Page 10 of Decoy

“For now. For your sake you’d best hope it remains that way. Now I must bid you good night, for though you claim to be lost, I know exactly where I need to be. I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.” With that, he seemed to melt into the night, as if the shadows themselves had swallowed him up.

Though I immediately felt his absence, I remained unconvinced he was truly gone. I waited, searching every sound, movement, and sensation filling the darkness. When I was certain he’d truly left, I resumed my journey towards my destination. The interaction with the assassin had cost me time, though the lost minutes were easy to make up considering I still retained my life.

Based on my mental map, I estimated the best place to slip back inside the palace, and then it was a simple trick of navigating the corridors. Each step heightened the memory of the last time I’d snuck through these hallways, but unlike that doomed night, this time I wouldn’t fail.

I spotted the room I sought just up ahead, unguarded. My excitement at my good fortune vanished the moment I noticed the lock—glittery light surrounded the keyhole, a protective charm I’d seen many times but had never learned how to breach.

I supposed it was too much to hope that the royal weapons wouldn’t be guarded by a lock that was nearly impossible to break, for the magic protecting it not only required a specific key but would immediately alert the guards that someone was attempting to infiltrate the room.

As far as I knew, only those possessing the royal blood required to wield the kingdom’s magic could open it. Such a lock undoubtedly also guarded other doors within the palace, the most efficient protection for the royal family’s secrets and treasures…a seemingly impenetrable obstacle that would require great ingenuity for me to overcome.

Blast it all.

I firmly tucked away the discouragement weighing upon me and went to work studying the lock, but I hadn’t been attempting to decipher the riddle long when a voice slithered from the shadows. “I confess I never expected your mysterious destination to be the royal armory, but considering you lack a weapon, perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised.”

I startled at the deep voice and spun around. For a moment I saw no one…though I sensed his already familiar dreaded presence. It took me far too many precious seconds in which he could have killed me half a dozen ways before I finally detected him, blending so seamlessly into the shadows as to almost render him invisible.

I wasted more time staring in blatant disbelief, fighting to keep my expression impassive so he wouldn’t discern how unsettled he’d left me; I wouldn’t give him such satisfaction when he already possessed the upper hand. It took some time midst my shock to uncover my lost voice. “Did you follow me?”

That was truly a terrifying thought. It was one thing to know I was being stalked and quite another to be taken completely by surprise. I’d checked several times and had been certain I remained alone…which meant he’d tracked me with such precision I had no hopes of noticing him.

He fully emerged into the pools cast by the flickering torchlight, his gaze riveted to me. “I’ve never pursued such an interesting target—not only are you mischievous, but you’re quite beautiful.”

Too late I remembered that the illuminating candlelight robbed me of any chance of anonymity the next time we met. I gritted my teeth in frustration over my own carelessness. “You cheated.”

He chuckled. “On the contrary;youfailed to mask yourself from the light.”

He was right, and oh how I hated it. One would think I’d have been more careful with the precious life I’d been granted, but in my eagerness to pursue my goal, I’d already gambled away my best protection.

Curses.

He leaned against the wall, arms folded in a picture of ease. “It appears you’ve found your destination well enough, but I suppose you didn’t account for such an obstacle. Perhaps you’re in need of assistance?”

“From who,you?No one can get past such a lock.”

“For every absolute, there’s always an exception forexceptional assassins.” He wriggled his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes. “And you consider yourself of such a prestigious caliber?”

“Challenge accepted.” He crouched to examine the lock barring me from what I desired. “An enchanted lock. Fascinating.”

He didn’t sound the least bit discouraged, which caused my hope to rise against my better judgment. “Do you truly know how to get past it?” It was a gamble whether he’d actually tell me, though it didn’t hurt to place my bet on his inflated ego.

“Close your eyes and allow the master to work.”

Rather than obey, I folded my arms with a wry look. “You must think me a fool to place myself in such a vulnerable position in the presence of an enemy.”

Rather than being offended he simply nodded in approval, as if I’d just imparted great wisdom. “It appears you’re not entirely without sense. I suppose I’ll have to protect one of my many valuable tricks of the trade another way.”

He masked the lock with his body, blocking my view. I tried to crane my neck to better see but couldn’t manage it. Frustrated, I hit his back with my fists—the only defense I currently had—but his firm muscles hurt my hand more than I apparently hurt him.

Bemusement filled his backwards glance. “Did you actually think that would work?”

I released a frustrated breath. “It was worth a try.”

He laughed quietly before returning to the lock. I watched him work with a steady glare. The man was surely bluffing his claims to be able to breach it, for magical locks were impossible to—

Theclickof the unlocked door echoed through the night. I was too stunned to even attempt to force a façade of indifference.

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