Kennedy (Council Assassins #19)

Chapter Four

Ariella

My eyes roll as Caspian insists on accompanying me. His overprotective nature is both irritating and oddly endearing, though I’d never confess the latter.

We approach the modest house on the outskirts of Valoria, its weathered exterior a categorical contrast to the castle I’ve been made to live in. My stomach twists as memories of my last visit here surface. The man’s anguished cries…I’d almost felt bad for him.

Almost.

I push the thoughts aside—this is necessary. Caspian’s voice breaks through my reverie, muffled and distorted by the mask I’ve ordered him to wear. There would be an uprising if the kingdom’s people knew their prince was accompanying the Silver Wraith on her missions. “Are you sure about this?”

I nod once. “He’s our best lead to finding them.”

Other than my mentor, but I've already decided he won't know about this.

“And you’re certain he’ll help us?”

A humorless smile tugs at my lips. “Oh, your sweet, royal-forged naivety. He has no choice, prince.”

The moon casts a ghostly light through the dusty windows, illuminating the worn-down furniture and faded wallpaper. Seems our friend has let himself go. I walk straight to the front door, not bothering to hide from wandering eyes—the people of Eldoria know better than to act against me. Anyone watching will just lock their doors and send a prayer to the Angel that I do not visit them next.

The darkness of the house envelopes us, barely illuminated by the slivers of moonlight that peek through the windows. My nose scrunches as the smell of damp wood and musty old furniture hangs in the air, mingling with the faint scent of smoke, as if someone had lit a candle recently—an unpleasant one.

The only sounds are our muted footsteps and the occasional swish of fabric as we navigate our way deeper into the house. I can feel Caspian’s presence behind me, his breaths coming out slightly ragged with the adrenaline I’m sure is coursing through his body.

He’s never done something this dark in nature before. I hold back a laugh—this is the least dark thing I've done in a while. My world, it’s intimidating. But he demanded to join, so he will learn very what it truly means to be friends with me. This is everything political meetings are not, and civil, amicable outcomes do not exist here.

I pause in the family room, this one seeming the most lived-in. There is a chair on the opposite side that faces the entry hallway, which is perfect for my needs. Alexander should be home soon, if my memories recall correctly. He works as a tailor, catering to the royal family and their guard, which keeps him out a majority of the day.

I drop into the chair, nodding behind me to where I want Caspian to stand. “Should you need reminding, you are not to speak or reveal your identity.”

He scoffs and settles in the area I’d indicated. “Yes, my queen.”

I bark out a laugh, unable to stop myself. His tone is light and playful. I enjoy this side of him—too bad we have business to attend to.

A refreshing giddiness settles inside me as a door opens down the hall, clicking shut after a moment. I lean back and cross my legs, switching the blade to my right hand as I continue to twirl it through my fingers. Caspian may think I’m being funny, but if he so much as utters a word out of turn, I will slice his dick right off.

This isn’t a pathetic little meeting at the castle, nor is it a soiree with Eldorian nobles from other cities. This is my job—one I take very seriously.

It would be a pity, though—the prince losing his cock. It is quite nice.

I blow out a frustrated sigh. But in my world, threats are indeed binding, and I always follow through with mine.

My eyes flick up as a lamp at the front of the room illuminates and our target sucks in a sharp breath. “Hello, Alexander,”

I purr, exuding a confidence that was trained into me. The target moves the smallest step back, but I do not miss it. “Ah, ah. I don’t recall granting you permission to run. Try not to piss yourself just yet—we have matters to discuss.”

“You,”

he breathes, stumbling back another step.

I stand in one fluid motion. My body is so in-sync with its ingrained focus that not even my fingers falter in twirling the blade as I move through the room, never taking my eyes from Alexander. I stop directly in front of him, smirking. My blade slides across the base of his neck, catching the beads of sweat that have accumulated there in the last minute. “Me.”

A confirmation he does not need, but one I am too happy to give.

“Silver Wraith,”

he grits out, his tone subdued. His gaze swings to Caspian as the prince adjusts his position behind me and my lip curls, slapping the blade against his already reddened cheek, the tip just barely nicking skin.

“Do not look at him. You answer to me tonight.”

I step back and cross my feet, pivoting to the wall of photos Alexander keeps of him and his wife. “Actually, I’m in no mood for generosity. Unlucky for you. So if you so much as acknowledge his presence again, you and I will have some extra fun. He doesn’t exist to you—do you understand?”

My head whips to the side, and I raise a brow, pressing for an answer.

“Yes, wraith.”

The target breathes in deep, wiping a hand down the front of his cashmere jacket. He’s nervous. Good, he should be. “As…”

He clears his throat, and I simply wait for him to find the confidence to continue with what I’m sure is meant to be an enlightening sentiment. “As honored as I am that you have graced me with your…presence, I do not believe we have any more business with each other.”

His gaze betrays him as the lines of his face crease imperceptibly when he looks at the photo I’m standing in front of. Him and his wife, drawn standing on a beach as they watch each other with smiles that promise forever.

A promise they had no right making.

“I decide when we have business, Alexander,”

I snap. “Tell me how to find the Palmluvela.”

His face pales further, quite the juxtaposition to the dark panels that make up his walls. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I advance on him, my patience wearing thin. “Don’t play dumb. We both know your thievery against them is the reason your wife is dead.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Caspian stiffen at my blunt words. I ignore him, focusing on the trembling man before me.

“Please,”

Alexander whimpers. “I can’t…They’ll kill me if I reveal their location.”

I lean in close, my voice a deadly whisper. “And what do you think I’ll do if you don’t?”

The internal struggle that plays out across his face is satisfying. The fear of them versus the immediate threat I pose. I’ve seen this dance before, and I know how it ends.

“You don’t understand,”

he pleads, a touch louder than me. “What I took from them…it’s not just some trinket. It’s powerful, dangerous. If they find out I’ve led others to them—”

“I’m not interested in your excuses,”

I cut him off, pressing the sharp edge of my blade against his throat. “Location. Now.”

He swallows hard, and his throat bobs, jerking my hand. “There’s…you don’t find them, they find you.”

My last nerve was desecrated with his non-answer. He must see the finality of my gaze because he barks out his next words as if he desperately needs to say them before I can move. “I’m not messing with you! The exact location of their community is unknown, but travel west through the forest, keeping south of Ebonwood. If your intentions are pure, they will find you.”

“Fuck, Alexander, you truly do not care for your life, do you? Will I meet the Angel there, too? The Aether?”

Alexander whips his head side to side. “It’s true! The forest is—it’s alive. It protects them.”

I step back, considering his words. It sounds like nonsense, but I’ve heard stranger things about the Verdantia Forest. And if he’s lying…well, I know where to find him. Even if he runs, he will meet his end with my blade. If he remains alive long enough to do so, that is.

“For your sake,”

I say, voice low and menacing, “you better hope my intentions are pure enough for them.”

He deflates, though whether in relief or utter defeat, I’m unsure. “I swear on my life, it’s the truth.”

“Your life isn’t worth much these days, is it?”

I remark, turning away from him. “Come,”

I say to Caspian, not bothering to look back as I head for the door.

Alexander reaches for his bottle of cider, though before he can chug the heady liquid, the prince is there snatching it from his hand. “Don’t,”

Caspian mutters, setting the bottle back on the wearing mantle. My teeth grind from the effort it takes to not castrate him right here, and I am quite impressed with my level of control.

The moment we are outside and in an alley, however, that minute amount of control snaps. I whirl on the prince and grab his throat, shoving back against the brick wall. I rip the mask from his face, tossing the stupid thing aside.

“What part of ‘do not speak’ did you not understand?”

I hiss, my face a mere inch from his. His scent is a distraction I do not need, but I allow myself to indulge for a few moments.

Caspian’s eyes widen, though he doesn’t struggle against my grip. “You think I didn’t see you drop something in his cider, Ariella? The man didn’t deserve to die when he gave you the answers you sought after.”

He’s not wrong. I did slip phecin into the cider when we’d arrived, though I hardly think it warrants such a reaction. The man could have tossed the alcohol before consuming it—unlikely, but possible. The colorless, odorless poison would have had him dead within the hour after bleeding out internally.

Relatively painless. I deem that a mercy, considering what I’d wanted to do to him instead.

“Fuck’s sake, Caspian. Must you be so noble?”

I squeeze his throat harder, relishing the way I hold his life in my hand. “That was not your decision to make.”

The ire in his eyes prickles the hair along my neck; I’ve not seen him look so angry before.

I’m unsure of whether I’m amused or annoyed.

“My apologies, Silver Wraith, I wasn’t aware you were above everyone else and your word was final.”

I chuckle, the sound low and malicious. I am certainly annoyed.

“I am above all of them—that’s part of the depravity you claim to love so much about me. I do not fucking care whether he deserved to die or not, but it was my decision.”

My throat tightens at the hurt in his eyes, though I continue. “You need to understand something, prince. I have been telling you the truth of myself since the day we met, and yet you’ve continued to insist that you want every part of me, killer and all. This,”

I gesture between us, “is precisely why I haven’t believed you. I knew that your opinions would change the very first peek you got into this part of my life.”

“Well here I am, Caspian. Take a good fucking look, because I change for no one. So you’d better decide if your declarations are true, or if your feelings are just as every other man who becomes infatuated with me because fucking someone with my reputation will win them bragging rights amongst others.”

He grunts as I shove into him, pushing from my spot and stalking back toward the castle, my fists clenched at my sides. The cool night air does little to soothe the fire raging inside me.

Fuck him. Fuck his nobility and his misplaced sense of morality. I’ve been perfectly clear about who and what I am from the start. If he can’t handle it, that’s something he needs to deal with—alone.

And yet…

A small voice in the back of my mind whispers doubts I’ve been trying to ignore. What if he’s right to be appalled? I am the monster everyone believes me to be. I am the subject of stories told in the night and the fear that crests when they take one look at my hair.

I shake my head, trying to banish the thoughts. I cannot afford to second-guess myself now. Not when there’s so much at stake. Stupid that I’ve allowed the prince—a man, of all things—to make me question myself.

But the hurt lingers, an unwelcome ache in my chest. For just a moment, I’d allowed myself to hope that maybe, just maybe, someone could accept all of me. The bad and the worse, the dark and the shadows.

How foolish of me.

I’m the Silver Wraith—a product of this regency’s making. I do not need acceptance or understanding. I need no one.

Then why is it so painful?

I quicken my pace, desperate to put distance between myself and these unwanted emotions. The mission comes first—finding the Palmluvela, getting answers. Everything else is a distraction.

At least that’s what I’ll tell myself.