by A. K. Koonce
“And the higher up?” I ask, not daring to speak the other man’s name aloud for the listening ears and sizzling powers in the vicinity.
Shadows cover Mason’s face. “I can’t get a read on him.”
I gape. What does that even mean? I thought Mase could track anyone. Offering a little nod, I squeeze his arm reassuringly, happy when he relaxes and the darkness lifts. I file the information away to ask Mason after this wretched event is over.
I swallow. The last few weeks all led to this moment. Suddenly, it’s not failing that I’m afraid of. I’m afraid of letting Tylin, Mason, Jameson, and Rory down. I might just be an asset—their secret, disposable weapon—but they’ve become more to me. Even Rory.
“Time’s up.” Mouse murmurs as the song draws to a close. His mouth hovers teasingly above mine as he skims his nose down mine tenderly, touching his forehead to mine before he pulls away. I’m not ready to leave his arms, but I don’t protest. This isn’t prom. I’m not really here to dance, or fall in love, or live happily ever after.
Leading me from the floor, Mason pulls my hand to his lips, kissing first the back of my hand and then bringing my fingertips to his mouth. With a gentle, sexy kiss to the tips of my fingertips, he lets his eyes drink me in for one last moment before he drops my hand. With a glance over my shoulder, he steps backward before turning and disappearing just as quietly and quickly as he appeared.
I watch him go, my heart pounding. I can hear each inhale of breath I take. Applause breaks through my distraction, bringing me back to the present and announcing the start of this shit show.
Somehow, I feel Armond’s power before I even see him. My body reacts as though greeting an old friend, and my stomach twists as I remember how vile his life essence had felt flowing through my veins.
I straighten my posture, jut my chin up another inch, and turn around.
Facing the devil at the pulpit.
Twenty-Eight
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
I grit my teeth through Armond’s speech, working hard to keep my true feelings from being expressed on my face or in my body language.
His long, drawn out welcome is eye-roll worthy, but I simply smirk and give a little golf clap of an applause at all the appropriate places. I keep my eyes trained at the front of the church, deducing who could be secret cohorts with Armond.
If this new idiot’s stupid, he’ll walk right up to Armond when he’s done posturing. However, I’m not sure I’ll be that lucky. If he’s smart enough to work behind the scenes to create some kind of super weapon with Armond, then he’s smart. Smarter than me. But I don’t need to be smart tonight. I need to be deadly.
I barely notice the cool press of steel against my thigh. Having a weapon with me is a comfort.
As Armond finishes, his eyes scan the crowd, nearly falling right on me. I move, walking slowly behind some other party goers, using them as cover.
“Drink?” The rumble of the masculine voice makes me smirk. I look up into the dreamy blue eyes of a… waiter?
Hmm, sexy staff they have here tonight.
“Why yes.” I smile up at Jameson as I pick up one of the crystal glasses of champagne. “Thank you.” Bubbles play over my tongue as I take a small sip.
“Don’t you make a pretty picture.” He tucks his now empty tray beneath his arm and circles around me, taking in the full effect of the white dress that clings just enough to my figure. When the back of his hand brushes against mine, I tangle my fingers with his for one brief moment. An electric energy stings through my veins and my eyes widen as I realize I just stole some of his power. The warm look in his eyes is still there as if he doesn’t notice the pull of his ability into me at all.
It’ll help tonight. I know it will. If anything goes wrong I'll have his power. I just wish I had more control over my abilities.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” He wears a button down black shirt and black dress pants that lead to a pair of shined black dress shoes. The uniform looks the same as the other waiters hovering around the room offering drinks and appetizers, but the way Jameson wears it—with his signature confidence—takes him leagues above all the others in the room. I look up at him from under my lashes, and his eyes dance and sparkle in the candlelit room.
“Even the mask makes you look sexy as hell.”
I arch an eyebrow he can’t see. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Fuck yeah. You’ve got that whole sexy and mysterious vixen vibe going on, babe. And the best part is that I know when I remove that mask later tonight, I’m going to get to see the rest of your beautiful face.” He wiggles his eyebrows and I can’t help but laugh. Trust Jameson to set me at ease during the most stressful mark I’ve ever taken on.
“Well luckily, there are others wearing masks here so I don’t stand out.” I look around, making my point. Assassins are not trusting creatures by nature, and that works in my favor tonight.
“Oh, you most certainly stand out, Lex.” Pure sex radiates from every word. His eyes undress me, making me wish I was anywhere else with him other than in this room. With a wink, he moves through the crowd—leaving me alone. Yet, I don’t feel quiet as alone as I had earlier.
Strains of a popular song strike up from the orchestra as they take a radio hit and turn it into a classical masterpiece.
I keep my eyes on the target. Armond is schmoozing with his fans, outwardly flirting with every woman with a pulse, as he works his way through the crowd.
I assess each person, quickly dismissing each one as the potential higher power Tylin mentioned.
Groups start to gather along the edges of the room, large stained-glass windows looming over their heads, each depicting a different holy scene that I know nothing about.
Keeping my attention on Armond, I move to the outskirts and let myself wander past the clusters of people, seeing if I can pick up any conversation that would be helpful.
Nothing.
A growl works its way up my throat because my plans aren’t going accordingly. Plans that the guys know nothing about.
Flicking my eyes to the balcony, I expect to see Mason hidden in plain sight, but I see nothing. Shifting shadows catch my attention as I go to lower my gaze. Someone is up there.
I smile at a passing waiter and move to get a better, deeper view of the balcony. The moments that pass before I allow myself another glance skyward are tense, each muscle in my body responding to my internal stress.
A male steps to the edge of the shadows, the light lifting the inky gray colors just enough to reveal Tylin to me. The expensive cut and midnight sheen of his tux make an impressive figure. I swallow. The elevated stature of the balcony makes it seem like he lords over the gathering, making us all his subjects. I know in that moment that Tylin would make a much better leader than Armond ever could. Especially if he changed the League’s intent. For the first time in my life, I have a choice. Tonight? Tonight will be my last assassination.
A jarring bump sends me staggering forward as someone runs into me from behind. Power surges in my veins and I prepare to attack. Jameson’s essence vibrates within me. I search it out, finding it stored deep within myself.
“Alexa!” A whispering gasp shoots from the offender’s mouth, the sound decidedly feminine in nature.
Rounding on the perpetrator, I see Nala reaching to help steady me. Her fingers linger on my shoulder and she grins. It’s a surprise she’s here, and I take a moment to study her. Deep red satin covers her body, draping alluringly to the floor. The sweetheart neckline shows off her beautiful figure, and each nail is painted red to perfection. While the dress covers her feet, I know she’s wearing tall heels, the shoes lending her at least three extra inches compared to my own stature.
“You’re here.” She says it happily, like we’re at some high school reunion. I give her a tight smile, unsure how to act in her presence and more than worried about being recognized since she literally just said my name aloud. Reaching up, I make sure
my mask is secure. “Don’t worry.” She waves a hand in front of her face. “No one will recognize you. Great mask by the way. Super cute.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask, running my hands down my dress to straighten anything that might have shifted when I stumbled.
“At the event of the year? Everyone who matters is here.” Suspicion races through me at her thoughtless response. She’s here. Out in the open. After siding with me. She’s going to get herself killed.
“You’re taking quite the risk.” Shifting my gaze around the gathering, I realize that no one is paying attention to us, and I relax minutely, aware that there’s no imminent danger right now. My plans are still safe.
“As are you,” she says. I can’t fight her on that point, so I shrug instead.
Neither of us ask what the other is doing. I’m sure it’s because neither of us wants to answer.
“Here.” Thrusting a drink in my hands, she releases the stem of the glass. “That’s on me.” She gives me a sheepish smile.
“What’s this for?” I look at the neon blue color and wonder what’s in the martini. It’s the opposite of the plain champagne that I had earlier. Red grenadine garnishes the bottom of the glass, almost looking like a thick drop of blood.
“Consider it an apology for my nearly running you over.” She waves it off but continues to stare at me. I’m not sure if I‘m supposed to say something else, but I’m not in the mood for talking.
Nala’s friendship feels different from the easy way the guys make me feel. It feels awkward and forced.
Instead of overthinking it, I take a tentative sip of the drink to appease her, hoping she’ll move on. I have a job to do, and I’m about to get drunk on whatever girly drink she’s acquired for herself and let down my guys by being too buzzed to finish the job properly. This assassination requires stealth, speed, and cunning that I would never be able to achieve drunk.
“Mmm, that’s good.” I motion to the glass, looking for a place I can now set it down, hoping that the social part of my evening is over.
Clearly, Tylin could have given me a few lessons on eloquently dodging small talk.
“Not going to finish it?” she says sweetly. Too sweetly.
I narrow my eyes at her as I feel a numb tingle flare up in my stomach, working its way outward. I stumble toward her on my heels as I try to keep myself upright. The sconces on the wall and the colors of the stained-glass start to swirl together as the room begins to spin.
“What the hell?” Each word is a fight to get past my lips, and I feel my throat constricting as I try to gulp lungfuls of air.
“The first rule of being an assassin; trust no one.” The sickly sweet sing-song tone of her voice is the last thing I hear as she repeats my words back at me. A strong arm wraps around my waist, pulling me tightly into a masculine side.
“You never should have challenged Armond.” The deep voice is one I recognize, and even though my vision is growing black around the edges, I try to pull at his power. I have no idea what good laser eyes will do me, but I won’t turn my back on a free dose of power. My muscles melt to nothing and I go limp in the brute’s hold. Swinging me up into his arms, I hear the two of them making excuses to the people around us about my having had too much to drink as they slip through the crowd under the prelude of helping me. My head tilts back, giving way to the poison that I know is coursing through my body.
The last thing I see is Tylin concealed in the shadows on the balcony, talking wildly into some kind of watch.
Alive. Stay fucking alive.
I don’t know if I’m talking to him or to myself, but I decide it’s both. And that’s the last thought I have before the world shuts down and everything fades to black.
Twenty-Nine
Devil in the Details
“Well done.” Everything is garbled, and my head aches as I come to. I never expected to still be alive, but I assume I am from the earthy smell of dirt and the feel of cool grass tickling my arms and the back of my neck.
This can’t be good for the thousand-dollar dress I’m in. Susan would be so disappointed in my carelessness with this gown. But she’d probably be more than happy to sell me a replacement.
I can tell I’m lying on the ground somewhere and there’s at least two other people with me. I try not to stir, working to gather as much intel as I can before I give myself away.
“She was an easy mark. Never even saw me coming.” Glee drips from Nala as she speaks, and it takes everything in me to keep myself still. The backstabbing, evil, conniving bitch! So much for friendship.
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. She’s been working with Armond this whole time. What the hell is her angle? None of it makes any sense unless she’s looking to be the ‘teacher’s pet’.
“Yes, sweetheart, you did amazingly well.” He coos at her and I want to vomit in my mouth. Instead, my breathing stays even and unchanged. “When you have her powers, it’ll hurt at first.” He sounds concerned for her even though his words confuse me.
“I can handle it, sir.” Even her serious voice drips with sweetness.
I focus, two people so far. I can make out the voices of Armond and Nala, but the power that crackles around me alludes to more assassins. I need to know how many.
I wonder where the guys are. Will they come for me? Or will they get the hell out? Probably the latter, but a small, selfish part of me hopes for the first.
I care about them enough, however, to hope they take off. There’s enough power inside the church to insure the pain and torture of a thousand deaths, and if Armond has any say in the matter, our deaths won’t be quick and painless. I steel myself now.
“Wake up, Alexa,” Armond demands. “I know you’re conscious. Why do you think you’re awake? Because I let you be. Everything you are is because of me.”
Conceited, arrogant son of a bitch.
I debate faking it for another second but soon feel the unmistakable pinpoints of heat as my flesh beings to burn. Ah, three assassins. Looks like laser eyes couldn’t mind his own business. His power burns through my flesh, slicing through my nerves. As the pain tears through me, I fling my eyes open to stare up into the gleaming gaze of the man who I once fully believed took care of me.
Armond never cared for me at all. He doesn’t care for any of us.
He uses us.
I feel it every time he rips away my power just to fuel his own.
Another burn of heat sears into the flesh at my wrist and a shrieking cry is muffled behind clenched teeth. It’s sad that even now I’ll never show him weakness. I once hid my weaknesses to impress him; now I’m doing it to piss him off.
He crouches low, the long coattails of his inky jacket whisk over the grass and I try hard to focus on the thin blades of grass; anything to distract me from the feel of the power the assassin at my side is pressing into me.
I guess those laser eyes do have some purpose.
“She works best under pressure. Give her a moment, she’ll perform for you.” Armond’s words hold a hint of impatience.
I have to strain to tip my head up, my eyes scanning the darkness. I'm vaguely aware that my mask is now missing but I don't take the time to search for it. My gaze settles on a tall man, his arms folded neatly behind his back. The expensive clothes pressed neatly against his body don’t reflect his features. The bridge of his nose tilts slightly as if it’s been broken at least once before. Probably more. His dark hair nearly bleeds into the night and his attention shifts over my features with a look of complete interest. I feel his energy in the cool air. It’s strong and controlled. It rages with power.
He's the higher power.
“I would think a dose of life may… assist her.” Derek’s careful words are spoken with intent and Armond slowly nods to the man.
The moment Armond’s palm settles over my throat, I feel him pulling at the shreds of life I have left. He tears at it little by little and the lines that crease the corners of his gray eyes smile down o
n me the entire time.
The more he takes the more I feel of his power. My own energy wraps around his, following his before pulling right back at it. It washes into me in drowning waves that leave me shaking and nauseous from the feel of it.
Of all the power I’ve ever felt, Armond’s is the only one that twists my stomach with disgust, leaves a bitter taste against my tongue, and has my body boiling from the inside out.
I drink it in like it’s the most revitalizing thing I’ve ever felt, but he pulls it back from me the moment my heart starts to pound hard against my chest.
My normal, rational mind doesn’t pause to consider the plan we had so perfectly laid out. It was all supposed to be so simple. Lure Armond out of the room and halt time. I’d hold on to it for as long as my abilities would allow and use my new powers to destroy the man from the inside out.
All in just under sixty seconds.
What the guys didn’t know was the tiny addition I’d tacked on to the end. Rip away Armond’s power and use it to take out this Derek fellow. Prove myself to the guys. Eliminate the threats against us. Neither plan is anywhere to be found now and the power that’s racing rapidly through my veins can’t seem to be stopped.
“Put her energy into our pet.”
Derek nods his head toward Nala and she takes a confident step forward. When I stand with waning strength, I don’t think any of them expected it. Even Captain Laser Eyes over there is astonished.
The moonlight is full and shining across the damp grass, highlighting every headstone within the graveyard that we stand in. The cool winds caress my exposed skin, sending a shiver down my spine. I try hard not to let the ominous setting deter my plans.
With a sharp pull, I drag as much power from Armond into myself as I can. The energy of each assassin he’s siphoned recently flows through my veins. A flash of crimson blinds my sight but I keep my attention trained on the hulking assassin who was so ready to burn my flesh right from the bone.