Page 50 of Decoy

According to her testimony, the princess had been on the roof following her attack. She hadn’t witnessed their escape, which left the locked door the intruder’s likely exit…unless there was a secret passage, so well hidden as to elude my impeccable observation.

Which meant the assailant had entered and exited via the door. There was no evidence the lock had been picked from this side, but that didn’t dismiss the possibility it had from the corridor and the intruder had left it unlocked while attempting their kill before locking it behind them upon making their escape.

I needed to search the corridor for any clues that might have been left behind, but I couldn’t make myself turn away from the peaceful way the princess slept that could only come from the trust she’d placed in me to watch over her. Even if I conducted my investigation quickly, any minute away from her was a minute too long;anythingcould happen during that time, which left only one course of action.

I silently summoned the shadows, both my master and my servants. They didn’t immediately obey, reluctant to be of service to the one repeatedly straying from the contract forged between them and my ancestors. Eventually they stirred and crept closer until they surrounded me in a cloud of black. I did my best to remain still as their sinister icy presence coiled around me along with their bloodthirsty desires for their required price.

I stretched my thoughts in their direction.Someone attacked the princess, but I don’t want to leave her in order to track them down. I need you to—

Their aversion immediately whirled around me in a storm of fury. Desperate, I seized hold of the only excuse I could think of to temporarily placate them.

It’s in your best interests to find out who’s responsible. If someone else murders her…then her blood won’t be yours.

The shadows fought against this reasoning with sharp, persistent reminders that their prey currently lay asleep and vulnerable beside me, her life available for my taking as if she’d lain across the altar herself. Why satisfy themselves with the pinprick of blood I’d offer for their cooperation when they could savor the entire feast they thirsted for?

I thought quickly.Would you rather win this battle at the cost of losing the war? An assassin has taken a special interest in our quarry. Unless we keep the princess alive long enough to lure them out, we’ll never discover what they’re truly after, which could cost us not just this mission but future ones as well. Would you risk everything just to satisfy your current impatience?

I used their brief stillness while they considered this to play the last trick up my sleeve.

When I get my hands on the attacker, their life will be mine, allowing you to enjoy an even more bounteous feast than if we kill the princess now.

To my relief, this argument was enough persuasion for the shadows’ temporary cooperation as I wasn’t sure what other paltry excuses I could offer to placate them—nothing would keep them from what they craved, not even their tool should I continue to get in their way, a risk I gambled with every moment I disobeyed them by keeping the princess alive.

They waited expectantly, like a pet eager for a treat before performing a trick. Already my stomach churned, but there was a cost for my desperation. I rested the point of my dagger against my fingertip. With a wavering breath I squeezed my eyes shut and used just enough pressure to slice my skin.

I winced at the biting pain and the world instantly swayed. It took a long moment to fight off the tendrils of darkness threatening to pull me under in order to pull myself free from the clutches of my aversion. The disgusting feel of the blood dripped down my finger; I fought the impulse to press my handkerchief against the minor wound.

Time felt endless as I breathed through my mouth, but I couldn’t escape the acute metallic stench filling the air as I waited for the shadows to accept my offering. They stretched around my finger to taste my blood, acceptance of my payment that would be enough to satisfy them for the time being.

I settled back onto the bed beside the still sleeping princess with my dagger resting on my lap, ready to be of use at a moment’s notice. I closed my eyes and followed the shadows’ slinking moments as they slipped beneath the door to investigate. The corridor was abandoned with no sign of guards, dead or alive, which was peculiar in and of itself.

After investigating every corner for any place they might have hidden, the shadows detected no presence, leaving me as the princess’s sole guard. Yet another strange riddle surrounding her along with the myriad of others.

Next, the shadows investigated the knob. Even the most skilled lock pick left behind hints that a lock had been tampered with, but they found no sign the princess’s had been picked, which meant that the attacker had either entered another way or managed to acquire a key.

Then the shadows slunk along the marble floor until they spotted a few trails of blood leading away from the bedroom towards the staircase that led down to the servants’ quarters. From there the trail died, but it was enough of a lead for my own investigation once the night had passed and it was safe for me to leave the princess’s side.

Their investigation complete, the shadows returned seeking another payment for their efforts. As before I gave it in blood, this time by pricking another finger. I felt their pleasure at the treat curl around my thoughts as they melted back into the room, leaving me to concentrate on carefully examining the puzzle before me until the princess once more distracted me.

I tentatively edged closer, pausing when she stirred to sleepily reach for my hand. A war immediately commenced in my thoughts—the need to pull away and the desire to remain in this position forever.

Tranquility settled over her as she held my hand close, as if my touch brought her comfort even midst the gentle folds of sleep. To think that the same hand meant to wield a weapon with the intent to kill could bring her such peace…the feeling that swelled within me at the thought was beyond any I’d ever before experienced.

I remained in this position for the remainder of the night, unable to pull away even if the shadows themselves had attempted to force me. I was still beside her when she awoke, a process as fascinating as watching her sleep. She made some rather adorable, indiscernible sleepy sounds and wriggled about a bit before her eyes fluttered open.

Her brow puckered in confusion as she blinked up at me before her eyes bulged and she bolted upright with a startled gasp. In an instant, she’d withdrawn her dagger from beneath her pillow and swiped at me. I dodged it with a grin.

“Impressive instincts. No wonder you were able to hold your own against your attacker last night.”

“Luke?”

She continued to gape at me, as if her lingering sleepiness was muddling her thoughts. Eventually, the cobwebs of drowsiness cleared enough for her to fully recognize me and she relaxed.

“You surprised me. I didn’t expect—” Her eyes narrowed and she sacrificed her hold on her dagger in order to hastily lift her covers to shield her nightgown from view. “Why are you in my bedroom?” She scooted back to press herself against the headboard, a gesture rendered futile due to our still connected hands.

“You’re rather tense around the man you slept unguarded in front of all night.”

She frowned. “You really stayed the entire night?”

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