Chapter 23

Zoya

I was born in Sweden, but people often ask me where I come from, thinking just because I'm a woman of color, I can't possibly have been born and raised here.

And as a person, I rarely show emotion. I'm a force of nature, an assassin trained to kill. There are no friends on the battlefield called life, and I don't trust anyone. I was handed a knife at three and hired to protect lady Felicia from a young age, but today, I'm putting an end to that.

I'm standing in the courtyard, locking my eyes on the scene taking place on the wall. Giovani is removing the duct tape from Felicia's lips, and then I hear her piercing scream. It sets my heart in motion until I can no longer breathe.

I did this to Felicia, to my master, but the reason I'm horrified is that of my lack of tears.

I wrap my arms around me, and then I stand there, hugging myself while the snow circles down from the sky. In my eyes, the white color has turned to red.

Am I even