Chapter Twenty-Two We Bleed, We Burn, We Rise
"It is not the violence that sets men apart. It is the distance he is prepared to go."
"What have you gone and done now, Lenny?"
Nox hated the moniker that his mothers life-long friend used for him. He only allowed it because friends like Caz were exceptionally rare--and he loved his mother.
"Whatever do you mean, Caz?" He threw her a grin that made most females swoon.
"What have you done to that poor girl?" She looked genuinely concerned.
"Why did you never mention her, Caz?" Nox was a master of evading questions. He thought it as an art form.
Caz sighed. "You are my lord, if you knew about her, you would ask questions and I refuse to put her at more risk."
"Since when do you care so much about your charges?" Yes Czandra was dedicated to the girls under her, but this was different--went beyond student-teacher.
"You were not there the day I found her. Or the day she decided to mutilate herself." Nox saw it then, that Caz saw herself as a mother, whether Adan realized it or not.
"What happened?" He asked quietly--carefully.
"Oh no, you don't, Lenny!" He had the gall to look shocked.
"If you want to know about her past, then you will grow some balls and ask her yourself. You will not use me as a halfway point. Besides, you banned me from saying anything to her about you, and I agreed. It is only fair that you offer her the same courtesy. "
Nox bowed his head in shame, "Apologies, Caz." The second time in no less than an hour that he had offered up his apologizes. He was getting soft the more time he spent with the little assassin. His eyes closed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose to help stave off the growing headache.
"You like her." His eyes snapped open towards the vamp at her statement. She laughed, her fangs on full display and his headache grew.
"What's not to like? Her stellar personality. Her need to be always right. Stubbornness to a fault." His tone was dripping with disdain and contempt, but most of all, sarcasm. He was no longer looking at Caz, though, he found the floor particularly interesting at the moment.
She laughed again, "You just name some traits you possess and hold dear." She waited until his gaze slid back to hers. "Yes, she can be sullen and bad tempered--quick to anger. It is because she feels everything so deeply that it's her way to protect herself. Sound familiar?" She asked pointedly.
Nox knew she was referring to him, and could not argue her opinion. It was becoming increasingly aware to all those around him that he cared for the princess. Czandra had figured it out within a matter of minutes.
"What is your point Caz?" He drawled.
"My point, boy." He straightened at the term, she only ever used it to scold him into listening.
"If you like her, then you should do something about it."
She rose in a graceful unfurling of limbs.
"But if you keep being a coward, then stay away from her. She deserves more than that, after everything she has been through."
She turned towards her room, dismissing him.
If you like her, then you should do something about it.
The notion rolled around in his mind like a heavy stone, causing his chest to tighten. It wasn't just Czandra's words that stung. It was the realization that she was right.
He did like Adan. And more than that—he cared.
His fists unclenched, the anger from earlier flaring up again. But it wasn't just at Czandra for pushing him. It was at himself. He'd been standing in his own way. Too afraid of what would happen if he allowed himself to care about someone. If he allowed himself to feel something.
But maybe, just maybe, it was time to take his own advice, and stop running.
--
The next few days flew by in a slow descent. Everyone stayed busy, which meant they all kept their distance from Adan, even Nox found somewhere else to be. Czandra checked in on her, but for the most part, Adan wanted to be left alone.
She had a lot on her mind, more than usual.
Being alone was good, it was safe. She wasn't worried about their plans, she knew they would go off without a hitch.
Nox had meticulously curated every detail.
She was more worried about the after. The fall-out and how they would all deal with the consequences.
It was an hour until they had to leave when she finally emerged from her room and the wing she shared with Czandra.
She pulled at her leathers until they fit every curved of her body.
Somehow a bag of her clothing had been deposited in her suite.
Along with the pendant that now swung on a silver chain around her neck.
Tucked into her leathers over her heart.
She pulled at her hood, dragging out the long wide plated braid down her back.
Dropping her hands to palm her daggers, firmly sheathed at her thighs.
Czandra left hours ago to meet with Asha. They were crucial to the first part of the plan. Adan, Nox, Aster and Ren would head to one of the tallest buildings in the city--Nox's tower. His private rooms taking up the whole top floor, but below was a hotel for the powerful, privileged and wealthy.
It was to be their center stage.
Adan took a breath and walked into the foyer with her head held high. Aster sat on the stairs, honing an already wickedly sharp axe. His tight black vest housed at least twelve more blades that Adan could see. His shirt left his arms bare, showing off more black and grey tattoos.
"I like your boots." Adan eyed the shinning black leather. He grinned, his smile a thing of wicked beauty at the sight of his fangs. He slammed his heel against the floor. A tiny blade popped out of the toe end. Her jaw dropped. "Correction. I love your boots." She amended. She needed a pair.
"Aren't most girls supposed to like fancy dress shoes that make it impossible for them to walk in?" Ren interjected.
"Most girls? For the record Ren, the female sex can like whatever they want."
"Does that mean you're one of those females, Adan?" He grinned with that boyish smile of his. "Yeah, I bet it does." He winked.
Thammas appeared, only to whack his brother over the head. Both of them were in matching black leather, cut for the male frame, but similar to Adan's material. They were covered from wrist to neck to boots. Ren's arm bent to rub his head and he glared at his older brother.
"Here." Thammas extended a mask to Adan, he feigned tossing one to Aster until he was ready and smacked his brother in the chest with his. It was a thin breathable cotton, very high-end fabric Adan assessed as she thumbed it.
It was a single piece in the shape of a long cylinder. Black to match their leathers, but Adan noticed a bit of white had been painted on the fabric. It wasn't until Aster put his on that she realized it was a skull, or the bottom half of one. Over their mouths.
He'd done it in such a way that the mask also covered his bright red hair, only his glowing red eyes were visible.
It had quite the effect, so she righted her braid.
For the life of her, she could not replicate what Aster had done.
She pulled the mask off her face, her hair flying in tiny strands, and tried again.
She blindly tugged at the fabric when strong fingers stilled hers.
The mask was moved with care and pulled to reveal, Nox, and she swallowed hard at his nearness.
He was cautious not to pull at her hair as he made minor adjustments.
Her hands dropped to her sides to let him work.
Her first instinct was to grab her blades, but she let him touch her.
He matched up her nose with the painted skull, his fingers pressed into her jaw and down her neck, flattening the mask.
Leaving a burning fire in their wake. His fingers stilled at her collarbone for a heartbeat before he pulled away.
Heat bloomed everywhere he touched. Hotter than any fire Adan had ever known. She would need a cold bath after this.
Her leathers suddenly felt too hot, and too tight.
She pulled up her hood, if only to hide the blush around her eyes that Nox doubt picked up on.
"So that's the real face of the king's assassin." Thammas said from behind Nox, and behind him his brother was wise to shiver. Adan couldn't help but wink at the now masked Ren, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
Nox noticed the exchange, and gave Ren a questioning look over his shoulder.
He seemed to shrink behind his brother under the gaze of his lord.
Nox turned to his second, a silent conversation passing between the two of them.
Thammas hauled his brother forward, Aster stood, and they all turned to head up towards the roof.
It wasn't until they were out of ear shot that Nox spoke. "There is one thing we need from each other for this to work tonight, love."
"And what is that?" She threw over her shoulder.
"Trust." Her eyes widened, "If only for tonight, I need you to trust me. If I tell you to leave me and safe yourself you will obey. It is an order, not a request. You are used to doing things on your own. Tonight is not about that. There are lives at stake, so you will—"
"What makes you think I wouldn't just automatically safe myself?"
She joked, but at the stern, hard lines of his face she regretted it.
"Sorry. I only meant..." she sighed and put every ounce of sincerity in her voice.
"I will trust you— I do trust you." Her heart pounded hard against her rib cage.
She had only ever said those words to Czandra, and Osho--and now Nox.
At one point or another Adan was going to have to admit that Nox has noble intentions, not just for himself but for his people. He may have taken nefarious means to obtain what he has, but no one in the City of Bones can boast any different. Herself included.
In truth, she had no reason not to trust him.
He looked her over for a hard moment, and then took her hand in his. Their fingers curled slowly in on one another, his a weighty thing compared to her dainty long fingers.
Even with their gloves, fire burned at their contact.
They slowly walked to the roof, Nox refusing to let go of Adan's hand.
The sun was just setting and the three other males waited silently.