Nico must have dispatched his opponent, because he bounds up the stairs to join me. A set of assassins runs around the corner. His feral grin still firmly in place, he winks at me and steals a kiss as he darts past. “Go. Find Keller. I’ll deal with these two.”
I don’t hesitate. Speeding down the hall, I fling myself into the room I saw from the garden, knives ready. Keller is standing behind a high-backed chair, and as we stare at one another, his face pales. “Master Keller. So good to see you again.” I scan for anyone lurking, and finding no one, Iwalk further into the room, stopping midway to him. “It’s been a long time. How’ve you been?”
Keller looks like he swallowed his tongue. Shaking his head, he finally manages to speak. “You are dead. You are supposed to be dead. A spirit! That is what you are! Revenant! Just like they said!”
“As much as I like that title, I’m very much alive. However,youare going to die. And there will be no coming back from the dead for you.”
“I did not want to sign the contract! Lorenzo insisted. He is the one you want.” A thin sheen of sweat beads on Keller’s face. The clashing of blade on blade gets louder, followed by an eerie laugh that raises the hackles on my neck. Panicked, Keller’s eyes dart to the corridor. “What is that?”
I catch a glimpse of Nico as he runs past the door, laughing maniacally. “That is my soon-to-be husband, toying with your little Protectors.” Why did I ever doubt him? Keller lunges for the door, but I move to block his escape.
“Please! I had nothing to do with it. I am innocent!” Tears fill his eyes as he tries to get around me again. I ready my knives, but he drops to his knees, hands raised in supplication. “Spare me! I beg for mercy. Please!”
A calm settles over me as the simpering ass grovels at my feet. “Void take you, man. Meet your death with some semblance of dignity. You earned this.” Shouting and the clash of blade on blade grow louder. Elanil flies past the doorway. Things must be well in hand if she’s made it this far into the compound.
“What can I offer you? I will give you anything. Just let me live!” Keller is frantically glancing around the room, most likely trying to find a weapon or a means of escape.
“I want Kas alive. But since you can’t give me that, your death will offer something of value.” Peace of mind. Relief. Vengeance. I stalk toward him, and he follows me with his widening eyes. “Ishouldmake this painful. Tease you with your own death. Make you beg until your voice is hoarse and you have no more tears to cry.” I sigh dramatically. “But I don’t have the patience for torture tonight.”
Keller is a blubbering mess, too terrified to bolt. Fool. I walk around him, dragging the tip of my blade along the base of his neck, leaving a thin red line in its wake. His body sways as the poison burns. I lean in, whispering into his ear. “Your death is imminent, Hans. I’m going to enjoy watching your life drain away.”
He only manages a whimper before I step around him and drag my knives along either side of his neck, slicing deep enough to be fatal, but not instantaneously so. He tips forward, his body crumpling in a pathetic heap, but his eyes are locked on me. I squat beside him and pat his shoulder. “Things’ll be different now. I’m going to break your House. Those who prove themselves worthy will eventually be allowed to pledge to new houses. But no one will speak the name Keller, or Vitorio, with anything but contempt. And eventually, they won’t speak those names at all.” The last bit of life drains from his eyes, and I stand, walking away from his crumpled body, moving into the hall to assess the takeover.
Elanil rounds the corner, and I scan for Nico. She jerks her head toward the hallway below us. The ringing of blades clashing echoes upward, and I fly down the stairs with Elanil close on my heels. Skidding to a halt on the last step, I suck in my breath. Nico crouches low, circling to his right, shoulders down, hands relaxed with knives drawn. His disturbing grin is still in place, but he’s utterly focused on Leonardo Santorini, who has several gashes along his arms and legs and a deep cut on his neck that’s bleeding rapidly. I scan Nico for injuries but see only minor nicks and a split lip. We’re going to have to work on protecting his beautiful face.
The tactician in me is excited to watch this match. Nico is tall and leanly muscled. Leonardo is a bit shorter and bulky. Their different physiques necessitate the use of very different fighting styles. It’s an interesting contest of skills. But from an emotional standpoint, I want this fight over and Nico as far from danger as possible.
Leonardo lunges, and the pair are back in the thick of the fight, blades slashing and stabbing as they circle each other. Leonardo lunges again, thrusting at Nico’s torso before darting out of his reach. It’s obvious that Nico is toying with him. I’ve seen him fight in training so many times that his lack of hits is telling. He isn’t trying to end the fight, he’s trying to exhaust Leonardo by running him around the entry hall, embarrassing him in front of his House. As Leonardo lunges for a third time, Nico bats his blade away, laughing mockingly. I can’t help my own grin. I’m utterly captivated by the beauty and deadly skill of my husband-to-be, and this wicked display has my bodyresponding in what some might consider inappropriate ways. I’m not one of those people.
“Do we have time for this?” Elanil’s tone does nothing to mask her annoyance.
My gaze remains locked on Nico. “Yes. As a matter of fact, we do. This fight is important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to show the audience exactly how skilled and deadly my beautiful Nico is. We couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. After he defeats Leonardo—someone renowned for his violence and deadly skill—no one will lay a hand on him. They’ll be too afraid.” It’s a brilliant plan, and he deserves a special reward when this is done.
Nico nicks Leonardo several more times, playing up his performance, grinning as his opponent bleeds from his many wounds. From the corner of my eye, I observe the braver party guests commingled with Durov and Keller assassins, hanging over the railings or standing on the stairs watching the outcome of the main event in the hall. Elanil has Durov assassins stationed throughout the crowd so no one can attack our people unexpectedly. Her intelligence and foresight are impressive, and appreciated.
Finally tired of toying with Leonardo, Nico gets to business. As the peripheral fighting has ended, and House Keller has been subdued, the audience has grown so large that there isn’t much room left in the entry. Leonardo is bleeding from several deep cuts, and he’s visibly gasping for air. Nico feints left then lunges right, and with a loud roar, rams his knives into the flesh on either side of Leonardo’s neck until they’re buried to their hilts.
The room falls silent. Leonardo stops where he is, and I take a step forward. His gaze flicks up to me and his eyes widen in shock. I grin. “That’s right. I’m very much alive. But every last one of you is dead. I win.” Nico takes a step back, and Leonardo crashes to the ground, blood pouring from his nose and mouth. Still, nobody moves. Except me.
I walk to the center of the hall and stand slightly in front of Nico, ignoring Leonardo like the trash he is. “Brothers and sisters of the Onyx Guild. I am Zayd al-Qadir, Grand Master of theentireOnyx Guild.” A murmur runs through the crowd, and I let the gossip and the title sink in. “Cosimo Vitorio, Alexey Rustovo, and Hans Keller are dead by my hand. House Vitorio and House Keller no longer exist.” A whisper of ‘Revenant’ sweeps through the hall. “I elevate House Durov in their place and appoint Elanil as my second in the Onyx Guild. House Durov has pledged their loyalty to me, and now it’s your turn. If you choose not to pledge your support, you’ll die here, and no one will mourn you. Decide your fate now.”
There’s respect in many eyes and fear in others. I’d love to give them the choice of walking away, but they would see it as weakness. So much needs to change before they’ll be ready for that. To their credit, every one of the people from House Keller takes a knee, knife extended in a pledge of fealty, as Emilio had done so many months ago. “I accept your service. Please rise.” I turn to Elanil. “Ensure that we have ended any remaining resistance and allow the party guests to leave peacefully.” I turn to the rest of the room. “Those of you not part of the Onyx Guild and now without a house can, in time, earn a new place,if deserved, within House Durov. You may submit your petition to Nikita Durov directly. Protectors, return to the Onyx Guild compound and inform the others of the changes. Deal with those unwilling to accept, then wait for my arrival. I’ll address everyone soon.”
The crowd moves away, taking the injured and the dead with them, and in a few minutes, only Elanil, Nico, and I remain. I laugh at his self-satisfied grin, even while I scan him for injuries. He appears to be fine, with barely a few nicks and cuts along his arms. I grip his biceps and hold his gaze. “I’m so proud of you. What an amazing display.” He beams, and I want to kiss him, but now isn’t the time. He seems to understand and takes a step back, but his gaze sweeps over me. “I’m fine, love. Not a scratch on me. Guild Master Keller was such a disappointment. He blubbered for his life rather than fight.” I grasp Elanil’s shoulder. She also appears unhurt, and I’m relieved. “Thank you for your timely intervention.”
“Thank you for the unique signal. There was no way we could have missed a falling, screaming body.” Her delivery is wry, but the corners of her mouth twitch with humor. “And thank you for the singular honor, but are you sure you would not prefer to place the title elsewhere?” She glances meaningfully at Nico.
“You’ve earned this by your exceptional service and skill. And I want to honor House Durov.” I grin at Nico. “Besides, I have other plans for him.”
Elanil smirks, then leaves us alone. Nico gathers me in his arms and kisses me, his lips lingering longer than theyshould given where we are, but I don’t mind. “Well, Bello, you did it.”
I relax into his embrace, leaning against his strong chest, searching his eyes for any sign of disappointment. There is none. “I’ll rebuild them. I’ll make them better.” I’m hit with a momentary rush of anxiety. “You’ll still help me?”
“Of course.” His smile lights up the room, and my fear evaporates, replaced by the familiar flutter in my belly. Founder willing, I’ll still feel this same way when we’re both old and gray. And Founder willing, we live that long.
I take his hand and lead him toward the door. “Let’s share the news with the rest of the Onyx Guild.”
Chapter 30
