“As well you should,” she said, almost conversationally as she reached up, pulling one of the sticks from her hair and crossed the room, flicking the blade out as she reached him. She drove it into his stomach, again and again as he screamed in agony, but he was powerless to fight her off — not with the poison from her dart running through his blood. She moved quickly and ruthlessly, and then stood back and watched the shock in his eyes turn to pain. “You’re going to die, Jeffery. But before you do that, you are going to be in unimaginable agony. Leaving Randolf to die was a very, very bad move on your part.”
He opened his mouth to object, but only blood ran from his lips.
“I know your son killed my parents. My brother. The fact that you thought he would ever take the crown from me only proves you’re more insane than I thought.”
“But you’re so weak—” he gasped, but there was no arrogance this time.
“There’s something you don’t know about me.” She watched as his lips turned blue. “I’m my father’s greatest assassin. No one has ever escaped me.” Jeffery’s eyes started to glaze over, and she leaned very close to his face, whispering in his ear, “And your son? The one you’ve doted on your entire life? I heard his voice when he attacked my wolf. I know where he is and where he’s going. I will find him, and I will kill him — slowly, painfully, more painful even than what you’re going through right now. And you and your heirs will be extinct. I will have obliterated you from this world — never to scar it again.” She stepped back, jerking the blade from his stomach and wiping the blood on his tunic.
“How…?” he whispered.
She shrugged. “I was a sickly child. Sickly children get picked on. My father didn’t want me to be in danger, so he brought in teachers. The best in the world.”
“Kristina…?” His face was gray except for the blood running down his chin.
“I went after her, yes. But she killed herself. After she told me where to find you and your son.”
“That bi—” He couldn’t finish the sentence. He collapsed on the floor, trying to clutch at his wounds but lacking the energy.
“You will live for several more hours. Not as long as Randolf suffered, but in much more pain. By then the guards will have found you and the world will know what you’ve done.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SHE TURNED AND STALKED OUT, letting the door swing shut behind her, joining Nakomi where she waited in the shadows, the fur on the back of her neck standing on end. “Nakomi?” What’s wrong?”
“I think she’s deciding whether she should attack me or lick me.”
Luke stepped out of the dark doorway across the alley, sword drawn.
“How did you find me?” She drew her sword, too, even though she knew she’d never use it. Not against him.
“Kazia.” He began circling her. Nakomi kept herself in between them, a growl rising low in her throat. “Do you honestly think I was going to let you out of my sight when we knew, finally, for certain, that the assassin was your uncle? Did you think I would let you face that news alone?” He raised his sword, pointing it at her heart. “And then it turns out that you are the assassin.”
She glared, knocking his blade away with her own. “What are you going to do, Luke? Kill me and be hanged for treason?” Nakomi’s growl increased, vibrating through the dark ally. Luke stared at her for several seconds before dropping his sword to his side, defeated.
“I don’t care about the treason.” She lowered her sword as well, keeping a cautious eye on his blade as she did so.
“Why, Kazia?”
“I didn’t kill them, Luke.”
“Your family? Randolf? I know.”
She frowned, confused. “Then what do you mean, why?”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you leave it to the law and a fair trial to take care of them?”
“Tell you? Are you kidding? You don’t think I can even get myself into bed at night! You would have laughed in my face. Or arrested me to keep me safe.”
“I think you can’t get yourself into bed at night because you led me to believe that!” he yelled, struggling to control himself. “Your whole illness —all these years spent so worried about you. It never existed. You made the whole thing up.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes Luke, I can magically grow blisters whenever I want and collapse on command. Oh, and the fevers. Yes, I produce those whenever I’d like as well.” He frowned, clearly confused, so she continued, “No, I didn’t make up my illness. I’m the killer I am because of my illness. My father said, ‘Use your weakness.’ So I did.”
Luke took a step closer, but Nakomi’s growl intensified and he stopped. “You’re so sick because you’re out hunting at night.” She shrugged, looking way. “Seeking revenge is killing you.”
“It doesn’t matter. My family deserves vengeance.”
“Then why not let us take care of it? And not risk yourself?” He was yelling again.
She yelled back. “Because I wanted to see the pain in their eyes. I wanted to see them suffer!”
He blinked at her fury, his sword coming up in an automatic defense to her anger. “I can’t believe you didn’t trust me enough to tell me.”
“With your flip-flopping emotions? You’re really surprised I didn’t tell you?” She planted her hands on her hips, but the adrenaline was wearing off and she could feel the pain sinking in. She needed to escape, to rest. She needed to get back to the castle before anyone else discovered she was missing.
His face closed, even in the dark of the shadows she could see the emotion wipe from his face. “I have to arrest you, Princess Kazia.”
She glared at him. “You can try.”
He blinked, clearly not expecting that answer. “You would run from me?”
“No. I would fight you. And then everyone would believe you attacked me and no matter what I said, you’d be hated and eventually hanged for treason.”
Luke’s mouth opened and closed for several seconds, like a fish. She looked behind him, wondering if she could make it past him to the street if Nakomi distracted him. He followed her gaze, looking over his shoulder and she saw her chance, but didn’t take it. Instead she sighed, sheathing her sword. “Luke, no one will believe you. You barely believe you. Go back to the castle. Gather the guards. Tell them you found Jeffery trying to escape and you killed him.”
“I’m not taking credit for something I didn’t do.” He crossed his arms over his chest, a bit bewildered, and she shook her head.
“I’m going back to the castle now. And I’m going to sleep for a very long time. Do what you will.” She patted her thigh and Nakomi edged past Luke, keeping her big body between him and Kazia. She made it to the street before she started to cry, glad for the pouring rain that hid her tears. She made it back to the castle and into Randolf’s chambers before she collapsed. Crystali tugged her out of her soaked clothes, throwing the blood-stained tunic into the fire, and helped her into her nightgown, silently handing her the hot tea that would save her life. Nakomi leapt onto the bed and Kazia curled against her side, seeking the comfort only Nakomi could give and when sleep claimed her, she didn’t fight it.
“Princess. They found your uncle…” Benjamin didn’t wait for her eyes to be completely open before he started talking.
“My uncle?” she groaned, rolling over and sitting up. “Oh! Lord Jeffery? They found him?”
Benjamin leaned against the bed and Kazia realized, belatedly, that all her other guards were there — except Luke. “Yes. But I’m afraid I have bad news…” Luke. Oh no, please not Luke. “Your uncle was dead when they found him. He was trying to escape the city but it seems he was robbed. He didn’t survive.” She put a hand to her mouth, her eyes filling with grateful tears. Luke was okay. Benjamin misread her tears, as she had intended him to, and rushed to comfort her. “I’m so sorry, Princess.”
She closed her eyes, leaning against her pillows. “He was a murderer, Benjamin. He killed my fiancé and left him to die. Do no
t be sorry he is gone or that he suffered.”
If they were surprised at her harsh words, they didn’t show it. “I’m not sorry about that. I’m sorry to cause you pain.”
She smiled. “You didn’t. Just great relief. We are safe now.” Mostly safe. Braydton is still out there. But I’ll take care of him for us.
They woke her again in time for Randolf’s funeral pyre. She dressed in a black dress specifically made for the occasion, pulling the veil down low to hide her eyes. And then she packed her bags. “I wish you wouldn’t go, Princess,” Crystali said quietly behind her. “Or if you must go, at least take your guards.”
“I’ll have Nakomi.” She turned and embraced Crystali, holding tight. “I have to finish this. He killed my parents and for that he has to be punished.”
“But why go alone?”
Kazia’s eyes slowly turned to the door, where her guard waited just outside.
“They can’t know what I am, Crystali. I can’t ask them to swear their loyalty to an assassin.”
“But they would, Princess. Gladly.”
Luke would not. He wanted to arrest me. Kazia forced a smile. “It was too much to ask of you. I don’t wish to ask it of anyone else.” She shook her head, stretching her increasingly stiff neck from one side to the other. “I’ll take care of this one thing and we will go back to my kingdom and I will rule alone. There are worse fates, right?” She squeezed her maid’s hand.
“Princess, it’s time,” Benjamin said, peering through the doorway.
“Nakomi, come?” She patted her leg gently, but the big wolf lay panting by the fire and didn’t raise her head. “Nakomi?”
She started over to her pet, but Benjamin cleared his throat. “Princess, they’re waiting on you.”
“I’m coming.” She glanced at Nakomi one more time. “I’ll be back soon,” she promised.
She hadn’t seen Luke since that night in the alley, although she heard his voice in the hallway often enough, but when she joined them in the hallway, Luke was in the forefront. As the Captain of her Royal Guard should be. He didn’t look at her or acknowledge her presence in any way. It hurt, but her heart hurt so much already that a bit more pain was barely noticeable.
“Princess Kazia. You look stunning.” I look like the angel of death. William hugged her as they got to the garden, leaving his guard behind. His eyes were red and puffy, and there was no sparkle. Oh, how she missed that sparkle. “Come, say your goodbye.” He took her hand and led her past the rest of her guards, past Luke, past his family. Randolf lay on a grand platform, surrounded by all kinds of beautiful flowers, but death did not do him the justice he deserved. His handsome face was grotesquely pale and Kazia tried desperately to block out the image. This was not how she wished to remember him.
“He was so pleased with the betrothal. I’ve never met a young man so anxious to meet his bride,” William said, stroking his son’s hand. “Did you know you’d met before?”
“We—” Kazia turned to William. “No. I didn’t know. When?”
“Years ago. At a ball. He asked you to dance and was instantly smitten, but your heart belonged to someone else at the time.” His eyes, as if of their own free will, strayed to Luke. He knew? All along, he knew?
Kazia’s heart hurt even more, and she felt faint. No. I will not abandon him now. She turned and clutched Randolf’s other hand, ice cold and stiff. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t love you the way you wanted me to. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. I’m so sorry. She struggled to keep her composure, but she failed, and the sobs threatened to overwhelm her completely. But I avenged you. I sent him to hell. Your family is safe. She kissed his icy forehead and stepped away, letting his family take their turns. She watched as the fire grew higher and higher, eager to claim him as its own, and no matter how hard she pressed her fist against her mouth, she couldn’t stop the sobs. Without Nakomi she had no one to stand with her, and her legs shook and threatened to give way but she refused to let them. Even when the flames burned low and there was little left under the shroud, she refused to leave. When Benjamin pulled gently on her arm to lead her away, she shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “Not yet,” she murmured.
“Kazia, let him go.” Luke’s hand encircled her waist, lending her strength when she thought she had no more.
“I can’t, Luke. I should have been there.” She broke down, nearly falling, burying her face in her hands, gasping for breath.
She didn’t remember them leading her away or the walk to her room. She didn’t remember shutting them all out and going to the window to watch the gardens burn. It wasn’t until there was nothing left but ash that she finally awakened from the under the pain. She had a job to do. “Nakomi, it’s time to go,” she whispered, turning from the window. She wasn’t sure where she would find the strength, but it was there.
Use your weakness. Her weakness had failed her and failed her. “Not real helpful right now, Father,” she sighed.
“Nakomi?” Her pet still hadn’t opened her eyes and Kazia frowned, stumbling to her side and dropping to her knees. She laid a hand against her muzzle, leaning close to her face. Nakomi was barely breathing.
“Nakomi?” she whispered again. Nakomi groaned, opening the brown eye. It was glazed over with pain as she gasped once and stopped breathing. “No! No no no no. Nakomi, breathe!” She screamed. The eye opened again, slowly, searching for Kazia. “I’m here. I’m here, baby wolf. Please don’t leave me. Please.”
“Kazia?” She heard them knocking on the door but she ignored it. They didn’t matter. Nothing mattered now but Nakomi. “Kazia!” The door burst open and Luke raced in, his sword drawn, the rest of her guards on his heels.
“Please. Please, Nakomi,” she cried.
Luke fell to his knees next to her, laying a hand against Nakomi’s throat. “She’s barely breathing,” he muttered. “Derock! Get the physician! Heath!” Heath was instantly next to them, feeling Nakomi’s nose, pulling up her eyes and forcing her mouth open. Then he started feeling all over, running his hands from Nakomi’s head, down her back and legs, over her chest. At the top of Nakomi’s front leg, where it met her chest, he paused, flopping to his belly and digging through the fur, trying to get to the skin.
Kazia leaned her forehead against Nakomi’s, pleading, trying to somehow give Nakomi whatever life Kazia had in her. “Please don’t leave me.”
“It was the snake,” Heath whispered.
“No. noooo!” Kazia wailed. “I looked everywhere. She didn’t tell me she was hurt.”
“There’s no way you could have found this, Kazia. Even if she hadn’t had all this fur.”
The physician ran in, his bag at his side. Kazia barely noticed him. “It’s a snake bite. From that thing that attacked the princess.” Heath said, holding on to Nakomi’s paw. Luke’s hand was woven through the thick fur on her back, unwilling to let her go.
“Please,” Kazia sobbed. “Please help her.” The doctor did all he could, but it didn’t take long. The physician left awkwardly, apologizing profusely, but Kazia didn’t even notice. She curled next to Nakomi’s side, burying her face in the warmth. Her guards surrounded her, but she forgot them, pleading with Nakomi to come back, making promises that did no good, begging her wolf not to leave her. And finally, she said goodbye. “I will love you forever, faithful friend. Wait for me on the other side,” she whispered against Nakomi’s face.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
WILLIAM RESURRECTED THE FUNERAL PYRE. Kazia didn’t cry this time, watching as the fire claimed her dearest friend — the other half of her lost soul. She still wore her black mourning clothes and hid behind the veil, but there were no more tears left, and a kind numbness took over as she watched Nakomi leave her for the first and last time. It took everything she had not to throw herself into the fire and go with Nakomi, but she had to avenge her first. She had to finish the job.
They burned the gardens again. Kazia wasn’t sure how, but she was gratef
ul as the roaring fire reached the sky, claiming what was left of the trees and her heart.
They escorted her back to her rooms as the sun set on Kazia’s first day alone. “Kazia,” Luke started, but Kazia shook her head.
“Leave. Please. I just want to be alone.” One by one they backed away until only Luke remained. “I need to be alone, Luke,” She didn’t look at him as she went to the window, watching the smoke curl over the garden — the only thing remaining of Nakomi. The door clicked shut behind him as he left, but she didn’t turn. Her eyes refused to let go of the smoke, refused to close or turn away. Her heart steeled in her chest, the craving for Jeffery’s only living heir nearly overwhelming her. “I’ll avenge you, Nakomi,” she whispered.
But first, she had to say goodbye. Kazia pushed herself away from the window, striding across the room as she scrubbed the tears from her cheeks. When she flung her doors open, most of her guards jumped, and at least half of them drew their swords.
“Kazia, what is it?” Luke stepped around her, peering into her darkened chambers.
“I need to see the king.” Her voice, even to her own ears, sounded hollow and dead. Soulless, because her soul had gone with Nakomi.
“Don’t you think you should rest first?” Luke frowned, turning his confused gaze from her room to her face.
“No.” She looked away from him.
“Very well.” He turned sharply, shoving his sword back into its sheath. Benjamin and another man fell into step beside her and behind her as Heath stayed behind to guard her room with the others. When they reached the king’s chambers, Luke stepped out of the way, sweeping his hand toward the door but not saying a word. She stepped past him and knocked.
The king’s steward opened the door, just a crack and glared out at her. “The king doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”
“Tell him it’s important. Please.” Kazia cringed as her voice cracked. She didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye. But she would if she had to.
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