An Assassin's Redemption: A New Adult Urban Fantasy Romance Novel

by Tanya Kennedy

  Cade slipped into the stairwell before he returned to the hall and nodded. Darius followed him in letting the door shut behind them. They stood waiting and tried to ease their tension.

  They saw the handle turn.

  * * *

  “You there!”

  Trey let his hand fall from the doorknob as he turned without hesitation. “What?”

  A slim, well-muscled man approached him from down the hall, his chest bare and long skirts swaying around his legs. “Where are you going?”

  Trey leaned on one leg, never letting his gaze falter. “Upstairs, I was told to look for Gregor upon my arrival.”

  “Arrival from where? I was not informed of any arrivals.”

  Trey’s smile was condescending. “I wasn’t aware that Gregor had to report his actions to doormen.”

  The man’s eyes flashed but he held his ground.

  Inside, Trey’s heart was thundering. “Maybe you should get back to your post, pal. I’m late enough as it is.” He stepped into the stairway without another word, his blood raging through his body. The blood rushed from his head as what happened seeped in. He motioned Cade and Darius up the stairs and hoped his knees wouldn’t give out. If they were lucky, the man’s fear of angering Gregor would stall him long enough for them to find Brendan.

  Cade was paused at the third floor landing, palm pressed to the door. “There are two men outside of the room where Brendan is.”

  Trey flexed his hand, preparing something extra nasty just in case. “We can bluff our way in but we’ll have to take them out eventually.”

  Cade threw his free hand out behind him. “Wait! It’s Gregor. Four more men. They just went in with Brendan.”

  Darius grabbed Trey’s shoulders as he rushed forward. “We cannot fight that many.”

  “And what if they kill him?”

  “If they haven’t done so by now, it’s not likely they will. They want something from him.” Cade adjusted his hand, increasing the flow of power through it. “I can’t make out what they’re saying—”

  He jumped back with a gasp and shook his hand as desperate screams shattered around them.

  Trey paced the landing. “That isn’t Brendan.”

  Cade put his hand back on the door. “No it wasn’t, but he’s in there. I heard his voice. The four men are leaving.”

  Trey was at his back in an instant. “Then let’s go now.”

  Cade waved him back. “I’d rather not have to face Gregor directly, especially not when he’s that close to Brendan.”

  Darius pulled Trey back again. “Cade’s right; we wait for him to leave.”

  Trey stretched his neck as he settled in to wait. “I better get to hurt someone soon. I have a lot of frustration to vent.”

  * * *

  Brendan held his stomach as his body convulsed in violent waves. Gregor smiled as he kneeled over him thumb pressed to Brendan’s forehead.

  “I must say I did not expect to have to go past three doses boy.” He pulled his thumb away and stepped aside as Brendan’s body collapsed. “I knew Eylsa’s strength would take more than just the draught. She has already been through trials as a child in the academy.” He smiled down at her, pride painting his face. “She outlasted everyone, including some of my top graduates.”

  He shook his head as he returned to Brendan’s side. “But you…” He pressed his thumb back to Brendan’s forehead, jerking him back into a ball. “How could such a pathetic sap not have caved by now? I was willing to let you two pace yourselves, you were moving along quite well. She truly did like you. But those morons in the Trinity just wouldn’t stay out of the way.” He released Brendan again and took his chin in his fingers. “I am a patient man, but I do have my limits.”

  He made his way to the door. “I must say I cannot wait to train your progeny.”

  Brendan clawed up onto his elbows. “I hope they kill you.” He glanced up but the room was empty except for Eylsa and himself. He dropped back to the floor not trusting himself to move any closer to the ragged breathing across the room from him. The soft moans tweaked his mind into a frenzy of stimulation. He waited for exhaustion to dull his heightened senses.

  * * *

  Cade pulled his hand from the door. “Gregor is gone.”

  Trey pulled him back. “I’ll deal with our guards.”

  “Quietly.”

  Trey nodded as he stepped through the door and threw a wave to the two men standing in the middle of the hall. They turned to face him but he didn’t slow. With a flex of his hands, he focused all his strength into his palms as the closest man blocked his path. The second was too far away.

  “Lost?”

  Trey bounced, neck stretched as he glanced behind the guard. “Actually, I’m looking for Gregor. I was told he would be up here.”

  The second man took a step toward them but not quite in arm’s reach. “Someone tell you that, huh?”

  “Yeah, I just got here, was told to report to him and some fellow downstairs said he would be up here.”

  The first man stepped to his side. The second was finally within reach. “Do we look stupid, fool?”

  Trey smiled as he dropped his head. “Yeah, you do look a little stupid.” He snatched a wrist from each man as they moved to grab him. They twitched as he jolted them with sharp pulses then dropped both to the floor. His smile slid sideways as Cade and Darius ran up behind him.

  Cade rolled his eyes as he grabbed the arms of the nearest man. “Can you wait to pat yourself on the back till after we get out of here?”

  “I can’t help being awesome.”

  Darius held open the door as they dragged the two unconscious men into the room. “You can keep that tittle when we…get home.”

  Trey’s smile vanished as he dropped his load to the floor. All three stood frozen for a moment, staring.

  Brendan.

  Darius moved to Brendan’s side. He waved a hand behind him. “Watch the hallway.”

  * * *

  Brendan was curled naked on the floor, his hands clasped to his ears in desperation. His breath was ragged and rough as every muscle twitched. Darius laid a palm to his forehead.

  “What did he do to them?”

  Trey watched him as he stripped the guards; Cade was focused on the door. “I’m not sure.” Standing, he crossed the room to where Eylsa lay, her body a mass of bruises, skin red and irritated. Her eyes opened as he felt her forehead but they were unfocused. Her hand swatted at him weakly. “They’re both burning up. I’m not sure about Brendan, but there is no way Eylsa is walking out of here.”

  Trey jerked a boot from the guard he stood over and kicked him hard in the ribs. “I say we burn this place down around us as we leave.”

  Darius pointed toward Brendan. “Our first priority must be them. Get some clothes on him, see if you can bring him around.”

  Trey nodded and tossed one of the guard’s robes to Darius as he went.

  Darius laid his palm along Eylsa’s cheek, drawing her sightless gaze toward him. “We’re going to get you out of here.”

  “No give in. Must break.”

  He took her flailing hand in his and tucked it back to her side. “Of course, dear. Just hold on, okay?”

  “Only…for…you…Bren.”

  He draped the robe along her body, pinning her arms to her chest. If she began to struggle, she wouldn’t be able to do as much damage that way. He lifted her and began to wrap the fabric around her back. She gasped, a sharp cry tearing from her lips.

  Eylsa’s scream pulled Brendan from his stupor. Trey was using his full weight to slow Brendan’s thrashing. “Stop that, fool! You’re going to kill us both!”

  Darius cringed at the louder thumps that signified Brendan’s punches landing. Trey slapped him hard across the face. “Focus!”

  Brendan slumped in exhaustion. “I hope they kill you.”

  “Brendan, it’s me, wake up!” Trey held his face in his hands.

  Darius waited as Brendan slipped a
way. His hand rested over Eylsa’s ribs where a particularly dark bruise radiated. He pressed down, pulling a cry from Eylsa.

  Brendan rolled toward them, not aware of Trey who kneeled in his way. His hand stretched out across the floor. “Eylsa…”

  Darius drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry, my dear.”

  He pressed down hard into her broken ribs, cringing at the scream that crashed over him.

  * * *

  Brendan’s eyes focused in a flash of rage as Trey pushed him back to the floor. “You going to listen now?”

  Brendan’s brow wrinkled as he stared up at his friend. “I…know you.”

  Trey grinned. “Yes, Brendan, you know me. I need you to put this on for me. Can you do that?”

  Brendan’s eyes returned to Eylsa now cradled in Cade’s arms. “What are you doing with her?”

  Trey handed him a robe. “She’s coming with us. Put on the robe, Brendan.”

  Brendan gave him a weak shove. “No, I can’t stand it.”

  “Brendan, you must.”

  “Can’t…pulls my mind.”

  Trey glanced a plea at Darius. “What is he talking about?”

  “Just get him up and get the robe on him. If he causes too much fuss, leave him naked. We’ll draw attention either way.”

  Trey stumbled as Brendan struggled to keep his feet while still fighting to get to Eylsa. “We’d better get going; I don’t know how long I can keep him moving.”

  Darius paused at the door. “The second you hit the street I want you to home out of here.”

  Trey glared at Brendan. “We’re not going to leave you here.”

  “You are going to get them safe. You cannot fight with them here. Get them safe; I will follow.” He held the door open. “For now, just don’t argue with me. Get to the stairs.”

  * * *

  He stepped out of the room not waiting to see if the men followed his orders. He could hear voices. Hand raised toward the far end of the hall, he drew a deep breath and spread his fingers wide. Tendrils of smoke sprang from the base of the door as it burst into flame.

  The voices on the other side of the door were raised now and coming fast. He turned and nodded as Trey dragged a still struggling Brendan through the door to the stairs. He heard the door behind him burst open as he followed them into the stairwell. Cade was already at the first landing whispering reassurances to his battered burden.

  Darius wrapped his hand around the doorknob and pulsed heat through his palm. He gave it a twist and felt its resistance before rushing down the stairs.

  Trey jerked Brendan back from the door. “My buddy is still out there, can I go play some?”

  Darius secured Brendan’s arm across his shoulders. “Quick and quiet, Trey.”

  Trey raised his arms innocently as he backed through the door.

  * * *

  Trey’s lips stretched in a predatory grin as he spun to face the irate young man who paced the back hall.

  “Doorman!” He gestured behind him. “Gregor was not upstairs.”

  The man turned to face him, arms across his chest. “No, but he was down here.”

  “Was he? Must have just missed him.”

  “You don’t really expect to get out of here alive, do you?”

  Trey circled him. “I don’t think you are man enough to stop—” He turned back at the thump behind him and waved his arms angrily. “Oh come on!”

  Cade shook his head and stepped up beside Darius as the older man rolled the guard over. “I told you, quick and quiet. That was neither.”

  “Which shouldn’t really surprise you.” Darius jerked Trey behind him as a door opened down the hall to reveal Gregor and four men. “From what I’ve seen, none of your men can follow even the simplest of instructions.” He clasped his hands in the small of his back. “I believe you are trying to leave with my property.”

  Darius let Brendan slide to the floor behind him. “Neither of these people are your property. Who are you really, Gregor?”

  Gregor dropped his head. A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. “So much more than your tiny mind can grasp. And they are mine. She always was and he will be until he replaces what he stole from me.”

  “I will not let you have them.”

  Gregor continued his slow approach. “I will not let you leave with them.”

  “Then I’d say we are at an impasse.”

  Cade cradled Eylsa to his chest. “How could you do this? She was your friend!”

  Gregor held out a finger. “Not friend—charge.”

  Trey bent and lifted Brendan by his arms, leaning close to his ear. “Hold on as tight as you can.”

  “I’d rather die than let him have my child.”

  “Not going to come to that, brother.” Trey dropped his hand into his pocket and wrapped his fingers around the figurine inside. He sent a tiny pulse into the metal and his skin tingled with the vibration. Mentally he blocked off his friends at his side and released the energy held deep in the Astrian.

  The air rippled with power, drawing Gregor’s brow down in confusion. Dust rose in the air to form a cloud as plaster fell from the ceiling.

  Darius took Brendan’s opposite arm as the walls around them cracked and shattered and suddenly they were running.

  Trey blocked out the shouts from behind them as he focused on Cade’s back and the widening hole in the side of the building. Cade flashed and was gone as he pulled his own homing device from his shirt pocket, pressing it as a huge chunk of building broke loose above them.

  They crashed to the ground in a mass of limbs and clothing. Trey’s lips spread in a smile as he untangled himself and jumped to his feet. Hands clawed in the air, he growled wordlessly.

  “Did you see that? I’m going back; I’ll tear them all to bloody shreds!” His eyes sparkled as he reset his homing device.

  Darius slapped the device from his grip. “Trey, give me the Astrian.”

  Anger flooded his face. “Are you completely gone, old man? I could annihilate them.” His gaze drifted to the sky. “I could burn the very Rhennon from the face of the planet!”

  Darius picked himself free of Brendan and came to his feet. “Trey, I am your friend and as such I am asking you to give me the Astrian.”

  Trey pulled the tiny figurine from his pocket, his fingers gripped around it. “I could do so much with it.”

  Darius nodded. “You could, but you would lose yourself. It pulls you even now; I know you can feel it. Please, Trey.”

  He cradled it to his chest. “But—”

  “The heat of battle is leaving you now. You can do it. Just let it go.”

  Trey’s face fell as his fingers opened, the tiny gold figurine clattering to the ground. He gasped as he stared down at it. “I didn’t believe you. It was…overpowering.”

  Darius snatched up the Astrian. “It’s okay. It’s over now. Just get Brendan inside and see to Eylsa’s wounds.”

  Trey shook himself as he moved to collect his friend from the ground. Brendan struggled but Trey easily fended him off and dragged him to his feet.

  “Come on, Brendan, let’s go see if we can reverse whatever that horrible man did to you.”

  “Doesn’t want me to give in. Strong for her.”

  “You were strong, Brendan. You can relax now.”

  Cade watched the street as he waited for Trey to open the door. “Why do I get the feeling that we rescued them just to get us all killed?”

  Trey dropped Brendan to a chair inside. “We can’t worry about that now. Put her on the couch.”

  Cade laid his burden down and cringed as she cried out in pain, her eyes unfocused. “Sorry.”

  Trey pressed his fingers to her forehead. “They are both burning up. What did he give them?”

  “We’re not going to get anything out of her, she’s completely incoherent. How is Brendan?”

  “We might have to smack him around a bit but we should get some sense from him.” He shook Brendan. “Wake up, pal! We need your he
lp.”

  Brendan’s eyes gave a slow blink. “Who are you?”

  “Just focus, okay? We need to know what Gregor did to you.”

  “Can’t give in…he’s breaking my mind.”

  “He can’t hurt you now, but you have to tell me what he did.”

  Brendan’s eyes rolled to Eylsa as she cried out from the couch. “He hurt her.”

  “I know, but we can’t help her until you tell us what he did.”

  Brendan’s head fell back against the chair. “Wants our child. Wants our child to replace… Says I ruined her…why I have to replace her.”

  “What?”

  Cade stood as Darius entered and sat the Astrian on a table by the door. “Cade, we’ll need a mending draught for Eylsa.” He pulled a sheet of folded paper from his sleeve. “This one has several ingredients for bone growth.”

  “I don’t think Eylsa is even aware of anything around her, and Brendan…Brendan keeps saying he can’t give in. Says Gregor wants their child. I think he meant his and Eylsa’s.”

  Darius stared back at the young woman draped incoherent along the couch. “It doesn’t look as if Brendan was physically harmed, at least not much. So why beat Eylsa?”

  “Strong…she’s so strong. Love draught wasn’t enough alone. Thought I was weak.” Sweat beaded on Brendan’s forehead as his head lolled back and forth.

  Trey rubbed his face. “Love draught. He was trying to breed them? What is wrong with these people?”

  “Leave them.”

  Trey followed Darius into the kitchen, lifting a bottle from the table as he passed. He tossed it aside as Cade turned from stirring a pot that boiled on the stove. “So what’s the problem? We just work on a reversal so they can recover.”

  Darius leaned on the counter head hanging low. “It’s not that simple. A love draught is easy to reverse but the amount they have been given…we’ll be lucky if they come out of it intact.”

  Trey shrugged his shoulders. “So what, we can’t do anything?”

  “We cannot jeopardize their minds until we know the extent of the damage.”

  They all jumped at a loud crash from the living room. At the door, they saw the coffee table was upended, its smattering of contents scattered across the carpeted floor. Brendan was propped beside the couch, head nestled on Eylsa’s shoulder, her hand cradled to his chest.