“It’s alright. Don’t be afraid. It’s just me.” The voice is low, soothing, but still my eyes stay shut.
“Listen to me, it’s alright. You’re safe. Open your eyes, Ruby,” he says again.
Slowly, my eyes open.
Before me, his face lit up by candlelight, stands the man who saved me three nights ago in Night Alley. But of course he’s not just a man – he’s anassassin. The very word fills me with fear, and yet, for some reason I haven’t stopped thinking about him.
I never told my sisters the full story. They know that I met the Scorpion, and that he agreed to help us with Hugo, but Blossom would throw a fit if she found out that I’d invited an assassininto the palace. She’d tell me I should’ve left as soon as I found out what he really was. She’d say princesses are like prey to men like him, and she’d be right. I certainly feel like prey as he towers over me, clad in black leather with daggers peeking from his sleeves.
But there’s something else there too, underneath all the fear – something that feels warm and tingly, and makes my fingers want to explore a certain forbidden place on my body.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” I whisper as his hand falls away from my mouth.
He shrugs. “I said I’d come and find you.” Lifting his chin, he glances around my bedchamber. “Pretty room for a maid.”
I swallow. “Yes, um… well, the princesses are very kind to me.”
“Seems like it,” he grumbles. Then his tone softens. “I found a way to get Hugo to leave the palace.”
“You did?”
He nods, still keeping a tight grip on my waist. “Once I confront him there’s no way he’ll want to stay here. I just need to catch him alone and then you and your…close friendscan live in peace.”
There’s no hiding my joy. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! We’ll pay you. I mean, the princesses will. Anything you want, it’s yours.” This is all so perfect. Hugo will be gone and everything will be as it was. “Oh, and there’s a ball next week!” I add.
He lifts an eyebrow.
“I mean, there’s a ball next week, so if you need to confront Hugo with less risk of being caught, many of the guards will take time off to attend the ball, and the servants will be busy preparing,” I explain. “It would be a good time to speak with him.”
A soft hum vibrates through his chest. “And I suppose you will be attending this ball?”
“Of course,” I say, but then I catch myself. “I mean… I’ll be attending to help with the food and tidy the plates, and—” Quick, what else do maids do? “Make sure the princesses are alright, and?—”
I gasp as his grip on my waist tightens.
“Princess Amaryllis.” His tone makes my knees feel weak. He knows my name… of course he does. “You really shouldn’t have lied to me.”
My insides twist. Perhaps I should try to scream again. But I doubt the guards would reach me in time.
“I’m so sorry,” I blurt. “I just didn’t know if I could trust you. I know it’s not safe out there for princesses. Father always says?—”
“Do not bring your father into this conversation,” he growls.
I flinch. “I’m sorry! I would’ve told you the truth if I’d known I could trust you.” Tears blur my vision, but I blink them away. There’s no point in crying. If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead already. Then again, by the way his hand has just slipped lower on my back, perhaps he wants something else first.
“Ruby…” he mutters.
I swallow.
Stars give me strength.With a strained breath, I dip my head. “Do what you want with me, but please, spare my sisters. They didn’t do anything wrong. It was my decision to go to Night Alley. My decision to find you. None of them even know that you’re here! Please, you can just kill me and leave!”
Any minute now, I’ll feel a dagger pierce my chest. I’ve angered an assassin, and now I’m going to die. I hear quiet footsteps as the Scorpion moves away, any warmth leaving the space on my back where his hand touched me.
Perhaps it’s not so bad. At least I know Blossom will be there for my sisters. They’ll be alright without me. Maybe everything will be?—
A strange sound pulls me from my panic. Is that… laughter?
I lift my head. A few metres away, my killer leans against my bedpost, eyeing me with an amused expression.
