Page 171 of The Mad King and the False Queen

Magda was equally confused, initially thinking the assassin would have gotten as far away from Vex’s hideout as she could, but she wasn’t going to argue.

“Good boy,” Magda exclaimed, rushing over to Odie and running a hand down his back. She tossed the jacket to the side before saying to Ishani and Ravi, “It’s here.”

Ravi nodded before peeling back the edge of the rug. Magda summoned Odie out of the way, and the rug folded up to reveal a trapdoor.

“Hmm,” Ishani mused. “Care to work for the Fowler’s, Odie?”

Odie’s head tilted, his ears flopping as he looked up at the guild leader.

The trapdoor creaked loudly as Ravi opened it, revealing a steep staircase.

“I’ll go first,” Ishani announced, nearly pushing Ravi out of the way. She withdrew one of her axes before descending into the room below.

“Come, Odie,” Magda said, heading down next. She arrived at the bottom, stepping into a cave-like room. From first glance, it appeared to be a study. There were bookshelves scattered through the area, and maps on the walls, but both the wall and the ground was made of dirt as though the room had been dug out. A single tunnel revealed a narrow staircase, descending further into the ground.

Odie struggled down the steep stairs, hopping the last few to land in the dirt beside Magda. When he reached the bottom, his lip curled and a low growl rumbled in his throat.

“Shh, Odie, it’s alright,” Magda said. She headed into the shadows, rounding a bookshelf and reaching the table Ishani was at. On the center of the table was a single white mask, the black emblem of the First Prince in the center.

Magda’s mind flashed back to the coronation. Fear coursed through her body as she pictured the assassins and her father’s death. She hadn’t seen her brother die, but she remembered the numbness that overcame her when she found out. The sadness that replaced her denial was all-consuming.

Now, she was angry. She wanted whoever was behind this to pay.

A hand gently touched her lower back as Ravi appeared at her side, looking over her shoulder at the mask for the first time.

“I’ve seen that symbol before,” Ravi said.

“The First Prince,” Ishani stated.

Odie’s growl intensified. His ears perked and his tail was upright. Magda glanced down at him, noticing his focus was set on the shadows behind one of the bookshelves.

“The First Prince has been dead for centuries,” Ravi said. “Why is a group of assassins using his symbol?”

“Not any group of assassins,” Ishani corrected. “They’re killing guardians.”

“Ishani,” Magda silenced her. The shadow was moving.

Odie barked, but his warning was too late.

The assassin stepped out of the shadows, two rocks in hand. She wasn’t wearing a mask, her face younger than Magda anticipated.

Wait…the rocks weren’t in her hands. They were levitating above each palm.

Magda’s jaw dropped open. The assassin had Soul magic? How was that possible?

The assassin hurled the rocks at them. Magda dropped, covering her head with her hands as one of the rocks flew over her head and smashed against the table. The other rock flew toward Odie, barely missing his paws as he scrambled out of the way.

The assassin smiled as she said, “Looking for me? I was waiting for you.” Then she cocked her head to the side. “Why didn’t you bring the other princess?”

“You’ll never find her,” Ishani snapped.

Magda’s hands curled into fists. “Who are you? Who are you working for?” she demanded.

The assassin scoffed. “Save your breath, girl. You won’t get a word out of me. I’m going to kill you all, or die trying.”

The assassin’s eyes glowed yellow in the dim light of the room as she summoned Soul magic.

CHAPTER 55

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