Raised to Kill

But the two little lumps were gone—they were nowhere in the back hem of the dress! Did that mean Kat had found them during her sewing? Did she know what Allara was—an assassin plotting to kill her own husband? Or had the two little objects simply fallen out at some point while Brand was transporting the dress? Had they—

Her anxious thoughts stopped as her fingers finally encountered the first lump.

The poison pill! she thought, recognizing its shape and size by touch. It had migrated to the side hem of the gown, but it was still there, thank The Gods of All Creation!

But where was the transmitter?

Feeling a little further, Allara finally found the second familiar lump. There it was! She caressed it eagerly, pinching it between her thumb and fingers, feeling its familiar contours. There was the tiny button she was supposed to press the moment she completed her mission—the one that would send a single, one-time signal to let her father and aunt know that the deed had been done. The one—

Allara’s thumb slipped in the slippery fabric and suddenly the tiny bump of the button went flat and the transmitter emitted a soft, barely audible beep.

Allara froze. Gods of All Creation, what had she done?

You pressed the transmitter button—that’s what you did! screamed a little voice in her head. Now Aunt and Father and all of the Q’ess will think you completed your mission when you really didn’t—you didn’t!

Allara ran her hands through her hair distractedly. Oh no, what was she going to do?

There’s only one thing you can do—do it now! Even if his seed hasn’t been spilled in you, his pre-cum has and shouldn’t that count? Kill him now and complete the mission or your whole life is a lie!

Yes, that was what she would do, Allara thought frantically. She would kill the big Kindred as he slept—plunge her skora right in his heart and then the signal she had sent would not be a lie but instead the completion of her oath!

Leaving the silver wedding dress in a heap on the bathroom floor, she went quickly and quietly into the bedroom where the lights were still dim. The elaborate jeweled scabbard of the skora was clutched tight in her left hand and she rubbed the pad of her thumb restlessly over the Blood Stone, ready to let it pierce her flesh and drink her blood in order to release the long, jointed blade.

She crept into bed with the big Kindred, who seemed to be sleeping deeply. He had one arm flung over his head and his face was peaceful. His broad chest was completely exposed.

Now! Do it now! screamed the voice of her aunt in her head. Complete your mission—fulfill your oath!

Yes, she must do it. At the thought of the Unbreakable Oath, a compulsion filled her which she could not understand. Allara pressed the pad of her thumb harder against the Blood Stone. Almost, she could feel it slicing into her flesh…

“Hey, baby.” Brand’s warm, deep voice broke into her frantic thoughts. Looking down, Allara saw that he was awake, his golden eyes open and glowing very faintly in the dim early-morning light.

“H-husband?” she managed to choke out.

“Mmm, you’re still naked,” he murmured, his eyes going half-lidded with lust. “Come back to bed—we don’t have to be anywhere for another couple of hours.”

He reached for her and Allara went to him, automatically obeying her husband. But the voice in her head was still screeching that she must kill him, that she must fulfill her oath…

“Press your soft, curvy body against me, baby,” Brand murmured, pulling her close. “Mmm, it’s so nice not to have anything between us.”

But as Allara’s naked breasts pressed against his hard, warm chest, she was still clutching the scabbard of the skora.

Kill him! her aunt’s voice shouted in her head. It is not too late—kill the Kindred!

“You know, despite our height difference, I think we fit together perfectly,” Brand told her. “Love you so much, baby. I’m so glad you’re my wife.”

The screaming in Allara’s head seemed to pause and her grip on the scabbard loosened.

“You…love me?” she asked uncertainly.

“Mmm-hmm.” Brand nodded and looked into her eyes. “I know it might feel kind of early to say it, since we’ve only known each other a little over a week. But I just can’t help myself, Allara—I’m crazy about you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Oh…” Allara whispered and her hand slipped away from the scabbard entirely.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to say it back,” Brand went on. “I understand that it might take a while for you. I just want you to know how I feel.” He took her face in his big, warm hands and kissed her softly. “I love you, baby.”

Allara felt as though her heart might burst. The terrible compulsion she’d felt only moments ago to plunge her skora into his heart seemed to be broken. And the shrill, hectoring voice in her head demanding she keep her oath was now barely a whisper.