FOREVER KNIGHTS: #7 King of Assassins
Wounded from Unleashing Dragons for Mardichi

She stood in his doorway. The walls around her vibrating with her malice.

She doesn’t even bother to ask why I didn’t lock it.

Probably because I rarely ever close it. It was obvious he’d grown accustomed to residing alone over the centuries.

Her words cut across the room. “You lie to me! You don’t go to see your Brothers.” She sneered the word.

Yes, I do!

He sighed. Shoulders tight.

“What’s wrong with you?” She snapped. “You’ve never shown pain before.”

Not even the day he’d startled her, and she’d shredded his belly.

“It’s a long story.” He sighed. Not turning to face her. Knowing his chest was in worse shape than his back.

“What’s that!” She cried.

When the shirt slipped from his shoulders she saw immediately.

His back was shredded and the black markings across his flesh seemed to seep. Fresh injuries.

Her brows snapped together.

Thinking it looks like claw marks crisscrossing my back. He turned and faced her wearily.

“What’s amiss, woman?” He asked softly.

“I should’ve known that was the manner of woman you prefer! It’s readily apparent why you keep me about, now.” Her words were scathing.

He followed her eyes down his torn abdomen and to the open wounds on his biceps. His shoulders lowered, and he sighed.

“It’s not what you think.” He stated. “I was attacked by Targue, Cimmerii animals, while leaving the lair of one of my brethren.

“Truly?” Her lips twisted in response. “Which one would this be?”

“Acharius Sevence.”

She scoffed. “And where did this attack occur?”

“The meadow beyond the woods he inhabits. I led them across it and to the river, as far from him as I could take them, before they caught up to me.”

“Oh, I’m certain you led someone as far as they’d let you.” She moved to stalk from the room, but his soft words halted her.

“Come back in here Elsabet. Let’s talk about what really upsets you.”

“It’s you. You upset me…Annoy me.” When a long silence passed with him waiting quietly, she added. “You know nothing.” Her hands fisted and eyes burned molten red as she turned back to him. Her hair twined black from the roots, darkening down the tips. Then silver-blonde coursed over it, back and forth as she tried to control her fury and regain composure.

“Don’t I?” He lifted a brow as he faced her fully. “You’re exhausted, Little Bird.”

“Why would that be?”

“You’re tired of emotions you usually keep so carefully in check running chaotic.”

She stared at him, crossing her arms. “Am I?”

“You’re jealous of women who don’t exist.” He shook his head sadly.

“Don’t they?”

“No.” He breathed.

But the look on her face indicated her skepticism. Without another word she stalked from the room.

“Run, Little Bird, run.”

He heard her chamber door slam decisively behind her. He lifted his head to stare into the darkened room, face impassive.