Page 17 of Decoy

For a moment I briefly wondered whether I’d been too hasty in my assumptions that Lord Luke and this assassin were one and the same. Other than similar mannerisms and his having glanced questioningly at my healed wrists, I had little proof. My gaze flickered to the cut beneath his eye, quite distinguishable and impossible to hide. That would prove a useful identifier the next time we met.

His keen observation noticed the trajectory of my gaze. “It appears that thanks to my carelessness I am at equal disadvantage, though I suppose both of our knowing one another’s identities will even the playing field and make this game of cat and mouse all the more interesting.”

“If not from my knife, then where did you get that cut?”

“That, my princess, is asecret, perhaps one I can use to barter for some of your own.”

It took considerable effort to mask my escalating panic. The secrets he coveted were undoubtedly all that kept his interest; the moment he lost it, my life would be forfeit.

I lifted my chin. “I have no reason to divulge my secrets without your own in exchange.”

“Stubborn, though it appears you know how to play this game.” He sounded thoroughly amused. “Perhaps a bargaining chip is in order.”

He withdrew my dagger he’d stolen from the royal armory. I immediately lunged for it, but like last night, he merely held it aloft, his greater height making it impossible for me to even graze my fingers along the hilt.

“It appears you fail to understand the finer points of negotiation: I’ll give you what you want only in exchange for whatIdesire.”

I weighed the potential risks of his offer. “I cannot concede until I fully understand the nature of your request. What could you possibly need from me?”

He hesitated, as if weighing the pros and cons of tipping his hand this early. “I need access to the forbidden tomes.”

“The what?” My ignorance escaped before I could hold it back.

His eyebrow rose. “The palace library houses a section of rare books only the royal family can access. I’d question your lack of knowledge if it weren’t clear how little time you’ve spent at the palace.”

I gratefully seized his proffered excuse even as I silently berated myself for my careless slip; the recent attack must have shaken me more than I’d realized.

“The lock guarding what I seek can only be breached by a member of the royal family.”

Of which I most definitely was not. Unfortunately, I wasn’t masquerading as just any princess, but amagicalone whose powers should make it easy to pass through a magical barrier. The moment he realized how little help I could actually provide, my cover would be blown.

“Despite your royal status, I’m left to wonder whether you can actually assist me, considering you’ve already proved your inability to enter the royal armory.” He tauntingly twirled my dagger expertly with his fingers as he pondered a puzzle.

“My unfamiliarity with the magic that comes with my true identity provides ample reason, whereas you have yet to present an adequate excuse for your own inconsistency: the lock on the royal armory posed little challenge for you, yet you’re struggling to access the forbidden tomes.” The contradiction gave me reason to wonder whether my help accessing the forbidden tomes wasn’t what he was truly after.

He nodded approvingly. “It appears the princess is clever. Unfortunately, the natures of the two protections are quite different, else I assure you I’d have long since acquired what I seek.”

Despite myself, I found myself curious what this masked man could possibly want to discover enough to bargain with me. “As much as I value my dagger, it seems an uneven exchange. Considering you’re a man who sneaks about the palace at night and steals weapons from the royal armory, I have no reason to trust you.”

“And my saving your life wasn’t enough to convince you? The nature of my quest leaves me little use for your eternal silence.”

Perhaps…but even if his claims that he never missed his deathly aims were to be believed, he might still be my attacker but had missed on purpose to serve as a warning or as a way to force me into his debt; he seemed the type of man who found great entertainment in playing with his food. I also couldn’t dismiss the possibility that it wasn’t the knowledge hidden behind a magical lock he sought, but information aboutme.

He sighed. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. If you believe I’m requiring too much for a mere dagger, then I have a much more efficient bargaining chip in mind.” The air immediately shifted and he took a menacing step closer. “It appears that despite the dangers, you find yourself alone, Princess.”

Fear lodged in my throat. “Dangers?”

“Indeed. Without the safety of a guard,anythingcould happen.”

I only lacked a guard because I’d snuck from my bedroom window, leaving those who stood outside my room with the impression I still slept peacefully within the safe confines of my bedroom. My wandering the halls unaccompanied tainted the illusion that I was really who I claimed.

He rested his hand on the wall behind me to trap me within a cage and leaned forward, closing in on me with a determined glint that made me realize what he intended to do. My breath caught. “Either I cooperate…or you’ll kill me after all.”

Rather than respond, he tauntingly stroked my cheek with my own blade, which was all the answer I needed. I tensed in preparation to run…only I had no escape. He’d already proved his quicker speed and would catch me effortlessly, concluding this little game in yet another failure on my part, only this time there’d be no second chance.

At my desire to live, resistance flared, strengthening my resolve. No, that wouldn’t happen. If I was to die, it’d be as myself, not as a decoy under a false name. Which meant that until I found a way to obtain the upper hand, I’d be forced to play according to his rules.

“Very well, I’ll find a way to access the forbidden tomes.”

---