Assassin's Maze

by Everly Frost

I sway on the spot, reaching out to plant my hand against the wall. “An archer needs an arrow.”

  Slade reaches my side, shooting Briar wary looks. “What is it, Hunter?”

  “Dad gave me a message. The last time Mom saw him, she asked him to tell me… an archer needs an arrow. She gave me the name ‘Glass Arrow.’ She even designed my tattoo in the shape of an ‘A.’”

  Shock burns through me. Clarity is a sharp blade cutting through my thoughts.

  I say, “I am the arrow and Archer needs me.”

  Slade’s expression clears. “Your mother wasn’t protecting Patrick. She was protecting baby Archer. Archer is the child your Mom saved.”

  I nod. “She hid the baby in plain sight with the fiercest protector she could find. Patrick Ryan wasn’t Archer’s real father.” I spin and seize Briar’s shoulders. “What color are Archer’s eyes?”

  She startles. “You think she’s the girl you asked me to find?”

  “Briar! Her eyes!”

  “Blue, but she wears colored contact lenses. I know because she dropped a case of them out of her shoulder bag one day.”

  I breathe, “Of course. She grew up in the underground. She would hide such a distinctive trait.”

  Briar shivers in my grasp. “She broke the fifth rule, Hunter. She’s in danger. You have to stop the Guardian from sanctioning her death.”

  My heart rate speeds up. “It’s already done. Archer has been given a death sentence.”

  Briar’s face falls. “Already? I tried to come back sooner but Lady Tirelli’s thugs were following her. I had to stop them. I told Archer to come here—that she would find help on Saber Lane.”

  I don’t blame Archer for not following Briar’s instructions. Someone like Archer who has survived the underground, lived in it her whole life and then run from it when her father was killed, will never trust anyone but herself. There is no such thing as safe in a life like hers.

  Briar eyes light up with ferocity. “She fought like you, Hunter. With precision. Finding her enemy’s weaknesses. She is a force to be reckoned with.”

  Of course she is. She is Keres. A born warrior. As strong as me.

  “You said she saw through Lutz’s blur.” I flick a glance at Slade. “He didn’t tell us that.”

  “I don’t think he believed it happened,” Briar says. “But Cain’s people were watching. They followed Lutz to report back on the outcome of my assassination. Archer bumped into Cain right after. She didn’t look well and he helped her.”

  The mention of Cain rings alarm bells for me. Amalia said something about Cain when I fought her... She asked me where the Horde’s Realm is and who would win in a fight between Cain and Slade…

  Slade is a wall of stone. “I can’t protect her, Hunter. I’m bound by the rules. If it comes to a fight between me and her…”

  Briar doesn’t know that I’m Valkyrie so Slade has to speak carefully, but his meaning is clear. If Archer is the Keres woman, then she can only be killed by a Valkyrie—or if she chooses to die. Slade is the first male Valkyrie. I made him so.

  He could end her.

  She could end him.

  There is no good outcome to that fight.

  In fact… any assassin with a ring powered by a Valkyrie feather could hurt Archer. Since most are, she is far more threatened by assassin’s magic than I am.

  “What about Lutz” I ask.

  Slade says, “I told him I wouldn’t kill Archer until he completes his surveillance. He may have approached Cain already...” His gaze drills in me. “You have to get her out of this mess. I can’t go with you. The moment I see her, I’m bound to end her. You have to bring her back to your territory where I don’t have jurisdiction. Then we’ll find a way to save her. We have to.”

  I can’t waste another moment. I spin to Briar with my heart pounding. Archer Ryan is the Keres woman who can open the maze and help us find the feathers.

  She has the power to save me or let me die.

  I say, “Tell me where to find Cain.”

  Chapter Nine

  I ignore my numb fingertips as I soar across Boston, my body blurred as I speed toward Cain’s house. Leaving Slade is like leaving the sun behind. I grow colder with every moment. By the time I reach Weston where Cain’s house is located, I can’t feel my feet.

  I sail past mansions and perfectly manicured gardens until I reach a massive white home surrounded by a wrought-iron fence that is laden with security. Cain once told me that he uses infra-red security cameras, so I land further down the street, well before I trigger the security system. I walk the remainder of the distance on foot, fully visible, stamping the feeling back into my toes.

  I stop at the gate and stare up at the security camera, waiting to see if I triggered anything. A moment later, I press the buzzer, braced and ready for anything.

  A male voice that is not Cain’s says, “Hunter Cassidy… we were expecting you. Please step inside.”

  The gate clicks open and slides wide enough to allow me through. In the distance, a man strides toward me. He looks vaguely familiar, definitely ex-military, and completely human.

  I stop several paces away from him.

  He says, “I’m Ross, the head of Cain’s security detail. We met a few weeks ago, if you recall?”

  I nod. “Your people watched over Saber Lane for a while.” That was after my first failure to heal properly. “I’m here to see Cain.”

  “I’m afraid you missed him. He left with his sister an hour ago. They are on a plane to Austin.”

  “Only with his sister?”

  Ross gives me a small smile. “This is for you.”

  He hands me a white envelope with my name written on it. I rip it open on the spot.

  Hunter,

  I’m taking Archer with me. She isn’t what we thought she was. In fact… she is a lot of things we never suspected.

  Tell Slade that if he wants to end her, he will have to go through me first.

  All I ask is that he waits a week until I have been appointed as Master of the Horde. The Guardian can arrange the fight.

  I won’t give Archer up.

  Don’t try to contact me. I won’t respond.

  Take care of yourself, Hunter.

  Yours,

  Cain.

  “Damn.” I rub my hand across my forehead, my stomach sinking so fast that I think I’m going to throw up. Cain is trying to protect Archer, but he’s breaking the Code by interfering and for a Master to do that…

  Slade is duty bound to challenge and kill him.

  Amalia’s laughing voice repeats on me. Who will win in a fight between Slade and Cain?

  Damn! This whole situation just got a lot worse. I could have found a way to protect Archer, but now Cain has challenged Slade. Cain… who wears a Keres ring…

  They could kill each other.

  I scrunch the envelope in my fist, wanting to set it on fire. My timing is terrible. I should have been here an hour ago.

  Ross asks, “Can I have someone take you back to Saber Lane?”

  I’m already backing away. “No, thank you. I’ll catch a cab.”

  I race along the pathway, the gate opening just in time to let me through before I pelt down the street. I run until I’m sure nobody is watching. Then I blur and take to the sky, welcoming the numbing cold this time.

  I can’t let them fight.

  I land on Tansy’s doorstep, put away my wings, and race inside.

  Slade is the first to jump to his feet.

  Briar hovers anxiously behind him. “Where is she?”

  I press Cain’s letter against Slade’s broad chest. “I was too late. She’s gone. Cain took her. He has… challenged you, Slade.”

  Slade stares at the letter without touching it. “Cain has decided to interfere? Damn. Does the letter say why?”

  “Read it.”

  Slade slips the letter out of my grip, but he keeps me in the circle of his arms. He curses softly as he reads. When he finishes, he hands
the letter to Briar who passes it to Tansy and Vlad.

  Slade rubs his fist across his forehead in frustration. “This situation just got a lot worse.”

  My heart is beating far too rapidly. “Amalia will do everything she can to find Cain and get to Archer. She told me she doesn’t know where the Horde’s Realm is so that’s the only safe place for them. We need to get a message to Cain somehow—tell him to take Archer to the Realm. If I try to contact him, he will see it a threat.”

  Briar pipes up, declaring, “He will talk to me. I used to be a Horde assassin. I was second in command. He can’t refuse my call.” She pulls her coat from the back of the nearest chair. “I will get a burner phone from Ridley and make sure Cain takes Archer to the Realm.”

  “Thank you, Briar.”

  She touches my arm as she passes. “Is there anything else I should tell him?”

  I look to Slade, who is resigned as he says, “Tell Cain I accept his terms. The Guardian will set it up.”

  As soon as Briar is gone, I take Slade’s hand. “You can’t fight him. His assassin’s ring is powered by a Keres feather. You’ll kill each other.”

  A sharp tingle of uncontrolled power rushes from Slade into me as he reacts instinctively to the news. His eyes flood with silver but he inhales, quickly calming himself. When he drops his forehead to mine, closing his eyes, I sense that he is harnessing his good memories to stop his power from spiraling out of control.

  Vlad shakes his head. “That is unfortunate. Keres rings are very rare. My understanding is that there are only three: one made from the feather of the Keres Queen and two from her young daughter. Both females were imprisoned before the ringmakers raided the Valkyrie home. It was always unclear how the Keres females escaped.”

  “The Keres Queen sold out the Valkyrie to save her daughter. I’m not sure if they died soon after anyway because they each lost a feather like Amalia did.” I squeeze my eyes closed. If there are only three Keres rings—and we have the other two—then at least I can rest easy that no other assassin can kill me.

  Only Cain.

  I shiver. My hand shakes against Slade’s chest. Cain will treat me like an enemy now, not a friend. Worse, his ring is powered by royalty like Slade’s is. A fight between them will be devastating.

  Slade says, “Cain has given us a week. We can count on him to keep Archer safe for now. In fact, if he is determined enough to challenge me, then Amalia will have a fight on her hands.”

  He ticks off tasks as if none of it could mean the death of us. “In the meantime, Tansy and I will work on locating the hidden Realm. Vlad will find out everything he can about Archer’s mother. Ridley can act as my second in command to take care of Legion missions. I will send Lutz to the South to keep an eye on Archer and make sure she is safe. If possible, he can bring her back safely. He won’t hurt her.”

  I run my hand across Slade’s cheek. “What if he can’t bring her back? You can’t fight Cain.”

  His lips set in a determined line. “In a week, I’ll travel to Austin. You come with me, and while I keep Cain busy, you steal Archer away.”

  A laugh tears out of me. “It won’t be that simple.”

  He presses a fierce kiss to my lips. “My only mission now is you. I won’t let you die, Hunter.”

  The flicker of silver in his eyes sends sharp fear thrumming through me. His power is controlled by his memory of me. He controls it willingly.

  But he is bonded to me.

  If I die… he will break. Nothing will control him. He won’t care about the Code. His humanity won’t have a chance against his rage. He was born with the strength of a ringmaker. Now he has the power of a Valkyrie. He has wings and a ring powered by the Valkyrie Queen herself.

  He will be unstoppable.

  I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of taking the world to hell with me when I go.

  Chapter Ten

  That afternoon, Vlad’s giant form shadows the bookshop door, but he doesn’t come in. Hoisting his backpack over his shoulder, he says, “I have to return to the Dominion. I’ll do everything I can to help you. When the time comes, you have permission to enter my territory.”

  I ask, “Will you go to Cain’s ceremony?”

  “It’s my obligation as a Master. In the circumstances, Slade said he will send Lutz instead.”

  “Okay.” I swallow my sudden sadness. Saying goodbye to Vlad is hard. He fought beside me, brought me back to Boston, made me face my fears. I wish I could reach into his heart and steal a little of his unwavering objectivity and his dispassionate view of the world.

  He lays a big hand on my shoulder. “I know we will meet again, Hunter Cassidy.”

  I grin at him. “In this life or the next, Alexei Mason. Besides, you owe me a favor.”

  He laughs, a deep rumble in his big chest. “I was hoping you had forgotten about that.”

  I snag his arm before he can step away. In the distance, Tansy waits at the corner beside Vlad’s beast of a motorcycle. She is subdued, her coat pulled tight around her slender shoulders, one hand resting on the handlebars. If I can’t find a way to beat my death sentence, this might be the last conversation I have with Vlad.

  I clear my throat, knowing I’m overstepping boundaries but, hell, I’m dying. It’s now or never.

  I say, “Don’t forget about Tansy. She may have shut herself off from the world for a long time, but that doesn’t mean… she doesn’t have a heart.”

  His gaze softens as he turns in her direction. “There is no forgetting Tansy.” His expression turns blank, the first true mask I’ve seen him wear, as if, for the first time, he has something to hide.

  He says, “Tansy is safe here. Other covens crave her power. Her aunt was only the first. Once your mother stepped in, nobody dared try again. You may not realize it, but you keep her safe. Tansy would be hunted if it weren’t for you. In fact, if a witch like Mother Serena was determined enough, she might even find a way to break the protective spell on this street.”

  Worry strikes through me. I might not be around much longer to protect Tansy. “What if I don’t make it? Will you keep Tansy safe?”

  His gaze quickly narrows, giving me an unwavering stare. “You’re going to live, Hunter.”

  I clench my teeth. “Promise me you will come for her.”

  Concern grows behind his eyes. “Promise me you won’t step between Cain and Slade if they fight.”

  He stares even harder at me when I don’t answer. He growls a warning, “Hunter…”

  I demand, “Will you come for her or not?”

  “Of course, I will.”

  I shake out the tension in my shoulders and unclench my jaw. “Thank you.”

  Vlad’s shoulders hunch. “Tansy’s home is here. As long as she is safe, I will never ask her to leave the place she loves.”

  He strides away from me. As he passes each of the shops, the residents of Saber Lane come out to say goodbye to Vlad. Christopher James shakes his hand outside the grocery store. The couple in the bakery give him a brown paper bag that is no doubt filled with cupcakes. Dean claps him on the back and Willow hurries after him, handing him a belt full of tranquilizer darts, saying, “Just in case Lady Tirelli’s people try anything on the way.”

  We are all safe on Saber Lane, but the minute we step out of its protection, we have to be prepared.

  I can’t watch him ride away—another friend gone—so I hurry inside and lean against the bookshop counter until the motorcycle’s growl fades into the distance.

  The rest of the week is the longest of my life. Slade is unbelievably focused. Every morning he joins me in the dojo, training with me, but after that he shuts himself in the bookshop with Tansy, pouring over the Keres Coda and the Valkyrie Vade. The rings around his eyes darken. Like me, he barely sleeps. He never shows his frustration, channeling his emotions into the task, but I know he’s feeling it.

  Halfway through the week, I come upon them staring at a page. They aren’t writing or speaking and
the silence in the kitchen is heavy.

  Slade says, “We’ve deciphered more of the image, but it’s not the location and it’s not good news.”

  I say, “I can handle it.”

  He holds my gaze. “It says: Only the reckless or the desperate will enter the maze. The path to the feathers is paved with death.”

  I chew my lip, clear my throat, and declare, “Well, call me reckless and desperate.”

  He breaks into a smile. “Okay then.”

  A little while later, Tansy stands up from the table and holds out her hand for me, “It’s time, Hunter.”

  I grip the table. Entering a maze of death is far less daunting than the subject she and I keep avoiding.

  I haven’t touched William’s things.

  I can’t.

  I was shocked when Tansy told me that everything is mine now. Before he died, William changed his will. The legal process will take time, but he left the Tomb to me. He should have left it to Tansy and I told her so.

  She takes my hand. “I will help you.”

  Three hours later, we have sorted through William’s room, bagging up everything we can give to charity. The only item I keep is the t-shirt with a cartoon picture of a dragon on it that he loaned me the first time I stayed here.

  I hug it to my chest as the sight of the empty bedroom saps my energy. I turn my thoughts to anger instead.

  A daily stream of clients comes to the bookshop to write in my ledger and every night I head out into the dark, the grime, the parts of Boston that decent people never see.

  My power is as merciless as my heart. I don’t take a dagger or a gun with me now. I am unseen, invisible. My targets don’t have time to plead for their lives before I take hold of their hands, their arms, whatever body part I can touch and I smoke their lives like the vulture woman that I am.

  Twice, Amalia nearly catches me, but I evade her, making myself as insubstantial as the shadows that I live in now. I swore to tear down the underground and that’s what I’m going to do.

  By the night of Cain’s ceremony, I have annihilated Amalia’s prime support network and started in on the minor players.