by Jeanne Allen
He slowly caresses my jawline, bringing the heat back to my nether regions. Jin bends down until his face hovers mere centimeters above mine.
“But now,” he whispers, his warm breath on my lips. They tingle, and I inhale deeply, reveling in the honey and lavender scent of my Assassin. “I think it’s time we stopped talking.”
He catches my reply with a slow, deep kiss.
He gets no protest for me. I’m all for less-talking-more-kissing. Especially seeing as how I’m apparently less than stellar at sexy bedroom talk.
He brings me up with his hand and flips over to lay on the bed with me straddling him. My hands graze over the smooth quality of his well-defined chest, reveling in the dips and grooves of his muscles.
When I graze over scars I’ve seen before but never had the chance to touch, I look at him, questions in my eyes.
He smiles softly. “Later.”
I nod and move on. Right now isn’t the time for more revelations and harmful histories. Right now, it’s time to strengthen my Bond and connect with Jin like I connected with Forrest, like I crave to connect with all of my Kladí.
Tonight, finally, I’m one with my Assassin.
“It was before I matured. Mature Phósopoi don’t scar,” Jin begins, his voice soft.
A glow of satisfaction emanates from him, probably similar to the one that hums through my entire body and in our newly strengthened Bond.
It’s late; even the lights of the buildings outside of our window have dimmed. I don’t know where the rest of our Omás have gone to sleep, but they never came back to the master suite. Though I feel a little guilty thinking it, I’m glad that it’s just us two. My intuition tells me Jin would never open up like he is now, telling me the stories behind his scars, if the others were present. Though, he’s gotten friendlier in the last few months, especially with Jackson, he still remains a bit aloof when the others are around. I don’t know if it’s because he has a self-imposed need to be the strongest of us or if it’s somehow related to his upbringing. All I know is this might be my best chance to get more information out of my mysterious Kladí.
“What happened?” I trace the long, thin, white scar that travels down from just under his ribcage to the lower part of his abdomen.
“The court in Region Six isn’t like the one in Two, Thirteen, or even Five, for that matter. It’s far more rigid and old-fashioned. Politics and practices haven’t changed much since the court was established thousands of years ago.”
I stay silent as Jin gathers his thoughts, but my mind reels. The scholar in me is fascinated to learn new information about the subcultures of the Phósopoi, but the me who has Bonded with the dark and deadly man I lay atop feels only sorrow at what kind of life he must have led before running away to Phóspolis.
“As such, violence against those deemed lesser, especially if done by a Royal, is often overlooked. Even encouraged, in some circumstances,” he scoffs. “I was young and stupid, thinking I was invincible since I had just Awakened with a very powerful Death Gift. I easily got on the wrong side of a few Royals of higher rank, and even my father could not stop it when they demanded retribution.
“It was a sword made with Gift-Imbued Steel, made by Gifted blacksmiths, like Jackson’s. A Royal sword. It sliced through me like I was made of butter, and there was nothing I could do to stop it because they tied back my hands.”
I look up to see Jin’s eyes darken.
His hands stay gentle as they continue to trace slow circles on my cheek, but the rest of him tenses as he relays the last part of his tale. “I had been so arrogant, so sure of my own great power, that I overlooked such an obvious weakness. That’s when I vowed to learn how to fight without relying on my Gift.”
I’m unhappy Jin had to go through such hardship, but rather than sadness, his tale fills me with pride. My beautiful Kladí took to defeat much like he takes to life, with grace and resilience. My hand moves on its own to trace my own careful lines around those bottomless eyes and sharp features. He relaxes beneath me. I shift off of him to rest at his side, his arm beneath my head. I wait until he breathes out a long sigh and settles more comfortable into the pillows behind us before I ask about the rest of his scars.
Though the one on his stomach is the largest, there are other noticeable scars on his chest, and I’m almost certain I’ve glimpsed some on his back before. I’d always been too distracted by Jin’s beauty to notice the faint white lines, but now that I know they’re there, it’s easier to spot others.
To my surprise, Jin finds amusement at my questions. With a wry grin bordering on pride, he sinks even further into the bed and uses the arm beneath me to bring me closer until my head rests on his chest. His breath warms the crown of my head, the hot air tickling my sensitive nerves.
“Those I received soon after the first, but they were not a fault of my own folly. After the attack by the Royals, I fled to Phóspolis with the help of my father. Once there, I joined the Elite and quickly rose through the ranks. The marks on my body are from training and missions. There would be many more, but I stopped scarring when I Matured.”
I nod against his chest, breathing in the soothing scent of my enigma of a Kladí. Assassin, designer, arrogant teenager. I wish I could have seen all of these versions of Jin, but I’m glad I can at least enjoy the man those experiences molded him into.
Soon, slumber pulls at me, and Jin lays a soft kiss on my head before urging me to sleep.
Chapter 14
Sarah takes a chair next to me. “Are you ready for what happens next?”
Strong scents of frying oil, grease, and maple syrup permeates the air as we settle at the long table we sequestered at the back of the restaurant. By the eager looks of my friends and Kladí, it seems I’m not the only one who feels the pain of a missed breakfast.
It’s past noon, but we spent all morning talking.
When Jackson suggested we visit his favorite restaurant in Atlanta, we jumped at the chance to go despite it being a well-known fact that growing up in the lap of luxury definitively screwed with our Prince’s sense of taste. Thankfully, the weird, albeit fancy, food he usually subjects us to is nowhere to be seen.
Instead, he drove us to a delightfully run-down chicken and waffles joint on Peachtree, near our apartment.
“Hold on,” I tell Sarah, glancing up to catch Lyle’s eye, who was already looking in our direction since his arch nemesis decided to sit across from him.
When our eyes meet, he smiles and nods in understanding. Since the first month I lived with the guys at the Better Homes bachelor house in Minnesota, I’ve let Lyle order for me when we go out. I hate making decisions, and he has an almost god-like power to pick things I’ll like, even at the stupidly fancy restaurants Jackson or Jin take us to.
That settled, I turn my attention back to Sarah. “Did they tell you everything?”
This morning, after we made our plans for what happens next, I hadn’t wanted to explain everything a second time, so I let the guys talk with our friends and decide how much to reveal. So, I don’t know how much our little crew was told about Kin and her promises.
Proving my point, Sarah raises her eyebrows. “Oh, I highly doubt they told me everything. But yeah, I know enough to get the gist of what’s going on. You can’t trust anyone in North America at the moment, so we’re gonna split up.”
“Yeah.” I’m not thrilled at the idea of leaving my Kladí, but since we know that whoever is pulling Prince Nathaniel’s strings is after me, the guys are safer with a fake Rose who can fend for herself. Sylvia is Matured and has more than a few decades of experience as a Warrior Knight.
As much as I hate to admit it, as of now, I’m a liability to my Kladí, even with all of the extra power from Kin. I have to learn how to use it properly, and I need to Mature so that no one can kill me in the process.
Catching my grimace, Sarah offers me a sympathetic smile. “Back to my earlier question. Are you ready for our little adventure?”
Sarah’s eyes light up as she leans in to whisper, “I know a guy who can Teleport us anywhere. He doesn’t have the limitations Sylvia has, you know, by going only where she’s been before.”
I nod. Another reason she’s going with the guys. They’ll take a plane somewhere, then Sylvia can Teleport them to the twins’ safe house in England. Sarah and I, along with my new friends from PhósU, will find a way to meet them there after hiding out for a few days somewhere else.
Hopefully, this roundabout way will dislodge any tails we might have, and if either side is caught, we don’t know where the others are, so it’s safer.
I lean in and drop my voice, catching on to why Sarah seems so excited. “You’re saying we can go anywhere?”
There are so many places I want to visit, even if it’s just for a few days. The chance to go anywhere in the world causes my heart to race with the possibilities.
“Well, not anywhere. We shouldn’t go places we have strong ties to, because they’ll be looking for us there.”
I nod eagerly. “Then, where?”
I’m really fine with anywhere. I’ve spent so long dreaming of traveling to all of the places I want to see, and the cultures I want to experience, that I don’t care where we go so long as it’s somewhere new.
Sarah eyes me for a moment before grinning and sitting back. “I’m not going to tell you.”
A smug smile spreads over her tiny face. She pushes the long part of her hair back, ruffling it until it stands up like it should.
I grab her hand to bring her attention back to me. “What do you mean, you’re not going to tell me?”
“Just what I said. It’ll be a surprise.”
“What? No. I want to know.” Thoroughly exasperated, I look to my other friends for help.
Lakshimi sits straight and prim, eyeing us and raising one dark eyebrow.
“Help me out here, Lakshi. She wants to magically transport us somewhere without telling us where. Surely you can see how this is a problem?”
To my surprise, Lakshimi breaks into a wry smile. “I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
She turns away before I can protest.
Sighing, I turn back to eye Sarah, who looks entirely too pleased with herself. “All right. You win. But you better not take us somewhere boring.”
Sarah’s baby-blue eyes widen, and she clutches her heart in fake indignation. “I can’t believe you would think so ill of me, future sister. Somewhere, Lyle has compiled a list of all the things I am, but boring isn’t on it.”
My cheeks flush at being called “sister.” Superpowers and near immortality are cool and all, but the best thing to happen to me—other than meeting my soulmates—is getting to become a part of their families as well. I haven’t had much time with the other Taylors, but Sarah is quickly worming her way into my protected inner circle.
And I have a feeling I’m going to have to make room for many more.
I take a quick look at our group as they laugh and chat around three tables pushed together in the corner of the restaurant. We may be facing untold dangers and immediate separation, but there’s still an undercurrent of peace that comes from being around people you love and trust.
Lyle interrupts my musings, obviously having tuned into the last bit of our conversation. “I do not have a list. That’s ridiculous. But if I did—have a list I mean—dramatic would be at the top of it.”
Sarah rolls her eyes at my Kladí before turning back to me. “All joking aside, don’t worry. I have everything planned out. We can’t go to any of our known contacts, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Plus, they can’t have guessed you made so many allies at the university.” She gestures to Kieran and Raul, who are engaged in a heated discussion at the end of the table.
They must sense our eyes on them, because they both look up at the same time. Kieran gives me that lopsided smile I’ve come to associate him with, and Raul simply nods in our direction before pulling Kieran back into their conversation.
“Do you know them?” I whisper to Sarah.
I hadn’t thought she knew my new friends, but she was obviously pretty friendly with Lakshimi, so it’s possible she knows everyone in their group.
Sarah shakes her head. “No. I know Lakshimi because we competed against each other a few times at the Games. Raul comes from a very old family. I’m actually surprised to see him here. His family usually doesn’t let their heirs outside of the Region.”
“Heir? Isn’t he a Knight?” Only Agora’s can inherit the throne; I figured that same prejudice extended to other families as well.
Sarah’s eyes dull a bit, and her voice turns soft as she answers. “Yes. And usually that would mean he isn’t in line to inherit anything, be it power or money. But his family is having the same problems conceiving as most of the other old and powerful families are, so Raul is their only option. Or, so I’ve heard.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard Phósopoi talk about the lack of new blood, especially in the old families. Now that I’ve met Kin, I can guess it has something to do with that family’s seed being so diluted from the original source.
“What about Kieran and Birdie?”
“I don’t know either of them. I’ve heard of Kieran in passing. His family has long served the Region One monarch, which is probably how he got permission to study at PhosU. Birdie is totally unknown to me, but I can tell she’s powerful, like my brother.”
I nod. Kieran said something similar the first time I met Bernadette.
The arrival of our meals interrupts our conversation.
For once, the food is just as delicious as Jackson promised. In between bites and light banter with those seated around me, I come to the conclusion that Atlanta is fast becoming one of my favorite places in Region Five, if only for the memories. But I know we can’t stay for long.
As if to prove my point, about halfway through the meal, Jackson addresses the table. “Rose’s group will leave first, and the rest of us will hold back in case something goes wrong with Sarah’s contact.”
Jackson looks over at Sarah, who grimaces. “I’m not sure I trust him, but he’ll transport us anywhere for a bit of cash, and we won’t stay long enough for him to sells us out.”
Jackson nods, as if he expected this. “Once we’re sure Rose is safely gone, Sylvia and my Bond-mates will leave. We’ll take the Region Two plane to ensure that our pursuers are aware of our exit from North America. We’ll land somewhere and hopefully lose the trail when Sylvia Teleports us to England.”
He looks over at Sylvia, who gives him a nod. She looks more like she’s agreeing to take them out for coffee, not transport six people across the world.
If I could have one Gift, I’d want hers.
Jackson pauses, looking over at Jin who nods at both Sarah and Jackson. I guess he agrees to the plan because he doesn’t comment.
Jackson continues. “After you arrive at your destination, your priority is to seek transportation to England, where we will meet up at the Worthington safe house.”
I have concerns about how we’ll get to England without alerting whoever’s after us, but I keep the worries to myself. Everybody else seems confident that the plan will work, so I trust in the judgment of my Omás.
When nobody says anything, Jackson tells us we have to finish our meal quickly before heading back to the penthouse, where Sarah has documents waiting for us.
Soon, we’ll be on our way to start the next leg of the fairytale adventure that has become my life.
“I don’t know why I have to change my name.” I pout and stare at the passport Sarah gave me.
We’re sitting in the corner of the front living space in Jackson’s apartment. Everyone else had their documents to look over, and only Sarah and I sit in the two egg-shaped chairs that look out over the corner where the two walls
meet. Because the walls are really just windows, it feels like we’re flying above the city. The effect is breathtaking, but I’m preoccupied with the knowledge that I have to go by the name “Patricia” for the next week or so.
“What’s wrong with Patricia?” Sarah eyes my forged identification page, which states I’m now Patricia Puffer, born in Minnesota in 1993.
“Nothing. I just like my own name better.” I don’t want to tell her I had a particularly nasty foster sister with the same name. Knowing Sarah, she would try to find me new documents, and we don’t have time.
“Don’t worry, this is just in case we get caught by the humans. We can’t use your real name, because the people chasing us might have someone monitoring immigration reports.”
“Oh.” I hadn’t thought of that. Since coming to Phóspolis, I’ve met Kladí with all sorts of unique Gifts, but just as many Phósopoi who are brilliant in ordinary areas as well, so it makes sense that there would be some talented hackers in the city.
Or maybe someone with a cyber-related Gift.
Kieran leans over the top of my chair to ruffle my hair. “You ladies ready?”
“Hey!” I turn to glare at the grinning Knight.
“You’re cute when you’re angry.”
Heat fills my cheeks at his compliment, if it can be called that. I’m still deciding between indignation or being flattered when Forrest walks over to interrupt us. “No flirting with our Agora, McKinnon. Get your own.”
Kieran laughs at Forrest, whose slate eyes grow stony. “Lighten up, tough guy. I was just teasing her.” He slaps Forrest good-naturedly on the shoulder before turning back to me. “Right, Princess?”
I roll my eyes at the nickname while I get up to stand by my Kladí. I weave my arm through his and lean into his sturdy frame. His muscles release their tension at my touch. “I don’t know why you insist on that nickname. I’m not even a Royal.”