Shaedes of Gray: A Shaede Assassin Novel

that displeased the king, and their descendants paid the price. Kreighton had favored Artis before his rebellion, and rather than exact the harsh punishment he planned, he graced Artis’s children with Fae beauty so they’d blend with society, and cloaked them in shadow at night. Rannan was not so fortunate. Kreighton cursed his less-favored son’s offspring, banishing them to the light, where they’d be forced to hide their ghastly forms, marking them as outcasts. They’re uncivilized beasts. We’re the lucky ones, I suppose. The Lyhtans”—he looked away wistfully—“are jealous. Vengeful. They despise all Shaedes for our very existence. A Lyhtan needs no excuse to attack a Shaede. They’re dangerous. Especially to us.” His gaze, burning gold flecks in melted caramel, pinned me right where I stood. “Especially to you.”

I stiffened at Xander’s words. What did they want with me? Which raised an even bigger question: Why hadn’t the Lyhtan tried to kill me? Xander had just said they needed little to no excuse to kill a Shaede, and yet it had let me live. My nerves stretched taut and my pulse skipped. The damn thing had been playing with me. It had admitted as much. But why? “I’ve never seen one before,” I whispered. “I had no idea anything like that existed. Didn’t even get a look at the one that attacked me.”

“They’re solitary creatures,” Xander said. “Lyhtans do not live in groups, and though they want for much, they need very little. They hunt like lone wolves, glutting on the weak, and do not seek prey for weeks afterward.” His warm gaze scorched over me again as he continued. “Lyhtan claws and teeth contain deadly venom. We’re allergic to that venom. Those welts on your lovely skin are scratches. Because of the allergy, it will take longer for you to heal. You’re lucky to have come away with only welts. This is . . . disconcerting, Darian. I don’t understand why it didn’t inflict more damage. By all rights, you should be dead. To your attacker’s discredit, it must have barely broken the skin.”

My attacker’s discredit? Like he did a piss-poor job of trying to kill me? Well, the damn thing had said that no harm was to come to me. At least not until the eclipse, though what that meant, I had no idea. And at this point, I didn’t trust Xander as far as I could throw him. No way was I divulging that little piece of info. “Are they allergic to us?”

Xander’s lip curled. “Not really. There, they have the upper hand. Though shadow does have its effect on them. But deadly shadow is hard to come by. Lucky for you, I know just where to get it. The most stalwart Lyhtan can’t defend itself against true shadow. Once extracted, the shadow becomes a solid thing, impervious even to magic. It can squeeze bones to dust and render an opponent immobile.” His eyes roamed over me once again, his lips curving in a seductive smile that would have melted the resolve of any number of women.

I moved against my bonds and remembered that no matter how good he looked, I wanted nothing more than to flay the skin from his body. He had kidnapped me, after all.

“Untie me,” I said.

He must have been mulling over his options, because he stood and paced about the room, tapping his chin with a finger. “I’ll let you go,” he said from behind me. “If you agree to not run away.”

How many victims would agree to that demand? And how many times was he going to restrain me and then ask me to stay? But I agreed, knowing as well as I know myself that I would come to regret it.

He fiddled with the knots, and a moment later, the cord relaxed and drooped from my body. As soon as I was assured of my freedom, I dissolved, reappearing inches from Xander. I drew back my hand to strike him.

Rather than stay my hand, he wrapped his own around me, pulling me tight to his body, which exuded so much heat that I thought I would melt right into him. He buried his face in the strawberry curls of my hair and whispered, “Do you hate me that much?”

“Yes!” I shouted into his chest. “You wooed me by wrapping servitude up in a pretty bow. You gave me gifts only so you could use me, and when I turned my back . . .” I took a deep breath so I could really let him have it “You . . . had . . . me . . . kidnapped!”

A low rumble of laughter erupted in his chest. Bad move. It was like pouring gasoline on an already raging fire. I shoved at him, pounded a fist into his muscled chest, and screamed my frustration.

“You should stay here. For your protection,” he said, as if I hadn’t tried to punch my fist right through his heart. “I wouldn’t wish a Lyhtan on anyone. The next time you encounter one, you might not live to talk about it.”

Oh, great. Not that I planned on encountering one anytime soon. “There’s no way I’m staying here with you. You got your money and your sword back. I’m done with you, Your Highness.”

“This is no coincidence, Darian.” Xander leaned away, though he didn’t let go of me, and tilted his head thoughtfully to one side. “I don’t believe in coincidence. My enemy is now your enemy by virtue of association. And my enemy wants me dead. A Lyhtan is a skilled and thorough killer. It will tear you limb from limb if it gets the chance. It’s a miracle you’re alive.” He brushed his thumb across my cheek. “I can’t help but wonder why it didn’t try to kill you. You have no choice but to be the stealthy assassin and do the job I’ve paid you for. It’s the only way to guarantee your own safety.”

“Bullshit.” I was tired of playing his games. I wanted answers. “Who’s the mark?” I asked yet again. Even Xander believed the Lyhtan’s visit hadn’t been a coincidence. Fucking thing was connected to the job. “It’s connected. Is that what you’re saying? The Lyhtan is connected to whoever you want offed?”

“I’m fairly certain,” he answered. Reluctantly, he let me go, and his strong fingers lingered against me as if trying to savor every second of contact with my body. His thumbs were the last to leave me, and they climbed up my torso, stroking outward, brushing against my ribs.

Just perfect. Like I didn’t have enough to worry about. Now I had to watch my back for invisible attackers. Attackers that might rip my arms right out of their sockets. Just because I’d decided to work for Xander. Some jobs just suck. I so did not need this shit. But I couldn’t logically find any way out of it. I couldn’t fight something I couldn’t see, and I couldn’t prepare for an attacker that I knew little to nothing about. Continuing with Raif, and thereby this job, seemed to be my best line of defense. “I’ll do this for you,” I said, feeling the manacles of slavery tighten. “Only because I’m interested in saving my own neck. But I will not, under any condition, stay here with you.”

“What makes you think you have a choice?” He was the high-and-mighty king again, looking down his haughty nose at me.

Give me a break. “Because if you don’t let me leave, you can take this job and shove it right up your—”

“My king . . .” Anya stormed into the room. I thought briefly about delivering a sharp kick to her gut while she wasn’t looking. But I decided to ignore her instead.

“What is it?” Xander sounded a little less than gracious. Good. She needed to be put in her place.

Anya took to her knee. I wanted to gag. She wore hot pink leather tonight. I wondered how she even managed to move, wrapped up in that much tanned and dyed flesh.

“Her companion is here,” she said with contempt. “He’s demanding her release.”

Xander laughed. The sound of it tickled my flesh like warm rain. I forced myself to disengage from the sensation and focused on my anger.

“And what does he propose will happen if I don’t meet his demand?”

Anya’s eyes widened for a moment. She rose and stood very close to Xander’s side, whispering something in his ear that made him shake with another round of laughter. I shivered from head to toe at the sound.

He gave her a pat on the shoulder like she was a good little pet and sent her on her way. She shot me a furious glare before leaving, and I blew her a kiss. Someday I’d crack her skull open.

Xander gave me another of his contemplative stares and then let out a great sigh. If he was put out, I was glad. “You’ve drawn an interesting admirer. I don’t know quite what to think of him.”

Aside from his scent, Tyler was about as interesting as vanilla ice cream. Lucky for me, I’m partial to vanilla. But I wondered why she said her companion. What the hell was that supposed to mean? And how the hell had he known I was here? Had he followed us? “He’s not my anything.” I hoped that by showing disinterest in Tyler, it would protect him from Xander’s interest as well. “I don’t know why he’s here. Get rid of him if you want. I don’t need rescuing.”

“I’ve decided to let you leave,” Xander said, as if making a great proclamation. “But you will continue your training with Raif, and when you are deemed ready, you will perform the task I’ve paid you for.”