“That perfect reputation and his prestigious crown,” she said, tossing the words over her shoulder. A shaft of light hit her face. Her full lips were pulled into a smile, and her hazel eyes sparkled. “He’d tarnish it for her.”
She turned back, the shadows at the edge of the fountain preparing to greet her.
“Wait,” I said. “You didn’t answer me.”
She didn’t stop but spun, continuing to walk backward as she pulled the balaclava up to cover her face once more. “I already pledged my allegiance, but it is not to Samkiel. It is to his queen. Her, I will follow. Her, I will fight for.” The assassin’s dark gaze flashed to a shadow lingering near one of the benches, and I could tell by the softening of her eyes that it held someone precious to her. “Her, I owe a life debt to.”
She stepped into the shadow by the fountain, slipping in with ease and disappearing as if the darkness were physical. The shadows evaporated at her departure, the darkness no longer surrounding the courtyard as the queen of assassins left.
“Well,” Isaiah sighed, “she was fun.”
72
DIANNA
Samkiel hummed to himself, completely content, his fingers dancing across my bare back.
“If you mess up my tan line, I’ll kill you.”
He chuckled.
Waves crashed as more games were played, and people swam and enjoyed themselves. After we won the last match, Samkiel and I snuck off. He took me to a secluded area and blocked it off with a wall of wind, ensuring it was just for us. I was happy for the reprieve and had taken my top off to tan, far away from prying eyes. Samkiel shifted, and I watched him through half-lowered lashes as he lay on his back and tucked his hands behind his head before closing his eyes.
“I’m glad Miska made friends here,” I mumbled.
“Me too,” he said. “I didn’t realize how many.”
Neither had I until a group of girls her age screamed when they saw she was back and came running. After our last win, she quickly left the game and wandered off with them, giggling about gods knew what.
“She deserves to be a kid as long as this world allows,” I added. “They all do, and it has already taken too much from them,” I said, pushing up my elbows to look at him.
He opened one eye and tipped his head slightly to peer at me. “I agree. There are more out there, though. More we need to get.”
I sighed. “I know. Let’s just worry about that tomorrow.”
“We will have a lot of important things to worry about tomorrow, especially if Kaden returns with the answers we need.”
I nodded. “Do you think it’s a good plan? I mean, we are talking about hiring some assassins to see if they can sneak into a place that’s location somehow gets erased from everyone’s memories as soon as they leave. We don’t even know where it is, but once they get there, we want them to sneak past your crazy ass sister and steal a medallion that could tear apart the realms.”
“Well, when you say it like that, it sounds like a fantastic idea,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
I snorted and shrugged. “It could be worse. We took care of Gathrriel, and your father probably got dragged back by Death, so we probably won’t have to deal with either of them.”
“True.” Samkiel nodded.
The breeze swept through the air as silence fell. I watched him as I always did, like I was an artist and he my muse. I studied the soft, unruly curls that danced across his forehead and the lines that made up his beautifully masculine face. There wasn’t a part of him I did not adore and worship, but right now, I was focused on the powerful heart that beat within his chest.
War was the last thing he wanted. He had lived through too much of it, and I had kissed every single scar he’d acquired. I wanted to spare him, but I felt it in my bones that we could not avoid what was coming. If he needed me to, I could lead and help him, but I could not protect that sensitive heart that felt way too much from the fallout. I knew I could not stop the world and maintain this moment of peace for eternity, but gods above and below, I would fight with everything in me to ensure it was our future.
I leaned forward and placed a kiss on his lips before pulling back slightly. His eyes opened, and he smiled, placing a hand on my back. “What was that for?”
Kissing him again, I said, “I just love you, and I don’t think I can tell you enough.”
A wicked smirk curved his soft lips. “You could show me right now.”
I snorted, looking out over the waves and the horizon beyond. “What? You want me to ride you until the sun sets?”
“Well, I definitely do now,” he said, his eyes darkening with lust.
