“As long as it’s not me.” Alex chuckles, and we continue on our way to the arena.
Gods,I hope Alex will forgive me. Hopefully he won’t ask about it and I won’t have to lie to him . . . again. I’m a terrible friend. But this is for his own good, and I work better alone.
Margot’s note is practically burning a hole in my pocket. I wait until Phantom and I are safely off palace grounds before pulling it out and rereading the information. Antonio’s warehouse is on the outskirts of Elsmont, so my ride will be a short one.
He will regret his decisions. Stealing from the innocent to line his pockets sure was a choice.
After securing my mask, Phantom and I gallop off into the night. The wind is biting, and I crouch lower in my saddle. What I wouldn’t give for the warmer summer nights I had been complaining about just a few months ago.
All too soon, I spy my target. Phantom and I slow to a walk and I lead him into the nearby forest.
“That’s a good boy,” I say, rubbing Phantom’s muzzle affectionately, making sure his marking is still covered before feeding him an apple I had stashed in my pocket. “Listen for my signal, okay, boy?” He snorts at me, and I move to the saddle bags to grab my supplies.
I glance up to the sky—Luna’s moon is brighter than normal, which is not great for my mission. Almost as if she’s listening, clouds roll in and cover it.Thank you, Luna. I grin; the gods are on my side. Tonight is sure to go perfectly.
On swift, silent feet, I run the short distance to the warehouse. The buildings are more run down out here, and I’m reminded of the crown’s negligence. Not that my father would care to spend his coin to help them . . .
When I make it to the building, I hug the wall, doing my best to blend into the shadows. Margot’s note says Antonio has a small living space on the upper level. I just need to get in first. I scope out the building, and the only guards present are at the front. Silently making my way to the main entrance, I pause before turning the corner and dip my hand into the pouch of sleep dust I recently acquired. Putting guards to sleep is faster than knocking them out physically, and though admittedly less fun, I’m going for stealth tonight.
My hand full of dust, I casually turn the corner and blow it into their unsuspecting faces.
“What in the h—” one chokes out before slumping to the ground.
The other starts to pull his sword, but before it’s all the way out of its sheath, I sweep a foot behind his legs and he falls. I almost chuckle at the loud snore that comes out of his mouth as the sleep dust takes effect. Step one complete.
Feeling around for a key in their pockets, I grimace at the violation. I really don’t enjoy this part. Thankfully, I find a key in Sleepy Guard Number Two’s pocket and oh-so-quietly fit it into the lock. When the door swings wide into the dark open space, I pause. Is this far too easy? Is this a trap? No. I’m just jittery.
The floor creaks beneath my boot, and I wince, pausing for any kind of reaction, but when none comes, I suck in a deep breath. I almost wish I hadn’t when the stench of unwashedbodies, stale ale, and rotting fruit assails my nose. My eyes finally adjust to the darkness, and I take in the open space. Two large unlit wooden chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and barrels and boxes of supplies line the walls, but as far as I can tell, all is quiet and no one lies in wait. I head for the narrow stairs that lead to the upper level.
When I make it to the small landing, I pause as a strange chill creeps down my spine. Glancing down into the mostly empty warehouse space below, I check for movement. Something isn’t right . . . Everything in my gut is telling me to turn and run, but I hate running from a fight, and I need to teach Antonio a lesson.
There’s a faint glow underneath one door. Before I can overthink it, I pull my sword and barge in.
Antonio rises from his seat at the table, the firelight flickering in his amber eyes. “So, you’ve come to exact your revenge? I was wondering when you’d show up.” He looks far too relaxed in his weaponless state as I stalk closer with my sword.
“You thought you could steal from the very people I aim to protect?”
My sword pokes his chest, but I don’t put enough pressure to cut.
He lifts his hands in mock surrender, refusing to back away as a laugh chortles out of him. “You’d kill an unarmed man?”
I flash him a smile. “Would you like to find out? Though you’re lucky it’s me and not the king who’s discovered your treachery. Were it him, you’d already be dead.”
Antonio relaxes his stance even further, raising a calculating brow. “Are you so certain,Shadow?”
The mockery does not go unnoticed, and his complete lack of fear gives me pause. What am I missing?
His eyes flicker behind me, and the subtle whoosh of a blade has me spinning away, leaping to put Antonio between me and my new opponent.
My blade pressed against his chest, I draw Antonio closer to me. “No sudden moves,” I growl at him and his accomplice, who’s standing right where I used to be. “Throw down your weapon, unless you’d prefer to see Antonio without a head.”
“Do what he says,” Antonio grits out.
The burly man throws down his sword with a clang and backs up a step.
“No sudden moves,” I remind him.
I pull Antonio with me and skirt around the man, leaving the room and making my way to the railing that overlooks the open warehouse. This is feeling more and more like a trap.
