Page 113 of A Kingdom of Lies

“I would rather die,” Elinor replied, causing a cold shiver to race up my spine.

“Unfortunately, that is not a privilege you have. Ensuring you live is highly important. I need you for Duwar’s sake.”

“To poison more like me?” Duncan said, spit falling down his chin.

“Precisely.”

The screams of the gryvern intensified, finally causing a reaction in Aldrick. He frowned, tired eyes glancing towards the door. “Seraphine, I think they have seen enough.”

She didn’t respond.

In fact, one look around and I could see that Seraphine was nowhere to be seen.

“Robin,” Duncan pleaded. “Please, it is now or never.”

Aldrick turned his back on our line and walked towards the mirror, searching the shadows of the room behind it as though his puppet waited within. “Seraph–”

He never got to finish his word. The mirror toppled, falling upon Aldrick, and there was nothing the old man could have done to stop it; Duwar’s form shifted, shrinking from view before the glass crashed down.

Aldrick was lost beneath shattered glass.

Standing behind the mirror, chest heaving and arms outstretched, was Seraphine, her face as white as snow. “Get them out of here!”

Kingsmen, in the panic, released us and sprang forward to help. At least that was what I believed until they turned on one another. Swords pierced through backs, perfectly placed between chinks of armour. When the blades were pulled free, they were covered in the dark sheen of blood.

Duncan was up on his feet, throwing a fist towards the back of an unexpecting guard’s head. It connected with a crack, bone upon bone. The guard fell. I caught the glimpse of broken skin across Duncan’s knuckles for a brief moment before he threw yet another fist at a new target.

“Stay with me,” Elinor said, gripping my arms and pulling me back. Kayne was beside Duncan then, joining in the fight. They fought, side by side, creating the perfect barrier between the chaos and us.

“What the fuck is happening?” I spat, eyes scanning the room.

“I don’t know,” Elinor replied.

Soon enough the fighting stopped. It started and ended so quickly. Human guards lay at the feet of our allies, boots crunching over shattered glass and puddles of blood.

Seraphine stood among the crowd, an unwavering calm amongst a tidal wave of chaos. “We do not have long.”

Duncan stepped forward, fists covered in his and other’s blood that were still held firmly before him. “You just killed the Hand.”

“Aldrick is not dead. He is demon-touched,” Seraphine replied sharply. “It would take far more than that to kill him. Now, if you do not come with us, then there will be nothing to stop him when he takes control over all of our minds again.”

“Why would you do it?” I shouted, tugging free from Elinor whose nails scratched into the skin of my arms as she held on with such ferocity. It was clear that the guards who were left standing were allied with Seraphine. They stood before her, a barricade of flesh and steel.

“Because a rather handsome price has been put upon your head and I wish to claim it. It would be easier to take you willingly, so I suggest you cease your questioning and we leave.”

“No,” Duncan said as Seraphine took a brave step forward. “No one leaves this fucking room until you tell us what is going on.”

Seraphine shared a look with me that suggested I already knew what she was doing. And in a strange sense, I did. I had seen that look before, many weeks ago, upon the face of a girl who had been promised money for my head. Instead, Seraphine’s expression was not as twisted and malicious, but still captured the same hunger that had glinted in the eyes of Briar.

“We are all Children of the Asp,” Seraphine confirmed my thoughts. Assassins. Hired mercenaries. “Usually, we work alone, but the price for Robin’s return is too delicious to ignore. Enough to share.”

Duncan had seen Briar himself and understood the danger associated with that title, how skilled the assassins were.

“Doran,” Elinor said, voice shaking with a fear that was all too real.

Seraphine hardly spared her a glance.

“Who sent you?”

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