Page 3 of Wild Flame (Wild Bond #2)

Chapter Three

T he following day our party set off early for Zehvi. Helene was the only one who came down to the docks to see me off. Neither of my parents could be bothered, unsurprisingly.

After giving Helene a final hug and bending down to pat Nova on the head, I turned and climbed up the gangplank onto The Sea Dragon . The Zehvitian ship would take us along the coast and most of the way to Taveran before we docked and made the rest of the trek inland to the capital.

The ship’s captain, a bearded Zehvitian man, acknowledged me with a nod before returning to his duties—which appeared to be yelling at his crew as they loaded crates of cargo onto the ship.

Leif was there waiting with his dragon, Wormoth. The dragon was a deep olive color, with the distinctive spiked horns of a male dragon along the ridge of his back and on his head. The creature was only slightly larger than Nova in his minor form and had much the same disposition as his rider. Serious and dutiful. The perfect soldiers. Leif himself was largely built with the typical Halmarish blue eyes and pale blonde hair, which he wore in a style similar to my father’s and a beard cropped close to his chin.

“Princess,” he said formally, and I nodded back. Then a wide grin split his face, and I had to fight the urge to hug him. We weren’t children anymore and we were in public. It wouldn’t be proper for me to leap into his arms, though I wanted to. Helene would have, propriety be damned.

“How goes life at the castle?” he asked. “Have you and Helene gotten into any trouble while I was away?”

I grinned back at him. “Unfortunately, no. Everything has been perfectly boring since you left us.” Up until yesterday that was, and the assignment I was supposed to carry out when our boat docked in Viraj. But I wasn’t thinking about that. Not today, I told myself. Leif knew nothing of my affiliation with The Order, and I planned to keep it that way.

“How was Nidaros?”

“Busy. Playing guardian to an entire city was more work than I realized. I’ll be happy for the reprieve for a while.”

“I’m sorry my father dragged you into this.” Even if it was at Helene’s urging , I thought. “I doubt accompanying me was how you envisioned spending the next few months.”

“I can think of no better way to spend my time,” he admitted, surprising sincerity in his blue eyes.

I blinked up at him at the undercurrent of something else in his words. Before I could ask him what he meant, Ambassador Nilfren made his appearance on deck.

“Princess Leida,” he greeted as he strode up to me, bowing his head slightly.

Alistair Nilfren was tall and broad, as most Halmarish men were, but his body bore the soft lines of a politician rather than those of a warrior. He was older, probably close to his sixth decade, and wore his light graying hair short and his beard trimmed close to his face. Definitely not a warrior. Warriors wore their hair in intricate braids. It was a point of pride for most.

“Ambassador,” I replied. “Thank you for accompanying me to Zehvi.”

“Of course, anything for His Majesty. And do not worry,” he added with what I’m sure he thought was a reassuring smile, “your inexperience in these matters will not be a detriment. I will be there to help you navigate the complexities of court life, such as they are.”

“I’m sure you will,” I replied, striving for a polite tone. I didn’t like the man, but I knew the next few weeks would be much easier if I could keep things civil between us. I was eager to learn more about Zehvi, even if it was from him. Reading about something in a book was not the same as experiencing it in real life, no matter how vivid your imagination.

Leif was eyeing Nilfren like he was an annoying insect as the man greeted him. Not that Leif’s stern expression revealed as much, but I knew him well enough to tell.

As they spoke, I moved to the ship’s rail and watched the few dragons circling the skies over the city, their bright scales gleaming in the sunlight far above—as the ship prepared to depart and we raised anchor.

As we slowly made our way out of the port, I took in a deep breath of fresh sea air. The sights and sounds around me were as familiar as breathing. The sea was in my blood, and Ivar blood ran with salt , as my father liked to say. He had taken Helene and me sailing on day trips when we were much younger. We had both loved it, and it was one of the few things our father ever indulged us in. But then Helene started her rider training, and I was injured, and those outings stopped.

I rarely traveled the sea anymore thanks to being mostly restricted to the keep. So I savored the moment as I watched Nevgard slowly disappear from view and we headed out into open ocean.

Nearly a week later in the late afternoon, the coastal city of Viraj came into view. I was relieved that in a short time we would be able to disembark and rest for the night before continuing on land toward our destination. The air had grown significantly warmer the farther east we traveled. We had crossed over the Zehvitian border some time ago, and I was not looking forward to tomorrow when we would encounter the dry, sweltering heat of the desert. For now, all I wanted was a cool bath and to be out of the sun without having to retreat to my cabin.

The voyage hadn’t been too horrible with Leif for company. And though Nilfren had been as insufferable as I was expecting, he had actually taught me much about Zehvitian customs and the palace court that I would need to know.

I had always loved learning. When Father had ordered I stop training with Silvanus, Mother resumed my education in earnest. She believed it was time to start preparing me to be marriageable . I had loved the lessons on Palasian and dragon rider history but despised the endless lessons on posture, sewing, and etiquette. I hadn’t minded the dancing lessons though; I loved anything that had to do with music. Unfortunately, it had all been directed towards making me eligible for a husband and not the subjects I was truly interested in.

Securing rooms at the inn once we entered the city took no time at all. The innkeeper hurried to accommodate us when he realized we were nobility and had a dragon rider in our party. After sharing a light meal with Leif and Nilfren in the common room—trying to ignore the stares of the people around us—I excused myself and bid them goodnight. In light of what I had to do tonight, I was not feeling very sociable.

When I made my way up to my room, my two maids were waiting for me and had already arranged for a bath to be drawn.

Hilde was a larger, older woman with a heavy brow and gray hair braided back into a severe bun. She had been with me for years and was set in her ways. She was also my mother’s creature through and through and disliked anything that contradicted the traditional Halmarish way of life.

Astrid, on the other hand, was young and the daughter of a minor noble in my father’s court and was training under Hilde’s tutelage. She was a shy, sweet girl with pale blonde hair whom I had liked instantly upon being introduced at the start of our voyage. I hoped Hilde didn’t brow-beat the poor girl too much. I would step in where I could, but Hilde had always been a force of nature, one who acted more like a disapproving governess than a maid.

As they began unlacing me from my gown and unwinding my hair from its many braids, I mentally braced myself. Up until now, I had been able to keep Astrid from seeing my back—having made do with sponge baths while on the ship—but I supposed now it could no longer be avoided. As I stood beside the tub and let my chemise fall to the floor, a faint gasp sounded from behind me.

“My lady, what—”

“Hush, girl!” Hilde snapped. “It is not your place to—”

“It’s fine, Hilde,” I murmured before stepping into the tub and sinking down into the water.

I sighed and leaned back before giving Astrid a reassuring smile. “The scars are from an accident when I was young. They don’t bother me anymore.” Well, mostly , I thought as I shifted position against the metal surface.

Astrid’s blonde curls bounced as she bowed her head with a burning blush. “My apologies, Your Highness. I should not have spoken out of turn.”

“I took no offense,” I assured her. “You both may go. I can manage the rest and get myself to bed.”

They left me without a word. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on the delicious luxury of the bath rather than contemplating what I would soon have to do.

An hour later I sat on the bed, my hair still slightly wet, waiting for true night to fall. That unseemly hair really is most impractical. Silvanus’ words played in my mind as I braided back the damp strands. Silvanus had often lamented the fact that I couldn’t just cut my long hair, like most women in our order did. But thankfully my mother and father would never allow it. It would not do for a princess of Halmar to have shortened hair. And even though I had spent most of my childhood wishing for my sister’s more common blonde hair, I had grown to love my darker locks.

Eventually, the sounds of the bustling establishment finally quieted below me. Still, I waited. I waited until I guessed most of the patrons—and hopefully Leif and his dragon—had gone to bed.

Finally standing, I slipped silently out the second-story window. My climbing suit—which I had pulled from the false bottom hidden in one of my trunks—was made from selkie skin, an incredibly rare material due to the dangerous magical creature it came from. It made my movements soundless as I dangled for a moment and dropped quietly to the ground. The dark, pliable leather was smooth and surprisingly light against my skin. I had been scandalized the first time I had worn it as it clung to every dip and curve of my body, but it was necessary for what I was doing tonight. I had fashioned a hood and mask as well, which I had pulled on before exiting through the window, leaving only the slit of my eyes visible.

Hardly anyone was about, and the street was mostly dark, with only a few lanterns still lit in windows. I passed quietly through the night as I made my way to the wealthier part of the city. My nerves were itching under my skin. I didn’t like this. Carrying out an assassination in an unfamiliar city was unsettling. I was usually only given jobs in Nevgard or the surrounding towns and villages. Nothing so far away that it couldn’t be carried out in a night, and I could return safely to my bed before morning with no one the wiser.

I’d had to pretend an interest in the city on our way to the inn and beg a tour of our carriage driver so as to find out where the Minsari Villa was even located. It all felt sloppy and the whole thing put me on edge.

What if someone connected my visit with the death? I dismissed that thought as soon as it came. Who would ever suspect The Forgotten Princess of being an assassin? No one. But I would rather avoid even the hint of suspicion coming back on me. I also typically studied my target for several days before deciding when and where to strike. I had also never killed a dragon rider before, let alone someone as important as a princess.

But it wasn’t like I could ask Silvanus or the dark god himself what changed, or why this assignment felt so different. Who are you to question the will of a god? Silvanus’ words kept playing through my mind.

I had begun to question though. That was the issue, especially since being given this assignment.

I knew—or had always believed that Silvanus was The Assassin’s mouthpiece in Halmar, but was he really being directed by our god in this? It felt blasphemous even having the thought. Everyone knew that if you wanted someone dead, you could enter The Assassin’s temple and leave a name along with an offering, anonymously of course, and your wish might or might not be fulfilled. But few knew that if you left more information than just a name, The Order might actually carry out the deed, after Silvanus conferred with the god first to see if it was his will.

But what if he was merely choosing the targets himself? The thought was terrifying. Because of my position, I knew Silvanus saved me for assignments that only I could do. Targets that only I would have access to. So then why was I being sent on this assignment? Why now? Was it merely because I would be here in Viraj at the right time? And how had Silvanus known the princess would even be here in the first place? Whoever had requested this must have told him, but . . . surely there was more to it? This felt different. Killing a princess felt more political than personal. She was Prince Malik’s sister . . .

Again, I knew it wasn’t my place to question. But even as guilt assailed me, I wondered if—just by thinking all this—whether the dark god would strike me down?

Shaking off the confusing, conflicting thoughts, I tried to focus on the task at hand. Regardless of how I felt about it, I was here now, and it had to be done. I had made a vow, and I would follow through.

The Minsari Villa was the home of a Zehvitian nobleman and was located at the end of a long street. Thankfully he wasn’t a rider, and no one else in his household was either. Dealing with the princess’s dragon would be nearly impossible as it was. I always drank a scent-canceling potion before each job because the last thing I needed was a dragon scenting my presence or catching a whiff of my trail as I fled. I hoped it would be enough.

Even if no one else in the villa was a rider, that didn’t mean I was safe. I still had to avoid the riders that were assigned to the city itself for its protection and security. I knew at least one had to be patrolling the skies tonight.

Luckily for me, the rider and dragon appeared to be occupied elsewhere at the moment. At least I couldn’t see them in the sky overhead, though that wasn’t to say they weren’t there. So I stuck to the shadows as much as I could as I slipped down the street.

Once I reached the villa, I made my way around to the far side and took a running leap at the high stone walls surrounding it. My smaller stature meant I had to grip my fingers into a crevice about halfway up and then push off with my legs to reach the top of the wall. Then it was only the work of a moment to pull myself over. Dropping to the other side, I tucked and rolled, popping up onto my feet and staying low as I dashed to the side of the house itself. When I had seen the tall vines winding their way up the side of the stone on the carriage ride earlier, I had known I had a way in.

For now, though, I waited. The details in my assignment had been clear. Princess Zara’s dragon usually only left her at night to go hunting. I would need to wait for the dragon to leave before entering. Of course, there was also a chance that her dragon had already left, and I was even now missing my window of opportunity, but it couldn’t be helped. I hadn’t dared leave the inn any sooner.

So I waited.

And waited.

Only when I had begun to despair that the dragon wouldn’t be leaving her rider at all, did I hear the soft flutter of wings above. I glanced up from where I crouched behind some shrubs underneath the balcony and watched as a tiny violet dragon darted into the sky.

The Assassin was smiling on me, it would seem.

My breath caught as she reached a greater height and transformed into her natural form. The female was a beautiful creature. I had to ignore the stab of pain at the knowledge that if I succeeded in my mission, it was not just her rider I would be putting to death, but the dragon as well.

Pushing aside the unsettling emotions the thought brought forward, I waited until well after the dragon had disappeared into the sky before I moved.

It took no effort at all to stretch up and grab onto the nearest vine and begin to climb. In under a minute, I was level with the tower balcony. No light came from the room within, and I swung my body over and landed in a crouch, my feet silent on the stone.

I was prepared to pick the lock on the balcony doors, but they had been left open. I shook my head. It always amazed me how safe people believed they were just because they were a few stories off the ground.

I pushed aside the gossamer curtains and was careful of the many large cushions strewn about the room that Zehvitians often preferred to actual chairs. The scent of lilies and jasmine assailed me. Moonlight spilled through the doors, and I could see a figure lying still in the room’s large bed.

Silently, I pulled the thin blade from the small pocket sewn into the lining of my suit. It was coated with a layer of pearlescent nakki poison—taken from the vial Silvanus had given me, along with my orders. Nakki were shapeshifting fishlike creatures that were only found in Halmar, and their poison was absolutely lethal—even to dragon riders with their accelerated healing. I removed the protective leather sheath, careful not to let even my gloved hands come in contact with the poisoned blade.

Taking a calming breath, I forced myself to feel nothing, internally retreating behind the familiar wall inside my mind, not allowing any emotions to penetrate my outer calm as I approached the bed.

Who my target was didn’t matter. I would deliver the poison like I had with others and leave.

Reaching the foot of the bed, I silently lifted the blade, intending to administer a slice to the calf. The blade was so sharp that targets rarely even woke—

My eyes dropped to the figure in the bed, and I froze.

I knew the princess was young, but the woman—or girl, really—who was lying there looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. She had sharp Zehvitian features, with long dark hair falling loose around an angelic face. She looked so innocent.

Hurry, the voice inside me urged. Her dragon could be back at any moment.

And still, I stood frozen. Unable to make myself move.

Stalling, my eyes scanned the room, looking for someone, anyone else. This had to be a mistake. This girl couldn’t be my target. The princess and I had never met before, so maybe it wasn’t her. There had to be someone else in the room. Someone else whom The Assassin meant for me to kill.

My gaze caught on the brown trainee riding leathers laid carelessly across a chair near the bed. How many times had I seen a similar sight in Helene’s room? My eyes shot back to the princess. My heart lodged in my throat.

What could this girl have possibly done to warrant someone wanting her dead? Was it merely her position that put her in danger?

None of that matters. Just do it.

The soft scent of lilies and jasmine wafted through my nose again as a sliver of doubt crept in.

My anxiety rose. None of this made sense. I had never been sent to kill a rider before, and it all felt— wrong . It had all felt wrong from the start.

This is The Assassin’s will.

But . . . was it ?

Indecision plagued me. I had to do this. I had to kill her. I had vowed. Anything he asked of me.

I looked once more at the young princess’s face.

My blade started to lower . . . I couldn’t—

The girl’s eyes popped open, and our gazes met.

She blinked once as sleep-muddled surprise and confusion pinched her expression. Then her gaze drifted to the knife I still held poised over her. Her body stiffened, and I saw the flash of fear and then anger. Then she shouted an alarm.

I sprinted for the balcony doors, tucking away my dagger as I went. I knew I only had moments until her dragon made an appearance.

I heard the princess shout for her guards, but I was already out the doors and launching myself over the balcony. I missed my handhold, nearly falling before catching hold of the vine at the last second with my other hand. My heart beat through my chest as I scrambled down. I made it across the yard in seconds and up and over the perimeter wall in another. Just as I reached the ground on the outer side, an enraged roar split the sky, and I knew my time had run out.

I went motionless, shrinking into the shadows along the wall. The approaching shape of the dragon blocked out the stars. Wings spread wide, a glimmer of violet scales caught the moonlight against the inky backdrop as she lowered down into the garden—no doubt to pick up her rider.

The ground shook as the dragon touched down and shouts came from the house. I caught sight of several guards streaming from the villa. The dragon was momentarily distracted, and I knew this was my only chance to get away. I didn’t waste it.

I rushed silently along the foot of the wall before darting across the street into an alley between two smaller townhomes.

I didn’t allow myself to think about what I had just done—or rather, not done. How I had failed, betrayed my vow, and what that would mean.

Using the darkness to my advantage, I ran.