“Not celebrity, royalty.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Seems to be. What do you know of the Lithian royal family?”
Cade scratched his head. “The Lithians? Don’t know that I’ve heard too much about them.”
“That’s just it: no one has. How can that be possible?” Darius waved his hand over the pages before him.
“Maybe they just like their privacy.”
He slammed the book closed. “When has anyone cared about the privacy of royals?”
“Since when are you interested in royals?”
Darius stood, finger tapping the cover of the book. “Since Brendan and Trey ran into Eylsa at the prince’s engagement party.”
“As a guest?”
“As a host.”
“Mercy.”
“I would like to know what the Trinity is after, but with no information about them it’s a bit difficult to get ideas.” Darius stood from the table.
“She’s helped us before. Has anyone tried just asking her?”
Darius lifted a cookie from a plate on the counter. “She refused to tell them.”
Cade inspected his shoes. “We could always use—”
“No.” Darius’ voice was curt and sharp.
“What is the point in having it if we don’t use it?”
“It keeps it from being used against others.”
“But in this—”
“I said no.” The heat in the older man’s tone quelled Cade’s insistence.
“So what do you want me to do?”
“I need time to think.” Darius turned and walked out of the house.
* * *
“You are beautiful, my pet.”
Eylsa shook her hair loose as she stood in front of the mirror. “I thought your father didn’t want you in my room alone, at least not until after the marriage.”
He ran his hands along her sides and buried his face in her locks. “I do not always do as my father wants.” His arms tightened around her waist and he pulled her hard against him. “He is an old man; he doesn’t understand the urgings of a man in his prime.” He rubbed his cheek against her neck. “The needs of a man who has waited years, watching”—he kissed her neck—“wanting”—he kissed her shoulder—“suffering.”
One hand wrapped around her thigh; the other trailed along her ribs.
“You should not risk your reputation like this. Until the wedding, I am beneath you.”
He pulled her ear into his mouth. “I want you beneath me.”
“Ashlan.” His muscles tensed around her before he shoved her away and turned to his father framed in the door. “I have warned you before.”
Ashlan growled as he shoved past his father and stormed from the room. Mavrin’s eyes swept toward her. “I told you not to temp him.”
She dropped her head submissively. “Forgive me, Master. I will try harder.”
“You are up rather late.”
“I was still excited, from yesterday. It is so rare that I am allowed to be near others.”
“That is a right to be earned.” He laid a hand along her cheek. “You have worked very hard these past years to make up for your betrayal, Eylsa, have you not?”
“I try, Master.”
“Yes you do. You have been a good girl, Eylsa. Now we have to work hard to ensure that my son does not do anything rash and ruin all that we have worked for.” He ran his eyes from her toes to her hair. “Perhaps you should start spending nights out, just to remove the temptation.”
“Of course, Master.”
“And Eylsa, do try and stay out of trouble. We don’t want to have any more trouble, do we?”
She sighed as he shut the door behind him. Her eyes darted around the room, planning. She grabbed a bag and stuffed a few belongings inside before she darted out the door.
The night was cool but clear as she rushed into the dark and pulled her homing device from her pocket. The world around her shifted until she was running along a darkened street empty save for her. She flattened herself against a wall and glanced around before she slipped into a door. The hallway inside ran several yards before ending at a flight of stairs. At the top of the stairs was another door with a small bird carved into the paneling.
With a flick of her wrist she tossed the bag onto the bed, kicked open the bathroom door, and, head down, leaned on the sink. “How did you find me?”
Darius stepped from the bedroom. “It wasn’t easy. You don’t come here very often.”
“What do you want?”
He held out his hand to her. “Come, let’s talk.”
She slid her fingers into his and followed as he led her toward the bed. She sat carefully on the edge.
“Brendan says he and Trey ran into you at the prince’s engagement party.”
“Is that what he says.” Her voice was flat and toneless.
“It is. Their story of that night is quite interesting. It has me asking myself how an unknown assassin somehow finds herself in the same company of the ruling party of a country. So I did some research and it turns out, there’s practically nothing known about the Lithian royalty. Don’t you find that strange?”
Her blank stare took him in. “Maybe they’re just not that interesting.”
His smile was indulgent as he patted her hand still held in his. “Royalty is always interesting. No matter how boring, there is always someone willing to pay for information on them, but of your young fiancé and his father, there is nothing.”
“What are you driving at, Darius? It’s been a long night.”
“I had to start thinking, who would be able to afford their own personal assassin? It’s not a luxury for just any man with a vision. They aren’t your marks.” She didn’t look at him. “Why did you run from us? Three years ago, why didn’t you stay after they beat you unconscious?”
She stood and pulled her hand free. “You all seem to think it would be so simple. Just don’t go back and everything will be okay. It doesn’t work that way. Life isn’t simple, it isn’t easy. You said you couldn’t think of anyone who could afford their own personal assassin. Can you think of anyone who could that would just let it go when they disappeared? The man with my picture, the man your people caught, he wasn’t a loner. His name was Lumas and he was one of a team of twenty assassins. They are called hives, groups of assassins trained to work together. Lumas’ was twenty strong, but there are larger. How long do you think your men could have held against them? How many people would you have sent to their deaths? How many until you started asking yourself who you were trying to save?”
He lowered his head as he watched his hands. “You went back to save us.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I went back because inevitably they would have gotten me back anyway and I thought to save myself some of the pain that would be coming.”
“Is that why you went to check on Brendan tonight, after you had turned them in?”
She spun to face him. “He told you?”
“No.” He stood facing her. “Is it really so bad to care for someone else?”
“How can you ask me that?” She threw up her arms as she paced the room, her body rigid with agitation. “Do you have any idea what I’ve done? What I see, every day? Then to suddenly start thinking about it? I can’t sleep, I barely eat. Every second of every day I wonder: Is this the day they find out? Is this the day they discover my weaknesses and go after them?” She collapsed to the floor and hugged her knees to her chest. “There is no rest for me. No future. I am lost.”
“If you help us take them down, no one will be in danger anymore. No one will get hurt.”
“And how many will be lost doing that? You have no idea the numbers you are talking about.”
“My men are all willing to risk everything to safeguard the lives of innocent people.” He kneeled at her side and smoothed her hair down her back. “You don’t want them to die to save you, but it will not only be you saved.”
She buried her f
ace in her legs as she shook with silent sobs. “I cannot live in your world. It doesn’t make sense to me. I’ve never been anything but an assassin.”
“I am not asking you to. When this is over, we will talk again about where you want to go.”
Her eyes were red and wet when they met his. “I have to think on it.”
“Of course. Take your time. I’ll be awaiting word from you.”
She was on her feet the second the door shut. Her stomach gave a violent lurch. He was insane to trust her, had to be. She stared up into the mirror over the sink and stared into her eyes, searching for something she would never find. She reached for a small globe at the corner of the sink. It glowed, heating her palm and fingers before it winked out.
Exhausted, she dropped onto her bed not even bothering to loosen her clothes. Curled onto her side, she closed her eyes waiting for morning to break her endless torment.
* * *
Eylsa’s eyes rolled open as she heard the door shut. She remained on the bed staring up at the ceiling as footsteps approached the bed.
“Ashlan was quite angry to find his father had sent you away.”
Her head lolled to see Gregor watching her, his eyes probing as always. “Hello Gregor.”
“You went to see him.”
She looked away but nodded. “What difference could it make at this point?”
“Why did you call me here?”
“What would you say if I didn’t go back to Mavrin?”
His eyebrow rose. “I’m listening.”
“I can offer you another way to weaken the Trinity. The Tribunal can take them down, if I help them.”
He shifted, his chest rising as he arched back. “Help them?”
“It will not change our bargain, just who we have to deal with.”
“And you would rather these men than Mavrin? Do you really think they care what happens to you?”
Her ire peaked but she held it in check. “Mavrin only cares if I am profitable to him and I am not. If I return to him and he discovers that I am broken I will be recycled.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, hand trailing along her hair. “That is why I returned with you.”
“You returned because I bargained for my life with assistance in infiltrating the Trinity. This does not change that, it just alters it some.”
“You know the consequences. You will be found, you will be recycled. You will be broken and bred and discarded. Have you fought all this way, come so far, for that?”
A twinge of fear pricked her mind. “I would go to them; I would help them take down the Trinity. I cannot go back to Mavrin.”
“You will not go alone.” Her eyes jumped to his face but as usual there was nothing there to discern. “I would like to see these men who have ruined you so completely that you would flee from so easy a task.”
The jibe hurt but she let it slide. “You would go with me?”
“I would help you learn, as I have been charged to do.” He stood from the bed. “And you will bring down the Trinity, as you have been charged to do.”
chapter 6
Keena dropped into a chair, a hand pressed to her chest. “Are you certain?” Tall, blonde, and beautiful, Keena watched them both like a hawk, always eager for useful information. In the years since the murder investigations, Keena had used her participation to rocket her career from a clerk to the head of her department. She was a shark when it came to getting what she wanted.
Brendan handed her a glass of water then took the chair next to Darius. The older man stared into his tea. “I wish I were wrong.”
“Can we truly trust this informant? I mean, you said she was an assassin. Can you really depend on what she says?”
Brendan sat up straighter. “She has never lied to us since we’ve known her.”
“We must inform the Tribunal. Brendan, have you spoken to Arna about this?”
Brendan scoffed. “I doubt she would take me seriously if I did. There is a reason we came to you with this, Keena.”
“We will need specifics if we are to move forward with this. We cannot move against the Lithians without proof.”
Darius took a slow drink. “That may take some time to get together; we must take precautions now. Delaying may prove to be dangerous.”
She folded her hands into her lap. “Darius, you know I trust you, but this is nothing to go on. I cannot set down any actions based on what you’ve given me.”
He slammed his hand on the table. “There must be something you can do!”
“Without proof, I’m sorry.”
Darius rubbed his forehead then waved his hand. “Brendan, could you see Keena to the door?”
“Of course.” He held out his hand, assisted Keena to her feet, and led her from the room. She slid her free hand around his elbow as they made their way through the living room. “Keena, Darius wouldn’t have come to you with this if he wasn’t sure.”
“I know, Brendan, but his surety changes nothing of my situation.” She pulled his arm and turned him to face her. “Have you thought any more, about Saturday?”
He drew a deep breath, gaze dropped to the floor. “Ah, yes, Saturday…Keena, I don’t think that would look right.”
Her laugh was bright as she gave a playful swat at his chest. “Don’t be silly. Now I am not going to take no for an answer. I expect to see you there. I will be sure to talk to Arna for you.”
He watched her as she glided down the walkway and smiled back at him as she went. He turned to go back inside but paused at a step behind him. “That Arna sure wasn’t happy with you when we turned you over to her.”
Eylsa stared up at him from the pathway, the guard from the party at her side. He held the silence as he waited for her to make the first move. She dropped her eyes and hitched her shoulders. “I hope you didn’t get into too much trouble.”
He nodded toward her companion. “Who is this?”
She glanced at the other man but kept her eyes from Brendan. “His name is Gregor. He is my caretaker.”
Brendan considered him. “What does that mean?”
Gregor nodded. “A caretaker accompanies an assassin, ensures they get what they need.”
“I trust him completely,” she added.
Brendan crossed his arms. “So how long before you disappear this time?”
She smirked despite herself. “I don’t know.”
Darius shifted Brendan aside and stepped out onto the porch. “I’m glad you came.”
She kept her eyes to the ground. “I don’t know that you’re right, but I can’t continue as I am.” Gregor laid an arm across her shoulders and she flashed a smile up at him.
“I didn’t expect you to bring a friend.”
Gregor met his gaze in a defiant challenge. “You will brand her traitor in your schemes; I will not let her face it alone.”
Darius indicated the door behind him. “Please, come in, both of you.”
Eyes sparkling with mirth, Eylsa leaned toward Gregor. “They will give us food.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure, but they almost always do.” She kept her eyes down as she walked past Brendan, her shoulders hunched against his gaze as it followed her. Brendan trailed in an uncharacteristic silence as she made her way to the kitchen and turned back to face Darius. Gregor set himself to the side his eyes never pausing in their sweep of the room.
Brendan glared at Gregor. “You could have saved us some time and trouble had you shown up ten minutes earlier.”
“I didn’t know her.”
He coughed a laugh. “Now you’re shy?”
Gregor stepped to her side. “I wouldn’t let her approach with a stranger around.”
“Isn’t that convenient. Can we trust this guy?”
“As much as you can me.” She jumped up to perch on the counter and brought her eyes up to meet his. “He stays, or I go.”
Darius laid a hand on Brendan’s shoulder. “It will be all right. I’m just glad
you came. Eylsa, you can stay in the room you were in before, Gregor, if you would come with me I will get you set up.”
Gregor shared a parting glance with Eylsa before he followed Darius from the room. Eylsa gave her legs a lazy swing. “You are upset.”
“You have a habit of making me so.” Each word was clipped.
“It is not my intention to do so. Well…not anymore.” Her grin pulled one across his own face. “Why are you angry?”
“Are you sure you can trust that man?”
“He wouldn’t let me come alone.”
“Why would you tell him?”
She rubbed her arms. “I didn’t know what to do.”
He moved to stand before her and rested his hands beside her thighs on the counter. “You could have talked to us.”
“You don’t understand. You never understand.”
He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’m just a little on edge.”
“Really, are you doing something that will make you a target for every assassin you meet?”
He pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back. She was so small, almost fragile. “It will be okay. We’ll keep you safe.”
“And who’s going to keep you safe?” The words were a whisper against his chest.
He laughed and pulled back from her. “I guess you’ll just have to protect us from your vengeful fiancé.”
She didn’t join in his mirth.
“So, can I get you anything?” he asked.
Her eyes sparkled as she shook with amusement.
Confused, he said, “What?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
Brendan pulled a chair out from the table and waved to one beside him as she jumped down from the counter. “So, tell me about this new complication you have dropped on us.”
Her forehead wrinkled as she stared at him in confusion.
“Gregor, tell me about Gregor,” he clarified.
“Like what?”
“Like…what is he like, who is he, what is a caretaker?”
She stared at him. “Gregor is like himself.”
“That’s not exactly what I mean.”
“I don’t understand.”
He rubbed his temples in frustration. “Why is it so difficult to talk to you?”
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