Shattered Assassin (7 page)

“Really, your highness, it isn’t necessary—” Luke objected, but Kristina ignored his protests.

“I’ll hear no more of it, Luke. Sit down,” Kristina ordered, winking conspiratorially and pointing at the chair on her right.

Kazia wanted to vomit.
Luke now, is it?

Luke adjusted his cuffs uncomfortably as he made his way to the table, taking the place Kristina had insisted on. Jeffery’s spot at the head of the table sat empty, with Kristina on the left and Luke now on her right.

Kazia sat at the opposite end. By herself, except for Nakomi, who slept at her feet, despite Kristina’s demands that Nakomi stay in their rooms during meals. Kazia wasn’t strong enough to endure this without her wolf, and so, Nakomi had come. Now, Kazia stared at her hands while she listened to Kristina’s endless chatter and Luke’s amused chuckle.

When the soup was finally served, she was so relieved she nearly burst into tears. She grabbed her spoon, eager to get the meal over with. Watching Kristina brazenly flirt with Luke felt like her heart was being twisted in her chest and she wanted nothing more than to escape to her room. And he, for all his words earlier that afternoon, didn’t seem to mind it one bit.

Kazia dipped the spoon into her soup, hoping it would at least be delicious enough to make the whole awkward endeavor worth it. At her feet, Nakomi growled deep in her throat. She hadn’t moved, but one ear was cocked toward Kazia, and the fur on the back of her neck stood on end.

“What
is
that noise?” Kristina grimaced down the table but Kazia ignored her, shoving her blond braid over her shoulder as she bent lower toward her wolf.

“Nakomi?” Slowly, the big wolf slid out from under the table and pushed herself to her feet. She laid her heavy head on Kazia’s lap, giving her best impression of puppy dog eyes.

“That beast should not be allowed in the dining hall.” Kristina’s whisper was loud enough Kazia could have heard it from her castle, four days away.

Kazia raised her dark eyes angrily, catching Kristina in her glare. “Don’t forget, Lady Kristina, who it is you’re insulting.”

Kristina’s face went burgundy, and her voice was stiff as she apologized, “I’m so sorry, your highness.”

Kazia resisted the urge to roll her eyes and picked up her spoon again. “See that it doesn’t—” Nakomi didn’t give her a warning growl this time, but reared back on her hind legs, nearly standing, and whapped the soup bowl with her front paw. It went flying, red soup soaking the table and the rugs underneath it, some splattering the walls nearby. Kristina screamed, standing so quickly her chair clattered to the floor behind her.

Luke was immediately on his feet, leaping to Kazia’s end of the table in two strides.

One of Kristina’s many cats streaked through the room, straight for the spilled soup. Kazia stood frozen, staring from Nakomi to the cat, lapping up the soup by the far wall. “Nakomi, what in the world?”

“Kitty, no!” Kristina shrieked, racing to scoop up the cat. “Bring me water, quickly!”

Benjamin and Heath and two of Kazia’s other guards exploded into the room and skidded to a halt watching Kristina in complete bewilderment. Her cheeks flamed scarlet, “It isn’t good for cats. I’ve heard — it can —it can explode their bellies. Someone, bring me water,
now
!” she bellowed.

Kazia glanced down at Nakomi, wondering if it could also explode wolf bellies, but Nakomi wasn’t paying them any attention. She sniffed the spilled soup and then looked up at her master and growled. Kazia felt her eyes widen. “Something’s wrong with the soup,” she whispered.

“Yes, clearly. It’s spilled all over the room.” Kristina snapped, although Kazia wasn’t sure how the woman had heard her through all the commotion.

“No, something is
wrong
—” Kazia started, but Kristina’s cat started first meowing, and then howling as it writhed in her arms.

“Kimbern! Bring me that water!” Kristina screamed as the maid came running, water sloshing over the sides of the pitcher. The cat howled again and started retching. “Ugh!” Kristina jerked the cat away from her as it vomited, its howls strangled in its throat. “Pour the water down his mouth. Hurry up!” Kristina shoved the cat at Kimbern, who tried to hold the roiling cat and pour the water into its throat at the same time. It started foaming at the mouth and hissed, swiping its claws at Kimbern’s face. Blood welled against her cheek and she dropped the cat with a screech, slapping her hand against the wound.

“Kitty!” Kristina yelped, but the cat landed with a splat in the spilled soup and didn’t move.

Kazia’s hand flew to her mouth, horrified, as the room fell silent, save for Nakomi’s growling. And then Kristina started to wail, throwing herself on the floor next to her cat.

“She knew.” Kazia’s voice was low, but loud enough that Luke heard her.

He turned on Kristina, who abruptly stopped sobbing and watched them with large eyes. “You poisoned the soup.”

She pushed herself to her feet. “I did no such thing! There’s nothing wrong with the soup!”

“It just killed your cat and you knew—” Luke started, but Kristina cut him off.

“I told you it makes their stomachs explode!” she yelled.

“It isn’t just cats or Nakomi wouldn’t be acting this way.” Kazia looked down at Nakomi, who seemed determined to keep herself between Kazia and the soup.

“No, no, I’m sure it’s just a reaction with the cat.” Kristina stood, rushing down the table to her own bowl. “See, I can eat my soup just fine.” She took a sip from her spoon.

Luke started across the room but Kazia grabbed his arm. “I’m sure it’s just the cat.” She gave him her most meaningful look, hoping he would let it go. “Please,” she whispered. Kazia was quickly learning that if she wanted answers, it was best
not
to ask the questions.

Luke glared around the room before he nodded. “From now on, you,” he jabbed a finger in Kristina’s direction, “will taste all of the Princess’s food beforehand.”

Kristina looked horrified, but cowered under Luke’s anger. “Of course, Captain. Anything to keep my future queen safe,” she simpered. She struggled to her feet, almost falling, and Luke hurried forward to catch her, cradling her in his arms as she fought a poorly feigned swoon. Kazia tore her eyes from them, her gaze landing on the dead cat. And then back to Kristina, who had her lips so dangerously close to Luke’s neck that if he swallowed hard, they’d be touching. And then Kazia was staring at the dead cat.
Too much. Too much, too much. Too much.

Kazia tried to think of a polite excuse to escape but couldn’t. “Please excuse me,” she said instead. She patted her thigh as she fled the room, Nakomi following obediently.

One of her guards stood at her doorway, which, as always, stood open. “No one has come or gone, your Highness.”

“Thank you.” She offered him as much of a smile as she could muster and scurried inside, shutting the door quietly behind her. She stoked the fire and dragged a quilt from her bed over to the chair. Curling up underneath it, she watched the flames while she prayed for sleep.

The dark hid her well. The assassin pulled her black hood over her head, just in case, although she had no plans to wear it when she finally attacked. She wanted that witch to know who it was exacting her revenge. The expensive carriage pulled away, but she wasn’t concerned. She knew exactly where it took its occupant, and she wouldn’t have a problem finding it later. For now, it made her job much easier. A wicked smile creased her face as her dark eyes watched the estate. They were busy in their lives. The servants scurried back and forth like mice, either eager to please their mistress or terrified of her wrath.

If she had to wager, she’d guess it was the woman’s temper they were afraid of. She had already seen the woman throw a tea kettle at her maid — and it had been full of hot tea. The assassin snickered. The lady of the estate had been in quite a mood since her cat had died earlier.

She leaned back, trying to make herself comfortable. They had routines, and she had to memorize them. Once she had, she could lay her plan.

And then, the attack.

Kazia watched the fire and dozed when she could. The next morning Crystali brought her breakfast, already tasted and deemed safe. Kazia pushed it around on her plate but couldn’t bring herself to eat, instead watching for Crystali to turn her back so she could sneak bites to Nakomi.

“I’m thinking a nice walk would do you good today, Princess.” Crystali tried to sound cheerful.

Kazia glanced outside. The weather made her smile. It was overcast — her favorite. “That sounds wonderful.”

“I’ll let the captain know.” Crytstali turned to go, but Kazia leapt to her feet, grabbing her arm before she made it past the sitting room.

“No, Crystali, no thank you.” Crystali looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “He was on duty last night, correct?” Kazia didn’t know how she knew he was out there. She had always been able to tell when he was close.

“Yes, but he’s specifically said—”

“I know what he said. I just see no reason to wake him when he’s just getting to sleep.” Never mind the fact that she hadn’t been to sleep yet, either. “Benjamin and Heath, or any of the others will do just fine.”
Please don’t make me see him again. Not
after last night.

Crystali frowned, clearly not loving the fact that she’d been put in such an awkward situation — one she could not win. But she finally nodded. “I’ll let them know you’re ready to go out.”

They went for a long walk. She wore her hood, because the lack of sun made the air chilly. She didn’t talk much, but she did laugh at Benjamin and Heath as they bantered back and forth. Her guards seemed to read her mood and realized she needed the distraction, and they were happy to provide it as they meandered down the path and through the meager village. “There aren’t any fair maidens in this village, your highness.” Benjamin grinned down at her. He was tall, probably as tall as Luke, but younger, closer to her age. She’d played with him and Heath both as children, and they’d both also trained with her growing up. Until she’d been forced to be a proper princess, they’d been the closest things she had to friends.

“I’m ever so sorry. Next time we flee for our lives, I’ll try to choose a destination with at least a handful of eligible maidens to entertain you.” She smiled.

“And a better tavern — one that serves food not made last week,” Heath chimed in.

“Aren’t you being fed well in the barracks?” Kazia frowned. It would be just like Kristina to make Kazia’s troops go hungry.
Except for Luke. She takes very good care of Luke.

“Yes, but it’s hard to breath there. It seems like we are under constant surveillance,” Benjamin said and Heath nodded.

“I see. I am sorry that we have to be here. I don’t know when we’ll be allowed to go home.”

“When the assassin is caught and the castle is rebuilt,” Benjamin said firmly.

“And what if we don’t catch him?” Kazia whispered.

“We will.” Heath nodded.

She looked from one to the other. They really believed that. They believed the assassin could be caught. Kazia nibbled her thumbnail while she watched Nakomi race back and forth across the street, smelling all the new smells and chasing small animals, like she thought she was still a puppy and not a terrifying wolf.

“The captain is going to have our hides for letting you leave without him,” Heath said as they left the village and headed into the surrounding forest.

“He needs his rest. And no one said he had to accompany me every time I left the estate.” Kazia snapped a twig from the tree and amused herself by peeling the bark as they walked along.

“Actually…” Benjamin started and he and Heath exchanged a glance.

Kazia stopped. “He didn’t.”

“He did.”

She rolled her eyes and resumed walking. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Does he really think he can protect me any better than anyone else?”

“I think it’s more personal than that.” Heath snickered.

Kazia stopped again, brandishing her stick at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Heath laughed, holding up his hands. “Nothing, your Highness. It’s common knowledge that captain has a sweet spot for you, that’s all.”

Kazia dropped her stick. Scrambling to pick it up, she hoped her blush was hidden in the shadows of her hood. “He certainly does not. He does his job because I am all that’s left for him to protect.”

“If you say so, your Highness.” Benjamin laughed.

“Change the subject. Go back to complaining about the lack of pretty girls,” Kazia snapped.

Benjamin took her stick and threw it hard, watching as Nakomi went after it. The big wolf carried it back as proudly as if she’d just saved a treasure. Kazia giggled

“She doesn’t get to play much, does she?” Heath asked, attempting to wrestle away the stick.

“No, not lately,” Kazia murmured.

“Who would have imagined playing fetch with a wolf?” Benjamin stole the stick from Heath’s hand and threw it again, his face lighting as Nakomi turned and ran hard for it.

Kazia settled on a fallen log and watched as her two guards played fetch with her giant wolf. It wasn’t something one saw every day, and she felt her heart heal, just a bit.