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“I thought I could only grow someweeds?” Layala snapped.

The cat-woman let out another fearsome cry and lowered into a crouch, flicking her long tail back and forth. A moment later she pounced at Layala. She dove to the left onto the bed and rolled across it while the feral shifter hit the window, chomped at the green draping vines, rag dolled a stalk and tore it free. It hit the ground with a plunk. Then she turned and prowled onto the bed. Trembling, Talon latched onto Layala’s shoulders and ducked behind her.

“Back toward the door,” Layala said, watching the predator’s light green eyes for signs she might pounce again. The moment they ran, the chase would be on. “Slowly.”

Talon let go and her footsteps slammed as she sprinted for the door.

“I said, slowly!” Layala shouted and the cat leapt from the bed and soared through the air. Her front paws crashed into Talon’s back taking her to the ground with a thud. Talon screamed loud enough to hurt Layala’s ears; there was no way someone wouldn’t hear and come running. The cat raised her head, teeth bared. Layala snatched the woman’s dagger off the ground, and in three steps drove the blade into her side. The cat wailed and turned, slashing her massive, clawed paw at Layala.

“You came for me. Leave her alone!” Layala curled her fingers and called to her magic; it coiled out of thin air and wrapped around the assassin’s neck.Squeeze tighter!she silently commanded. The cat wildly clawed at the black vine, and rolled around on the ground, writhing and moaning. After a few moments, she shifted back into her human form. Layala squatted down and jerked the dagger out of her side. “Who are you? Who sent you?”

Her face turned a dark shade of purple, as the magical vines squeezed harder. Her ragged breaths became shallower with each passing second. But Layala needed her alive. She needed answers. The vines loosened and she grabbed the woman by the crown of her head, gripping her hair. “Tell me who sent you and I might let you live.”

She spit and a spray of saliva and blood hit Layala on the left cheek. Layala recoiled for a moment then punched her again. The woman’s head flew back and bounced off the floor then she laughed revealing red-stained teeth. “You’re not what you once were, Valeen. Not even close. You’re doomed like all the times before.”

“Valeen?” Layala whispered. She grabbed the woman by the shoulders and shook her. “How do you know that name?” Pain seared Layala’s thigh. She gritted her teeth to keep from screaming, and found claws embedded into her flesh.

“Release me or I’ll tear your leg off.”

The claws sunk deeper, and she began to pull, dragging them like blades down her muscle and flesh. Layala let the vines fall loose, the claws retracted, and she knocked Layala in the chin with a hard punch. She shoved her off and sprinted to the window, shattering the glass as she pounced through it.

The bedroom door burst open and slammed against the wall. Thane came through first and Hel trailed right behind him. They stood next to one another, surveying the disaster.

“There’s no way the princess put up this much of a fight,” Hel said, leaning up against the wall.

Thane rushed forward. “What happened!”

“A psychotic wild animal woman,” Talon wailed, peeking out from covering her face. “She almost killed me.”

Thane looked to Talon cowering on the floor then Layala and dropped to her side. He lifted his hand toward her waist where her black top was half covered in blood. “What is she talking about? Who did this?”

“I’m fine.” She pushed his hand away.

Hel watched the exchange, and Layala immediately regretted showing their less-than-perfect relationship in front of him. She didn’t want to reveal the strain between her and Thane even if there were rumors. But he seemed less interested in their interaction, and more so in the bloodstain that blossomed all over her shirt from the rib wound. Whether it was because her blood was his life source, and he was worried about losing it or he was worried abouthershe didn’t know. Either way, she quickly folded her arm over her belly.

“You need healing balm.” Thane touched the five puncture marks in her thigh, and she winced.

“I’m alright. I promise,” Layala said with a half-smile, trying to reassure him even if it hurt like hell.

He nodded but still looked concerned. “So, what happened?”

“I don’t know what she was exactly. She looked almost human, but she changed into a huge cat.”

Thane’s brows furrowed and he glanced back at Hel. “A feline shifter? But they’re from Ryvengaard.” He looked back to Layala. “How did she get in here?”

“It’s not difficult to deduce,” Hel said, tucking his hands behind his back and walking forward. “The assassin is a chameleon of sorts. Her skin can change to blend into her surroundings. She likely came in through a window and by the state of the room,” his gaze swept across the broken vase and snapped bedpost, “there was a struggle. Layala obviously came out on top, although it should have been much easier than this. And you shouldn’t have let her get away.”

“I didn’tlether,” Layala balked. And if she was able to change her appearance to blend in, she might have been the one stalking her in the alley outside of Aunt Evalyn’s place, Nerium Oleander. “She called meValeen,” Layala said, and swallowed the nervous lump in her throat.

“I’m sure she did because if she’s a shifter that wants you dead, she was sent here.”

“Sent by who?”

“This is the first assassin?” Hel asked.

“Yes…”

“They don’t like when the three of us get together.” His gaze fell to the window, and he pressed his lips together. A big silver owl sat perched on the tree branch staring inside.How odd, Layala thought.It’s morning and owls tend to only come out at night. “They know we’ll want revenge and they’re going on the offensive,” he finished, but was that what he truly meant to say? With his hands tucked behind his back, he began to pace. “I need you both to get your shit together faster. Our lives depend on it.”