Page 44 of Cage of Darkness
Allyssa removed her hair ribbon andunbraided her hair, allowing it to cascade down around hershoulders. “Your point?”
He blinked two times before replying,“Even though he lied to you, you trust him?”
“Implicitly.”
“Fine,” he whispered. “Hecan help. In exchange, I’ll see you both safely out of Russek andensure we don’t attack Emperion or Fren. I give you myword.”
“And I will kill the queenand her wretched family.” She would gladly finish what her mothershould have done twenty years ago. And she would revel in theirdeaths. “I also give you my word.”
ChapterSeventeen
Allyssa lay on the couch covered in aplethora of fur blankets trying, and failing, to fall asleep.Thoughts of killing Jana, Eliza, Shelene, and Soma consumed her.Kerdan had said they would make it appear to be an accident. Whileshe wouldn’t be murdering them in cold blood, she would still beresponsible for their deaths. One of her first conversations withthe assassin came back to her. He said she was like him—a killer.That even if she didn’t actually do the physical killing, givingthe order was the same thing. And he’d told her that one day, whenshe contemplated killing, she would remember that conversation. Shetruly hated Soma.
She rolled over, fluffing the pillowbelow her head. It was well past midnight, and Kerdan hadn’treturned yet. Could he be working at this late hour? Perhaps he wasout with his friends. Although, she didn’t envision him as the sortof man who had a lot of friends. Maybe he was with a woman. Thatthought didn’t bode well with her. Regardless of where he was andwhat he was doing, not knowing made her realize how little she knewabout the prince.
The wind howled outside. She hadforgotten to close the curtains. Thick clouds dotted the sky; ayellow moon semi-visible cast odd, elongated shadows in the room.Burrowing under the blankets, she wished Kerdan would return soonand get a fire going in the hearth. If it wasn’t so bloody cold,she would do it herself. If she knew how to start one.
The light from the moon shifted, andsomething to her left moved. She remained perfectly still, eyeswide. Watching. Waiting. Keeping her breathing slow, she pretendedto be asleep. And then she saw a ripple in the shadows of the room.Soma slunk along the wall, moving closer and closer to her. Panicflooded her. When Kerdan had left, he’d locked the doors and toldher not to let anyone in. How had the assassin managed to gainentrance?
Her heart beat wildly. If only she hada weapon of some sort. To survive this attack, she needed theelement of surprise on her side. She kept still, wanting theassassin to believe she was asleep and vulnerable.
Soma crouched next to her, a slowsmile of triumph spreading across his face. She freed her left arm,reached out, and latched onto his wrist, squeezing in just theright place. He dropped his dagger, cursing. Allyssa tried to situp, but he jumped on top of her, smothering her with the weight ofhis body.
“One of the things I admireabout you,” he said, “is your desire to fight.” He dug his kneeinto her chest and pulled her arms above her head with his lefthand. “I’m sorry to see you go.” His free hand snaked around herneck. “We could have had suchfuntogether.” He squeezed.
She gasped for air, her eyes bulging.This could not be happening. After all she had endured, she wouldnot die like this. If she could free a leg, she could kick him offher. However, between Soma’s body weight, the heavy blankets, andthe lack of air, she could do no such thing. He squeezed harder,and her vision clouded. He readjusted his grip on her neck, his armcloser to her mouth now. Twisting her head, she bit him. Hisfingers loosened, and she sucked in some much-neededair.
“I’m glad you’re resistingand biting me to get free. It lets me know how badly you want tolive.” He squeezed her neck again and leaned down close to her ear,his hot breath washing over her face. “I see the disgust in youreyes. And that overwhelming hatred is beautiful.”
She managed to pull one of her handsfree and reached up, grabbing Soma’s hair and yanking a chunk of itout. He screamed, loosening his hold. She slammed her head againsthis. He released her, and she shoved his body. He hit the lowtable, tumbling to the ground. Gasping for breath, Allyssa climbedout from under the blankets and faced her attacker.
He grabbed her ankle and tugged. Shefell next to him, landing on her backside. “You want to do this therough way?” he sneered. “I tried to kill you quickly out ofrespect.” He nimbly sprang to his feet.
She twisted and kicked his leg. Helunged for her, and she rolled out of the way, a flash of painripping across her stomach. Soma stood hovering above her,chuckling, a dagger dripping with blood in his hand.
“You cut me,” she said,anger boiling inside of her. She could not lose this fight—not withso much at stake. Her people’s fate depended on her survivingthis.
“It’s the first of many.”He darted forward, cutting her arm.
Bloodyhell. She had never encountered an opponentwho could move so fast. Scrambling to her knees, trying to putspace between them, she looked for something to use as aweapon.
Soma took a slow, menacing step towardher. “Now don’t be shy.”
Suddenly, he flew across the room, hisbody hitting the wall and crashing to the ground.
“Are you okay?” Kerdanasked, his shoulders heaving up and down.
She blinked, surprised bythe turn of events. He’d justthrownSoma. “I think so,” shecroaked out, her voice hoarse, and her throat on fire. Climbingonto the couch, she tried breathing normally. Her head felt like itwas spinning.
Kerdan unsheathed his sword, pointingthe tip at his stepbrother. “Get up, you filthy piece ofslime.”
The assassin wiped the blood from hissplit lip as he stood. “I was just trying to have a little fun withher.” The dagger in his hand disappeared up his sleeve. “You seemto be overly concerned with her well-being. You know she isRussek’s enemy, don’t you?”
“I told you not to touchher,” Kerdan said, the tip of his sword still pointed at Soma. “Iam the crown prince, and you will obey me.”
“I think Father will bevery interested in hearing how you’re becomingsoftover a girl. Perhaps he’ll giveher to me instead.”
Allyssa’s vision blurred, her arm andstomach going numb. Something was wrong. “Kerdan.”
