Istandwith my back to the wall, one eye on Fabia, the other scouting for danger.The Court hasn’t attacked yet, and with every passing second, my unease strengthens.
“Clear,” Jacesaysas he appearsat the door.Stepping out, he gesturesme in.
Mid-step, I hear someone shouting my name.I turn just as Jace shovesme inside the room.He gruntsin pain, then eruptsinto laughter.And I know that whoever hurt himwillnot be alive by the time I turn around.
Fabia screamsas she’sshoved in behind me.Icatchher in myarms, backpedaling fast to counter her momentum.Asawindow shattersbehind me, I curse.
Shoving Fabia back towards the door, I grab the two knives sheathed on my forearms.Pulling them out, I turn.
A shuriken cutsacross my cheek.Another hitsmy left shoulder.Athird sailsoverhead as I drop to the ground and throw one of myownknives into the stomach of a woman with blue hair.
As shefallsto her knees, Irolltowards the assassin to my left.My fingers grab the shuriken embedded in my flesh mid-roll.Pulling it out, I fling it at the assassin on my right.
Shooting to my feet beneath my last target, I jerk my hand up.My knifesinksdeep into her stomach.Grabbing her armas itarcstowards me with another blade, I lean back until I hit the ground.Flipping us over myhead, I jerk the knife all the way up to her throat.She gurglesin the last seconds of consciousness as I toss her across the room.
Back on my feet, I turn to face the other two I wounded butdidn’tincapacitate.
Fabiastandsover them.Shaking.Bloodied.But strong.
One of the assassinsis lyingon her back, unmoving.The otherissitting on the floor, her hands pressed to herbelly, trying to hold in her intestines.
Walking over to them, I squat in front of the gutless woman.“Who are you working for?”I ask softly.
Lifting her chin, she refusesto answer.I’m notsurprised.I’m notexactly known for my mercyeven if they do talk.
Nodding at her, respecting her loyalty even though itisn’tfor me, I turn to the woman passed out on the ground.Without a word, I slit her throat.
Ignoring Fabia’s shout, I swivel and burymy dagger into thefirstassassin’s heart.Sheholdsmy gaze until the last of her life escapesher lips.
“Why did you do that?”Fabia shrieksas she pointsJace’s knife at me.“They were down.They surrendered.They –”
“Committed an act of treason.If I’d let them live, theywouldhaveonly tried again.And an execution could turn them into martyrs.”
Herheadshakesfeverishly.“You could’ve imprisoned them.You’ve could’ve–”
“Let them rot away for the rest of their lives?”
“Yes!”
Her innocencemakesme smile.What I wouldn’t give to believe that deathisthe worst thing thatcanbefall a person.
Her eyes widening in disgust and fear, she backsaway.Right into Nicholas’ hard chest.His arms wrap around her, and he disarmsher in the same second.As the knife cluttersto the floor, he pullsher away from me.
“Let me go!”she screams
He murmurssomething in her ear.Itdoesn’tseem to calm her any.
Turning from her, I look at Jace as he entersthe room.My eyes latch on to the wound in his arm.A massive hole requiring immediate attention according to anyone else.A flesh wound according to Jace.
“How many?”I ask.
“A dozen, including these three.”
“You know any?”
He nods.“Frances, Lei, Delilah, Prione.”Gesturing at the one Ithrewacross the room, he murmurs, “Jennifer.”He looksat the one whose heart I pierced.“And that’s Ashley.I’ll get the identities of the rest.”
“Any of them have ties to the Court?”
