Queen of Secrets

3

When Dahlia’s parents were killed and her brother Balsam became king, her fate was sealed in an arranged marriage to another kingdom’s prince. I planned to talk her out of it and asking her to marry me instead, but Balsam convinced me it would never work out. He pleaded for me to end things with his sister immediately instead of continuing our secret romance, which would make us both miserable and threaten the alliance with Andaria. Not a day went by that I didn’t regret listening to him, even if I still believed I’d made the right choice. Dahlia was meant to be with a prince.

I was meant to be alone.

I rushed up a tall flight of stairs and made my way to the Raven Master’s chambers to face Kabel and whatever fate he intended for me. The cold, dank walls of the building seemed to crowd around me, and I could swear the hallway grew longer as I approached. Though I’d spent the last six years in this place, it would never feel like home.

My stepbrother Vermot, a lanky man with a cruel smile and inky hair, stood in front of the Raven Master’s door. He had a rigid way about him that made him look like a statue, as if he might crack if he moved a limb. His head slowly swiveled toward me with a disdainful look, but then he led me inside the room.

My other stepbrother Corgin was already in there, lounging on a recliner with his beefy body draped all over it. His nose had been smashed at least a half dozen times and no one would ever call him a handsome man, nor a particularly smart one either. Not that he cared. He preferred brawn over brains to get things done.

Their father Kabel stood in front of a window looking out over Ralston, his hands clasped behind him. His ‘domain,’ he called it. In his mind he truly ruled the city, and maybe he did, though I doubted the King would agree. Then again, King Balsam used Kabel’s services from time to time and let the Ravens do whatever we wished as long as it didn’t interfere with his rule. I had a feeling taking a contract on his sister’s life would fall outside that agreement.

Kabel turned toward me slowly, leveling his formidable gaze at me. He was the tallest man in the room—or any room, usually—and had steely gray eyes and a shaved head, which only made him even more imposing. “Is it done?”

My fingers curled into fists at my side, but I met his eyes without flinching. “No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

“The target was the King’s sister. There must have been an error.”

“There was no error. The contract was for Princess Dahlia.”

Damn. I’d suspected as much, but I’d hoped he would tell me it was a mistake. “What about your arrangement with the King?”

“That is none of your concern.” Kabel strode toward me with slow, menacing steps. “This was a test for you. We knew who she was. We knew your history with her. Your mission tonight was to prove your loyalty to the Ravens above all else.” I was a tall man myself, but his stern face towered over mine. “And you failed.”

“You knew I wouldn’t be able to do it.” I’d suspected as much, but it was a harsh blow hearing it out loud. I’d spent the last few years of my life doing everything in my power to impress this man and earn his respect—and now he’d set me up to fail on purpose.

My stepfather looked at me with such loathing it made my skin crawl. “I took you in when you were fourteen and had nowhere else to go. I raised you as one of my own sons. I agreed to train you as a Raven. But once again you’ve proven you don’t have the stomach for this role.” He gestured toward the door. “Perhaps I should put you out on the streets finally.”

My stepbrothers snickered and I glared back at Kabel, my blood boiling. “You and I both know I’m one of the best assassins in the Ravens. I’ve never failed an assignment before, and I would have completed this one as well, but I have no desire to cause a political upheaval or to have the Ravens gain the King’s ire.”

“You didn’t want to kill the pretty girl you once cared for.” He shook his head with a sneer. “It matters not. Vermot and Corgin will finish the job for you.”

“What? No? You can’t!” I took a step forward, my hand on the hilt of my sword. “Who hired us for this job? Why do they want her dead?”

“That’s enough of your questions.” Kabel gestured to his sons, who approached me from either side. “Now it’s time our prison was cleaned again. You’ll be let out once I’m satisfied the floors and walls are spotless enough to eat off of.” He tilted his head with a harsh smile. “But first, you must be punished for your failure.”

The brothers grabbed one of my arms each, while I stared Kabel down with hatred swirling inside me like poison. I didn’t bother fighting back as he approached me. I’d been through this before and I’d done it all—pleaded, cried, and fought—and none of it worked. If anything, it only made my punishment last longer. Instead, I faced him down while swearing to myself that I would end his life for threatening the woman I loved.

Kabel slammed his fist into my gut, the blow strong enough to force the air out of my lungs. Sharp pain shot through me and I would have hunched over if not for the rough hands holding me up, but still I met his eyes with defiance.

He watched my reaction, then punched me again. And again. A dozen times, making it hard for me to breathe and likely bruising a rib or two in the process. I never once looked away.