Chapter 32 Scarlett
CHAPTER 32
SCARLETT
“T hey move? All of them? Every few days?” Sorin asked when they stepped from the warehouse, Scarlett shutting the door behind them.
“Yes,” she said, pulling her hood up over her head. “For nearly three years. We didn’t move them as often for a while, but the need has again arisen.”
“That is a lot of children to move.”
“It is, and it’s worth it to keep them safe, but it’s also exhausting,” Scarlett replied.
She smiled to herself as they made their way down the alley. At one point in the afternoon, little Tula had brought Sorin a cookie and asked if he would smile. Scarlett had burst into laughter at the question. He took the cookie from Tula, ate it, then hoisted her onto his shoulders, where she merrily perched the remainder of the time they were there.
“Everything here seems so…normal,” Sorin commented as they rounded the corner and stepped back onto the street.
“That’s by design,” Scarlett answered, scanning the road. She didn’t want to go back the way they came. “This building, for example,” she said, leading him down the street, “the leather business they’re advertising is fighting leathers and suits designed for assassins, and the jewelry repair is actually weapons.”
“And the apothecary?”
Scarlett grimaced, rounding another corner onto a deserted side street. The towering buildings blocked the sunlight, casting it in shadows. “Opium and other substances.”
“Ah,” was Sorin’s answer.
“You said that your home is seen as wicked and dark. Does it appear any different than here?”
“No. My Court is stunning. There are forests along the border, but the farther north you go, the Fiera Mountains start, and words cannot accurately describe their beauty,” Sorin answered.
Scarlett turned to study him. His tone sounded wistful as he described his home. “You miss it.”
“Very much,” he answered, his eyes meeting hers.
“And you—”
They both froze at the sound of groaning bows.
“Shit.” She looked up to find four archers on the rooftops, arrows trained on them. “Do not move. They are black ashwood arrows.”
“May I remind you that they would be just as deadly to you,” Sorin murmured from the corner of his mouth.
“Shut up,” she snapped, turning slowly. Someone was down here that would be addressing her or taking her somewhere. She just didn’t know which one yet. “Remember what I told you. Do whatever you must to get out.”
“I am not going to leave you here,” Sorin drawled, sounding bored.
“I can take care of myself,” she hissed, her hand slowly reaching for the dagger on her thigh.
“That you can or the last thirteen years of training have been a complete waste of my time and resources.”
Scarlett had to use all of her training to keep the shock from her face. The Assassin Lord was here. He never came to her. She was always summoned. Always.
Well, except once. One time he had come to claim her himself when she had repeatedly refused to heed his summons. Instinctively, her arm drifted to her abdomen.
“I am glad to see you remember the last time I had to come and find you myself.” He stepped from the shadows of a side alley. Three others were with him. Who they were, she had no idea. They were all hooded and heavily armed. The Assassin Lord jerked his chin and two of those men stalked toward her. They gripped her arms and began dragging her towards him.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Sorin lurch for her. “No,” she ordered him. “Do not interfere with this. Do not move.”
“Commanding one of the king’s generals now?” the Assassin Lord chuckled as the men stopped before him. “I have indeed trained you well. First the prince, now one of his top generals. We will have this kingdom in our pocket before long.”
Scarlett lifted her chin. “He is helping me figure out who is coming after our children since you can’t be bothered to get off your ass and help.”
The fist to her stomach happened before she could take a bracing breath. She doubled over, but the men holding her arms held her up. She heard the low growl that escaped from Sorin.
“It would appear he is helping you in more ways than one,” the Assassin Lord sneered. “Tell me, Death’s Maiden, does he know of the prince whose bed you shared a few weeks ago?”
“Yes,” she gasped out, trying to force a breath down.
“And does he know who desires you for his own?”
“It does not matter. He does not desire such things from me so he will not care,” she replied through gritted teeth.
The Lord chuckled again. He stepped towards her and brought a hand to her cheek. She flinched away from his touch. “I raised you, Scarlett. And while I know you did not parade boys and men through your bed like your sisters did, I know you are not that na?ve.”
“Is this why you left your little sanctuary? To question me about the general and his intentions for me?” she snarled.
The Assassin Lord sighed. “This godsdamned mouth of yours. It shall serve you well when you finally accept your place, but you would do well to remember your manners, child.”
“Unless you have come to me to tell me we are finally seeking retribution for Juliette’s death, you can fuck off,” Scarlett spat.
This time it was not a fist that connected with her stomach, but a knee to her ribs. Then a kick to the back of her legs had her kneeling before the Lord. The men were no longer holding her arms, but there was a dagger pressed to her back and a hand gripping her shoulder. The Assassin Lord crouched before her, lifting her chin. She stared into the darkness of his hood. “I know that you will endure any physical punishment I bestow upon you, but should you speak to me like that again, those archers will release their arrows, and we both know they are not trained on you. Do we understand each other?”
“Yes,” Scarlett gasped out, forcing air into her lungs.
“What was that?” the Lord crooned.
“Yes,” she hissed from between her teeth. “I understand, my Lord.”
“The thing is,” the Lord said, standing once more. “I am beginning to question your comprehension skills. The last discussion we had you said you also understood, and yet I find your target is still alive. Was I unclear on who your target is or what is expected of you?”
“No, my Lord,” Each breath she got down radiated pain down her side.
“And was I unclear as to what would happen if you did not complete your assignment that you willingly accepted?”
“No, my Lord.”
“Then why the fuck is it not completed?” Scarlett flinched at the voice of the Assassin Lord. That voice promised more pain and violence if she did not answer correctly. He wasn’t done yet, though. “Explain to me why I had to track you down to find out why a paying job has not been completed. Explain to me why this is not taken care of and you are not back home where you fucking belong. Explain to me why you are bringing fucking strangers into my godsdamn Syndicate.”
When she did not answer, the sound of the slap across her face was like thunder in the silent street. The growl that emanated from Sorin had her flinging out her hand. “Do not fucking move, General.”
With a flick of the Assassin Lord’s wrist, she was being hauled roughly to her feet. A hand came around her waist as the Lord tugged her to him. His other hand gripped her hair, pulling her head back sharply so that his next words were whispered directly into her ear. “Finish this, Scarlett. Finish this and come home. Or I shall finish it for you, and you shall find yourself the property of another.”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek and then he shoved her away from him. Scarlett stumbled back, her ribs burning. In less than ten seconds, the Assassin Lord, the men, and the archers were gone. Sorin was instantly before her, his hands on her face and his eyes searching hers.
“Are you all right?”
“I am fine, Sorin,” she answered quietly, fighting a grimace.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here before I track that bastard down and kill him slowly,” he growled, reaching for her hand.
Scarlett dug in her heels. “We cannot leave this spot for five minutes.”
“Why not?” Sorin asked incredulously.
“To ensure exactly what you just said you wanted to do doesn’t happen,” she whispered. “Should we leave this spot before five minutes is up, we will find black ashwood arrows in our throats.”
Sorin swore. “Did this happen because you brought me here?”
“No,” she answered. “This happened because I have been defying him for the last year, and he has had enough.”
Without a word, Sorin reached over and pulled her hood back up over her hair. Then his arms came around her, and being careful of her abdomen, he stepped into her. He guided her head to his shoulder, and she slowly brought her own arms around his waist. They said nothing as he held her in the shadows of that side street until they could leave.