Page 82 of Decoy

“As invigorating as the topic is, I’m not here to talk about Blair; I have a much more important matter to discuss.”

“Considering you took great risk in exposing yourself, I assume it’s for an important reason.”

I smirked. “I admit initially thatimportant reasonwas to kill you, something I fully intended to fulfill upon my arrival, considering I have yet to spare a target.”

“You won’t lay a hand on her!” The prince finally decided to attempt to make himself useful and lifted his sword, his other hand clinging to the princess’s. It took considerable effort not to roll my eyes at the pathetic demonstration.

“Only because circumstances have altered in your favor. You’re fortunate; survivors of the Shadow are as rare as the magic you possess.”

The princess fell silent as the effect of these words slowly sank in. Finally she lifted her chin to a regal tilt. “I’ll accept your invitation to converse, but I have questions of my own.”

Finally she seemed willing to cooperate; I was growing tired of this game. My assassin charade had felt unnatural ever since Blair had stripped away that theatrical mask. My sense of urgency only increased the longer I was away from her. The sooner I completed the task I’d come here for, the sooner I could return. I lazily motioned for the princess to proceed.

“Are you the man my parents sent me away to protect me from?”

I nodded. “Yes, at least one of them, and certainly the most dangerous, especially compared to the one responsible for the myriad of attacks against you.” I nudged the body of the assassin with my foot. “They demonstrated an embarrassing lack of what an assassin is truly capable of, understandable considering the nearly impoverished man responsible for hiring them used the last of his resources for the riffraff for one final desperate attempt for the throne.”

As one of the sole individuals at the palace who knew Blair wasn’t the true princess, it only made sense Sir Rupert had been the one to hire the assassins who’d gone after the real one. The evidence Blair and I had discovered in his study of the advisor embezzling funds had led us to draw the rest of our conclusion considering his poor financial state that we speculated had been what forced him to hire the incompetent assassins.

“Being the heir of a magical throne is truly an undesirable place to be,” I said. “I do not envy your position.”

After taking a moment to consider my words, she seemed to accept my conclusion. “What of the second threat?”

I waved my finger at her. “I’ve already told you I shan’t divulge that secret. I suppose the others vying for the prize your life offers, including me, are just lucky bonuses. And to think I believed I had an exclusive motive to kill you.”

The thrill I took in the assassin game momentarily returned and I heaved an exaggerated sigh; it was much easier to enjoy when I played for Blair’s sake.

She paled. “Areyou going to kill me?”

While I had no intention of doing so, there was no need to tellherthat. I tilted my head thoughtfully.

“I’m still debating. Though I hate the thought of ruining a surprise, I will promise that if I’m to do it, it won’t be in such a remote place; there’s no challenge in killing you when I have you trapped in my clutches, nor any thrill to stealing your life when you’re expecting it; after all, I have a reputation to uphold. So consider this a warning: if you rescind from the bargain I hope to strike with you, there’s no guarantee I’ll allow you to live should you return to Estoria.”

“I suspect there are very specific conditions to fulfilling an assassin’s coveted offer in allowing me a chance to live, otherwise I have no incentive to gamble against such odds.”

Clever girl. “As I told you before, assassins only deviate from their target when there’s something they want more instead. The last threat to your life other than myself remains at the palace and is the one Blair is charged to find…and she’s done an admirable job. By the time you return, they’ll likely be near capture, leaving me as the only remaining threat against you. Again, you will have to decide whether or not to take that chance, but I will tell you exactly what you need to do to increase your odds.” The moment had finally come. “I wish to discuss the terms for which Blair was cajoled into being your decoy.”

She blinked in shock. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“Then listen well, Princess: I fear the advisor who forced Blair to the chopping block to masquerade as the real princess won’t keep his word that she’ll be granted her freedom by uncovering the threat against the crown. She’s a criminal convicted of attempting to steal something they’ll go to great lengths to protect. As such, I have no doubt they’ll send her back to the noose this scheme plucked her from…unless she receives a pardon from a royal. That is my condition: you pardon her, and I will let you live. You don’t…well, you can be assured I’ll find another way to achieve my goal, only you won’t be alive to witness it.”

When her hesitation extended too long my eyes narrowed. It appeared words weren’t enough persuasion. Time to play this game the dark way expected of an assassin. The shadows lent speed to my quick strides, and in an instant I stood in front of her with my blade at her throat. The prince and her guard promptly lurched forward but froze at my sharp look of warning.

“Careful, else my hand might just…slip.”

I tauntingly stroked the dagger against her skin. Terror seized her breath as she kept her fearful gaze riveted to me…a look similar to what I’d seen in Blair’s eyes as she languished in the dungeon.

“Death is frightening, isn’t it, Princess?” I said in an icy whisper. “Imagine Blair feeling that every day since she took your place. Who deemed your pathetic life of greater value than hers? My profession has forced me to evaluate the worth of life, and let me tell you: yours is entirely inconsequential in comparison and definitely not worth such a sacrifice.”

With every word, I caressed the blade across her neck in toying movements, directly above where the noose would smother Blair’s life should her execution go through.

“I can kill you now…or you can return to Estoria and pardon Blair. The choice is yours.”

“How do I know you’ll keep your word?” she stuttered.

I shrugged. “You don’t, but you have no choice but to keep yours. And you will; I can see it in your eyes that you hate the thought of anyone dying in your place, meaning that despite the risks, you won’t remain away from Estoria for long.” Cooperation that would thankfully work in my favor. “It’d be a shame for my blade to permanently extinguish such feistiness, so carefully consider my terms, Princess. You have very little reason to reject such an offer with the promise of your life as a reward; I can think of no better trade.”

My words seemed to be enough to persuade her to my cause, granting me the victory I’d fought for. But even midst her compliance, her curiosity lingered.

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