The kitchen door creaked at the edge of dawn and a shadow moved where no shadow should be, sending my instincts screaming before I even touched the tea.
"Jax. Stop." I froze with the cup halfway to my lips, heart slamming as the guard burst in from the side hall.
Jax tackled the hooded figure hard against the counter, porcelain shattering across the tiles. "Drop it. Now. Avery, don't drink that. It's poisoned."
I set the cup down fast, backing up as the struggle exploded. "Poisoned? Who the hell is that? Damien, Ezra, Kai. Kitchen now. We got an intruder."
The assassin twisted like smoke in Jax's grip, a low hiss escaping the hood. Jax pinned one arm but the figure slipped free with impossible speed. "She's The Wraith. Ancient. Slipped past all patrols."
"The Wraith?" I echoed, g
