Crimson Truth (Onyx Assassins 4)

Benedict finally moved, rapidly rolling up the shirtsleeves of his perfectly crisp button-down. He frantically scanned his tattooed arms, searching for the lie.

I shrugged as his eyes met mine. I’d certainly earned his distrust after all the times I’d lied on purpose to mark him. “Not today,” I said, shaking my head. “I won’t lie today.”

His sighed, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Hawke,” Alek said, his powerful voice resonating throughout the room. “Stand down,” he ordered, and Hawke obeyed, albeit reluctantly.

I sighed, laying my palms on the marble table, my powers withdrawing as I leaned against it. “We were dancing,” I said, my eyes on the swirls of white in the black stone, seeing Avianna laughing and carefree. “It was like any other night we’ve been out,” I continued. “We weren’t even drinking, just dancing and joking around.” I glanced to Alek. “Sometimes she just wants to be Avi, not a princess.” I shrugged. “That’s something I can relate to, and so I never hesitated when she wanted to escape.” Guilt gnawed at my insides, but I pressed on. “She recognized the two vampires, but I’d never seen them before. She didn’t look concerned, so I wasn’t. But then I heard her say no, and I stepped between them and her.”

I clenched my eyes shut against the terror sliding like ice in my veins. “They blinded me. Stole my sight,” I seethed. “And then they…they…” My breath came in great gasps as my power rose, shaking my entire body. An angry tear rolled down my cheek as I opened my eyes. “She was screaming, and I couldn’t see her, couldn’t stop throwing up long enough to draw breath, let alone save her.” I sank back in my chair, folding my arms around myself. “I’m sorry, Alek,” I said, only looking at him. “I failed her.”

Hawke grumbled something unintelligible, and I flashed him a look most men would shit their pants over. He merely dismissed me and went to plot in the corner with his knives.

Benedict shifted again, examining his arms. “She’s telling the truth,” he said. “For once,” he added, and I rolled my eyes.

That was fine. I’d dug that grave long before tonight.

“It’s not your fault,” Alek finally said, and Lyric, his queen, gently laid her hand over his shoulder. “Saint and Samuel are incredibly powerful hunters, and without seeing them coming? I don’t know who—besides us—could stand against them.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the sheer arrogance, not that it wasn’t earned. But these Assassins didn’t have a clue how deep my power ran—how many bloodlines of magic converged in mine when I was born—and they never would because that was a card I kept close to my chest. But had I seen those fuckers coming? I would’ve obliterated them.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

Fuck, I hated that my confidence had been shaken by these rogue assholes. Their power was so different. It even tasted different on my tongue—earthy and tangy and just…ancient.

“Why would they take Avianna?” Lyric asked, the first time she’d spoken since we’d arrived. “I understand why the Sons of Honor wanted her, but Saint and Samuel are supposed to be our allies. They’ve barely been awake long enough to understand the new world. What do they think they’ll gain from this?”

Another shiver wracked my body as her eyes met mine. We were the lone females in the room, and we didn’t need to speak our fears in order to see them in each other’s eyes.

“Power,” Alek said, shaking his head. “It has to be some kind of political move. They wouldn’t be bold enough to harm her.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck why they took her,” Hawke said. “I’m going to find her, and then I’ll spend a year dismembering those fucking twins. Maybe two years.” Murderous rage colored his features, and I swallowed hard. Maybe I shouldn’t have poked that angry bear earlier, but I’d always had a knack for stirring shit up.

My eyes flashed to Benedict. Those cool eyes were calculating, controlling, and lethally calm. If I had to wager a guess, he’d be the true one to fear out of the Assassins. It was always the quiet ones who had the power to surprise you most. Hell, Hawke wore his anger on his sleeve so much anyone could feel it a mile away. But Benedict? There was no reading him, and I was certain the lie detector preferred it that way.

Alek rubbed his palms over his face, ignoring Hawke’s bloodlust. “We were worried about Saint the moment we decided to awaken the Hunters,” he said, dropping those hands to the table. “But Samuel? I read nothing in his intentions that would lead me to believe he’d be a part of this.”

“He poisoned Jocelyn,” Benedict said with terrifying quiet. Warm chills burst across my skin when my name rolled off his tongue. “There is no denying his involvement.”