“Since we haven’t been introduced and we are dancing together, I think now would be the appropriate time for you to tell me your name.”
He suddenly twirled her around and when she faced him again, he squeezed her hand tightly as his eyes narrowed. “There’s no need for you to know my name,” he drawled. His hand painfully dug into her waist, and she knew something was wrong. “I simply wanted to dance with you so we could talk. However, now that I’m with you, you look like someone I recently met.” His eyes dissected her face.
She froze. His voice sounded familiar. Was this the assassin? “Tell me your name,” she demanded.
“I think not.” He winked.
“All I have to do is shout, and you’ll be arrested.”
“Hmm,” he said. “A risky move on your part considering I hold all the cards.”
“You’re hurting me,” she said. “Let go.”
His grip tightened. “When the song is over, feign a headache.”
Allyssa couldn’t help but laugh to herself. That was what she normally did in order to leave a party early to escape out of the castle. However, she had no intention of doing what he said. He was in her fortress. There were hundreds of trained soldiers only feet away. This assassin wouldn’t succeed—not if she could help it.
The music ended, and he still held her tightly. “I will meet you in the hallway. Now go and tell that pathetic guard who trails you around like a puppy that you are tired and want to retire for the evening.”
This may be her only opportunity to kill the assassin. She slowly moved her free hand down her dress, sliding it in one of the folds where a dagger was hidden.
“Very well,” she said, trying to stall.
As soon as his hands loosened, she whipped the knife out and plunged it into his side. He grunted, encasing her hand with his. Red blood coated the tips of her gloved fingers. She tried to pull away, but he held on to her.
“That was a very stupid thing you just did.”
Her left hand was still free, so she reached down and grabbed another dagger. The assassin noticed her pull the knife out and his other hand snatched her arm, stopping her mid-air. She lifted her right knee and rammed it into him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Marek and Jarvik sprinting toward them with their swords drawn.
The assassin’s eyes darted around the room. “Nice play, Princess. But this isn’t over.” He released her and disappeared into the crowd of screaming people.
“Are you okay?” Marek frantically asked when he reached her.
“Go after that man,” she shouted. “I want him captured—dead or alive. He doesn’t leave the castle.”
He nodded and raised his arm, signaling for the guards to keep the doors locked. No one was to enter or leave the room until Marek found the man. Since the assassin was dripping with blood, he should be easy to spot.
Jarvik wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“My parents,” she said. “Where are they? They’re in danger, too.”
“Neco is removing them from the room.”
“And Prince Odar?” she asked.
“Is taken care of.”
The squire rushed her to one of the back doors where the guards allowed them to pass through. In the hallway, a handful of her guards along with several Fren soldiers surrounded them.
“I’m assuming that was the assassin,” Jarvik said as they hurried along the corridor.
“Yes,” she answered, glancing down at the blood on her gloves.
“Why didn’t he kill you when he had the chance?” he asked.
“I don’t know. He wanted me to leave the room, so I stabbed him.”
The corners of his lips tugged up. “Glad your survival skills kicked in. I wonder if he wanted to kill you at another location or wait until he could kill your parents as well?”
She noticed they weren’t heading to the Royal Chambers. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere the assassin won’t be able to find you.”
“Don’t light the torches,” Jarvik whispered as they entered the library. “I want you two guards with me, the rest of you hide near the entrance so that anyone who passes by won’t be able to see you.”
“I want to go to the Royal Chambers with my parents,” Allyssa insisted. She hadn’t seen them since she danced with the assassin, and she wanted to make sure they were all right. “They’re going to be worried.”
Jarvik took her to the back of the library where the small reading alcoves were situated. He found one and tugged her inside while two guards hid a few feet away. “Sit,” he demanded. “Be quiet and don’t move.”