I can’t believe I removed my weapons—all because I thought the princess was afraid. All because I thought she was in danger from her brother. I am such afool.I still have daggers strapped under each greave, but they’re well out of reach.
A hand grabs my wrist, and I strike out. Jory makes a small sound of pain, and I grit my teeth, hoping for another chance.
But the rope at my neck tightens, and my assailant leans down close until he speaks right to my ear. “She’s the only reason you’re not dead.Hurt her again, and you will be.”
I go still at the words, because conviction fills every syllable. He means every word.
“Jory,” he says again. His voice is still strained, as if he can barely keep me pinned. He must not be a soldier or a guard, because he’s not as heavy as an armored man would be. If I could get another lungful of air, I might be able to wrench free.
But then her hand touches my wrist again, and I can feel Asher go still, watching to see how I react. He’s waiting to make good on his promise, I can feel it.
I don’t fight her. She draws my arm back, and she’s more gentle than he was. I tighten my muscles, hoping to earn some slack later, but the man grunts.
“Hold this one,” he says. “Don’tlet up. If he shouts for them, they’ll hang us both.”
Then they must trade, because the rope loosens marginally, and I suck in some air.
“Tighter,” he hisses, just as he jerks the leather around my wrists. It pulls my shoulders to an unnatural angle and forces a sound from my throat. My hands are pressed together so sharply that I couldn’t sketch a sigil even if there were fire to draw.
Then a new rope comes over my head, the edge cutting into my mouth. He’s tied a knot in it, and it falls between my teeth, so I couldn’t speak if I wanted to. With vicious swiftness, he ties this one off behind my head so tightly that I wince.
But then he climbs off my back and turns me over, pulling me upright to sitting. The garrote disappears from my neck.
A knife replaces it.
But now I can breathe. I can think. A hooded man holds the knife, the point tipping my chin up. His face is shadowed by the hood, and with the sun behind him, all I can see is the edge of his chin and the faint gleam of his eyes.
Asher.I’m going to tear him apart.
He glares back at me, as if he can sense my intent. “Make one sound, and I’ll kill you.” He doesn’t look away. “Jory. Tie his bootlaces together. Loose enough so he can walk.”
Her breathing is so quick I can hear it, fear undercutting every inhale.Is Asher forcing her to do this? Who is he? Is that why she was afraid?
She’s the only reason you’re not dead.
What does that mean?
But as Jory kneels to tug at my boots, I spot a flicker of motion in the shadowed hallway behind them. My heart jolts, thinking there’s another assailant, but when the man shifts, I recognize his movements.
Nikko.
Oh, thank the stars.
He already has a dagger drawn, and he creeps along the wall silently. Relief blooms in my heart. My attacker will be a body on the floor in less than a second.
But Asher is too savvy—or maybe I’m just not that lucky. He notices my shifted focus, and he looks over his shoulder just as Nikko slips out of the shadows, sword drawn now.
Asher shoves Jory out of the way. I expect him to turn and fight with the dagger, but he doesn’t. He leaps upward, catching the beam. He swings onto the wood in a feat of acrobatics that would be impressive if the situation were different. Nikko spins to come after him, but Asher’s already ahead of him. He’s barely on top of the beam before he’s swinging off, using his momentum to aim a kick at Nikko’s throat. Then he leaps onto my soldier’s back the way he must have done to me.
Nikko swears and tries to stab back with his dagger. But instead of wrapping a garrote around his neck, Asher gets an arm around his throat. Then he snaps his head to the side.
Nikko drops like a rock.
I cry out, but the knot in my mouth captures the sound. Every muscle strains at the ropes, but I’m bound too tightly. My heartbeat is suddenly a roar in my ears.
Nikko.Nikko.
Even Jory is gasping. “Asher,” she whispers, and her voice breaks. “Asher.”
