The Cursed Alpha's Assassin

f's I

ced hersel

eyes stayed locked onto hers, sharp and knowing. He hadn't accused her outrig

k

ng. Not yet.

rom behind them

rks from where the creature's tendrils had tightened around him, nearly suffocat

his head as if to clear it. "That wasn'

ill, keeping her e

like an echo of something not fully gone. The Nyxfiend had vanished, but its pre

Not aggressive. Not yet. But tes

s," he said, his voi

, her heart hammeri

ded to choose he

, tilting her head slightly. "But

plete one. But a

e runes along its edge had dimmed, but their presence was unmistakable.

," he murmured. "Enchanted we

, folding her arms. "

aw the way his fingers twitched-like his wo

hiding s

"And you're too

between them. He

e fortress, a howl rang out

cts shifted from hunter to protector. Wh

. "Gather the warriors

feet. Astrid saw the way his eyes flickered between her and Kieran

eared down the hall, Ki

with

d. Not a

y his aura had sharpened, the weight of su

ting her anymore.

ould only make

he fo

steady, controlled. He didn't look at her, but Astrid knew h

led deeply. The scent of pine and damp earth filled her lungs. The storm from earli

finally

he t

at you know

ed a brow.

tensed. "Don'

sky. She needed to deflect, to push him ju

to do with that attack?" sh

stead, he studied her-deeply, thoro

t you're not just some rogue who s

mirk. "You give m

that she could feel the heat of his b

urmured, voice low, "

ning wa

som

coiled, but she d

," she said, tilting her chin defi

pressed into

tel

old meeting steel. A

ully. Kieran wasn't like others. H

he could pr

echoed from

turned towa

, came sprinting ac

sped, his face pale.

-

dy was

and hall. Warriors had gathered in a tense circle. At the center

t any s

he kind she h

oat tig

asn't

as a m

e unreadable. He traced a finger over th

attack," one of th

said softly

his... they knew exactly what they were

ran's gaze f

re was no doub

recognized t

unspoken words f

sk-before she could e

ches fl

yond the hall, a whisper

hu

wo

hing

ntire body

th

ammed shut

lunged int

isper beca

nd y