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“I had this drunk idea one night and I put it to work immediately. Drunk Dace wastes no time.” He bent at his waist, picking up the assassin’s hand. Clamped around his wrist was a thin metal bracelet. “My family has always had those shackles spelled to keep you from being able to use your powers. I had pieces shaved off the cuffs to make bracelets. Just think of it as the travel size and you only need one.”
“Brilliant!” Jesseline nodded.
“Yes, now can you or can’t you figure out who this asshole is working for?”
“Easily.” She pressed the blade into his cheek, slicing a shallow cut.
“This is ridiculous. You know the rules, Jesseline. You could go to the guild to find out who I’m working for. This is unnecessary,” he hissed.
“Sorry, but you’ve crossed the line from part of my job, into messing with a friend.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Dace said, looking at her from under his eyelashes, his nose tilted toward the ground. “But what did you do with the..uh..” He trailed off.
The witch. My question too. Where was the deadly fucking witch?
“Oh, I brought it with me.”
“Here?” I coughed.
“No worries, I’ve tucked it away for safekeeping. It’s fine. Everything is fine.”
“Sure, that’s convincing.” Dace frowned.
“Do you trust me?” she pressed, still holding the knife against the assassin’s cheek.
“Mostly,” Dace hummed before he kicked the man one last time. “He is all yours, Jesseline.” Swiftly, he walked to my side. His eyes examined me for signs of injury, his hands carefully pulling the keys out of my grasp and sliding them across the floor to Jesseline.
“Now where were we?” he whispered, draping his arm across my shoulders and turning me toward the door.
Chapter18
Dace
Walking out of the library, I kept my hands in contact with Ryker. A small reassurance that I hadn’t lost her. She smiled up at me, her cheeks flushed, but otherwise unfazed by the incident. Even as my hands trembled against her skin, she squeezed my fingers, currently interlocked with hers.
“You seem rather well, despite the attack.” I tried to sound confident, pushing snark into my tone, as if it could heal every emotional wound if I just faked it.
“I’m surprisingly okay.” Her smile was more of a whisper over her full lips.
Our steps echoed over the stones down the hallway in such a way that occasionally I’d glance behind us to ensure we weren’t being followed. There had been two assassins, which shouldn’t have surprised me. I’m a king now and more powerful than most. Two assassins would be necessary to put up a real challenge for me. But one hadn’t come for me. They’d come for Ryker, and she seemed blissfully unaware of the threat to her own life.
“Never a dull minute. Guess it’s safe to say that if you choose life with me, you’ll always be on your toes.” I forced a chuckle.
“I already chose you.” She tilted her head toward my claiming marks.
“You’ve chosen to carry my scent. Any day you could always decide not to live your life with me.”
Sweat was drying across my forehead and the dip of my back where my shirt pressed against me. While I knew that one assassin wouldn’t be the end of me, saving my own ass could still be exhausting. The rest of my life could be exhausting.
“Don’t talk like that.” She paused, looking around. She took my hands in hers, clasping them in front of her.
“Ryker, I can’t promise that the rest of my existence won’t be filled with attempts to take my crown. No amount of guards or enchantments over the castle walls could promise your safety. Yet, now you seem unaffected, and I...I’m shaking like a damn leaf. How did you get so strong?” Leaning down, I pressed a kiss to her forehead, if only to soak in the peace that seemed to surround her.
“I’ve never known what you think of as safety. My life has always teetered on the edge, a balance of survival. I’ve gotten used to never knowing if today will be my last, or if I’ll be able to fulfill my plans for tomorrow. My security, my feeling of safety, comes from knowing my life contains people who truly care, Fae and Nymph alike, that I truly love. I am with you and that is enough.”
Pieces of my heart shattered. A terrible shame welled up inside my chest at my own privilege. I’d had an immensely secure and safe upbringing and now, in the face of danger, I questioned my ability. She’d never been safe and that created something much more unique, something a bit more hardy to hold on to.
“You’re too good for me.” I pulled her back up against my body, turning us back down the hall.
