Page 67 of Decoy

By threatening my sister, the curse had essentially robbed me of the time I still needed to discover how to break the curse, which left me no choice but to be forced to place their chosen sacrifice on the altar. For as dear as the princess had become, I couldn’t protect her at the cost of my precious sister. It was better to kill her now than to fall even deeper in love and be unable to perform the dreaded duty before me.

But just because I understood my duty didn’t in any way change my feelings for the princess…even as I knew that without her death there would be no other way to save not just my sister. Because of my growing resistance in attempting to free myself, killing her would put my heart firmly in the shadows’ power where it’d always meant to belong.

Perhaps it was for the best. Even if the princess and I had met under circumstances different than that of an assassin and his target, how could I willingly bring someone I loved into this world of blood and carnage, especially after failing to protect my innocent sister from it? I’d spent too long chasing a dream when my destiny was forever trapped in this shadowy nightmare from which there was no escape…leaving me no choice but to allow the shadow of death to consume me and finally steal my soul.

CHAPTER19

The starless night felt a fitting backdrop to my mission’s final production back at the palace, where I’d finally claim my target’s life. The closer I drew to the usual abandoned alcove where I’d asked the princess to wait for me upon my return, the more difficult each heavy step became.

Through the dark stillness I sensed her just up ahead. The thrill I took from her presence nearly robbed me of what was left of my weak resolve. She was so near; another step, and the trap I’d carefully laid would finally snare her. The closer she approached, the more ragged my breaths grew; I couldn’t take in enough air, as if I was the one near death rather than my target.

This is for the best. The curse required her blood, and the consequences were too dire should I refuse to sate its relentless appetite. For Laila’s sake I’d have to give in. I’d gone from doing all in my power to protect the princess to sacrificing her life.

I tried to rationalize the horrible duty by reminding myself that her death would be a fitting price for the curse her ancestors’ cooperation to Gadreel’s demands had condemned our family line to. Our short acquaintance would make it much easier to get over her death than should I choose her life over my sister’s. Eventually the curse would force me to give into its power, so it might as well be now for the noble cause of saving Laila.

But such rationalizations were meaningless now that I was with the princess again, leaving me desperate to find any other solution than to force the innocent to pay the price of a debt not of her making. Never had a single target’s life taken on such meaning, desires that meant nothing in the face of my unwanted duties.

It was a conundrum that felt impossible to solve, and I was rapidly running out of time. She was drawing closer; any moment it’d be too late. I tightened my shaky hold around my dagger in an effort to ground myself and fought to slow each of my frantic breaths so I could focus on the dreaded task at hand.

She stepped into the alcove and paused at my stance, poised to attack. When I made no motion to drop it, she released a heavy sigh. “You invited me here not for the sake of our investigation but that of your mission to kill me. It appears our temporary partnership has finally drawn to a close. You do like your games…Shadow.”

I stiffened at the address. I’d done my utmost to keep my assassin title from her. When had she discovered it?

She sensed my silent question. “I glimpsed part of the vision you saw when I brushed your shoulder, but as tempting as it was to ask you about it, I didn’t want to pry into a secret you undoubtedly had reason to protect.”

She sounded resigned and even pitying, which only made it more difficult to do what I’d come here for; tender emotion had no place midst such a dark duty. I forced a bow, resorting to the theatrics that had sustained me for so long, but which had felt meaningless ever since meeting her.

“This is the first we’ve formally met under my assassin name. Pleased to meet you, Princess.”

“I wish I could claim the same, but it’s difficult to take pleasure in our acquaintance thanks to its inevitable outcome.” She eyed the shadows, slinking ever closer in sinister anticipation. “Your skills are as legendary as the rumors claim.”

I used to take pride in the abilities that had once felt like all I had, but now I resented them knowing they cost the ultimate price. “You more than anyone knows the truth that my skills have come to naught considering I’ve yet to kill.”

“Until tonight? I can see your resolve to murder me…as well as the fear preventing you from actually doing it.” She stood resolutely with a lifted chin, bravery that only escalated my regret.

“With my weakness, only the most dire situation would compel me to actually follow through with my duty.” Even now I felt the need to confide in her, to savor the trust we’d built before I lost it forever. “They have my sister.”

Her brows furrowed. “They?”

“The shadows.”

Whispering this secret caused them to stir restlessly from the corridor’s dark corners, anger whose darkness slithered into my mind to impart their warnings.

Understanding widened her eyes. “The shadows are both your allies and your masters. In exchange for their powers, they require you to sacrifice the lives they seek…and due to the contract forged between both our ancestors, I’m their current target.”

She laid out the terms of our contract so plainly, yet sense did nothing for the reservations crowding my heart, my desperate yearning to spare her, especially after I’d guarded her for so long…only to become the one she needed protection from. It’d been a mistake to become so involved, but it was too late.

Despite everything, her earnest gaze met mine. “I’m grateful I better understand the circumstances. Your difficult position helps me forgive you.”

I gaped at her in disbelief. “Don’t be absurd; I deserve no forgiveness. Are you actuallyinvitingme to kill you?”

“Of course not,” she amended. “But such an outcome seems inevitable. My life has been forfeit for a long time, and though I don’t wish to die, at least sacrificing my life for a cause seems a better end than the meaningless death that was my initial fate.”

Had her life been in danger before we’d met? In my shock I had no words in response, but my hand clutching my dagger loosened. Her gaze flickered down to my lax grip and she stepped closer, enveloping me in her floral-scented warmth that I’d come to crave. My skin tingled as her hand wrapped around mine holding my weapon.

“It’s alright, Luke.”

Her forgiveness curled around the shards of my broken will. For so long I’d desperately longed for someone to see beyond my forced role, even though nothing terrified me more than the thought of stripping away all that the curse had molded me into.

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