by Jaye McKenna
“But Rio loves him.”
Bajhan spat into the fire. “Nephew or not, brother or not, Rio is a dead man.”
“Only if you catch him,” Coryn murmured.
“I will catch him, don’t ever doubt it,” Bajhan growled. “But I won’t be relying on your help.”
“Thank you,” Coryn whispered.
“Don’t thank me, boy. The Guild Master has retired men for less. She might well decide to retire you, once she finds out what you’ve done. Assuming she doesn’t already know.”
Coryn stared into the fire. Did she know what else he’d done? Had Bajhan put the pieces together and figured out he was responsible for the fire at Jherek’s warehouse and the death of the slaver? He dared not ask.
“If she doesn’t retire you, she’ll surely test you,” Bajhan continued, giving him a grim smile as he got to his feet. “And if she does, you can expect no help from me. You reap what you sow, boy. Always remember that.”
“Ai, Bajhan,” he said. “I’ll remember.” He’d remember all right. The Guild Master would make certain he did.
His eyes burned as he watched the dancing flames. He’d known for a long time that Rio didn’t return his feelings, but as long as they’d both remained with the Khalshir, there had always been the tiniest shred of hope that someday, things might change.
Now, that hope was gone, and there was nothing but an empty space in his heart where Rio had been. Coryn’s vision blurred, and he blinked hard.
It was smoke from the fire stinging his eyes, that was all.
~ The End ~
Also by Jaye McKenna
Guardians of the Leythe Novels
Human Frailties, Human Strengths
Human Choices
Wytch Kings
Book 1: Burn the Sky
Book 2: Blackfrost
Book 3: Shadowspire
Book 4: Dragonwatch
Book 5: Falkrag
(coming 2018)
Middle Kingdoms
Leythe Blade
Guardians of the Pattern
Prequel: Facing the Mirror
Book 1: Psi Hunter
Book 2: Gremlin’s Last Run
Book 3: Ghost in the Mythe
Book 4: Wildfire Psi
Book 5: Eye of the Storm
Book 6: Closing the Circle
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my wonderful, glorious beta team: Tully, Kate, Eric, Jill, and as always, my favorite minion, Michael. Extra special thanks to Tully and Kate for reading and commenting on two versions of this story, and to Tully for helping me get the ending just right. Extra thanks and hugs to Jill McCarl for proofreading the final version and the final final version.
Thanks also go to Chinchbug for capturing Rio just as he was in my head and putting him on the cover.
Author Bio
Jaye McKenna was born a Brit and was dragged, kicking and screaming, across the Pond at an age when such vehement protest was doomed to be misinterpreted as a paddy. She grew up near a sumac forest in Minnesota and spent most of her teen years torturing her parents with her electric guitar and her dark poetry. She was punk before it was cool and a grown-up long before she was ready. Jaye writes fantasy and science fiction stories about hot guys who have the hots for each other. She enjoys making them work darn hard for their happy endings, which might explain why she never gets invited to their parties.
Contact Info
Jaye McKenna can be contacted at
[email protected]
www.jayemckenna.com
Jaye can also be found on Goodreads
Chinchbug can be contacted at
[email protected]
Khalshir
Kingmakers, Book One
A street rat taken in by the infamous Khalshir Guild and ruthlessly trained as a spy and assassin, Rio thinks he’s ready for anything. When he balks at performing his first assassination, his mentor is furious, but gives him a chance to redeem himself: a simple bodyguard assignment, protecting the son of a high-ranking noble.
Second son of one of the most successful businessmen in the kingdom of Tallin, Dani Jherek never expected to become his father’s heir. After a suspicious accident leaves his twin dead, a grief-stricken Dani finds himself struggling not only to fill his brother’s shoes, but to protect a dangerous secret that, if revealed, could mean his execution.
Guarding Dani turns out to be far from simple. Instead of a spoiled, pampered brat, Rio finds himself watching over a beautiful, miserable young man struggling to survive in a dangerous world he doesn’t understand. As Rio spends more time with Dani, he finds himself caught up in a tangled web of conflicting loyalties. When Dani learns the true nature of his father’s business, everything changes, and Rio is forced to make an impossible choice: his loyalty to Guild and family, or his growing feelings for his charge.
