Assassin's Reign (The Assassin and her Dragon Princes Book 4)

by Ivy Clyde

  A hiss of pleasure escaped me as I lowered my body into the water. There were no special herbs or poultices available there but the feeling of the clean water on my skin was good enough. I soaked in its warmth for a long time.

  From time to time, the green of my irises turned to tawny gold as I shifted inside Tuto’s mind. Jarina had gone out of the room but the maids remained stationed outside the bathing chamber. They whispered between themselves but other than that, all seemed safe and secure outside.

  When the water began cooling down, I hurried to rub off the dirt that still stuck to my body.

  Once I was cleaner than I’d been in weeks, I climbed out of the tub and rubbed myself dry with a linen towel. The clothes the maids left me were simple but elegant. It would do for now, I told myself, donning them.

  I was certain the news of the emperor’s death hadn’t spread through the palace just yet. It was understandable the maids would be resistant to do anything without receiving more confirmation.

  Stepping out of the bathing chamber, I commanded the maids to get me food and wine. Night was falling outside. In the time I was gone, someone had lit a fire in the fireplace. Stretching luxuriously, I moved forward to soak some of its warmth. The room was filled with the crackling of wood and Tuto’s soft hoots.

  Feeling more relaxed than before, I looked for parchment and quills. The sooner I sent Elga the news, the sooner I could break all my alliance with Linmoor Valley. With no more assignments from my master, I could finally be free to rule my kingdom.

  Before I could find the materials to write my letter, the doors to my chambers opened. Ren stood at the threshold, breathing hard. As soon as his gaze fell on me, he came running towards me and pulled me into a tight hug.

  “You are alive!” He sounded intensely relieved. Letting go off me, he let his eyes rake me from head to foot. “You don’t seem injured.”

  I shook my head. Despite the injury the dark spirit left within me, I could feel my body healing itself at a rapid rate. “I am fine.”

  He let out another long breath. “Is he really gone?”

  I nodded.

  Cursing loudly, he ran his fingers through the wild locks of his vivid ginger hair. “It’s fucking unbelievable.”

  “That has been the reaction so far,” I said dryly.

  Three maids entered the room with platters of food. Leaving them on a nearby table, they excused themselves. Before I could move towards it, Ren caught my wrist.

  “Are you sure it’s not poisoned?” he asked.

  “Why would the kitchen maids poison it?”

  He shook his head. “The women who came to deliver the food work for Helena. I have seen them before.”

  Fixing my grim gaze on him, I said, “I can’t let her stay in the palace. You understand that, don’t you?”

  “I understand. I’m just grateful you didn’t kill her at the same time as Mekhi and Zane.”

  “She wasn’t a threat to my dragon when it happened but I can’t promise anything. There’s another part of me that is uncontrollable when it comes to the safety of my child. If Helena lifts a finger to hurt me, my dragon will kill her. It is best I banish her from Fuvaros.”

  Ren blinked several times. “Can you repeat what you just said?”

  “I am with child,” I said, knowing that was the part that must have surprised him. “The dragon within me won’t stay still if someone threatens me and in turn, the child. You know your sister too well already. She can never keep her mouth shut and will inadvertently invite her own demise.”

  Ren stayed quiet and sank onto a chair. “I need a week to myself to sort through everything I’ve heard so far. The emperor is dead,” he said, counting on his finger. “His sons are dead. And you are pregnant with a child. Who is the father?”

  “They all are,” I replied. “Cain, Adal, and Norvin. It is impossible to tell whose it is.”

  Ren groaned. “The nobles will go mad with this information. They will force you to choose a mate for yourself.”

  “They can’t force me to do anything.”

  “It won’t be as easy as you think.”

  Anger flared inside me. “Why not? All these years, Ivan did whatever he wanted. Why can’t I?”

  “The nobles supported the emperor’s cause because they stood to gain something. They’ve all grown fat from forced taxes. I don’t see them supporting you if they don’t see profit in it.”

  “Keeping their lives should be profit enough,” I answered coldly. “They have committed crimes too. Once I take the throne, they will answer for them.”

  “One thing at a time, My Queen,” said Ren. “For now, you need better security. The news of your accession to the throne must also be declared.”

  “Take care of it all for me.”

  Ren looked up at me. For a moment, he looked lost but his gaze turned determined next second. “A new battle is about to start. Be prepared, My Queen.”

  12

  Daria

  Despite being exhausted, I woke up with the rising sun. Tuto’s hoot from the top of a cabinet comforted me. I hadn’t sent him off to Elga just yet. Knowing Helena would do her best to kill and hurt me through the night, I let him stay and guard me. It was almost surprising no one came attacking me.

  My stomach grumbled. The basket of fruit Ren brought me last night hadn’t been enough to satiate me.

  Stretching my arms over my head, I went to open one of the windows in the room. Everything inside and outside the palace was quiet and still. As Ren said, there would be more battles to fight. I was ready for every confrontation but a full stomach would help me do it with grace.

  Knowing I couldn’t trust the staff just yet, asking for breakfast was useless.

  As a chill breeze blew by, the irresistible urge to fly overtook me. Stepping onto the ledge, I looked down at the ground several feet below. Calling the shifting magic, I jumped.

  My stomach swooped as I hurtled through the air but just before my body hit the ground, I shifted into my true form and with one beat of my massive wings, I was soaring upward.

  The feel of the cold breeze against my heated scales felt wonderful. Soaring high, I left the palace behind and headed for the mountains outside of Fuvaros. In all my life, I never felt this free.

  I let my dragon’s instincts take over. She was able to smell the scent of prey through the fragrance of the pine forest. As if settling back and watching, I let her do the hunting.

  In the matter of an hour, we were able to eat two whole deer and a mountain bear.

  My stomach felt comfortably full after the meal. My dragon settled down for a nap in a clearing but I urged her not to sleep. The sun was rising beyond the horizon. I would have to be back at the palace to tackle matters.

  We flew back to the palace.

  Soldiers and guards stationed around the perimeter of the palace as well as the inner grounds stared up at me as I flew low over their heads. They all bowed to me.

  Landing on a free patch of garden, I shifted back to my human form and hurried back to my quarters.

  Jarina and Ren were already present there. They rushed towards me as soon as they saw me crossing the threshold.

  “Where have you been?” Ren scolded at once. “I was going mad wondering where to look for you.”

  “Why were you looking for me this early?”

  “The nobles want to see you. In fact, everyone wants to see and meet you. They have already gathered in the courtroom since dawn. Jarina didn’t want to wake you up, so we held off from telling you anything, but when we came here this morning, you were gone.”

  “I went out to hunt,” I said, looking between Ren and Jarina. “The food in the palace isn’t safe to eat. Do you want me to starve?”

  “Starve? Why isn’t the food safe?” asked Jarina at once.

  “Helena’s maids delivered my dinner last evening,” I said.

  She frowned. “From now on, I will deliver and serve your food myself, My Princess.”

&nbs
p; I nodded. “I’ll leave it to you, then.”

  “You need to get dressed and come to the throne room,” said Ren. “Everyone is waiting for you.” He gestured towards a corner. A luxurious gown of dark crimson silk hung there. On the dresser beside it, lay a number of boxes. From their intricately carved surfaces, I could tell they contained jewels. “I can send a few maids to help you get dressed.”

  “No need for them,” I said at once. I needed to fill that dress with a layer of my needles and darts. Strangers didn’t need to know about that. “Give me some time. I will be ready soon.”

  “What about breakfast?” asked Jarina. “I can bring you some pastries right away.”

  I shook my head. “I have eaten.”

  Once both Jarina and Ren left the room, I closed the door behind them and stripped out of the simple dress they’d given me yesterday. It barely looked regal. The lavish dress that hung in the corner, however, would suit a queen.

  Taking it off the peg, I donned it, reveling in the feel of the lush silk against my skin. As I inspected the fabric, I realized it was made with a special blend of spider silk that was imbued with magic. Its specialty was that it wouldn’t burn in fire, making it the perfect material for the use of dragonborns.

  Tightening the laces at the back and sides, I turned to look at the mirror.

  A smile rose up on my lips as I took in the vision before me. The change in my looks was drastic. The dress itself was enough to make me look like royalty.

  I sat down to do my hair next. It was easy enough without the aid of a maid. At Linmoor Valley, every assassin was taught the arts of beautifying ourselves. Within minutes, I was done putting my hair up in an elegant bun and studding it with jeweled gold pins. Similarly, I used the rouge and black camphor poultices to highlight my features.

  It took me almost an hour to get ready and arm myself. The nobles could wait. I wasn’t going to be at their beck-and-call, so they might as well get used to a monarch who wouldn’t bend to their whims.

  Opening the door to my chambers, I found Ren leaning against a wall. His vivid blue eyes widened as they fell on me.

  “My Queen,” he whispered, walking close to me and getting down on his knees. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.”

  I chuckled. “You’re not.”

  Straightening up, he hooked a finger under my chin and lifted my face. “You are breathtaking, Daria. Even in all my fantasies, I couldn’t imagine you to grow up to be so beautiful.”

  I smiled at that.

  “The court awaits you. Ready?”

  I nodded. “Let’s give them back their lost princess.”

  Ren led the way forward.

  Power swirled within me, not letting a wisp of anxiety bother me. After all, the men gathered to see me were all corrupted, supporting Ivan’s regime and sucking the lifeblood of the kingdom. To me, they were worse than worms. There was nothing to fear from them.

  The doors to the throne room were thrown open.

  My first impression was that of a crowd of richly-dressed old men. As soon as I appeared at the threshold, their beady eyes fell on me. Silently, they assessed my mettle.

  Taking a deep breath, I crossed the threshold and walked forward, keeping my back ramrod straight and my head thrown back. I was mimicking the memory of my mother when she attended the affairs in the courtroom. If I could look half as dignified as her, I’d consider the battle won.

  No one stopped me until I reached the raised platform that held the throne.

  “Don’t you dare!” a woman screeched from the side.

  I turned around to face the crowd. They watched me attentively, monitoring my reaction to Helena’s impotent rage.

  Helena marched forward and came to stand before me. The long lengths of her dark hair were a mess. Her gown looked crumpled and dirty. While her black eyes flashed with rage, her face remained sickly pale.

  “You are banished, Helena,” I said quietly.

  “Banished?” she shouted. “Who are you to banish me?”

  “I am Princess Daria, the daughter of King Helmut and Queen Eibhlin, and the rightful heir to the throne of Drakhaven. With that right, I banish you immediately. You must leave the city of Fuvaros by this evening or face death. I’ll leave the choice to you.”

  Helena turned towards the gathered men. “Will you let this street whore dictate what happens in this throne room? My father will burn your entire families to death if you succumb to her trickery.”

  “Have you forgotten the fact that I can burn too?” I whispered, soft enough for her ears alone.

  She looked fearful momentarily but scoffed. “My brother will heal me.” She thrust the left side of her face towards me. “The burn you gave me is healed.”

  “Be quiet, Helena.” Ren had finally spoken up. “Accept the queen’s command and save yourself more punishment.”

  She stared at him disbelievingly. “The queen? How can a whore like her be queen?”

  “Get down on your knees!” shouted Ren, his face hardening.

  “Brother!”

  “Daria is the one who healed your burn. She didn’t want your gratitude in return, so she had me put you to sleep when she cured you. She was generous enough to me. I already asked for mercy for you once. I can’t do so again. So, please…bend the knee to her.” The toughness in his voice vanished. “Please stay alive. It’s the only way you can have hope for a new life.”

  “I’d rather die!” cried Helena. Turning her gaze towards me, she lunged at me. Easily sidestepping from her outstretched hands, I hit her hard in the back with my elbow. She fell to the ground at my feet.

  “Guards!” I called out. “Take this woman away.”

  Two soldiers marched into the throne room and grabbed her. Helena screamed, fighting against them but the men were far stronger than her. They easily dragged her out.

  I watched for Ren’s reaction. His eyes were full of tears but he didn’t shed them. His fists were tightly balled at his sides as he breathed deeply in a struggle to calm himself.

  “Anyone else has any doubts about who I am?” I asked. Not waiting for a reply, I climbed the short steps to the dais and sat down on the throne.

  “There are so many rumors floating about,” spoke out an elderly man in robes of indigo velvet. His fingers were full of jeweled rings and thick chains of gold adorned his neck. “Some say you are a dragon yourself. Others say you were only a mate to the others who were seen.” He looked all around the gathered crowd to add to his dramatics. “Most important of all, where have you been all these years?”

  “I am a dragon,” I said loudly. “And I am mated to the three dragon princes. As to the question of where I’ve been? Of course, I hid until I could gain enough power to topple the fake emperor who stole the throne from my parents.”

  “Who are the dragon princes?”

  “Before addressing me further, tell me who you are.”

  The old man looked around at the crowd with a smug expression. “Well, everyone knows me. I am Lord Tasher.”

  My gaze narrowed at the man. “So you are the man who bought every common medicine available in the kingdom and held it off from common folk, causing several deaths throughout the land.”

  His smugness vanished instantly.

  “Your coffers are overflowing with gold and silver,” I continued. “How much have you been hiding from the government? I am assuming a lot.”

  “Nobles don’t pay taxes,” he said. “My wealth is mine alone.”

  “Not anymore, Lord Tasher.”

  The throne room burst into loud murmurs.

  “I command the treasury to confiscate all the wealth you’ve squirreled away in those guarded storehouses,” I said in a loud voice. My voice was carried over the entire room, booming in every corner.

  “You can’t do that!” shouted Tasher, his face turning an ugly shade of puce.

  “I am the queen.”

  “How do we even know you are who you say you are?” he demanded. “You could be j
ust a whore like Princess Helena claimed.”

  I swept my gaze over the men gathered below me. They all stared at me, some with apprehension but most of them with open hostility.

  I conjured up my magic, letting flames cover up my entire body. Shocked gasps and high-pitched screams sounded in the throne room.

  “I can burn you all in a single breath to prove my legitimacy,” I said in a cold voice. The flames continued to leap all around me. If my dress hadn’t been made of the special fabric, it would have been burned and turned to ash, leaving me exposed to the mob. The gold jewelry on my body was hot enough to scald a mortal if they dared to touch it.

  The crowd fell silent and one by one, the men dropped to their knees.

  13

  Daria

  Over the next week, I’d set up my office in the small bedchamber that Jerina provided me during my first night at the palace. It was not as grandly furnished as the other rooms but the free space allowed for a bigger desk and cabinets to be brought in.

  Before starting my vendetta on all the corrupt nobles, I needed to go through the reports they’d submitted over the past five years. I was going to employ men of my own who would be traveling throughout the kingdom to match the information given by the nobles. Any discrepancies would be severely punished.

  Ren was working twice as hard as me, making sure all my commands were being followed.

  For a moment, I got distracted from the report before me by a cool breeze that brought in the fragrance of lavender and primroses growing wildly in the unkempt grounds outside my chambers. Their subtle scent took my mind away to a place that had been covered in the most exotic blossoms. And just as the image of the magnificent palace of Huadu flashed in my mind, my heart squeezed painfully.

  It had been a week since I last saw Adal or any of the princes.

  So far, no news had reached us from any of the three kingdoms.

  Out of all three princes, I was most worried about Adal. While Cain and Norvin held the positions of ruling princes for years, Adal had kept himself away from politics. By nature, he was calm and gentle. I was sure he was facing the same kind of retaliation as I was from his nobles. While I never backed from showing them who held real power, Adal might not be as aggressive as me.