Bound by Darkness (Bound By Series)

32. Ruby

Chapter 32

Ruby

MORIA

“Achoo.” My sneeze echoed against the slick, rain-stricken tiles as Naexi punched my arm.

“Quiet,” she hissed, her head barely lifting from the rooftop. She peered at the tavern, her hair neatly braided and pinned to her head.

Rubbing at my nose, my teeth clattered in the wet air. Winter was settling in fast, my fingers pink from the cold as they gripped the ledge. Angling myself against the tiles, I watched the tavern doors swing wide as patrons shuffled in and out. As I had done for the past three hours.

“Naexi, are we done? My fingers are frozen to the ledge.” Indeed, my fingers were curled against it, my joints refusing to listen as it took every ounce of effort to peel my fingers away.

“I offered gloves.” Her eyes flicked to me. “We aren’t leaving this post until we are certain who our target is.”

“We’ve done this every day for the past few weeks!” I hissed. The bitter cold was endless and hunger shook my bones.

“Did you believe it was going to be easy? We’d find the rebels immediately?”

“I figured we would have found some clue.”

Naexi turned, her cheeks flushed. Even the ice cracked from the cold look in her eyes. “You’re exactly who I imagined you’d be.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“A spoiled High Fae. I guess those years in the prison weren’t enough time to slap the privilege from you.”

A frigid wind shifted my hair as it seeped its fingers into my heart at her words. I turned forward, my eyes glued to the doorway as I bit my lip to keep myself quiet.

It didn’t matter what I said. She’d always have this opinion of me.

Silence grew between us, the rift ever increasing as it claimed any sentiment we’d shared. We would never get along so long as royal blood flowed through my veins because, to a Fae, I’d always be a demon.

Naexi’s ears perked as a nimble finger pointed to the shadows. “There.”

A young woman stepped out from the alleyway. Her raven hair was neatly braided back, showing off her slender neck. Her other hand discreetly stuffed a piece of paper into the thin flap of her oversized coat. Her lips were ruby, as customary of most courtesans. Merely eighteen and already cast into a world of darkness. Fear shone in her brown eyes as she scanned the area poorly.

She didn’t find the two assassins lying in wait.

“Let’s go,” Naexi said as she slid from the roof, her metallic boots scraping against ceramic tile.

“Wait,” I said, my fingers stiff as I lowered myself. “She’s a courtesan who was ordered to deliver the plans. She doesn’t know what she’s holding.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Naexi flung her body over the edge as she wedged herself between the wall and trellis, her feet using the gaps as footholds. “One life does not matter in war.”

“But she’s innocent.” I flung myself over with half the grace of Naexi, my body still recovering from years of physical torment.

My foot slipped against the trellis as it dangled in the air. My fingers quickly latched onto the vines growing through it. Thorns pricked my skin, and the sweet smell of blood wafted to my nose as I held onto the trellis until it stopped swaying.

Bracing my feet, I took a deep breath before continuing, the sound of Naexi’s impatient stomping filling the putrid alleyway. It smelled of piss and mulch as I wiped my bleeding hand against my pants, a few streaks of red left behind.

“If you can’t complete the mission, wait here. I don’t have time to argue when the plans to the rebels are in one whore’s hand.”

“What if it was a Fae? Would you slit their throat?”

Naexi paused, the rain steadily hissing against the cobblestone. “If you must ask that question, you aren’t cut out for this.” She walked forward, her hand reaching to her side as she revealed a concealed dagger.

I followed behind, my hand reaching to grab the dagger Naexi had gifted me. The weight was sturdy between my fingers as I gripped the handle, keeping the weapon close to my body and out of sight from prying eyes.

As the alley opened to the street square, our cover was gone, people mulling about quickly as the rain hastened.

Fog clung to the cobblestones, hovering close as we wove through the slowly emptying streets. Night was approaching quickly.

A few oil lamps flickered as we passed by deserted shops. Some were boarded shut, never to see another patron walk through the door.

My fingers twitched at the heightened adrenaline coursing through me. It had been drilled into me—all those years of training, of preparing to lead others into battle, but it didn’t make it any easier. A life was going to be taken. An innocent life who knew nothing of the paper she kept tight against her bodice.

My hand brushed over the locket on my neck—a quick and silent prayer. Naexi whistled once. Low and quick. The signal to pounce and attack.

She whirled into the alley first as my body pressed against the stone ledge. I hoped to save the poor girl from her fate as I stumbled into the alleyway.

Lifting my dagger, it clanged against stone as something hard slammed into it, metal splashing into a puddle of gray-sludge.

I stepped back, my eyes scanning the dim alleyway in disbelief as the courtesan stood at the back, her ruby lips lifted in a wicked grin as her hand lowered. She’d thrown a dagger with pinpoint accuracy.

Beside her, a shadow emerged from the mist. “Hello dear,” a wicked voice purred—one of malice and years of cruelty.

My lungs collapsed, every breath labored as years of torment flooded into my veins like the drip of blue stone. My tongue stayed dry even as rain poured into my gaping mouth. “Father.”

He chuckled, his arm wrapped around Naexi’s neck. It looked like a twig beneath his bicep as he squeezed. Her face turned shades of red and purple as she desperately clawed against her captor’s arm.

“I taught you better than approaching a dim alleyway without striking to kill,” he said. “Then again, I never did follow up on your training. ”

Euris Feyron cocked his head to the side, his long canines on display as he grinned. His hair was tied back at the neck with chords of rope, his hair to his trimmed waist. A great warrior depicted by the length of his hair, his losses numbering to zero.

My eyes assessed the predator between the rebel plans. A vulture bred for fighting. The same kind I’d tried to escape from years ago.

Euris licked his lips, a show of pure adrenaline and hatred. “Ready to end what started twelve years ago?”

I stumbled back, my eyes frantically staring between Naexi and my father.

“Did prison dull your tongue?” Euris asked as he took two long strides forward. “If so, I owe them a far larger sum than what I paid them to keep you alive all those years.”

I swallowed hard. “You… you paid the guards?”

Euris rolled his eyes. “Why would the guards enjoy your advances so much? You have nothing to give them.” He scoffed. “I paid them to keep you alive so you might suffer and rot in your cell until you came to your senses. If they took advantage of your kindness , it is your fault.”

He released his hold on Naexi, her face gaining color as she took in labored breaths. Euris tossed her to the side, a sharp cry echoing from her lips as bone crunched against stone.

The faint smell of smoke and ash wafted to my nose.

“How was Galar?” he said, his hand stuffing into his pocket. “I heard a story of a woman who sustained multiple injections of an experimental liquid.”

My heart rate increased as I kept my face neutral. If he knew?—

“You’ve turned out far more promising than I’d ever hoped. A living weapon filled with black mineral. Enough streaming through your veins to kill thousands of men. Imagine all of the advances Raha could make with a weapon like that.”

My head rapidly shook as I took a step back. “No,” I whispered, my voice raspy.

“I didn’t ask.” Every word mixed with his pride as he took a step forward. “But I guess a deal is to be had.”

With a flick of his wrist, the woman with ruby lips peered forward, a bundle of papers resting in her hand. With a turn, he cleared his throat. “My informant interceded these rebel plans on their way to this town. My spies are excellent and notified me immediately when two strange women visited this town… especially a woman resembling my wife,” he said. “Regarding these plans, I do not need something so trivial.”

His gaze traveled to Naexi who stumbled to her legs. Her hand cradled her arm.

“I’ll give you these plans in exchange for my daughter, as it is in my blood right to do so. I wish to avoid an altercation with Iyanna, and killing you would place an unnecessary target on my back.”

“Why? Do you believe I’m a fool who would fall for such a naive plan?”

“You are a Fae woman following her orders. It is a liability for you to hold a weapon you have no clue wielding, let alone a sword,” he scoffed.

Naexi bared her teeth as she stumbled beside me. “You say a sword in the hands of a woman is a liability,” she said as her uninjured arm rose in defense. “Let me smother you with my bare hands and see if you still sprout such nonsense. At least it won’t be quick.”

Euris laughed, low and wicked. “You have one hand. It won’t do much against me, dear,” he said before waving a hand in dismissal. “I’ll state the option once more before Ruby here lights the plans on fire. Leave Moria behind, and these are yours. ”

Naexi glanced at me, her eyes tinted with a strange gleam. She turned back to Euris, her hand lowering slightly. “How do I know those are real?”

Euris gestured to the scroll. “Show them.”

The woman unfurled a corner of the paper as the rebellion crest, inked onto the paper with thick wax, came into view.

Naexi grew still.

Euris smiled. “You see what I hold is true,” he said as he placed a hand over his chest. “You have my unbroken vow I will hand over these papers if you agree to hand over Moria. You can tell Iyanna I provided this as a… gift. A gift to keep her war far from King Hywell.”

“King Hywell sent you?” Naexi asked as she assessed the High Fae male.

Euris flicked lint from his shirt. “Of course. Your little rampage on Galar enraged him, and he sent me to clean up your mess,” he snapped. “A peace offering, if you will. Rebel plans in exchange for your cooperation. Well, your silence.” He jerked his head to me. “Moria is my priority, and I will include her in this deal for personal reasons.”

My father’s smile widened as Naexi took another step forward. “If you take her with you, what do you plan to do?”

Euris’ jaw flexed. “It is not your concern, and time is waning. Someone will spot us soon, and I won’t be caught in a filthy alley with rats.”

Naexi looked back at me once more before locking eyes with Euris. “So… for the rebel plans, you need my silence and Moria?”

Euris grinned, his eyes blazing with power. “As the Mother blessed Cethlaes.”

Naexi’s brows furrowed before turning to me. “I’m sorry,” she said finally. “These plans will save my people.”

I stumbled back. I knew it was coming, but the blow still surprisingly hurt. She wasn’t even an acquaintance, but it stung more than anything to know my life was worth less than a bundle of papers.

Euris laughed as he took a step forward. “Come, Moria. Do not make me fight you.”

I took another shaky step backward, the mist lifting from the alley as my father smiled at me. I couldn’t go back. I’d prefer to spend my entire life in prison than spend another minute locked in Raha under my father’s reign.

Reaching to grab the dagger at my hip, I figured death would be sweeter than another life of servitude. I would not let them take me. Abuse me. Use me as another weapon.

Thalia’s face flashed in my mind at the promise I had made her in prison before we were separated. What would she say if she found out about what I’d done? About the promise I’d broken?

Gripping the hilt, I steadied my racing heart.

Mother, give me strength.

A piercing cry from the back of the alley startled me as Ruby fell to her knees. A dagger protruded from her heart as a trickle of liquid escaped down her chin—the same color as her lips.

Naexi huffed as she yanked the dagger from her chest. The woman’s body crumpled to the ground, her face lying in a puddle of mud.

Naexi wiped red liquid against her pants as she turned to Euris. “Doesn’t a High Fae know how to make a deal? You never asked me to promise shit, and I would never sell out a comrade or my home.” She held the dagger in her fingers, a wild grin spreading across her face as she shoved the rebel plans into her coat.

Euris’ face turned bright red. “But your arm?—”

“Yeah, it’s broken, but I have a mentor who’s tough as hells,” she said, her neck popping. “A broken bone is normal on a day of sparring.” Turning to me, she pointed a finger at the dagger resting at my hip. “You were training to be a general once, weren’t you? Stop being scared and fight. Take all those years of anger and hurl it at the man who caused it all.”

Gritting my teeth, I gripped the dagger and slowly raised it toward my father.

Euris’ scowled. “Moria.”

Naexi brandished her sword. “This is what battle is all about. The adrenaline. The rush.” She grinned. “I do love proving men wrong.”

Fixing her stance, Naexi flicked her braid over her shoulder as she flashed her sword in the mist. “Does it still look like a liability? I hope not. Otherwise, you’ll find it resting through your heart.”

And then Naexi struck.