Page 18 of Decoy

I sensed his smirk beneath his mask. “It appears you’re wise enough to recognize a warning when it’s given: it’s dangerous for a princess to be wandering by herself. Who knows what might happen.”

Even with his warning given he didn’t immediately move his threatening presence looming over me, only a breath away. Finally, with a quiet sigh he pushed away and dismissed me with an indifferent wave of his hand.

I didn’t hesitate to escape, risking a glance back at the end of the corridor…only to discover that rather than melt into the surrounding shadows as he’d done last night, he watched me, his gaze unreadable at such a distance. But I sensed his silent challenge.

With my head whirling with aggravating threats from charming but deadly assassins, the moment I assured myself he wasn’t following I snuck to the alcove I’d mentioned to Prince Castiel of Thorndale to see whether he’d taken my bait. There I crouched behind the drapes, parting them just enough to peer through.

The area remained abandoned until my legs grew numb. Eventually footsteps penetrated the stillness. I instantly tensed, on high alert…but it wasn’t Prince Castiel who arrived but the same assassin who seemed determined to make my life a misery. He must have been sent by the prince of Thorndale, and I took a moment to silently congratulate myself on having figured out the mastermind on my first try.

But as was usual with this odious man, my joy was short-lived. I’d thought myself fairly well hidden, but after a moment’s pause where he seemed to be enjoying the stillness of the night, he walked right up to my hiding place and parted the drapes.

“Good evening, Princess.”

Drat, I wasn’t supposed to actually be caught. My mouth went dry, making it impossible to answer even if I’d been so inclined, and my hand went instinctively to my makeshift weapon. But rather than move to kill me as I expected, he simply crouched in front of me with a rather smug, aggravating glint in his dark eyes.

“It appears my generous warning was in vain. It seems you’ve also heard of this cozy, tucked-away place ideal for quiet reflection, though such a hiding place makes it difficult to admire your favorite painting.” He gestured towards it, his expression stoic but his eyes already laughing. “So this is the art piece you so admire. Somehow it’s not the sort of painting I would imagine a fine woman of class would enjoy…though perhaps it’s not too surprising given your affinity for weapons.”

I glanced at it and too late noticed it was a scene depicting a particularly gruesome battle from Estoria’s history.

I straightened with a scowl. My legs had fallen asleep from crouching in such an uncomfortable position for so long. I stumbled, only saved from falling by his catching me by the elbow to keep me upright. Even before I steadied I shoved him away.

“My tastes in artwork have nothing to do with the likes of you. I’ve admired that painting enough for one evening, so if you’ll excuse me…”

I didn’t even await a response before I flounced away, half expecting him to follow and commit the deed he’d undoubtedly tracked me down for. But though I felt his gaze trail after me, I detected no sounds of pursuit, giving me reason to question whether he was truly the man who’d fallen into my trap or if our encounter had been another of many frustrating coincidences, of which I sincerely hoped this would be the last.

Even if hewasn’tmy intended target, the man was undoubtedly hiding something, and I was determined to discover what it was…even as I feared we were too unevenly matched for me to have any hopes of succeeding. If I didn’t navigate the situation carefully, I risked my own secrets, a thought almost worse than the constant threat of my impending death.

I was playing a very dangerous game, and it was only now just getting started.

CHAPTER6

LUKE

The shadows’ enticing whispers slithered through my thoughts, seducing me towards the action that would feed them.Kill her, kill her, kill her…yet despite their sinister temptations, I forced myself to remain still until the princess had disappeared down the corridor and out of sight. Only then did I release the shaky breath I’d been holding.

Once more she’d gotten away, something I felt a mixture of relief and frustration over. My already tenuous relationship with murder had only grown more complicated the moment I discovered that the woman I’d found traipsing the roof and trying to sneak into the royal armory wasn’t a spy as I’d initially suspected but the very target I’d been sent to kill. Even hours later the shock lingered.

Her identityshouldn’thave mattered…yet though I had no excuse, once more I’d failed to perform the unpleasant duty despite having ample opportunity. I could still feel her nearness within the enclosed passage, along with the way her freesia-scented warmth curled around my resolve and muddled all sense, making it impossible to reach for my dagger.

I’d done more than not kill her—I’d gone so far as to actuallysave her. I’d first noticed her presence near the kitchens while en route to my own destination and had been immediately compelled to follow her. I convinced myself I’d been guided by my obligation to slit her throat in order to be done with my mission before I had time to fully consider its implications, but instead, curiosity had guided my steps: what purpose did a royal have to sneak around her own palace?

Her skills in stealth were better than most, though not nearly good enough to prevent my being able to easily track her. Aided by the shadows’ whispers I followed each of her subtle sounds, their cooperation fueled by their eagerness for the promised reward that awaited them. I forced away thoughts of their bloodlust in order to better concentrate.

The shadows suddenly shifted. Within them I detected another presence just up ahead, lying in wait for the princess to pass. I soundlessly withdrew my dagger and hooked my awareness into the surrounding darkness, allowing it to wrap around me so I could effortlessly close the distance between me and the mysterious assailant.

I arrived just as he threw his dagger. I used the split second after it left his hand and before it flew towards its target to parry it with my own weapon, just enough to deflect his otherwise steady aim. Rather than the sound of the princess’s death filling the night, instead the blade struck the wall, mere inches away.

I released a shaky breath. Too close. If I’d delayed by a single second…but I hadn’t. My duty to be the best raised me above such an amateurish mistake, for I was the Shadow, heir to the most skilled assassin house.

I’d no sooner entertained myself with my usual silent boasting than out of nowhere a knife flew towards me. I barely had time to dodge it, but this time my movements weren’t quick enough to avoid the stinging pain that pierced my upper cheek as it hit its mark. For a moment shock rendered me still. Had theprincessbeen the one to throw the knife, and had it actuallystruck me?

I had little time to wonder at this impossibility when the dagger-thrower’s dark silhouette suddenly spun around and attacked. This time I lazily dodged their strike, their speed no match for mine. I could easily have disarmed them, even killed them if I’d been so inclined…but the princess’s frantic footsteps drifting father down the corridor made him the least of my priorities.

Normally the presence of a third party posed a problem for any assassin. I’d been trained to take out anyone who stood between me and my target, but not before I used any means necessary to acquire every last piece of information concerning their own motives. Whoever had attacked the princess remained close enough I could easily catch them…but a much stronger force drew me towards her instead.

I settled for the next best alternative. Thanks to the shadows’ guidance, the limited light proved no hindrance. I easily struck the hilt of my dagger against the back of his head, not hard enough to kill him…though for the first time in my life the idea was rather tempting, though I didn’t pause to analyzewhy.

He collapsed with a groan, an indication I hadn’t hit him hard enough to render him unconscious, yet another mistake to taint my usual perfect performance. This alone should have been enough to compel me to linger, but rather than pursue this assassin as I’d been trained, the only one I yearned to pursue washer.

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