Page 66 of Upon Shattered Bonds

And then, finally, resignation.

She’d shut him out as he’d started the process once more, forming a blockade in her mind against his volatile emotions. It’d been enough to experience them once, knowing she was the cause. A second time would only serve to sharpen the hurt.

Sighing, her hands tightened around the heat of her tea. Nina sipped the comforting beverage, savoring the warmth as it spilled down her throat.

She would miss tea. She’d miss Lexington. She’d miss her fledglings and her clansmen and the joy of watching the immortal races come together. But most of all, she’d miss Zeke.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, cooling instantly as they fell. How had she been such a fool all these years? Had she not been so prideful, so blinded by his perceived past sins, she’d have discovered the truth behind his reasoning.

And now, she’d go to her grave without knowing him. Nina could only hope he didn’t harbor the same regrets, and that Zeke would find happiness in a life without her in it.

Another sip of her tea as the liquid soothed her from the inside out. She smiled against her cup. A part of her was outrageously relieved at the thought of Zeke being happy. Perhaps, once she was out of the picture, he’d finally manage it.

Caught up in her thoughts, her attention had been focused on reaching the bottom of her mug and not the complete lack of sound surrounding her.

No whisper of wind. No sounds of the house settling behind her.

Nina stiffened. Her senses spearing out to examine the space around her, she noticed a Raeth mind on the terrace just behind her.

Pivoting slowly, she caught sight of the male sitting in the lounge chair, with his elbows on his knees. In his hand, he held a merjha handgun. On his face, a conniving smile.

“For one so renown for her prowess, I’m surprised it took you so long.”

Nina’s answering grin was a touch feral. “I’ve been expecting you, Traka. Though I must say, I’m rather impressed. Luther would be proud to see how well your abilities have come along.”

The smile tightened as violence clouded his eyes. “Yes, well, I had a good teacher. At least, until you murdered him in cold blood.”

Nina inclined her chin. “I’ll cede that point; Luther was an exceptional trainer. But I won’t apologize for killing him. He deserved what happened to him.”

“Just as you’ll deserve this.”

Still, he made no offensive move, the other Raeth knowing he’d forced Nina into an untenable position. Shifting to a more defensible stance on her feet, Nina sent a psychic ping to Kaien where he remained inside. But, given the Blunting abilities of the Raeth sitting before her, it never made contact.

Sighing in resignation, she cocked her head and asked, “Why did they wait so long to send you?”

A shrug. “Originally, they wanted your clan. But now, seeing as you’ve killed far more than your fair share of challengers, they’ll settle for simply killing you.”

“May I ask why?”

There was no way to defend herself when Traka clearly had the upper hand. With his Blunting abilities, a call for help would go unheeded, she could manifest no weaponry, and her offensive abilities were rendered out of reach.

The obsidian gun in his hands gleamed violet under the wanning daylight. The merjha, like the one that’d originally punched two holes in her heart, would render her wounds mortal.

“Why?” The assassin gave a cocky laugh. “I didn’t ask. Once I heard who was on the chopping block, I offered my services voluntarily.”

“I see.”

Time ticked away, every second counting down to her last. Out of her peripheral vision, she scrutinized the area for anything that could be used as a weapon. Baring throw pillows and a handful of landscaping rocks, there was little to defend herself with.

Releasing a shuddering breath, she asked, “If you would allow me a favor?”

Lips twisting in a wry grin, Traka cocked his head as if he’d expected a fight, curiosity piquing his interest. “Whatever could you ask of me, Nina?”

“My vanity would ask that you aim for my heart.” The perfect picture of regality, Nina inclined her chin. “Open casket for my funeral pyre and all that.”

Chuckling at the misplaced humor, the other Raeth’s grinned. “Easy enough. Second time’s a charm.”

Giving her a studious bow, he leveled the gun at her heart and pulled the trigger.

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