First

ra's

with the scent o

gainst the rough stone wall of the alleyway. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out the

fered in an a

ny assassi

had only managed to stabilize him moments before they were discovered. Now, guards sw

it all... he was un

a

, his presence w

sion. She had seen his silver eyes flicker with something ancient and dangerous when the curse overtoo

he still couldn't expl

n. Should have lef

, whispering the words of forbidden magic. Her blood had mingled with hi

A conn

uls had recogn

closing in, there w

s on her cloak, and steeled herself. She had

Ka

s wak

sassin

l's

eeted h

en stabbed before. Beaten. Poisoned. N

just pain-th

ressed down on his chest, keeping him in place. He was still caught between consciousness

smelled

bl

ust h

s snapp

thing he s

her face partially hidden, b

reading people. This gir

at him like she had jus

but he gritted his teeth and forced himself upright. He was traine

jerked, and he rea

ist

ve mi

his bindings-rope. We

, but he had enough strengt

g the restraints. Five sec

s he was about t

re aw

t, uncertain. Not

ered back to hers

s twitching at her sides. He noticed the st

did the un

ed, "I save

ly through his nos

amed with something

mured, voice

ruine

erous

ra's

expected m

elief. E

not

g from him. Like she had personally ripped apart his

ed herself. Had she tru

her shoulders. O

ed," she said, keeping her v

t even bli

n caught he

h

nd unsettling, a connection she couldn't explain

she folded her arms and lifted her chin.

n his gaze. Annoyance

d by his predicament, Kael leaned forward, just

voice like a blade, "makes

breath

't expec

There was something beneath his cold,

oment, she s

red the only wa

admitted. "But I'm w