by Ivy Clyde
ASSASSIN’S REIGN
The Assassin and her Dragon Princes IV
IVY CLYDE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Ivy Clyde. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted and reproduced in any manner or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or whatsoever without written permission of the author.
For information contact, Ivy Clyde
Table of Contents
ASSASSIN’S REIGN
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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About Ivy
ASSASSIN’S REIGN
I’m ready to claim my place on the throne but my way is strewn with obstacles.
Our appearance in the realm of the dragon emperor has enraged him. He is lashing out at the princes’ family members in a bid to establish his control over us.
But it won’t be long before we fight back.
Our powers as true dragons have been restored to us. Victory seems close but can we see through the emperor’s cunning deception to really come out of this battle alive?
The threads of fate have long bound me to the three dragonborn princes at my side and I am determined to protect them even if it costs me my life.
Assassin’s Crown is the fourth and last book in an intrigue-filled whychoose fantasy romance that support’s our heroine’s right to choose more than one mate. Get ready for this captivating tale full of heart-pounding romance and edge-of-your-seat action.
Note: The Assassin and Her Dragon Princess is a reverse harem series with sexy dragon shifter romance and action meant for mature readers who enjoy their fantasy fiction with no restraint to language, violence and some heated scenes.
1
Helena
The burnt skin on my cheek prickled in the cold, damp air of the underground chamber. It was still painful. The burn was so deep, it would take several days to dry and heal. For now, a mask covered the salve-covered side of my face.
My body shivered from the cold.
Unlike my adoptive brothers, there was no fire in my blood. It was the only thing that differentiated me from them.
Flames from a hundred wax stubs flickered as a tall figure entered the room.
On my left, Mekhi stiffened.
On my right, Zane cowered.
My own heart thundered at the sight of Emperor Ivan as he turned around to face us. Flames from the candles around us were reflected in his dark, brooding eyes. Wisps of ashes settled in the locks of his curling, jet-black hair. Dried blood glimmered on his armor while droplets dripped from the ends of his sleeves. However, I knew it didn’t belong to him.
Cold fury emanated from him as his gaze swept over us.
Zane whimpered, hiding behind me. He clutched at the back of my skirts, pressing his face to my back. Father’s eyes flashed at him.
“Worthless.” Father’s voice was like shards of ice.
“Don’t blame him, Father,” I said immediately. “It wasn’t his fault. It was that lowly whore from …”
I fell silent as he raised his hand, commanding silence. Ignoring me completely, he set his gaze on Mekhi.
“The city is full of whispers about two dragons,” said Father. “One of them was a water dragon which had never been seen before.”
Mekhi lowered his gaze to the floor but his fists were balled up tightly.
My own mind was confused. Where were these dragons appearing from? If I hadn’t seen Prince Adal of Baledonia transforming before my eyes, I would have treated all these whispers from the common mob as rumors.
Father took a step forward, standing only a few inches from Mekhi.
“Tell me, son. What happened while I was doling out justice on the royal family of Baledonia?”
Mekhi raised his gaze. “What justice?”
Father’s eyes flashed momentarily with cruel satisfaction as he licked the blood still gathered around the corner of his mouth. “They hid a dragon in their ranks,” said Father. “When asked, Prince Kurozeru completely denied my allegations. He had no idea how his half-brother managed to transform into his true form.”
“What did you do, Father?”
“I punished every royal gathered in the courtroom,” said Father. “I ground their very bones between my teeth.”
The air flowed out of my lungs. While I never sympathized with people who were against the emperor’s rule, Prince Kurozeru and his brothers had been innocent. They didn’t side with their half-brother, Adal. The moment when he’d transformed, they’d been as shocked as me and Mekhi.
“And while I was at it, I lay waste to one of the provinces in Redfall,” added Father. “They hadn’t paid taxes in over a year. The people, as well as their local mayor, burned this night. It should serve as a warning to those opposing my will in the four kingdoms.” Father’s hand shot forward to grab Mekhi’s collar. Pulling him close, he snarled. “Are you rebelling against your emperor too?”
“Father!” Mekhi’s voice was a mere whisper. He was the only man my brother feared. He was suddenly thrown away. Stumbling on his feet, he steadied himself. “I had men watching over the temple grounds as you commanded. My days were spent in securing the area. I never expected dragons to attack the place in the dead of night. The soldiers were scared and scattered.”
“Find the ones who ran,” said Father in a cold tone. “They are traitors and deserve just punishment.”
It could mean only one thing. They would be burned by Father’s dragon.
“Why are the temple grounds so important?” asked Mekhi. He looked scared but a determined look came over him. “Why would you have more men protecting it than the palace?”
“You dare question me?”
I wished Mekhi would quiet down. Father was cold before. Now, he was turning furious.
“What’s the secret of the transformation?” asked Mekhi. “Why wouldn’t you tell us? There are already three dragons out there. Wouldn’t it better if Zane and I could transform too? We’ll stand with you and fight the enemy.”
“I can be the only true dragon in the four kingdoms,” seethed Father. “I’ll be the one true dragon emperor of our realm. No one else.”
“You think we’ll betray you like you betrayed your brother?”
Father slapped Mekhi hard, drawing blood. Zane whimpered, shaking.
“And you.” Father glanced at Zane. “What kind of man allows a woman to take away his manhood? I have half a mind to kill you so that history can forget about my disgraceful son.”
“It wasn’t his fault!” I shouted. “It was that whore!”
Father’s gaze fell on me. “You’re one rotten wench,” he hissed. “Instead of befriending a powerful woman like her, you drove her to act against your brothers and lost me hundreds of slaves.” A scoff escaped him. “What else did I expect out of the daughter of a street whore?”
My heart came to a thudding stop before racing again at a fast pace. Tears pricked my eyes
as Father turned away from me with a disgusted noise.
In the past fifteen years, he’d never said such a hateful thing to me. He treated me as his own, but today, he shattered my heart with one single verbal blow. No matter how much I pretended to be his blood, the truth has always been buried in his heart. He never forgot he picked me off the street and gave me the title of the lost princess.
Neither Mekhi nor Zane made a sound.
Suddenly, I wished Ren was here too. Father never called him to any meetings, preferring to keep him away from all royal activities. His disregard for Ren further drove him away. He might be an irresponsible prince but he was my favorite brother. His kindness towards me never dimmed even though he hated some of the cruel things I did. He disapproved of my bad habits but it never lessened his love for me.
“Do we still keep watch over the temple grounds?” asked Mekhi.
“Yes,” said Father, his head bowed in thought. “Even though the thieves have stolen the most important books from the temple library, they could be back for more.”
“I’ll do as you command, Father,” said Mekhi with a bow of his head.
“Leave now.” Father sat down on a chair located at the far corner of the chamber and brooded. While I hated the way he treated us today, he was probably thinking of the best way to capture Daria, the woman who’d turned into a thorn at my side. I didn’t care who did it, but I wanted her tortured and killed.
I walked out of the room with Mekhi. Zane hurried after us.
Mekhi stopped once we’d put sufficient distance between us and the underground chamber. Meeting my gaze, he said, “Don’t engage with Daria again. If you find her, contact me before doing anything.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to call for Father?”
Mekhi shook his head. “I need to know the secret of the transformation. Only she knows the answer.”
I frowned at that. It irked me to see Mekhi wanting her for something other than torture. I watched him stride away, leaving me with his whimpering brother.
2
Ren
Morning sunshine poured through the open window, bathing the area around my desk with bright light. A flattened scroll lay before me. It came from the palace early that morning, heralding disasters left by Emperor Ivan throughout the four kingdoms.
A long breath exhaled out of me as I stared out of the window, gazing at the bright blue sky.
How will Daria take the news? I wondered, watching a group of birds playing among the rose bushes outside.
Emperor Ivan left Baledonia on the evening we’d decided to sneak Daria into the dragon temple with Adal. We’d been successful in diverting the army stationed there by letting Cain and Norvin show their true forms. The soldiers had stayed away for hours, giving both Daria and Adal enough time to get through the mating ritual. They’d even returned back with arms full of thick tomes.
Daria and the three foreign princes were housed in my residence now. Dressed in attires meant for servants, they were hiding among them. Over the past few days, they were together all the time. My jealous heart hated having the princes in my home but if they went to live elsewhere, Daria would follow them too.
The only salve to my wounded heart was that they were all put in separate rooms. I hated thinking what the three gorgeous men got up to with her. At the heel of that thought, my mind immediately conjured the image of a naked, moaning Daria with her three lovers.
“Damn it!” I cursed, bringing my fists down on the table before me.
My gaze fell on the scroll and the words on it. They were enough to rid my mind of useless thoughts.
Emperor Ivan traveled to Baledonia, burnt the ruling prince, his brothers and every royal present in the palace. Apparently, his blood lust wasn’t satisfied with their murder. He’d proceeded to a certain province in Redfall that had failed to pay taxes for a year. The region was infamous for poor soil quality and droughts in recent years had made things worse. Any sane, reasonable person would know there was barely anything left there to survive on, but Ivan’s wrath could not be contained. He punished the survivors by burning them and their homes.
Anxiety coiled around my gut.
The news would soon spread throughout the four kingdoms. It won’t be long before Daria and the princes heard about the atrocities committed by the emperor.
Four true dragons were residing in my humble quarters at that very moment. It was scary to imagine how they would react to the news. There was something I needed from Daria before she could embark on her path to destroy the emperor. It had to be done immediately before the news of carnage reached her.
The fragrance of rose and lavender wafted through the open window. Turning my gaze that way, I found Daria in the garden, strolling along a stoned pathway. This was my only opportunity.
Rolling up the scroll, I hid it away and hurried to the garden to meet Daria.
She looked surprised to see me there but smiled as soon as she met my gaze.
“What are you doing out here so early?” I asked, controlling my nerves. Daria would hate me for the request I was about to make but I had to try.
“It’s nice to feel the sun,” she said, lifting her face to the sunshine. “Drakhaven is much colder than the other kingdoms.” Turning back to me, she said, “Have you eaten yet?”
“No. Have you?”
“I did.”
“Good.” I rubbed my hands together, averting her keen gaze on me.
“What is on your mind, Ren?” she asked.
“Will you promise not to chew me alive if I tell you?”
A laugh bubbled up from her luscious lips. “I would never do that to you.”
“I can’t be too confident.”
Surprise flitted through her vivid green eyes. “I promise to spare you. Now, tell me what you’re thinking about.”
“You can heal your wounds with magic.”
She nodded once.
“Can you heal someone else’s wounds too?”
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m not the one in need of your healing magic but someone close to me is. Will you help me?”
“Of course.”
I strengthened my resolve, knowing I was about to cross a line with her. She was so sweet to me, easily willing to help someone close to me. Taking a deep breath, I said, “I want you to heal Helena.”
“What?” Her gaze hardened at once.
“It pains me to watch her suffer.”
“Her pain is nothing compared to the torture and cruelty she’s doled out to hundreds of people,” said Daria. Her eyes glowed with anger. “Do you know how many innocents have died in her hands?”
“I know. I will never justify the crimes she committed.”
“She deserves death!”
“Perhaps, but you’ve got to understand that Helena wasn’t like this as a child. She was spoiled rotten by Ivan and his sons.”
Daria shook her head. “It matters not. What she’s suffering is mild compared to what she truly deserves.”
“Do me this favor. I’ll never ask anything from you again.”
The anger in her features disappeared to be replaced by a frown. “I’ll be the queen of Drakhaven. I can give you whatever your heart desires. Why waste your favors and grants for a selfish woman like Helena?”
“I am asking this of Daria, my childhood mate,” I said in a soft voice. “Gold and property have no importance in my life. Most of my life was spent knowing Ivan isn’t my father. Helena is the only person I truly cared for all this time. I know she’s cruel and deserves to be punished, but this isn’t the way. Heal her burn and give her a second chance. Please?”
“I hate that you care for her.”
Moving close to her, I pressed her body to mine. “You already know how I feel for you, but I’ll never ask you to reciprocate. Just heal the woman I consider my sister.”
She pushed me and stomped away, coming to a halt after a few feet.
Her breathing was erratic as she turned around
to face me.
“I will heal her,” she said in a caustic tone. “For you, I’ll heal her, but this is the last time you can ask forgiveness for her. If she commits another crime, she will face punishment. You’ll have no say then.”
I nodded. “I accept. Please, heal her for now.”
“Fine. We’ll have to go to the palace, won’t we?”
“Yes. Let us go right away.”
She followed me through the garden paths until we reached my quarters. The maid’s uniform she’d worn last time at the palace was already set on the bed. Giving it to her, I said, “I’ll meet you at the front gates. Veil your face and come meet me there.”
Daria closed the door behind me, locking herself inside to change her clothes. Guilt weighed in my gut for making her do something against her will but I had to do what I could for Helena. Of course, I would be warning her from making another mistake against Daria in the future. It was her only chance of survival in the days to come. I only hoped she had enough sensibility to realize the precariousness of her own position.
3
Daria
The ride to the palace felt really short. My mind was mulling over everything Helena had done to me, the princes and the people of our kingdoms. She deserved a death punishment but even that felt too light compared to her crimes. The dragon within me fumed, urging me to forget about my promise and incinerate the woman.
We can’t, I told myself internally. Not yet.
Ren believed she could be redeemed. He blamed my uncle and cousins for her soulless behavior. His faith in her was what shook me. He really believed her to be his sister, an outsider like him who didn’t belong in the emperor’s family.
I took several gulps of the cold air as we rode up the hilly path leading to the palace, trying to calm my internal anger. This favor was for Ren. While I believed it won’t change Helena’a rotten core, at least no one could blame me when I really did kill her. There wouldn’t be anyone to speak a word for her then.
When the towers of the palace came in view through the tree branches, I pulled the veil down to my chin, effectively hiding my face. Ren trotted further ahead, acting as my master, gesturing for the guards to open the gates for us.
