The Prince, the Rogue & the Reckoning

slapped the wet cobblestone. Her hair whipped around her face as she darted into an alley choked with shadows, the scent of smoke and spice thick in the air. Only

al crea

eyes and a crooked grin l

late," J

im. "I'm alive. Th

bakery, all stone walls and dim lanterns. It smelled of old bread, stolen goods, and the endless trouble they stir

ped. "Lyra... w

ened h

c burned

ough to reshape fate. It pulsed like a heartbeat, gold lines crawling a

r corner, brushing dark curls out

Lyra said

who touch it. It burned through a general's gauntlet once. It nearly kille

sn't bu

closer, eyes n

swall

't have

shed s

warmth traveling up her arm lik

ck. "Get that th

immediately the room relaxed; not

ards were chasing me. I climbed rooftops, to

stop

his head.

some

yr

d. "Princ

s so loud she

muttered, "You ran into the pr

sed her a

ou sta

N

ou rob

N

see yo

hesit

Mira g

me," Lyr

again - this ti

ings. "You're telling me the crown p

tly. "He didn't know

ra said quietly. "An

looke

was worse

red him too

ness in

eld her like

glowed brighter

he thought made

ng down. "He's not g

ue, the metal door sl

yone

ammit-how did

blood r

e - but instantly hated. Tall, broad-shouldered, with unruly dark hair falling over storm-grey eyes. Twenty one, maybe twenty.

boots thudding he

aid, voice low, co

y, Queen Selene Solarys

punched aga

he gu

Mi

t

e

ame fo

ss the room. "Anyone standing

fists clenched. "She

gaze cut to Lyra's pocket - where the relic p

d. "Over my

n eyebrow. "That

unged

ir, twisting her arm behind her back in one impossibly smooth mot

ing her ear. "Don't make this

ed. "I specialize

mouth. "You won't

rly connecting with his shin, but he dodged it

barked from the door.

ss

was Cass

e's prodi

rroga

out - he was good, too good

s to arrest her,

loser, eyes like ste

me

se her hold for a split second. Lyra spun,

eyes fli

la

legs out fr

on her in an instant, pinning her wrists above her head, weight heav

ell around

es nearly

h ghosted

, dangerous moment-she fe

pped low. "Y

en told," s

- surprised

eat of distract

enly she was the one on top, knees planted on

oom g

an di

iled - slow, d

thief ha

ot a t

he murmured

the blade tig

omething that terrified her -

s began c

," Cassian w

O

over my shoulder

d closer.

d

led, and she landed on her back with a shocked yelp. He pinne

h," he said,

ugh clenched tee

under

N

gently - he hoisted her to her feet, swung

s against his bac

ng style is impressive," he said

ing to kill you,"

ed, tapping her leg to stop

he hel

e said, "I w

amed in u

Cassian! She didn't me

n look back. "Tell

tried grabbing her ar

- the only people who ever gave a damn - fadin

r, torches flickering along the a

, smacked his back a

ryly, "you'll stab me, cur

ME

an st

a f

feet - not gently, not harshl

es met

harp. D

. "If you run, I'll catch you. If you f

swall

things - arrogant, ir

wasn'

hin up. "I'm not

her cheek. "You're scared of what

pulse s

that he

is presence filled

aw her - clearly, deep

back. "Fine.

d gi

all me that again and

smirked.

lace, guards surrounding them. The ci

"I'm not giving

lid sideways. "Y

inked.

"You just have to survi

t dry. "What d

allowed

ssi

lking and fac

"Lyra... the Queen doesn't arres

fear crawled

lic," Cassian said. "Thi

k, heart poundin

oblem," he sai

ssive palace gates loomed ahead - tall, bl

side her now, not

arms b

n't pu

ither

she wanted

arried a warning, and her i

ring the palace

ntering a

ned with a th

r back, not touching, but clos

stepped inside, and let th