades hanging from a wide belt. A scar sliced diagonally down the middle of his face. He’d nearly lost an eye, but had gotten lucky.

“Where did you find them?” His voice sounded like rocks grinding together.

“Edge of the eastern lands.” The voice came from the front of the cart. “Not sure what they are. Not our normal haul.”

The scarred man sniffed and spat, then kicked Cade’s foot where it hung off the edge of the cart.

Anger flared in Cade’s eyes. No doubt he could wipe the floor with the loser who was looking us over like prime cuts of beef. But that wouldn’t help us find Cocidius.

Cade glanced at me. I briefly shook my head. He nodded, then lay still, a bored expression on his face.

“Well, toss them in with the others,” the scarred man said. “We’ll see what they’re made of in the morning. Good to have fresh meat.”

Fresh meat?

I stifled a groan. I’d have happily gone all my life without being called fresh meat.

I made a mental note to punch this jerk if I got the chance. Apparently bad clichés were timeless. And the only fresh meat I wanted anything to do with came straight from the butcher.

The cart rolled away from the pavilion. We passed a fighting ring that looked like an old corral full of wounded men, all of them going at each other with a ferocity that belied the extent of their wounds. Next, we passed rows upon rows of tents. Then another fighting ring.

Finally, we stopped next to a large roundhouse. Two burly guards stood outside the door, their arms crossed over their chests and their faces set like cement. Their scowls didn’t budge as one pulled open the door and the other approached the cart.

He grabbed my ankle and hauled me out, then carried me into the roundhouse and tossed me on the hard ground.

I crashed down, pain singing through me. Cade landed hard next to me.

The door slammed shut.

I blinked, trying to adjust to the dark.

A glow from overhead lit our surroundings. People leaned against the walls, all of them staring at us with disinterest. I struggled, trying to escape my bonds, but they didn’t budge. More blank stares came our way.

“Well, this sucks,” I muttered.

“Seconded,” Cade said. “What a bastard.”

A low chuckle sounded from behind us. I craned my neck to catch sight of the person who had laughed.

A skinny red-haired girl leaned against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at us. She was about my age, maybe a bit younger, and her hair was done in a messy crown of braids. Her leather pants were worn, and her tunic had a tear in the sleeve. Dirt streaked her pale skin, and her eyes looked far older than her years.

She met my gaze, but didn’t crack a smile, despite the previous chuckle.

But then, what was there to smile about?

I was as much a prisoner as she was.

Not that I’d be one for long. And there was no way in hell I’d be leaving these people behind either. I didn’t know why they were locked up in here like livestock, but I knew they didn’t deserve it.

I was going to save Rowan, and light this place up on the way out.

The girl glanced around, then sighed dramatically. “So it’s my turn, is it?”

“It’s always your turn,” grumbled the man next to her. He looked about a decade older than her, his face wearier.

“Alllll right.” She dusted off her palms and climbed to her feet, then strolled over to us.

I eyed her warily.

“Now, don’t look at me like that,” she said. “I’m not the one who trussed you up.”

“Sorry,” I said.

She reached toward my waist and grabbed the end of the enchanted rope, then pulled. It slipped away from me like it was nothing, and I hopped to my feet.

“Thanks.” I reached down and pulled on Cade’s rope. It came away easily.

She held up the rope and frowned at it. The rope no longer glinted silver and hung dull and limp.

“Piece of shit,” she muttered. “The magic always goes as soon as it’s used.”

I thought it was clever, but I could see how she might be annoyed if she spent her time locked up here with nothing but the floor and some grumpy companions.

“What is this place?” I asked.

Her brows rose. “You don’t know?”

I shook my head. “I mean, I have some ideas. But why are you locked up here?”

She chuckled, then strolled back to her spot on the wall. I glanced at Cade, who nodded. We followed her, and I sat next to her, leaning against the wood and inspecting my dismal surroundings.

She gestured to the room. “Now, you might think that I spend time here because I like it.” She tilted her head toward me, a deadpan expression on her face. “But you’d be wrong.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised.”

“Well, no. I imagine you are not.” She leaned her head back against the wall. “You’ve been captured by the war god Cocidius—or his lackeys, at least.”

A roar came from outside of the roundhouse, a cacophonous sound created by dozens of people. Maybe even hundreds.

“What’s that?” I asked.

She smiled grimly. There was no joy on her face. “The reason you were abducted. Tomorrow, you’ll be tossed in that fight ring to prove yourself.”

My head whipped toward her. “What?”

Still leaning against the wall, she turned her head to look at me. “Never heard of Cocidius’s fight ring?”

“No.”

“Where are you from?”

“Um…” Did I say I was from the future? Was I from the future? Or was this currently the future, just totally old-school looking? Like, Iron Age old-school.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “I understand.”

“So you don’t say where you’re from either?”

“Oh no, I have no problem with that. I’m Maira, from Pendock, little village at the edge of Cocidius’s realm. That’s where most of us are from—the outlying villages.”

“So you’re part of his godly realm?”

“Essentially, yes. Though we don’t worship him.” She scoffed. “Who would do that, I have no idea. Now, Belatucadros. That’s a real war god.”

I stiffened slightly, feeling Cade do the same where my arm was pressed against his. I glanced at her to see if she realized who she was sitting near.

She gave me a look that suggested I was stupid. “Belatucadros. You know of him, right?”

“Um, yes. I do.”

“He’s a real war god, right? Not some arse who kidnaps people and makes them fight in his fight rings.”

“He definitely doesn’t do that,” Cade said from beside me. “Not his style.”

I glanced at him. The glamour still concealed his true features, and he was suppressing his magic. If it helped to reveal himself, he would, I assumed.

Right now, we didn’t know if it would.

“So Cocidius captured you for his fight ring?”

“Or to be a slave. But I’m mean and scrappy, so I get a shot at the ring.”

“You say it like it’s a good thing.”

Her brows lowered. “I’d rather die fighting than wear a collar.”

“Amen.”

“Amen?”

Right. The ancient Celts probably didn’t say amen. “It just means I agree. Have you been in the ring?”

She nearly growled. “No. Been here a week and I’ve been stuck here. If I could win a fight, I might move to the training compound. Better accommodation. But I haven’t gotten my shot yet, so I’m here. Waiting.”

“Has anyone tried to escape?” Cade asked.

“Can’t. The guards are too strong. Cocidius gave them some of his power. We wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Do you have magic?” Normally, I’d assume yes. She knew about the ancient gods, who were real, and the magical rope.

“Some of us do. We use it in the ring. I’m a fire mage. What are you?”

I wasn’t about to say DragonGod, so I went with water mage, which seemed to satisfy her. “So no one even tries to use their magic to escape?”

“Most of us don’t have magic. Those who do…. Well, they manage us well. Some are in a special roundhouse where their magic is dampened. But not me. No need. I spend all my time in this wooden house. I can’t exactly light it up. They’d let us burn in here. And if I ever get to the fight ring, the escort will be so heavy it’d be a death wish to fight back.”

Bastards. I’d do something about this. No way I was leaving these people captive in here. But I’d have to take out the Rebel God to do it. “Have you seen Cocidius?”

She shook her head. “He shows up sometimes, I’ve heard.”

Hopefully he’d come soon.

She smacked her knee. “Right. I’m going to lie down and go to sleep. Tomorrow might be my big day.”

She stretched out on the floor, her hands crossed over her stomach. She looked almost content.

“How are you so happy?” I asked. She’d been locked up here a week. No doubt miserable and scared.

She slitted an eye open. “Things aren’t bad yet. Maybe one day they’ll get bad. Not today, though.”

I nodded. I thought this was actually pretty bad, but there was no need to say it. Whatever had made this girl so tough had to be a hell of a doozy.

I slouched down and leaned my head against Cade’s shoulder. I whispered low enough that only he could hear. Almost everyone was lying down to sleep, anyway. “Was this what you were expecting?”

“I wasn’t sure what to expect. But this doesn’t surprise me.”

“Me neither. What a bastard.”

“I don’t know what your plan is, but I’m thinking we play along for a little while. We could bust out of here now that the chain is off, but lying low is better. We’ll fight in the ring, get the lay of the land. When Cocidius shows up, we steal your sister, kill him, and then blast this place to hell and set all the prisoners free.”

I smiled against his shoulder. “You read my mind.”