Daughters of Lyra: Heart of an Assassin by Felicity Heaton

them also, ensuring
they take responsibility and behave as expected of their status.
Ixion will be assigned to her—”

    “ Assigned?”
Natalia broke in and snatched Ixion’s hand, holding it tight. She
was ready to flee with him right now if her father was daring to
suggest that they go back to normal, that she give Ixion up. “I
don’t want Ixion to be assigned to me, just like I don’t want my
husband chosen for me. I love Ixion and I will be with him, even if
that means we leave the palace.”

    Her father held his hands
up. “I have already had one daughter threatening to give up her
title in order to marry the man she loved… and one is enough. I had
intended to say that Ixion will be assigned to you as whatever you
choose him to be—your personal assassin or future
husband.”

    Natalia blinked, stunned
into silence. She was sure that she had heard him wrong. Her father
was stubborn, just like his brothers, and it wasn’t like him to
back down so easily and give in to someone else. It could only mean
one thing. He really did dote on her as much as her mother said. He
loved her and wanted her to be happy.

    Ixion’s hand tightened
against hers. She looked at him, into his warm eyes that smiled at
her. He reached out and brushed her cheek with the backs of his
fingers. Her eyes slipped shut and she leaned into his touch,
savouring the softness and the love behind it.

    The galaxy faded away
until there was only them, standing so close to each other, joined
in a tender caress.

    The door slamming snapped
her out of the moment. Her gaze darted to it. Renie stood in the
doorway, her laser pistol drawn, with Tres beside her.

    “ Are we
leaving?” Renie said in a hurried tone.

    Natalia wondered if her
older sister was actually prepared to hold their own father at gun
point.

    “ We’re
staying.” Natalia smiled at Ixion. He placed his arm around her
shoulder and drew her close.

    “ I believe you
must congratulate your little sister,” her father said and Renie’s
eyes went wide.

    “ He
agreed?”

    “ It was his
idea,” Natalia said, still not quite able to believe it. Her father
wanted her to marry Ixion. She looked at her father, wondering if
he was going to burst out laughing any moment now and tell her it
was all a joke.

    Her father smiled. “I
wouldn’t have parted with you for a lesser male. I have no fear of
your happiness or safety when Ixion is with you.”

    Natalia blushed and then
grinned at her sister when it finally sunk in. “I’m getting
married!”

    Her father laughed. Tres
said something which she didn’t understand but hoped was
congratulations.

    “ Double
wedding!” Renie grinned right back at her.

    Natalia hesitated and
looked at Ixion. He towered over her, the tendrils of his black
hair obscuring his eyes. His gaze slid down to meet hers and she
waited with bated breath to hear what he would say.

    “ You haven’t
asked me yet,” she said, feeling a little awkward about how carried
away she had been. Ixion might not want to marry her.

    His arm left her
shoulders, making her feel cold, and then he took hold of both of
her hands, standing before her. His eyes held hers, steady and
confident, but something lurked in their clear purple
depths.

    “ Natalia… my
princess… I am not worthy—” He pressed his finger to her lips to
silence her when she went to speak. “Will you ever learn not to
interrupt?”

    Her father laughed again.
The suspense was killing her. She didn’t want him to outline just
how unworthy he felt of her love and what she wanted to share with
him. She wanted him to marry her.

    “ I am not
worthy of a royal wedding. My status is not that of a prince or
even a noble. I am merely an assassin, a servant of your family.”
He hesitated and then sighed. “I want to marry you more than
anything and make you happy, but I cannot stand before the
population and bring dishonour to your family by marrying you at a
royal wedding.”

    Natalia’s