The Assassin's Destiny (Isle of Dreams)

by Jones, Kirsten

  ‘Yes, but I’d rather beat it out of you!’ she snapped. ‘Actually, Sheldon, I think I will, just for the hell of it!’

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Phantom’s face dissolve into a grin, ‘Now, now, there’s no need for name calling. Puddle.’

  Mistral laughed and the tension between them instantly lifted.

  Phantasm’s face blazed with sudden pride, he reached out to rest a hand lightly on her arm, ‘Well done Mistral.’

  ‘About time too.’ Phantom added righteously. ‘I would hug you, but quite frankly, looking at the state of you, I’m not sure where you’ve been.’

  ‘Nowhere.’ Mistral smiled and slipped her hand into Fabian’s.

  Phantom rolled his eyes, ‘Just as we feared.’

  ‘Are you staying?’ Fabian enquired, his body posture suddenly that of a relaxed host.

  ‘If we’re not intruding –’

  ‘Of course you are.’ Mistral cut in bluntly. ‘But I know you’ll be going soon anyway. Leo wants you back with his precious update.’

  Phantom looked up quickly, ‘And you know this because you’ve Seen it?’

  ‘No. I know this because he’s a domineering control freak and your two are predictably trying to keep on his good side.’

  Laughing softly at their bickering, Fabian strode up the stairs to unlock the door.

  ‘I see Sight hasn’t given you any manners then.’ Phantom sniffed.

  Mistral stuck her tongue out at him then ran up the stairs, smiling blissfully when Fabian caught her around the waist and kissed her, murmuring something in her ear that made her laugh before releasing her.

  ‘Please forgive the intrusion Mage De Winter.’ Phantasm apologised when he followed Mistral up the stairs. ‘But we were under strict orders from Master Sphinx to be ruthless in our efforts to establish the truth, er, or words to that effect.’

  Fabian shrugged unconcernedly, he was looking at Mistral, a vague smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

  ‘He was not best pleased about your impromptu holiday to say the least!’ Phantom exclaimed to Mistral when he strolled through the door.

  ‘Honeymoon, actually.’ Mistral corrected primly then grinned. ‘So on a scale of one to ten, just how mad was he?’

  Phantom pursed his lips and considered for a moment, ‘Somewhere around a fifteen I’d say.’

  Mistral laughed, ‘Did he swear?’

  ‘No, but he did go red and shout a lot.’

  Mistral sighed happily, ‘I almost wish I’d been there.’

  The twins sauntered over to the two battered chairs near the stove and dropped gratefully into them with joint sighs. Fabian closed the door and walked across the room towards the kitchen, carrying a pair of rabbits from their hunt.

  ‘I’ll skin those for lunch.’ Mistral offered, taking the rabbits from him and sitting down at the kitchen table.

  Fabian folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against a wooden pillar, smiling at Mistral pulling her dagger from her belt and testing the blade against her thumb before beginning to skin the rabbits. Finally tearing his gaze away, Fabian looked over at Phantasm and raised his eyebrows enquiringly.

  ‘Tell me what developments there have been with the Rochfortes.’

  Mistral shook her head and sighed, turning her attention to the task of skinning the rabbits while Phantasm relayed the Divinus’ most recent report. She let her mind drift, listening more to their thoughts than the boring conversation they were having. Unfortunately neither the twins nor Fabian were thinking about anything other than the Rochfortes and Mistral let her mind rove, testing her newfound gift. Calling up the images of each of her brothers in turn she smiled in amusement when she found she could hear their thoughts.

  Mistral’s dagger dropped from her hands to clatter onto the table, her eyes staring into nothingness. A soft sigh escaped her lips then her eyes slid out of focus and her face grew blank.

  Fabian was instantly knelt beside her, his dark eyes anxious, ‘What is it Mistral? What have you Seen?’

  The twins leapt to their feet and moved quietly across the room to stand behind Fabian, both gazing at Mistral tensely.

  ‘The Divinus.’ Mistral blinked and focussed on Fabian. ‘He’s passed.’

  Fabian’s ebony gaze held hers, deep and calm. She felt strength flowing from him, filling her with certainty. He was her Mage, her husband, her love. The possessor of her soul.

  ‘Then, Mistral, it is time to fulfil your destiny.’