by Helene Gadot
He yanked me a little closer until all I could smell was him. "You don't mean that, doll. It's a lot to wrap your mind around. Believe me I understand."
"I don't think you do." I tried to catch my bearings, but Sky had lead and turned me in so many different directions, I was completely turned around.
"Why don't you explain it to me then? Why are you so against kindred souls?"
"I'm not really against them. I believe they're real. And I even believe they work out happily for some people. But I don't believe we should be forced together. And I don't believe you should only be allowed to marry and have a family with kindreds. We should have choices and opportunities to decide for ourselves. So many people don't even find their kindreds and they're forced to spend their lives alone, never having children. It's bullshit."
"But what about people who find their kindreds later in life? What if they're married and have a family? What happens then?"
I shrugged. "Multiple mates are common. They can make it work."
"But a kindred connection is much more powerful than a relationship without it. It would overshadow it." There was something I couldn't read or understand in his expression. Something hopeful? Excited? Relieved? I wasn't sure. But I was beginning to think my views made him happy.
"Perhaps. Perhaps they could make it work. But it would be their choice. They could choose to wait and search for their kindred or they could choose to accept love when they find it."
"Maybe you're right. But doll, I have to tell you. If you were already in a relationship with someone, I'd want to kill him. Not share you with him. I'm already going to have to share you with my best mates."
I scowled, already tired of repeating myself. "I haven't decided to give in to the connection. You can't force me."
All signs of humor disappear from his face. "We'd never force you. Ever."
"Good. I'd kill anyone who tried."
A huge smile lit up his face, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Oh, doll. I completely understand how we're kindred."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"He means you're just as blood-thirsty as us and he likes it."
I jumped, whirling around at the voice behind me.
SEVEN
Whistler.
He scowled at me. "Are you finished being a stubborn, hard-headed ass?"
I tossed my head. "For now. No promises on tomorrow."
Whist tried to hide it, but I still saw the smile haunting his eyes. His really beautiful eyes. They burned through me like starlight every time he looked at me. Everything about him was beautiful. His dark red hair, pale skin with a scattering of freckles in delightful and surprising places, the lean muscles bulging against his shirt, the hard, stubborn jaw and sharp cheekbones, his plush and kissable lips.
Kissable lips? What was I thinking? Why were my thoughts constantly running away from me? I did not want to be overtaken by lust and the kindred bond until I was mindless with wanting them. I hadn't even known them a full day yet. It was way too soon for any kind of commitments.
Saber pressed into my side, his arm brushing against me. "We need to get moving. It's going to take us a few hours to get to the safe house."
"We're going on foot? And we aren't going farther than a few hours from here?" We should have been getting as far away as fast as possible.
Whist retied his boot. "Yes, on foot. We can't travel on main roads. And it's well-hidden and we need to be out of sight now. Better to lay low than to remain out in the open."
I shrugged. "I'm used to traveling on foot."
"Good. Let's go." Whist and the others suddenly had packs on their backs. When did that happen? Where did they come from?
Whist took the lead and Sky took the rear, leaving Saber walking next to me. He remained close, his body almost in constant contact with mine. It both calmed me and wound me up somehow. I couldn't get as good a read on him as the other two assassins. Sky was all cockiness and humor with the occasional flash of deadly dominance. Whist was pure angry alpha, the determined leader. But Saber, I didn't know. He'd shown flashes of humor, but he said little, choosing instead to observe and follow the other's leads. What did he see when he watched everything so closely? What did he see in me?
That was another problem I had with kindreds. Supposedly the magic joining us together meant our personalities were perfect matches. But how was I supposed to be a perfect match for three such different men? I wanted to be loved for who I was, not because some mystical forced us together. Like my parents. They chose each other. Over and over again, they chose each other. They might not have been perfect matches in the eyes of our world, but they were to each other.
Was I supposed to ignore everything I learned from them, everything this cruel world taught me and give in like the masses? Just because I found three gorgeous men who made my heart pound and palms sweat and every inch of me crave their touch?
My parents could never describe how overpowering it was since they never experienced it. And it's not like I had extended family or friends to explain it. My parents were banished and disowned as soon as they got married.
Lost in my morbid thoughts, I stumbled over a root and Saber reached out to steady me, then tucked my arm into his.
"I can walk on my own."
"I know. But I like touching you. It eases me."
I refused to admit it eased me too. I breathed him in, almost closing my eyes in rapture. He smelled smoky and smooth, like campfire and my favorite brandy. I wanted to lick him all over. His brown skin was a few shades darker than my bronze tone, his black hair cropped close to his head, a nasty scar cut into the middle of his cheek from his eye to his upper lip made him seem dangerous and mysterious, his body tall and broad with a tapered waist leading to tight trousers showing off his other assets.
I pressed a little closer into him and he looked over at me with a soft smile, his dark brown eyes overflowing with secrets. Secrets I wanted to uncover.
EIGHT
My legs and back ached and I wanted nothing more than to curl up on the ground and go to sleep. Everything from the last couple days had caught up to me, leaving me empty and exhausted, torn and confused. After I got some sleep, maybe I'd be able to think clearly and decide what to do next.
Because right at the moment, I had no idea.
I bit back a groan as we climbed up a hill. I would not admit how tired I was. Saber pulled away from me and took my hand, threading our fingers together. My stomach swooped, but I kept my expression bland and my eyes glued ahead.
At the top of the hill, I could see down into a small valley filled with trees of every color. The waning light of the sun set the valley on fire. A small cottage sat in the middle of the trees, small and quaint. Was this the safe house? Not at all what I expected. It was charming, like something out of the books I read as a child.
With the end of our journey in sight, a burst of energy crashed through me and my steps hastened on our way down the hill. I hoped they had a bath in there. I couldn't remember the last time I bathed in anything other than cold streams and rivers.
Saber led me up onto the small covered porch while Whist unearthed the key from a hiding place behind one of the shutters and unlocked the door.
It was musty and dusty inside, but otherwise neat and clean and welcoming. Sunlight filtered through the windows, lighting up the dust motes. The cottage was small, one main room with a sofa and two plush chairs and a small eating and cooking area towards the back. Three closed doors led to other rooms and hopefully a washroom.
"Make yourself at home, doll. The middle door is the washroom if you want a bath. The door on the left will be your room if you want." Sky gestured to the closed door.
"Where will the rest of you sleep?" Not with me.
Sky grinned. "Saber and I will share the other bedroom and Whist usually takes the sofa anyway."
Whist probably wanted to guard the door. From invasion and probably also to keep me from escaping. I'd bide my time. I was no mor
on. They were my safest option for the time being. They'd do anything to keep me safe. There would come a point where they let their guard down and I'd have the chance to disappear.
I closed myself inside the room Sky pointed out, breathing deeply at finally being alone. Since they were just in the next room and I wasn't trying to get away from them, my body didn't protest the separation. There was a slight emptiness, but nothing as uncomfortable as before. If I gave into the bond, the pain and uncomfortable sensations would lessen and eventually fade. It was the bond trying to force the connection.
And I did not like being forced.
Instead of rejoining the assassins after my bath, I pulled out some of my food and munch it on my new bed. The room was basic -- a surprisingly large bed in the center of the wood floors, a small set of drawers in the corner, a green rug by the bed, a small table with a lantern and a few candles. I made sure to lock the door leading into the washroom, since both bedrooms had private access to the washroom and I didn't want any surprise guests.
Once I finished my meager dinner, I brushed away the crumbs and slid under the covers. I didn't know how the assassins set up this house or why, but it wasn't a bad place to hide out. I sank into the plush mattress, choosing a spot right in the middle of the massive bed.
All three assassins could have easily fit in there with me and left room to spare.
I shoved away the thought and just enjoyed being in a real bed. I was so used to the hard forest floor as a bed, I wasn't sure I'd be able to sleep on something so soft. But it was so glorious and comfortable, I was unwilling to move.
It didn't take long for sleep to find me.
I floated away on my bed of clouds, feeling safe for the first time, maybe ever.
NINE
I woke to a soft stroke on my cheek and a quiet voice. "Rhapsody, love. There's food if you're hungry."
With a reluctant groan, I rolled over and squinted open my eyes. "How'd you get in here? I locked the doors."
Saber smiled at me. "I'm an assassin. Locked door won't stop me."
I frowned in disapproval. "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
His continued strokes on my face, on my arms soothed me. "I did knock, but you didn't answer. You've been shut in here for fifteen hours. We were starting to get a little worried you ran out on us again."
"Like Whist doesn't have some kind of alarm system set up outside my window for just that scenario." I snorted and sat up.
"Maybe."
I scoffed and shoved back to covers to climb from the bed. "I won't be a prisoner."
"You aren't one. If, in a few days, you are determined to ignore the bond of kindred souls and go on with your life without us, we will have to adjust. We will never force you to remain with us and lock you away to keep you safe. I can't promise we'll be able to stay away from you, but we'll watch from afar if that's what you really want. All we ask is you give us a chance. Get to know us. Let us keep you safe until this mess with the king calms down. You don't have to hide in here the whole time. We don't bite." He grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Unless you want us to."
My breath caught at the vision his words brought to my mind. I shook it off and grabbed my cloak to ward against the chill in the air. Autumn was quickly moving into winter, the worst time of year for me. It was miserable sleeping in the elements.
Something to consider with my new kindreds determined to take care of me. Not that I needed to be taken care of. Since before my parents died, I learned to rely on only myself.
I couldn't forget that just because I had three dangerous men who tempted me more than was good for me.
Saber trailed me into the main room where I found Sky sprawled on the sofa and Whist standing over the wood burning stove making something that smelled utterly heavenly. He glanced over his shoulder, still stirring whatever he was making, and looked me up and down, something I didn't recognize swirling in the depths of his starlight eyes.
My stomach rumbled, making Whist snort. "It'll be ready in about three minutes. There's bread on the table if you need something now."
I eyed the bread, but shook my head. "I can wait. I had some food before I slept. What are you making?"
"Steak and eggs. Fried apples and cream for dessert."
My mouth watered and my eyes actually almost teared up. I didn't realize how much I missed real, fresh food.
Sky leapt from the sofa and approached the table, sliding out a chair for me. "Have a seat, doll."
My brows furrowed in irritation, but I sat down. "Thanks."
Sky and Saber took the seats on either side of mine, crowding me with their massive bodies. My pulse fluttered at their scents of sunshine and blueberries, campfire and brandy.
What did Whist smell like? I couldn't remember from the other night when he was wrapped around me and he'd kept his distance since. I studied him as he finished up breakfast or whatever meal this is. He was precise and his expression calm, like cooking wass his bliss. He chopped fresh herbs and added them to the pan, the meat sizzling and spitting.
Sky noticed my interest. "Our boy over there loves cooking. His mother is a palace chef and he's almost as good as her. I've been telling him for years he should retire and open up a tavern."
Whist spoke without turning around. "That would ruin it."
Sky scowled playfully at Whist's back. "I told you we'd retire with you and run the business end of things."
"And what do either of you know about running a business?" Whist asked in a dry voice.
"Nothing. But we're fast learners. And look, we've stumbled across the entertainment." Sky gestured at me with a grin. "Besides, we may not have a choice now." Sky winked at me to soften his words, but guilt slid through me anyway.
I'd been so focused on the changes everything was bringing to my life, I kept ignoring what it had done to their lives. They had good lives working for the king, killing people who need killing, apparently enough money to set up luxurious safe houses. Now, they were outlaws just like me, on the run, no home.
At least they had each other. That was more than I'd had since my parents died.
"There's always other choices. We'll figure it out. The king will understand we couldn't finish the job."
My head jerked up. "He'll just have someone else kill me."
Whist plopped a platter of steaming food onto the table. "Which is why we have no plans to bring you to him. If we end up having to return, we'll hide you somewhere."
I breathed in the scents of the food, hunger pangs shooting through my stomach. "I'm not spending the rest of my life hidden away like a shameful secret."
Saber placed his warm hand over mine. "We're not going to ask you to. Not long-term. Just for now. We've bought ourselves some time to figure everything out."
I slid my hand away from Saber, hating the shivers and butterflies his touch causes me. "How did the three of you end up becoming assassins anyway?"
"It's a long and rather depressing story." Sky exchanged a glance with Saber.
"Apparently we're stuck together for a while. We have the time. And depressing stories don't scare me."
"We're more worried you'll turn our story into another political protest song." Whist filled a plate and placed it in front of me.
I stared down at the food, forcing myself to wait until everyone else was served. "All art is political. Whether on purpose or not, your beliefs and morals sink into your work."
"Yours just seems to have a little extra than the average artist."
"Stop trying to change the subject." I pursed my lips into a frown aimed at Sky.
Sky stared at my lips, the his eyes darkening to sapphires. "We'll tell you ours if you tell us yours."
I cleared my throat and fidgeted in my seat. "Deal. But you first."
We tucked into the food Whist made and I barely kept in the groan rising in my chest. It was delicious. The steak was buttery and so soft I didn't even need the knife beside my plate. The eggs were fluffy and fragrant with
herbs. And the apples, oh my word, the apples. They were still a bit crisp and tart with honey and spices sweetening them, the cold cream melting against the heat.
I barely inhaled as I shoveled it into my mouth, completely forgetting the manners my father tried to instill in me. The assassins watched me with varying shades of amusement and awe and concern.
It took me a moment to swallow my mouthful. "What?"
"How long has it been since you've had a proper meal?" Saber asked.
Heat stung my cheeks. "I eat plenty. Just never this delicious."
Sky waved a piece of steak in the air. "All the more reason to stay with us. You can eat like this all the time."
I eyed their trim and muscular figures. "How is it the three of you are in such good shape if you eat like this all the time?"
"We train a lot." Whist deadpanned.
I rolled my eyes. "Of course." I sipped at the wine Whist served with the meal. "So, assassins. How does one get a job in that field?"
The three of them glanced at each other before somehow Whist was somehow elected to tell the story. "We were soldiers. We were excellent soldiers. We ended up in the elite squad in the king's inner circle. After a few assassination attempts on his life, the king realized he needed his own assassins to deal with threats quietly. So, the three of us along with a handful of others were chosen to train in the art of killing."
That was it? The whole story? It told me nothing. "How is that a long and depressing tale? It was more boring than anything."
"Yeah, Whist. You left out all the drama. How we were almost executed. How the assassins almost killed us and the prince and princess. How we had no choice but to become assassins or we would have faced execution." There was a dark edge to Sky's humor. One that made me think Saber wasn't the only one with secrets hidden behind his eyes.
I had always loved uncovering secrets.
"If that's true, why are you so loyal to the king? Why haven't you left and started over in another country?"