Page 25 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash

I perched on the edge of the desk, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. Strange how quickly someone could go from stranger to friend, how fierce the need to protect them could become. Lucas had stood by me tonight when he didn't have to, and I silently vowed to never let him face such danger alone again.

Chapter 20

Two years had passed since that fateful night Donovan crossed me at the farm. In the time since, Lucas and I had become an inseparable team. We weren't flawless, but we got the job done more often than not. He's a skilled thief, a trait he attributes to having to scrounge on the streets with his sister. Every day, I learned something new about him. He's still overly friendly to new members, and as it did with me, it always freaks them out. One recruit was so unnerved, he brandished a butter knife at Lucas in defense.

This morning we sat in Vanya's opulent office, the air thick with anticipation. Lucas propped his foot on her oak desk, an elbow resting on the wooden arm of the dark upholstered chair, twirling a knife in his hand. I rolled my eyes at the childish grin he flashed me.

The thick door separating the office from the hallway creaked open and I heard the light even footfalls of our master. She paused behind Lucas, plucking the knife from his hand like a snake striking. Her fingers pressed against the blade end, no fear of the potential risk of cutting herself.

"If your foot ever graces my desk again, Lucas, you'll find yourself answering to 'Peggy,'" she threatened, her voice a lethalwhisper as she glided to her high-backed chair. Lucas, not one to ignore an obvious hint, removed his foot, adjusting himself in his seat with a grunt. Vanya stared him down, almost as if she could threaten his very soul one more time before continuing.

"Tonight, you'll attend the Governor's ball," she said, her gaze shifting between us. "Your target wears a purple jacket with a blue feather. He's meeting an associate." Her eyes locked on mine. "Gather the intel, but do not engage. Remain undetected at all costs. Is that clear?"

"Understood," we chorused, our voices blending in perfect unison.

"Good," Vanya nodded, satisfaction glinting in her eyes. "Lor, you'll gather the intel. Lucas, keep watch. If anything seems off, you both leave immediately. Some attendees... well, let's just say I'd prefer they didn't notice you."

She reached into her desk drawer, producing two masks. "Your attire will be sent up shortly. You'll need these." The masks clattered onto the desk, half-face designs, Lucas' in black silk, mine in delicate black lace.

A wicked smile curved Vanya's lips. "I trust you both can dance?" She waved us off with a chuckle. "Your carriage arrives in an hour. Don't be late."

My hands glidedover the gown that had been waiting for me upon my return to my room. The neckline descended in a deep V, nearly reaching my navel. Black silk clung to my body, with delicate lace tracing every edge. The corset top and long skirt, while revealing, provided me enough structure to stash six of myobsidian throwing knives, my favorite dagger strapped high on my thigh.

Gods, I wish I was escorting you tonight,Maël's voice growled in my mind.You look absolutely ravishing.

I let out a soft sigh as I examined myself in the mirror. Gone was the village girl who once stumbled home caked in training yard dirt. Tonight I appeared elegant, even I had to acknowledge my body has filled out in a way I never thought it would, a testament to no longer scrounging for meals. The daily training had sculpted my muscles, making my limbs leaner and more toned. I gathered part of my hair up, leaving the remainder to cascade below my shoulders. I rimmed my eyes with kohl before slipping on the dainty slippers that match my ensemble. I winced at the flimsy feeling soles, wishing my boots could be worn instead. I brushed a rosy pink color on my lips and with a final check, I glided out the door to meet Lucas in the courtyard.

He stood in a dark suit beside the carriage, and though I couldn't see anything, I knew he'd concealed several weapons beneath his formal attire. His gaze traced the length of my body as I drew near, and he whistled low and flashed me a sly smile as he moved towards me, placing a hand at the small of my back to guide me to our transportation for the night.

"Getting you to that meeting unseen may be more difficult than we anticipated," he whispered into my ear as he opened the carriage door, helping me inside. He joined me in and settled beside me on the bench. With a tap on the outside of the window, we're off towards the Governor's large home. "You look lovely, Lor."

"I'll manage just fine," I gave him a wide grin before wreathing myself in shadows, giving him a glimpse of why they called me Death's Wraith.

"Well, look at you without the training yard grime. Almost didn't recognize you," I teased.

He chuckled as I dispersed my shadows. We refined our strategy as we journeyed along the winding roads. Upon arrival, we'll mingle, blend in with the attendees until our mark shows. Though I'd never learned these court dances, Lucas promised to guide me through them. Once I see the target head to the meeting, I'll find a spot to conceal myself and follow him. We settled on a meetup outside the gates.

The carriage rolled along until we drew up beside large wrought iron gates standing open in welcome to the sprawling white mansion beyond them. As we came to a stop, our driver leapt off his perch to open the door. Lucas stepped out first, spinning to hold his hand out to me. I gently placed my hand in his as I emerged, trying to emulate the other graceful nobles in attendance.

The carriage pulled away as we approached the large doors. Attendants in frilly green uniforms stood on either side welcoming guests as they filed in. Once we passed the threshold, we joined those before us in a grand ballroom. It seemed like a million candles illuminated the room, making it as bright as the sun this kingdom's monarch was known to worship. Men and women waltzed around the dance floor in gowns and suits of every color. Tables laden with food bordered the walls. Guards in gilded uniforms stood throughout the room. A quick assessment told me it would be unwise to draw attention to ourselves.

Lucas leads us to the couples gracefully gliding, twirling me to face him, his hand keeping hold of my own, his other securing itself to my waist. I rest my other on his shoulder as he takes measured steps, following the direction of the crowd. I'm trying not to trip or step on him while the music seems to urge us faster and faster. While we appear to be looking at each other, as lovers would, we're both searching for our target. Every twirl of the dance gives us the perfect opportunity to pivot and assess a new area of the ballroom. Soon, the song shifts to something morecalm, steady, unlike the quick tempo we had been following before.

Lucas leaned close, his lips near my ear, "You won't like this next part, but you're dancing beautifully. We're almost done. When the music changes, we'll switch partners. We'll step away and come together, palm to palm, then turn and I must move on to the woman beside us and another man will meet you palm to palm. Just follow his lead like you've been doing. The steps should be simple like this for a bit."

I barely had time to meet his eyes, fearing being left to my own devices in this situation. As promised, we joined the line of couples, stepped apart, then pressed our palms together. Lucas gave me a wink, his reassuring smile not quite reaching the edges of his mask, before turning to sweep the brunette beside us into his arms. She brightened at his touch, her hand trailing coyly across his chest as they danced away.

A warm palm met mine as deep brown eyes captured my gaze. A midnight blue mask adorned the face before me, the male so tall I had to tilt my head back to meet his stare. Dark waves of hair nearly concealed the pointed fae ears beneath. His suit matched his mask, fine silver stitching catching the light. As he drew me closer, the subtle scent of rain and leather enveloped me, reminiscent of rainy days spent dodging Lucas's attacks. The familiar scent helped steady my nerves, bringing my focus back to the task at hand.

The stranger remained silent, moving through the steps as mechanically as I did. I followed his lead, grateful for the even tempo. As we glided across the floor, I spotted a violet suit near a table laden with cakes. I fixed my gaze on its wearer - a man with closely cropped blonde hair, shorter than me, sporting a bulbous nose and a delicate blue feather in his pocket. He pulled out a golden watch, scanned the room, then slipped past nearby guests down a hallway to my left.

The dance brought another turn. Once facing the stranger again, I released his hand and dropped into a curtsy.

"Thank you for a lovely dance," I said before turning away.

"W-wait!" He called after me. Heavy footsteps followed, and I cursed myself knowing he pursued me. I pretended not to hear, weaving through the crowd in search of Lucas or an escape. After several turns through dense clusters of people, I risked a glance behind. The tall stranger stood searching the crowd, and guilt pricked at me. His head snapped toward me, and he hurried to close the distance. I rushed toward the dark hallway, discreetly sliding knives from my corset as I reached the archway. If I couldn't shake him, I'd need to resort to desperate measures. Vanya would have my head.

The hallway's darkness was a welcome relief after the bright ballroom. Before I could summon my shadows, a drunk couple crashed into me. I caught myself against the cold stone wall, my knife clattering to the floor. Their collision pushed me into an alcove - both a blessing and a curse. I glimpsed my pursuer through my stumble, but the alcove's cover let me pull shadows around myself until I was nearly invisible. Steadying myself, I peered around the corner. The stranger stood in the archway surveying the hall, disappointment clear on his masked face. I hurried deeper into the passage until it curved, spotting the man in the purple suit checking his watch once more before slipping through a door ahead.

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