Ashes Of Desire
"Take the scouts and make sure that ledger reaches the northern council."
"And you?" Vance asked, his eyes darting between Julian and Maya with a sharp, protective crease in his brow.
"We're going to clear the road," Maya answered for him, unholstering her own weapon and sliding a fresh magazine into place with cold, unyielding precision. She turned her head, meeting Julian’s intense gaze. "You didn't think I was going to let you face an entire mercenary squad alone, did you?"
A slow, fierce grin broke across Julian’s face—a look of pure, untamed devotion. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a brief, punishing kiss that tasted of gunpowder and raw adrenaline.