by Auryn Hadley
"Sal." This time, he cupped her chin and lifted it, his eyes flicking between hers. "Do ya love me, Sal?"
She bit her lower lip, careful not to puncture the flesh with her teeth, and tried to look away. Gently, his hand guided her face back, and he waited for an answer.
"This doesn't feel like how Blaec does," she said softly.
"I will na hurt ya, kitten. I can na. I will die for ya, but I can na hurt ya."
"You could," she insisted.
"I am na human, Sal. I can na. It does na work like that."
She nodded, a tiny sigh slipping out when she realized he was right. She kept trying to judge him by the only thing she knew: humans.
He smiled at her gently. "I will na make ya say it. I will na do that to ya, but ya should know it hurts me a bit when ya try to deny it."
"I'm sorry," she said weakly. "I'm just..."
"Scared," Jase finished for her. "I know. There's only two things I want in this world. To protect ya, and to have yer love." His thumb slid along her cheek tenderly. "I think I'm na doing as bad as I feared. I can wait." He chuckled suddenly, flashing an impish grin at her, "But yer in the middle of our bed, so ya need ta help me finish."
"That," Sal said, smiling finally, "I can do."
Chapter 6
That moment broke the anxiety between them. Jase understood – or so he said – and promised he'd be patient. Sal, however, struggled to understand her own emotions. Until she became a Black Blade, she never had the chance to feel anything but determination. She'd struggled to get her freedom, then to earn enough rank in the military, and finally to join an elite unit. Nowhere in all of that had been time to think about anything else. Now, she had a pack of brothers who she loved, each in their own way.
Her greatest fear was that she'd ruin everything because she made the wrong choice. She'd never lived around her own kind. Humans said iliri customs were abhorrent and disgusting, but it felt so right. If all she had to think about was the next assassination, she'd be fine, but she couldn't ignore her pack. Nor would she want to. Thankfully, planning the next mission kept her busy while they made their way across Anglia.
They reached Eriwald in just under a week and decided to camp rather than attempt to get the grauori into the town walls. Those two would draw more attention than either of the assassins wanted. Sal explained only the most basic aspects of this trip to the pair, but they were oddly accepting of it. Hwa insisted on taking watch the entire night, saying his senses were sharp enough that he could warn them before anyone even stumbled into the glade. Roo insisted that sleep would make them hunt better. Sal took the pair up on the offer, enjoying that she and Jase could spend the entire night together for the first time in months.
She woke up cold, though, and snuggled closer to him. Instinctively, Jase turned to her, his eyes cracking open as he slipped an arm around her.
"Is it dawn a'ready?" he asked, his voice rough from sleep.
"Yeah," Sal said, pressing her body close to his.
"This is why I allus slept in clothes, ya know." He chuckled and kissed the top of her head.
"Just remind me to get dressed before I pass out next time."
"Kitten?" Jase asked, and she knew he was changing the subject.
"Mm?"
"I think I can get usta our new friends. Ayati, I missed the feel of yer mind."
"Oh?" She poked him in the ribs, making him squirm. "Just my mind?"
"Nah, the other parts of ya are pretty nice, but it's yer mind I like the most. Now find some clothes. We have a man ta kill."
Sal dressed under the blankets, giggling at Jase for doing the same. When they left the small tent, they both stopped in their tracks, shocked. Their entire campsite was packed and Hwa was trying to load it on the horses. Sal felt Jase looking at her. She made sure to close her mouth before returning the glance.
"You didn't have to do this!" she told their newest packmates.
"I car reach da horrses," Hwa said in his heavily accented Glish.
"Thank ya, Hwa," Jase said, "but tell me ya did na pack the food yet?"
Yes, but we got some fresh, Roo sent them, holding up scraps of meat skewered on sticks. I wasn't sure how cooked you like it, though. We both prefer it only warm, but I've seen how humans eat.
"Just enough where it's not bleeding," Sal answered. "And thank you both. You're going to spoil me if you keep this up."
The pair of grauori panted with pleasure. While Jase moved to help Hwa secure the packs near the top of the saddle, Sal made her way over to sit with the little female beside the fire.
"Thank you. I mean it," she told Roo.
I like cooking, Roo said, embarrassed.
You're welcome to it! I know this is very rude of me, but I didn't know you could handle things like this. Your hands are so different.
We work with what we have. Hwa raged about the buckles. His fingers aren't fine enough for them, but we worked it out. And I know you wondered, but yes, we often cook our food, even if it's nearly as good raw. Seasoning makes it better, though.
Sal smiled at her. You imp, you're teasing me now, aren't you?
I am. We're more used to your kind than you are to ours, so we thought we'd show you that we really can be an asset. So what's the plan for the mission?
Sal sighed. The Jonkheer of Eriwald is now in line for the throne, and he hates our kind. We're to eliminate him -
You mean kill, Roo clarified.
Yeah. Eliminate him from being able to ever achieve ruling this country, the easiest way is to kill him.
Roo nodded.
Our first plan was to simply ride in, assassinate him, and ride out, but we don't want to be seen. He's heavily guarded, and my horse is too unique to go unnoticed. Since we have to make a few public appearances later, we'd talked about slipping over the walls. Sal huffed in frustration. I'd prefer if each death is unrelated, and I'm out of non-violent ways to kill someone.
So, this is a real hunt? That's easy enough, Kaisae, Roo said. When I was catching breakfast, I heard men near town say the one you want will be in the square just before lunch. Eat well, get inside the walls, and then kill him when he's speaking. You'll probably have to kill most of the guards, too. Can iliri handle a hunt like that?
Sal's eyes were wide. Her new friend was giving her mission advice. Yeah, we can handle it. But how do we get out? What about the horses? We'll have to move fast if this is a daytime kill.
Easy. I take the horses around – they follow me you know? And we trade places. She laughed, her tongue lolling out. Then Hwa and I make into beasts to scare the humans. She stood, arms spread like some creature from a nightmare. "Grrr!" she mocked her own native tongue loudly.
Sal slapped her hand over her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter. Catching her breath, she yelled, "Jase!"
Hwa and Jase rushed over, both confused. When all they found were the females laughing, Jase looked at Hwa. "I think we missed the joke again, man."
Hwa shrugged. Nah, I think Roo just shared her plan with Sal. I have to admit, I have always wanted to try it.
Sal managed to say, "Do it, Roo. Show him," before being taken with laughter again.
Ok, hold this, Roo said, and Jase took the skewers of meat from her. So, you two sneak in, kill the man at his speaking thing, then run out to the gates. Hwa and I will have the horses there. Hmm, probably better if Hwa sneaks inside and trades off for one of you sooner, but regardless, get a big enough lead on the humans, right?
Jase nodded, intrigued.
Then you grab your horses and run as fast as you can. Hwa and I will greet the humans... And she stood again, snarling. After a second, Hwa joined her, the pair of them on their hind feet, looking more iliri than ever. Roo growled, "grauori rill ge' rrevenge fer da murrda a arr kine!"
Jase's mouth broke into a huge grin. On impulse, he hugged the little bitch. Sal had never seen him so willing to touch another before, and Roo reacted with embarrassed submission, dropping back to the ground and pulling her ea
rs close to her head.
"It's perfect, Aroora! Ayati, yer brilliant! Ya just solved our biggest problem." Releasing her, he turned to Hwa. "Keep her, man. She's a good'un."
"Ya, I rill," Hwa said, nodding proudly.
Sal had finally stopped laughing but was still grinning from ear to ear. "So a pair of demon spawn grauor wolves are about to get revenge on all those who have tormented them, and there's no way to trace this to us later? Ok, now to dress the part. You have anything white in your gear, killer?"
"Close 'nough. I have some grey, a bit a white. Ya thinking ta mimic their colors?" Jase asked.
"Yep."
Eat first! Roo told them, gesturing at the skewers that Jase still held. It's not bleeding and will make you strong. Then we can play dress-up.
"Yes, kaisae," Jase told her, smiling as he dropped his eyes to show his respect. Beside him, Hwa beamed at his mate.
They finished the meal – Sal had to admit the little grauori cooked well – then began rummaging through their clothing. She found an old set of snow fatigues that she'd forgotten about. Jase pulled out a court shirt in white. Neither of them could do much about their boots; both had only black. As they dressed, Hwa and Roo tore down their tent and packed their bags.
"Too bad your hair isn't longer," Sal told him, giving him a final look over. "It'd fit the part so well. Hey, Hwa? Can you grow a pair of blue eyes for this?"
"Ya, an roo need rafrezzi," he called back, then stared at Jase as he made the change.
After Sal added hints of gold to match Roo's color, they were ready. The iliri made their way to the town while behind them, Roo had the horses moving. A look showed nothing but white wilderness. The grauori had faded perfectly into the landscape.
When they reached the gates, a stream of people had already arrived and the guards were only glancing over the line for obvious weapons. Sal's fatigues had a dense white hood which she wore pulled over her hair, but she knew that anyone who looked too closely would still be able to see she was not human. Maybe the people in this country wouldn't understand what she was, but they had to see that she was different.
Around them, men discussed the upcoming speech. The Jonkheer was expected to make a public address about the hunting of grauor wolves. Some claimed the beasts had been terrorizing livestock while others bragged about the prices of the fine pelts. The thought of her friends becoming little more than hides made Sal sick.
Any guilt I might have had is long gone, she told Jase.
Yeh, but kitten? he asked. Have ya thought about the after? Ya realize we're about ta slaughter them?
She smiled up at him. Yeah, I've been thinking about the after. Her mental tone conveyed her anticipation, and she licked her lips.
Ya missed it, yeh?
Didn't you?
He grinned. Oh yeh. Kitten, I've missed this so much. His pupils constricted as he sent the thought giving truth to his words.
The pair pushed through the crowd around them. Sal reached out a line of thought to check the positions of the grauori. They were nearly in place, but still no sign of the Jonkheer. She caught Jase's eye and with a nod, moved away from him, making her way to the opposite side of the dais.
Jase leaned against a stone wall while Sal found the side of a building. She propped one foot against it and kept her head down. Hopefully, the deep hood would shield her strange face.
"All alone there?" a man asked, claiming the spot beside her.
"What does it look like?" she snapped back, hoping he'd called her a few names and continue on.
"Like ya need a man to keep ya company. The city square is no place for a lady, not even one in pants."
As he spoke, Sal heard the cries from a street over. The Jonkheer's procession was nearing.
"Lemme buy ya a drink, honey," the man went on, "and I'll tell ya all about the wolves I've been hunting. I just made enough to warm even your heart a bit."
"I'm not a whore, you idiot," she snarled.
"Yeah? I have fifty guilders that say any woman can be bought. Figure a bitch like you might be a lot more interesting than those cunts that just lay there."
The first guard rounded the building and Sal could see them surrounding their target. I got about twenty, she told Jase, her anticipation making her breathless. No signs of archers above you.
Nothing around you but the human, Jase answered. And twenty will na be a problem. That's only 'bout ten each. Well, I figure eleven for you, and I get ta watch this one.
Beside her, the fool kept talking. "C'mon ya bitch, I can see your nipples are hard under that shirt. You can't convince me you don't like what it is I'm offering."
Sal glanced up just enough for the idiot to see her eyes. "Didn't your mother teach you to listen when a woman talks?" she growled, the tone cold and feral.
"Fuck," the man whispered, pushing away. "What the fuck are you?"
It's time, Sal, gut him.
Chapter 7
Her lips curled up slowly, sharp teeth and the double row of canines visible to the man before her. Sal pushed herself off the wall, each move graceful and languid. With one hand, she brushed the hood away from her head, exposing her milky skin and alabaster hair. Her prey's eyes widened, stuck on the ears placed at the top of her head. Ears that were pinned against her skull.
Opening her mind, she slammed into Jase's consciousness. They'd been apart for too long. She could feel him perched against the wall, waiting, excited and aroused. His need drove her on. Her right hand swept behind her back, her fingers wrapping around the handle of the blade. It sang as she slid it from the sheath. With her left, she grabbed the man's shoulder, pulling him close to her – so close their lips nearly touched.
"You still want to fuck me?" she snarled in his face.
"No, I... No, no, no-" the man muttered.
Sal slid her curved blade into his groin. With her mind wide open, she knew Jase felt the soft glide of steel through skin and muscles. "If you kill my kind again, I will finish the job." Then she slapped her hand over his mouth, smothering the scream before she pushed him off her knife.
Before the man's body hit the ground, she moved. Behind her, someone wailed, the voice so shrill Sal didn't know if it was the man or a woman who'd witnessed it all. Near her target, the guards grabbed at their weapons, seeking the source of violence. Across from her, Jase stalked their prey.
Sal kept her knife hidden against her forearm, out of sight, her path aimed to intersect with his. Together, they walked calmly down the line of guards on opposite sides, catching glimpses of each other through the bodies. At the third man, they turned in unison.
The steel blade dropped into her hand. She pulled a second from her belt – this one ceramic and as white as her skin. Then she stepped in, plunging her offhand into the guard in front of her. Ducking his retaliation, her pale hair flew behind her. Jase slit the throat of the man closest to him with his left and thrust his right dagger into another's eye. She could feel the pop as the blade sank deep. It felt good, like victory. She grinned, spinning to open another guard across the waist. The stench of offal reeked as his entrails spilled to the ground.
This is what she was meant to do. She was a killer, designed to achieve the maximum carnage, and it felt so good. For the first time in months, the rush of bloodlust coursed through her body, driving her higher. It was like a drug, and with her lover's mind locked so closely with hers, it was pure ecstasy.
Four men were dead before the guards realized the enemy was among them. Jase leapt over the arc of a pike while Sal sliced a man's leg from hip to knee, blood spurting out in pulses. As her partner plunged his main weapon into the man beside him, another four rushed in.
The assassins glanced at each other and stood their ground calmly. Nothing could stop them. Not now, not like this. The guards met them head on, allowing the iliri to slam a blade deep into each chest. Then, like a single organism, they withdrew the weapons, letting the bodies fall in place.
Blaec could never unde
rstand this. No matter how much she loved him, there was always a hard line dividing them. His rage would have been a distraction. Her dominance would simply annoy him. Together, they might be monsters on the battlefield, but they weren't matched so perfectly. They would always be two individuals.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sal saw a sword heading at her. She dropped, slashing upward. Her knife connected, the warm blood spilling across her hand. The sweet smell drove her for more. Beside her, Jase moaned, burying his weapon in the same man's chest. Another moved to intercept him, but a flick of her wrist sent Sal's ceramic blade into his throat.
Her partner hadn't worried. He hadn't doubted that she'd protect him because they were meant to be together. Just like this. She and Jase complimented each other's weaknesses. This was perfect. This was what she'd always dreamed of, having a man who made her feel like she belonged. Like he was truly hers. Like they were two parts of the same whole.
Jase buried his offhand blade in another guard's chest, and Sal used the dying body as a step, feeling her partner just behind her. She jumped, her feet tucked close, pouncing on her next victim. Her steel blade hit first, tearing through his neck and down. Her body followed, carrying them both into the dirt. The blade caught in the man's collarbone, wrenching it from her grasp. Behind her, Jase landed on someone, killing him with a delicious snap. A quick look showed the body crumpling at his feet.
But she didn't have time to gawk. A pike shaft came at her. Feeling Jase in her mind like an extension of her own body, she darted inside the man's reach. The pikeman became her weapon, spearing the fool Jase pushed her way, then her partner moved in. Using her dagger – which Jase must have retrieved from the corpse she'd left it in – he slit the man's throat. Flashing a boyish smile, he wiped the blade on the dying man's shoulder and offered it back.
This was how killing should be. Sal wasn't afraid of dying. These men were their prey, the challenge of the hunt made it exciting, and she wasn't alone. In the back of her mind, she could feel Jase's need. His desire battered alongside her own, but their fun was almost over. The last two guards had pulled back to the Jonkheer, each brandishing a pike and sword before him. A nicely matched set waiting to die.