Blade of Truth.
Cass stiffened. “You want to run that shit by me again? Because when we spoke last night, you promised me that you had a fully operational plane that I could use at dawn today.”
Ivan raked a hand over his face. “You don’t want to piss off a Reaper. If he asks for something, you say you have it.” Again, he appeared horrified by his own words. “What in the hell is happening to me?” He paced toward them. His hand lifted and pointed one claw-tipped finger at Amber. “Are you doing this?”
She shook her head even as she asked, “Doing what?” Amber hoped she sounded innocent.
Ivan’s eyes turned to slits. “You are.” He charged toward her.
Cass brought his gloved hand up and shoved it against the guy’s chest.
Ivan immediately stilled.
“You don’t hurt her. You don’t even think of hurting her. I don’t care how long we’ve known each other…you go at her, and we have a problem, got me?” Cass’s low voice said the guy had better have him.
Ivan’s stare had dropped to the gloved hand on his chest. He swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I got you. And keep those freakin’ gloves on, got me? I won’t hurt your girl. I just—I had this thing all wrong. I thought she was the bounty…didn’t realize the truth until I saw you two—shit, you know.”
She knew. She also knew that she wasn’t Cass’s girl. But Cass didn’t correct the bear shifter and neither did she.
“What’s the problem with the plane?” Cass demanded.
“It’s, um, I don’t know.” Ivan’s eyes bulged as he said those words. “Fuck! Why is this happening?”
Cass tilted his head. His right hand still held the knife. His left hand pressed to Ivan’s chest. “What, exactly, is happening?”
“I can’t lie to you! That’s what’s happening!”
“Uh, Cass, we should really get going,” Amber announced loudly. “Let me take a look at the plane. I bet I can fix it, no problem.”
Now Ivan frowned at her. “You’re a mechanic?”
“Absolutely.” If that was what he wanted to call her, then she’d gladly accept that title. She was extremely handy when it came to mechanical work.
“It’s an older Cessna, twin engine—”
“Got it.” It didn’t matter what the plane was—she could fix it. She could fix anything. That power had never left her. She hurried toward Ivan. Her hand slapped on his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go. Show me the plane. I’ll get started and—”
“Amber.”
She peered over her shoulder.
Cass’s gaze darted from her to the sheathed knife. She knew he’d figured things out. “Why does Ivan have to tell me the truth?”
Dammit. “Because you’re holding the Blade of Truth,” she blurted.
“Fuck me,” Ivan whispered. “I thought that was a myth.”
She rolled one shoulder in a shrug. “Most myths are real. That’s why life is fun.”
He blinked at her. “Who are you, lady?”
He didn’t have the Blade of Truth. She didn’t have to tell him.
“How does the blade work?” Cass asked her.
She rocked back on her heels. “You hold it and you ask questions.” She spoke too fast. “Anyone near you has to answer honestly. Lies just can’t happen when the blade is close.”
Cass glanced down at the sheath. “Interesting.”
“Isn’t it?” She slapped a smile on her face. “Now, in case you’ve forgotten—we have a vamp and a pissed off Lord of the Light on our trail. So how about I just get to work on this plane?” She nudged Ivan. “Show it to me.”
“I haven’t forgotten anything,” Cass said.
Of course, he hadn’t. And why had his words sounded like a warning?
But Ivan was turning to trudge back through the woods and she hurried to keep up with him. And since she moved—Cass had to keep up with her, too.
They were linked, bound still…until that forty-eight hours ended.
Maybe…maybe she could delay them…maybe she could make that forty-eight hours expire before he delivered her to Luke. If the forty-eight hours ended before Luke got her back, then she could have a chance to disappear.
Her head lowered as she began to plan.
Chapter Eight
“We’re ready to fly,” Amber announced. She was holding a wrench in her hand and a streak of dirt slid across her cheek. “She’ll be good to go now.”
Cass had to admit, he was impressed. He’d watched Amber and she’d seemed to know exactly what she was doing, no hesitations at all. She just jumped right to work on the small plane.
“Where did you train?” Ivan wanted to know as he gave a low whistle. “You’ve got that engine working like a dream.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t train anywhere. Or at least, not at any school or any place like that.”
Ivan’s jaw dropped.