If I can take care of the three remaining targets, the threat will be neutralized. Lorenzo Medina will still be alive, but his support within the government will be utterly destroyed, leaving him vulnerable. The assassins and guild masters that he gathered into his cadre took years to pull together, and they won’t be easily replaced.
Nico stares at me, the hurt clear on his face. “Because a pledge to Kas must come before a pledge to me.” He shakes his head. “Iamtrying to be patient, but I am not sure that the end of your mission is as close as either of us would like. So you have until the end of Winterfest to set a wedding date. That is four weeks from tomorrow. And I want the actual wedding to take place within six months of that. It should be more than enough time for you to handle your responsibilities.”
“It will be.” I fervently hope it is.
Chapter 24
Sitting with Ghosts
I arrive at the inn late at night, no more sure of a solution to my personal situation than when I left the estate in Oht. Nico translocated to Panah City a week ago, and although we parted with affection, there was a heaviness to the farewell that still weighs on my mind. It took several days to arrange for my trip north, and the trip itself took three days on horseback since I was stubborn and declined to use the translocation circle. I’m not ready to face Stefano’s questions or Nico’s continued disappointment. I’d also hoped to use the extra time to come up with an answer to the problem, but that didn’t happen. None of it has improved my mood.
My horse walks through the inn yard, and I dismount slowly, my body protesting the movement. After three days on the road, all I want is a bath, a warm fire, and a relatively comfortable bed. The stable boy tries to mask a yawn as he hurries over to take my horse’s reins. I hand them over and stroke the gelding’s neck. “Please take good care of him. We had a long ride. And if he’s in good shapewhen I leave, I’ll give you another of these.” I place a silver into his palm.
The boy stares at it, wide-eyed, then nods. “I will take great care of him. I swear. None of the other boys will get near him.” I’m not sure if that’s meant in a possessive way or as a commentary on how the other boys take care of the horses. He walks the golden bay into the stable, and I throw my saddlebags over my shoulder, pulling my hood lower over my face before crossing the yard and entering the inn.
The taproom is mostly empty at this hour, though there are a few stragglers. I weave my way through the tables and head for the bar. Each time I return here, the place is a bit more run down. It needs a new coat of paint, and the tables and chairs are nicked and worn, but it’s clean. And the clientele mind their own business. They respect privacy and expect it in return. It’s why Kas and I chose it. It’s why I still come back. I lean against the bar to get the innkeeper’s attention, only pulling my hood back enough for him to see it’s me without revealing myself to the other patrons.
He digs under the bar and hands me the key to my usual room and a bottle of Mardira Red. I raise my hand in thanks, head through the archway to the rear of the inn, and wearily climb the stairs. It’s familiar, like coming home after years away. The lock on the door is still rusting, and the latch gets stuck mid-turn as usual. I press down on the old metal key and wiggle it back and forth, grinning as I hear the click of the tumbler. The door swings open, and I barely make it a few steps in before I’m overwhelmed withthe scent of smoke and soapwort. It’s intensely familiar, and the memories hit me hard, stealing my breath.
Kas’s teasing laughter, the mischievous sparkle in his vibrant blue eyes, his welcoming arms reaching for me. I drop my pack to the floor and steady myself against the wall. Guilt twists my gut. Six years since his death.Six years, and I still haven’t avenged him. Some of those involved are dead, but not enough of them. Not nearly enough. And instead of focusing on that, I hid on Earth for five of those years and then hid here with Nico, in his luxurious home in Oht. “Fuck. Kas, I’m sorry. I’ve failed you.” I’ve failed Nico too. They both deserve so much better.
For the first time, I wonder if I can complete this self-imposed mission alone. Kas was always there beside me, his blades with mine, focused on a shared target. Now there’s only me and so many people to address. Maybe too many. What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? If I don’t finish this, I won’t be safe in Panah City—or anywhere the guilds are. Not even Kenji will be able to help me. And that means if Nico stays with me, he’ll be in danger too.
I sit down hard on the edge of the bed and try to catch my breath. With shaky hands, I grab the wine bottle, pull the cork, and take a swig, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. The tart, heavy liquid does nothing to ground me. Neither do the deep breaths I take. I glance around the bare-bones, rundown room. It’s a far cry from the luxury I’ve been living in for the last year. Self-contempt hits me hard. I’m a mess. My thoughts are everywhere, and guilt gnaws at my guts. I’ve done nothing right for Kas or Nico.A small portion of my brain recognizes that I’m tired and upset. But I can’t stop my spiral.
I unsheathe one of my daggers, judging its sharpness with the pad of my thumb. As though watching someone else, I remove my cloak and shirt, then slowly drag the blade across my bicep, the honed onyx easily slicing into me. A thin red line appears, welling up with each beat of my heart. The now dull thud of pain allows me to slip into a calm state, quieting my mind and clearing my thoughts. From a young age, we were taught to use pain as a focusing tool, so falling back on the technique now is easy. And a relief, when it works. Bit by bit, I push everything unrelated to my mission out of my mind until vengeance is the only thing that remains. I exhale and shove to my feet. The exertion makes my arm throb, but it grounds me. “I’ll finish this, Kas. I swear to you. We will have our revenge.” And then Nico will be safe too.
Welcoming the familiar single-mindedness of a mission, I find I’m finally able to formulate a plan. First, I need to complete the job Kenji sent me here to do—eliminating the spy hiding within the Segnature Coven. Then I’ll turn my attention to the remaining targets on my list: Leonardo Santorini, and Guild Masters Keller and Rostova. Unfortunately, there are too many political and personal strings attached to eliminate Lorenzo Medina, and I’m in no position to take on the whole government. Yet. But neutralizing his internal network will destroy his personal empire. Political and social death are worse than physical death to someone like Lorenzo. Once those on my list are eliminated, Kas will be avenged, House Vitorio will be destroyed,Lorenzo’s bid for the chancellorship will be over, and Nico will be safe. Or as safe as he can be. Then, and only then, we can plan a future together.
Chapter 25
Two Birds with One Stone
It’s just past midnight, and after a week of waiting and watching, my target finally arrives in Panah City. They travel directly to the Segnature Coven, where Prima Alicia is the only person to greet them. At this hour, that’s not surprising, and it works in my favor.
After waiting half an hour for them to become more comfortable with their surroundings, and possibly lower a bit of their guard, I quietly slip in through the same rear door I used the last time I was here and let my eyes adjust to the dim lighting in the ceremonial area. Careful to keep my footsteps quiet, I cross the offering circle, slipping soundlessly through the hallway on the left that leads from the ceremonial hall to the living quarters for the Segnatori. With my cloaking spell firmly in place, I quietly wander through the building, listening for any movement or conversation. Subdued voices come from the left, and I carefully peer through the open doorway into the sparsely furnished room. There’s a narrow bed against the oppositewall, a small wardrobe directly across from it, and a wooden table with a single chair just inside the door.
Prima Alicia is a few feet into the room, with her back to me. Medium brown hair, no gray, about five feet, six inches tall, sturdy build. From this angle, it’s difficult to judge her age. She’s left-handed and unarmed. A low threat. I turn my attention to the potential danger in the room. They are female-presenting and right-handed. About twenty-five to thirty years old. Brown skin, wavy brown hair left loose over her shoulders. Wearing multiple weapons, definitely daggers, some throwing knives, all hidden within the heavy coven robes. She’s positioned next to the bed and inconveniently shielded by Prima Alicia, who is explaining the coven’s daily routine and what will be expected over the next few days. While their attention is on each other, I draw my daggers and edge my way into the room, quietly shutting the door. “Good evening, ladies.”
Both women turn my way. Prima Alicia frowns at my weapons and then at me. I incline my head in her direction and give her my most charming smile. “Prima Alicia.”
She returns the expression with a withering glare. So,notinclined to be friendly. “I am sorry. Have we met?”
I push off the door, keeping both women in my line of sight. I’m impressed with Prima Alicia’s calm demeanor. “Indirectly. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Zayd al-Qadir, formerly of the Onyx Guild.” I make a small bow.
Prima Alicia’s frown deepens with confusion. “I thought you were dead.”
Interesting that she’s heard of me. “To my own great relief, I’m quite alive. Though for the moment, it suits me to let people believe otherwise. But we’ll get to that in a minute.” I turn my attention to the other person present. “Good evening, Sister.”
She inclines her head and cocks an eyebrow. “If they believe you’re dead, you obviously aren’t here on behalf of the Brotherhood.”
“You’re correct. I’m not. But does anyone ever really leave the Brotherhood?” I wink and lean in conspiratorially. “I’m planning a bit of a… reorganization.”
Prima Alicia snorts derisively. “Reorganizations do not happen within the Brotherhood. Any attempt would result in someone killing you.” She dismisses the idea with a wave of her hand. “How is it that you know me? I am certain we have never met.”
“I observed a conversation you had with a former member of House Vitorio. Unfortunately for him, he met with an accident after that.” Her eyebrows rise the moment she puts the first pieces of the puzzle together.
“That was you, when Benedito Sousa was assassinated.” I watch her reaching for other memories as if they’re tangible objects, sifting through the tumbled mess until she calls up the right pieces. “Cosimo Vitorio died a few months before that. And several others from House Vitorio have been assassinated.” She gives me a patronizing look. “Is multiple murder your method of reorganization?”
