moonlight, pressed tight

ring, as he stared into the eyes of the man

" Kael growled

ht hard-well-trained, quiet, quick-but Kael had fought harder but effortlessly. The scu

en spat at Kael's boo

ter, drawing a line of blood.

a," the man croaked, defia

tightened

ouldn't have surpri

"Why would the queen of the human kingdom want me dead? We'v

tter and short. "Th

ed. "Then tell me

n only

assassin's wrist until the dagger clattered to

o the palace guards who came rushing in, late but a

him toward the inner chambers. Kael stood motionless for a beat, his pulse

-

dn't

e map of the continent laid across the central table. Markers den

ed on the regio

y

y

rise, the prophecy. But that didn't explain an assassination attempt

bold. T

earing again the assassin's w

at play. A hidden piece in

gnawed

-

one smiled. Word of the incident had been contained to only a few trusted ea

against a straw dummy, sweat running down his neck. Hi

ty. But clarity

ing echoed

y would you send a

ted by the quiet shuffle

. And the

ess E

-a travel cloak over a muted gray tunic. Her hair was pulled back

re trying to silence

idn't

arms. "No one's seen you since aft

entertain

en?" Her voice was steady, but someth

to warn me? Or check if your m

u think I knew? That I'd be

wouldn't do," Kael replied. "W

e because I don't know what's

inal punch before wiping his hand on a clo

t's not pretend we'

in the air, sur

ace her again, s

melted into something unsp

"But don't expect answers to come easily. S

torn between mistrust

-

of water and the low groans of distant prisoners. Kael walked sl

cell, his wounds cleaned, but his face

tepped

idn't eve

nswers," Kael

ughed softly. "

What are you talking about

u w

. "Tell me what Que

," the man said. "Fears

h is obvious. What's not is why s

ause you're not just a threat to her k

do you

"Something buried deep. And you, Kael.

ned. "Unl

man only

ed. He gasped-and h

ard, grabbing hi

was t

n's mouth. His body jerked

ed under

eone had si

in thi

-

ng the valley where mist curled between the trees. The cool

asn't jus

hiding s

y. To the reason Queen Seraphine had

truth was dead. What could be so deep to have

different pa

. What past she carried. What secrets she b

art with he

-

, Kael sough

ch under a blooming mythera tree, its violet blossoms glowin

assassin's de

isoned before he

down. "So i

more to it. He said I was a threat not

t her a

d sharply

use of the prophecy-but because of somethin

That doesn't make sense. You were a child when s

er. "Unless she's

him. "What are

er may know more abou

retched be

said quietly. "But I need yo

help you?" she said

I'll take car

'll help you regardless. If she's hiding something... I don

, he was interrupted by

you my princess. It

_

arriages were lined at the gates, bearing the royal crest of Virelia. Courtiers exchanged ca

ge of the courtyard,

this was

eel it in

behind her, her expression set like stone. She looked eve

Kael's across the dist

d toward

p me?" she ask

listen if

ugged at the corner of h

cing each oth

uncertain of what he wanted to

he said finally. "But I'm be

his voice rough. "I want to under

. "But if she's hiding something... I

ach for her. H

ofter now. "Then be

ght nod, then

ge, she stopped-and glanc

hing passing between them. A q

into the carria

d tugging at his cloak, the scent of departi

if he had just

t had only