The assassin moved fast—silent, deadly, his blade catching just a sliver of moonlight as it sliced through the dark in Alessia’s room. But Alessia was faster. The split second his boots scraped against the stone, she rolled aside, dagger already out from beneath her pillow, slashing up, muscle memory and instinct guiding her hand with the speed of someone who’d spent too many nights expecting death.
Steel met steel. Sparks shot between them, brief flashes of light illuminating the predator’s grin and Alessia’s glare. The assassin c****d his head, a wolfish amusement flickering in his eyes, and grinned. “You’re quicker than they said.”
She bared her teeth right back, eyes blazing, refusing to yield an inch even as adrenaline thundered through her veins.
“And you’re even dumber than I hop
