Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

ALYX

“ S o, whom do you suspect?” I ask, getting right down to business.

Orion heads our way, dropping to his knees. He immediately pulls out his sword and starts to clean it as Joha focuses on me. It’s a threat, but I ignore it and focus on the king. After all, I’m here to do a job, and I wouldn’t be here if Orion could do his better.

“Honestly? Everyone.” He gives me a bitter smile. “No one wanted me to be king. They were all hoping Queen Mother would have a boy child with the king, who would then inherit the throne, but she did not before his death. Therefore, the throne and the duty fell to me. When I was younger, I was foolish. I was not easily manipulated or turned. I fought back and rallied, and I’m paying for that now. No matter how dumb or malleable I appear, they know I am someone willing to fight for his beliefs, so that leaves the scholars, council members, noble families, and even Queen Mother. Take your pick. They all want me gone.”

“Well shit.” I chuckle. “Tell me about the attempts. The ways in which a person kills tells you a lot about them.”

Joha leans forward, his handsome face and bright eyes lit by candlelight as he smiles. “What does your method say about you, I wonder?”

“That I hate everyone and I enjoy killing.” I flutter my lashes as he barks out a laugh and leans back once more. I feel Orion’s eyes on me, but I ignore him until he speaks, cutting through the tension.

“Two poisonings, three failed blade assassinations, and a suspected carriage accident.” He lists them off without a hint of emotion, but when I glance at him, I see fury in his gaze.

“Poisoning is a woman’s method. It’s personal and filled with hatred. They want you to suffer but not be found. It’s smart and often successful. The others came after the poisonings?” I muse out loud.

“Yes.” Orion nods, stilling his hand on his blade.

“Then it’s likely one person who changed their tactics after the poisoning failed. The longer you survive, the more desperate they will be to kill you. That’s good.”

“How is that good?” Joha asks, but he doesn’t seem overly bothered by the fact that we are discussing his death.

“Desperation means sloppy work. Sloppy work means they are easier to catch.”

“I see,” Joha murmurs. “I knew there was a reason I hired you.”

“What about your guards and servants,” I begin.

“I do not trust anyone,” Joha admits softly, eyeing me before looking at the candle. “I feel like everyone is against me. I never know whom I can trust here, except Orion. That is why you are here. Right now, I would lose an outright war against those feeding on our city. We must play their game.”

“I am good at games.” I sit up and nod. “Then it’s settled. We will find whoever is trying to kill you, kill them?—”

“Or arrest them,” Joha interrupts, eyeing me sternly.

“Fine, fine, or arrest them.” I lower my voice then add, “Probably kill them.” I grin. “And then I get everything you promised, and you get a happy kingdom and palace.” I hold my hand out. “Deal, Joha?”

“You should address him as Your Majesty,” Orion grumbles.

I don’t take my eyes from Joha, though, and with a matching grin, he takes my hand, but rather than shake it, he lifts it to his mouth and places a gentle, promising kiss on my knuckles. “Deal, Alyx.”

“We must get you back, Your Majesty, before someone finds you missing.” Orion stands, putting his blade away.

“Of course,” Joha tells Orion before turning to me. “You can rest here tonight. Do not make too much noise or light. Soldiers patrol the grounds, and if you are caught, I will not help you. I do not have the power to do so,” he warns, and I see a flash of anger in his eyes before he rises gracefully. “Until tomorrow, Alyx.”

“Until tomorrow, Your Majesty,” I tease.

He shoots me a smile before moving to the door and leaving. Orion gives me another searching look as he leaves the lantern.

“If you put him in danger, I will kill you myself.”

“I’d love to see you try,” I retort. “Oh, Orion?”

He stills, shooting me a concerned look. “There are some things I will need.” Grabbing a piece of parchment, I quickly scribble out a list and throw it towards him.

He catches it midair, snatching it with lightning-fast reflexes despite his size. “Not bad,” I tell him.

He sighs. “Behave, shorty.”

“Me? Never.” I wink.

Shaking his head, he follows his king, leaving me in the dimly lit room. I almost laugh at the idea that he expects me to stay put.

There is so much more to do, and while the king is away, the assassin will play.

I mean really, did they truly expect me to sit tight until dawn like a good little girl?

Idiots.

I give them enough time to get their stumbler asses back to the king’s palace and then I get to my feet. Tugging up my hood and face covering, I lean over and extinguish the candle before sliding the door open and heading back the way we came. I hurry to the side to peek around the concubines’ palace.

It’s dark in the palace at night, and I make sure to avoid the sporadically placed lanterns as I hurry across the paths. I map it out in my head, using the information Orion gave me to find my way. If I am to survive this game and emerge as the victor, then I need to know every inch of this place—exits, entrances, tunnels, and hideaways.

I need to become the master of the palace, so I move through the sprawling estate using the cloak of nightfall. I check out the lake and buildings, noting the soldiers and watching their patrol routes and schedules. I can’t make out a lot of details or visuals in the dim light, but I can make out enough to give me a starting point. I make my way around it in a circular manner until I find myself near the western gate after passing the main gate. The stables are close, and as I watch, a small man scurries out from inside, stilling when he sees me.

He dips his head, holding his fist over his chest in a familiar gesture.

Daggers, this man is a rat.

I spot another sliding through the darkness, and another.

Crux sent his little rats in here. Turning away with a smile, I can’t help but feel protected and cared for. I begin to head back to the concubines’ palace to rest and think about what I’ve seen, but then I still when I hear the whisper of voices moving this way.

Cocking my head, I listen harder, staring into the shadows of the building ahead when a flame catches my attention. Shit, I can’t get caught. I search for somewhere to conceal myself, but the only places that are close are a well or the concubines’ palace.

I burst into a sprint towards the palace as the voices get louder.

I rush across the grass and look around, but I know I won’t make it inside in time.

Stepping back, I dig my heels in and then run towards the wall of the concubines’ palace. I leap at the last moment and grip the edge of the tiled roof. Using my arm strength, I yank myself up and roll onto the roof before the voices draw closer.

Lying on the edge of the roof, I flip over and blend into the darkness as I watch and wait.

It doesn’t take long for two figures to appear below me. They look around, lit by the torch they carry, which washes over their white robes and hats. When they are happy there is no one around, their voices get louder and more confident, and I listen in.

They are clearly hiding what they are saying for a reason, which is more of a reason to listen.

“Are you sure?” the one on the left says. I try to memorise their faces, but the darkness makes it somewhat hard. However, I can remember their voices for the future.

“If we can get it past the king.” They both chuckle. “We can increase the taxes within those provinces, and the extra money would go to us.”

Ah, the rich getting richer, how surprising.

“They have already been taxed hard,” the other responds. “Will they pay it?”

“We will not give them a choice. We can make it seem important, say it’s for crops for the Lowers. Everybody likes to seem selfless and giving.”

They turn slightly when the horses make noise, and it gives me a chance to scan their faces and implant them in my memory. They might not be killers, but they are clearly crooks who have no love for the king and use their positions to get what they want.

They are threats, and I’m here to dispose of threats.

“I will propose it tomorrow then,” the other responds. “We should return before the guards come.”

I watch them hurry away, happy with their dirty, rotten plans.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for stealing from the rich, but only as long as it’s me doing the stealing.

Waiting to ensure they have left completely, I stand and move across the roof to the back of the concubines’ palace, where I throw myself off the edge. I flip in the air and land on my knees with a slight thud before climbing quickly to my feet. I hurry back into the palace, ready to get some rest and prepare for the big day tomorrow.