Chapter 31
Isat in front of Commander Locke in his study.
I’d been in here once before, when Vander and I returned from the Black Castle.
But this was the first time I’d ever been alone in a room with the Commander.
And the first real chance I had to tell Commander Locke the truth of what happened the night I was captured, and the truth about his nephew working as an assassin for the vampires.
The truth that he was one of them and might be a traitor.
My stomach roiled. I found it hard to take a deep enough breath.
The last couple weeks I had buried myself in study and training at the sparring grounds.
I’d had nightmares of the vampires in Nocturnus circling me, taking turns biting me and questioning why I wouldn’t turn, or hooking tubes into my arms to pump my blood into goblets.
I’d dreamed of Vander kissing me and biting me, and everything in between.
In some dreams I’d screamed at him and thrown his dagger back at him, and in others I’d crawled into his bed just to be near him.
I’d had nightmares of Commander Ace coming into our room while we slept and putting a blade through his heart, then hauling me off as an accomplice.
I always woke in a sweat with my heart pounding.
The trust between us had been broken, and I was alone in deciding if he was truly working for them or us. I felt like I was falling through that endless abyss once again.
For the last few tests, we’d gone out in groups of apprentices and killed wildlings.
I didn’t fear them anymore, it was just a duty to be done.
Celine and Taewyn still wouldn’t stop talking about the attack on the city and how glad they were I’d survived my abduction.
I told them the vampires hadn’t even gotten me to the prison cart before Vander caught up to us, and that once he cut my ropes, we fought them off and got away.
I used the details of my fight in the woods outside the Black Castle to keep to the truth as much as possible.
It was easier to keep track that way. When they asked why it had taken us all night and into the morning to return to Drakthar, I told them we’d gone back to the main street to help people.
I hated lying. It went against my core values.
My father had taught me to tell the truth, always.
But I couldn’t say that I’d been taken to the Black Castle, and the only reason I came out alive was because Vander was a vampire who agreed to do whatever Belladonna and the kings wanted in exchange for my freedom.
They must truly want that daywalker spell to take such a risk.
The flutter of pages made me turn back to Commander Locke as he closed my folder and looked up at me.
“Well, Bonecarver, as you may know, I went over this test before you came in. You answered every question correctly, and that doesn’t happen often.
Something in your answer about the vampire queen makes me think you understand her ability better than most. Viper told me you have great-grandparents that are scholars? ”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Do you ever seem to know what people are thinking, or have you ever thought about moving something? A book, let’s say, and it fell off the shelf?”
I stopped fidgeting. Vander hadn’t ever told me if I should or shouldn’t discuss my mind ability.
It was silly compared to what Belladonna could do anyway, and I couldn’t move anything.
“I... Viper told me that he thinks it’s possible I can communicate things that I see in my mind.
I don’t know if that makes sense.” I wouldn’t tell him that most often Vander saw my sensual thoughts.
He sat back in his red leather chair and folded his hands. The wrinkles around his eyes creased as he studied me. “Share your thoughts?”
“Like sharing a memory the way I see it through my eyes, but it could be anything I wanted.”
He bobbed his head. “I’ve heard of something similar.
It is a skill you’ll need to work on. It won’t necessarily make you a better assassin, but it could help in the field.
I think we should connect you with your great-grandparents and you can meet with your great-grandmother biweekly to work on this.
She has a similar ability, but this all hinges upon her agreeing. ”
A nervous flutter worked its way through me.
I’d never met them before. They’d abandoned my grandmother and had never wanted anything to do with us, since to their knowledge none of us were ducai like them.
I resented them for that. But there was a part of me that wanted to know them.
And if I was going to help Vander take Belladonna down, I had to control my ability.
I had the dark thought that Vander would kill Belladonna and the twins just so he could be king of the vampires.
I think something about the way he had said he was far removed from the throne here, and would never rule Nighthaven, had made me wonder.
And Vander would make an even more terrifying enemy than them.
He knew everything about Nighthaven and LOA, and I didn’t think there was anyone who could kill him if he went down that road.
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’ve improved much quicker than I expected you to, based on the initiation fight and the first apprentice game.
Commander Ace and I have been observing you at the training grounds throughout the year.
It’s truly impressive the work you’ve done, and your performance in the second game was a huge leap.
The fact that you were able to fight your way out of capture, even with Viper’s help, is truly remarkable.
Killing Dravyn Knox was something Viper had wished to do for a long time after what happened to his sister.
We’re thankful he was able to do that and bring you home to Drakthar.
Do you feel you are ready to move onto assassin level one? ”
My stomach knotted with all the secrets, but I nodded with a forced smile.
It was just so strange trying to pretend life was normal again.
Honesty and loyalty were important to me.
“I do, sir. Although I still think I have room for improvement, I’m ready to become a full assassin.
I want to kill vampires.” All of them except for the one currently haunting my every thought.
He chuckled and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “That’s the spirit. And of course you’ll improve and level up over the coming years, but you don’t need to shadow a trainer at all times anymore. Viper is confident you are ready to graduate to assassin level one as well, and I trust his judgment.”
Trust. If he only knew. Vander’s judgment was murky at best. LOA rules were black and white.
He should have killed his sister, and he should have ended his own life.
I used to think that way too. Now I felt like jumbled, shapeless clay with no idea how to start molding myself.
I should tell Commander Locke right now.
I had the perfect opportunity. “There’s something I think you should know about Viper. ”
He smiled, completely unaware I could ruin his world, and arched an inquisitive brow. “You can tell me anything.”
My mouth was dry as a weathered bone, and I started picking at my nails.
I swallowed hard and met his amber eyes.
My heart could pound from my chest. I found myself asking the same question I had asked at my mother’s grave: is it alright to do something wrong for good reasons?
Did I even have good reason to cover for Vander anymore?
Those two birds tore at my flesh. If I told on him, I chose death.
If I didn’t, I chose life—for now. “You should know that he’s.
..” Tears flooded my eyes making everything blurry.
“A phenomenal trainer. I wouldn’t be alive without him.
I think it’s sad his father and mother won’t speak to him.
It isn’t his fault Oriana was killed. You should know that I’m thankful you paired him with me.
And I’m glad he thinks I’m ready to graduate from my apprenticeship. We’ve both worked hard.”
He was grinning, and his chair creaked as he leaned forward and rested his forearms on his desk.
“My instincts were correct to put you two together. Viper doesn’t take to many people, he never has, especially not the last few years.
I’m sure you know this, but he’s my nephew and is special to me.
He’s the son I never had. He has a light in his eyes that he hasn’t had in a very long time and that’s because of you.
So, thank you, Bonecarver.” I sniffled and dabbed the corner of my eye before a tear fell.
“I’m not sure if he’s told you, but he requested that you and he become mission partners.
You can accept or deny his request, but I don’t think you could have a better partner. ”
It surprised me and yet it didn’t. Things were strained between us, but he still wore my protection knot.
We still went almost everywhere together, even if we didn’t talk.
I wouldn’t let him touch me or kiss me. The nights he snuck away weighed too heavy on me for me to give in.
Was he off to kill some innocent person for Belladonna or drink blood or, worse.
.. look for the daywalker spell? He never told me. I didn’t ask.
“I would like to accept.”
“Good. But that brings me to my next point. Before I can officially hand you your certificate and new uniforms without the apprentice mark, I need to ask you about something.” He opened his desk drawer and pulled out an envelope.
“I’ve received a request from your former chieftain to meet with the king about a marriage request for his son. Is this something you’re aware of?”
I feigned surprise and widened my eyes. I couldn’t tell him we’d gone home. “I knew that Kace wanted to marry me before I left. I thought that was impossible now.”
“Well, not entirely. Commander Ace and I discussed this. If you were to marry, he would have to give up his claim as chieftain in Neverglade and move into the city. Once you’re LOA, you’re LOA until you die.
You know this. Even the king won’t interfere with that without good reason.
I will say that this life of secrecy is hard on spouses who aren’t in it.
He could never know about your missions or where Drakthar is located.
You would be apart often. And if you spend most of your time with Viper, I can see things being complicated.
You’re so young. I would personally recommend you take your time. ”
I nodded. If only Commander Locke knew how complicated my life was already.
I couldn’t drag Kace into this mess with the vampires, and my heart was too bruised to even consider it at the moment.
I also wouldn’t ask him to give up his future as leader of Neverglade for me either.
He expected me to give up mine, but I wouldn’t do that to him.
“I understand. I will have to decline, sir.”
He smiled and dropped the envelope back into his desk drawer.
“Alright, I’ll send a letter. I can’t help but notice you’re wearing Viper’s dagger.”
I flushed and glanced down at the golden snake pommel. He wouldn’t give me my other dagger back, so I didn’t have much of a choice. And he said I should wear it because it would protect me from any vampire in Nocturnus now. They all knew I was his.
“Oh, um, he’s letting me borrow it.”
Commander Locke laughed like he knew better and stood.
He took a bundle of black assassin tops off the shelf with my name on the collar and no silver mark of an apprentice.
My chest swelled with emotion when he set them on the desk in front of me.
I could hardly believe the day had come.
In some ways it felt like I’d only just arrived in Drakthar.
“Here are your new assassin tops. You can turn in the apprentice ones later today.”
On top of my new clothes, he set a certificate with my name in elegant scrawl: Aesira Havarsdotter—Bonecarver | Assassin Level One.
“You are now afforded an assassin’s wage, and you will get your own chambers.
Congratulations, Bonecarver. You are a valuable addition to the League of Assassins, and I look forward to seeing what you accomplish and the many lives you will save.
You and Viper will soon be assigned vampires to take out.
Daywalkers. And there are the guild games coming this year. You’ll learn more about that soon.”
Grinning, I shook his hand. “Thank you, Commander.”
With my new clothes and my certificate in hand, Commander Locke pulled open the door. Vander waited in the corridor. He lifted his head and his eyes flicked from me to his uncle. My heart stuttered. He looked half ready to bolt.
“Vander,” Commander Locke said in warm surprise. “Have you come to congratulate your apprentice? Well, former apprentice. She’s ready.”
The worry turned into a smile. “Yes, congratulations, Bonecarver.”
“You two should get ready for the graduation celebration tonight.”
He waved in another apprentice who had been waiting in the corridor.
Vander nodded to his uncle. Once the door had closed, he and I fell into step, side by side. The silence between us was tense, as it had been since we left Nocturnus. I hugged my new clothes to my chest and glanced up at him.
“I thought...” He cleared his throat. “I thought you were going to tell him.”
“I thought I was too.” But I wasn’t ready to give up on him yet.
“I was in the hall planning out how I’d run,” he smiled, “and then how I’d come back to get you without being caught. I could pull it off.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop my own smile. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m not ridiculous. I can’t exist in this world without you. I don’t care how much I have to beg for your forgiveness or how long it takes.” He tilted his head. “I’ve made up my mind about you. I’ll just have to wait for you to make up yours.”
I let out a heavy sigh. We turned down the hall and hit a set of stairs. The sun was out today, shining through the long windows. Not a rain cloud in sight.
“And what if I decide that I don’t want you anymore and that we truly are enemies?”
He took my arm and stopped us. My pulse drummed as he stared down at me.
The air between us shifted, thickened. A strange vibration buzzed between us.
The urge to reach out and pull his lips to mine hit me in waves.
I knew he felt it too. He leaned forward like some invisible force drew him in, and he pressed his forehead to mine, breathed deeply.
“Then one day I will meet you on the battlefield and I’ll ask you to put that dagger through my heart. It’s yours to take—to end. And this time if I tell you to kill me, you’d better do it. That is the assassin’s way.”
To be continued in Book 2...