Assassin Queen by Chandra Ryan Page A

position to kill and he had his other arm wrapped tightly around her waist pinning her in place.
    “If I die, she stays like this.”
    “I have no plans on killing you until you free her.” He dug his dagger into her shoulder just deep enough to draw blood. “For curiosity’s sake, how effective is a disfigured enchantress? Does your perfect beauty enhance your gift, or is it merely a bonus?”
    He ran the knife along her collarbone in a jagged line, slicing through the delicate skin as he went. “Guess we’ll find out.”
    She screamed and tried to free herself from his hold, but he had her just as surely as her magic held Lilly. After she’d taken a couple of deep breaths, she shook her head.
    “You love her. That’s why I can’t enchant you.”
    “If you say so.”
    He knew the truth of the words the moment she said them. He did love Lilly. There were no doubts left. He would do anything to end Lilly’s suffering. Even take her life by his own hand if need be. But he couldn’t give the woman any more leverage than she already had.
    “Her father is already too far gone to be saved. I’ve leeched more of his energy than he can ever recover. Even now, he sleeps so soundly he might as well be dead.”
    “Then we owe you a debt of gratitude. You’ve made our mission that much easier.”
    He wrapped his hand around the end of her long hair and then pulled it until her back bowed. “Now free her.”
    This time he slid the sharp blade of his knife along her cheek until blood ran freely down her skin. She didn’t recover as quickly from that attack.
    “I should’ve known the heartless bitch would kill her own father.”
    “Oh, she has a heart. You simply took the wrong person captive. She bears no love for her step father. Had you allowed her mother to languish, then you might have known power.”
    “That one was too perceptive. She was always meddling in my business. She had to die quickly.”
    The door burst open, and three knights sprang into the room. Kirin threw his knife at the first one and used his magic to render the second unconscious. The third, however, was a problem. Kirin had retrieved another knife from under his cloak, but, instead of throwing it, he held it to Silverwood’s throat. He’d taken a chance by throwing the first one. It was an acceptable risk since she didn’t suspect the move. Now that he’d thrown one knife, though, she’d be waiting for him to repeat the move. He was stuck.
    “Let her go.” The knight stalked toward them purposefully.
    “Not until she’s released the Crown Princess Lilavati.”
    The knight looked from him to Lilly. “That’s really the princess?”
    Thankfully, three of Lilly’s men had sneaked into the room behind the knight. They must have followed the knights from the barracks. Kirin just had to keep the man occupied for a few seconds more, and then the assassins would be able to subdue the man one way or another.
    “Of course it is. She’s come to claim the throne.”
    Now the knight gawked at Lilly.
    “You fool. He’s distracting you,” Silverwood hissed.
    Kirin pulled on her hair to try to silence her, but it didn’t matter. Lilly’s men were close enough to grab the knight. But Silverwood used the commotion to struggle against Kirin’s hold. For one shattering moment, he thought she’d escape. The silken strands of her hair were slipping through his grasp. If he lost her, he would lose Lilly for good.
    He dug the knife into the tender skin of her arm as she tried to roll out of his hold. It was just enough to get her attention and slow her down. And that was enough for him to grab her once again.
    “Not so fast. We aren’t done here.”
    “I’m not going to let her go. There is no end to this standoff in which I survive. I realize that. She took everything I had. And, before I die, I will take everything from her. She’ll be helpless to do anything but watch.”
    “If you will not free her, then keeping you alive serves no