Chapter 6.

“The people who killed your parents.”

For several seconds, I couldn’t make sense of the words. My parents had been dead for twenty years.

I had grown up with a simple story that they had died in an accident. 

A carriage overturned on the road between Brackenmere and Aurelia.

That was what Cressida had told me, exactly what I had believed all my life. 

Now a stranger was standing in front of me, telling me they had been murdered.

I stared at Rhydian.

“You’re lying.”

“I wish I were.”

“Cressida said they died in an accident.”

Rhydian’s expression didn’t change.

“Cressida lied.”

My stomach turned. I looked toward the estate.

Cressida had lied, the priest lied 

Everyone seemed to know something about me except me.

“What people?”

Rhydian didn’t answer.

“Rhydian.”

“Not here.”

“Then where?”

His gaze swept over the courtyard.

“Somewhere secure.”

I almost laughed.

“Secure?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve been here for five minutes and you’re already telling me where I should go?”

“I’ve been looking for you for years.”

That silenced me.

“Years?”

His jaw tightened.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You just did.”

Before he could answer, one of the guards shouted.

“Your Majesty!”

Everyone turned. A patrol wolf had appeared at the far end of the courtyard. It stumbled through the gates, dragging one hind leg.

Blood soaked its fur.

“That’s the second patrol from the eastern road,” one of the guards said.

Another rushed toward it.

“Easy.”

The wolf collapsed. I took a step forward. Rhydian caught my arm.

“Don’t.”

I looked down at his hand.

He released me immediately.

“It’s injured.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you stopping me?”

“Because something is wrong.”

He crouched beside the wolf. His fingers moved through its fur. Then stopped. He pulled out a small piece of black metal. It was no larger than a coin.

A strange symbol had been carved into its surface.

Rhydian’s face hardened.

“What is it?”

“A tracker.”

“Who put it there?”

“The Dominion.”

The word meant nothing to me.

“What Dominion?”

“The Moon Council’s intelligence network.”

I stared at him.

“You’re telling me the Council has been tracking the wolves?”

“Not the wolves.”

His eyes lifted to mine.

“Whoever attacked this patrol wanted to find something.”

“Me?”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. My pulse started racing.

“So they followed the wolf here.”

“Yes.”

“And now they know I’m here.”

“Yes.”

I stepped back.

“Then I’m leaving.”

Rhydian stood.

“No.”

I glared at him.

“Excuse me?”

“You won’t make it beyond the gates.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

“You don’t get to decide where I go.”

“I know.”

“Then stop ordering me around.”

His eyes held mine.

“Fine.”

I blinked.

He nodded toward the gates.

“You’re free to leave.”

I frowned.

“That was easy.”

“Go ahead.”

He stepped aside.

I looked toward the gates. Three guards stood there. Then I looked back at him.

“You’re bluffing.”

“I told you I wouldn’t stop you.”

“You’re expecting me to stay.”

“No.”

“Then what do you want?”

His expression softened by the smallest degree.

“For you to survive long enough to decide what you want.”

I hated that the answer made sense.

I hated even more that I believed he meant it.

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

Rhydian moved before I understood what was happening.

His arm wrapped around my waist.

He pulled me against him.

Something flashed past my face.

A silver bolt buried itself in the stone wall behind us.

I gasped.

Rhydian turned, placing his body between me and the gates.

“Down!”

The guards drew their weapons.

“Where?”

“West wall!”

A figure appeared on the roof.

Black cloak.

Face covered.

Another bolt flew.

Rhydian caught my shoulder and forced me down. The bolt struck the pillar behind us.

“Stay here.”

“I’m not hiding behind you.”

“Then stay behind the wall.”

He was already moving.

He crossed the courtyard with frightening speed. The assassin jumped from the roof. Rhydian intercepted him before he reached the ground.

They crashed into the stone steps. The assassin struck first. Rhydian blocked the blow. A low growl came from his chest. It didn’t sound human. The assassin tried to pull away.

Rhydian caught him by the throat.

“Who sent you?”

The assassin said nothing.

“Who?”

The man smiled beneath his mask.

Then bit down.

Rhydian’s expression changed.

“Poison.”

He dropped him.

The assassin’s body hit the ground.

I stared.

“Is he dead?”

Rhydian crouched beside him.

“Yes.”

One of the guards searched the man’s clothing.

“Your Majesty.”

He pulled out a folded piece of blackened paper.

“There’s a message.”

Rhydian took it.

The paper had been burned around the edges.

Most of the writing was gone.

Only a few words remained.

He read them silently.

“What does it say?”

He didn’t answer.

I stepped closer.

“Rhydian.”

His fingers tightened around the paper.

“They knew your name.”

My stomach dropped.

“What?”

“The message was written for you.”

“Give it to me.”

He hesitated.

“Now.”

He handed it over.

The remaining words were written in dark ink.

MERRYN VALE.

Beneath my name were several lines, but the fire had destroyed most of them. I could make out only fragments.

Awakened, bracelet broken and bloodlock failed. 

My breathing became shallow. Then I saw something else. A final sentence.

Do not let her reach…

The rest was gone.

“That’s all?”

“For now.”

I looked at him.

“You knew this would happen.”

“No.”

“You knew someone was watching.”

“Yes.”

“You knew they might come for me.”

“Yes.”

“And you still didn’t tell me.”

“I didn’t have enough information.”

“You had enough to frighten me.”

“I had enough to keep you alive.”

I pushed the paper against his chest.

“You don’t get to use that excuse every time you refuse to answer me.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I’ve spent years trying to understand what happened to your family.”

“Why?”

“Why, Rhydian?”

His gaze shifted away.

That was when I understood. He wasn’t helping me because he was simply kind. He wanted something. Maybe he hadn’t known what it was when he’d first found me. But he knew now.

I stepped back.

“You’re hiding something.”

“Yes.”

The honesty caught me off guard.

“At least you’re finally admitting it.”

His expression didn’t change.

“I never promised you the truth.”

“No.”

I looked at the dead assassin.

“But you promised to keep me alive.”

“I did.”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to decide whether I can trust you.”

A faint smile touched his mouth.

“That would be wise.”

One of the guards suddenly spoke.

“Your Majesty.”

Rhydian turned.

The guard was staring at the assassin’s hand.

“There’s something written on his palm.”

Rhydian walked over.

I followed.

The assassin’s fingers had curled inward. One of the guards carefully opened them. Blackened letters covered the man’s palm. The writing looked as though it had been burned directly into his skin. Rhydian went completely still.

I looked at the words.

There were only eight.

FIND THE SEVENTH BEFORE THE KING DOES.