Page 46 of A Broken Promise

“I guess that’s true.” I tapped my pen on the paper.

“Youguess?!” Priya angrily closed a jar. “It’s all fun and jokes until you come across four-hundred-pound Jimmy over there who is trying to strangle you andcansingle-handedly knock you out with one punch and—” She thinned her lips and narrowed her eyes at me. “And considering that your speed to action is somewhat similar to that of a dying snail, I’d say making Jimmy paralyzed first, or quite frankly dead, before he smashes that pretty nose of yours is quite helpful, even if it does take a while to make the poisons.”

“Are there a lot of women assassins?” I was genuinely curious.

“How the fuck would I know?” She looked at me annoyed while checking on some plants drying on the walls.

“I don’t know, maybe because you are an assassin and murder people for a living?” I threw that sarcastic tone back at her.

“Gods, first, Iliveto murder people, not murder people for a living. A big fucking difference. And second, I told you, I am not an official assassin, but even if I was, it’s not like you just go sign up and join a queen’s tea party of female Royal assassins where we discuss the new trends of slicing someone’s throat and current fashion takes on updos.” She shook her head, displeased.

I knew Priya was being sarcastic but a part of me really liked that idea.

Just imagine the power and the brilliance if all the badass women united. The world would be a different place.

Priya now fished out a few live crickets and dropped them into the terrariums filled with all kinds of creatures. “But my guess is, there aren’t many, considering most women spend their time trying to please society.” She dropped a few more. “When in reality, they’d have much better luck murdering it.”

I nodded in agreement.

24

GIDEON

“GIDEON!” I grimaced as I heard Zora’s voice before she stormed in. “Are you out of your fucking mind?!”

I ran a hand down my face. I knew this was coming from the moment I made the choice to leave. And to come back.

What I had done was reckless. Stupid. Irresponsible. And the worst part—it was futile. Because yet again, I came back here alone.

Zora’s jaw was about to snap from the force she clenched it with.

“Zora…” I calmly started after taking a long breath.

“You are such an idiot. Risking it all fora girl? I need armies, Gideon, not a girl!”

She was furious. Understandably so.

“She needs our help, Zora.” I leaned back in my chair.

“Youfucking need help,” Zora spat, pacing across the room.

I couldn’t argue with that.

“You have people relying on you, you have responsibilities, gods dammit it, you have our lives in your hands! You can’t just fucking disappear by yourself to look for someone you thinkmighthave the same power as you.”

I unwrapped the bandages, gazing at my healing hand.

Her fury didn’t scare me, though I’d prefer to get yelled at less. But that was the thing with Zora. She cared. More than anyone else I knew. Though she would never let anyone see it. But I recognized that anger, that ferocity, for what it really was worry…And maybe a bit of anger issues.

“See, Zora, that’s where you and I disagree... For once, I have absolutely no doubt about what she can do.” I closed and opened my wounded hand, watching the tight scars stretch in motion.

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” She folded her arms tight, her voice taunt, though no longer yelling.

“It would be quite hard to do so, if she is not here to show it to you.” I half smiled but Zora didn’t appreciate my amusement.

“You need to promise me you won’t go out looking for her again.” She stopped pacing and glared at me.

“While I appreciate the concern, Zora, I will do no such thing,” I said, wrapping bandages back up. My hand was almost healed, though the gnarly scars would stay there forever. A constant reminder of my shortcomings.

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