Assassin's Kiss Read online

  “Why?” Tessa stared at her dad as if his body language could give her clues to his reasoning. The Watchers could surely help…yet if they came, would Scorpio go back with them? She sat motionless as realization smacked into her like witchfire.

  She didn’t want him to go.

  Hallon rubbed the back of his neck, unaware of her surprise epiphany. “I still have half the coven clamoring for your head. If I bring in a group of your colleagues, who are equally formidable predators, it will be seen as an assist to you and your eventual escape.”

  Scorpio cleared his throat. “I would never leave—”

  “I know. You’ve said it over and over.” Hallon turned to face them, the bright morning light shining in behind him. “But I’m balancing heated emotions here. Your guilt has never been the question. Just what to do about it.”

  “I understand.” Scorpio’s face was dispassionate. “The offer remains, should you change your mind.”

  “Thank you, Scorpio,” Tessa said softly. Was he pissed at her dad’s refusal? If so, he didn’t show it. She turned to Hallon. “Dad, that actually brings me to a point I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Bringing Watchers here to guard us?” he asked.

  “No.” She took a deep breath. “Letting Scorpio call his leader.”

  All eyes in the room swung to her, but she was riveted to the golden pull of Scorpio’s. No longer hard and cold, they swirled with surprise and, she guessed, gratitude.

  “Just to let him know that he’s alive,” Tessa went on, pulling her gaze away from Scorpio’s and turning to Hallon. “And that he’s okay. I mean, not free to go but, you know, not harmed. You would want someone to do the same for any of your guards, if the roles were reversed.”

  Hallon eyed his daughter as if unsure whether he should be pissed or pleased at her hard bargaining.

  “And,” Tessa sat up straighter, “Scorpio has a younger brother and sister. The ones he protected when he worked for Dalamos. They, at least, should know he’s alive.”

  “You make good points, daughter.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I’ll allow it. But it happens here and now. And it doesn’t leave this building.” He stared hard at Kharv and Scorpio. “If this gets out, rumors will spread. The last thing I need is some crazy panic that a contingent of Watchers is on the way to take Scorpio back home, by force if necessary.”

  Kharv and Scorpio both nodded.

  Hallon handed Scorpio his own phone. “Here. Reassure your leader and loved ones.”

  Scorpio took the phone and strode to the door of Hallon’s conference room. Pausing in the doorway, he turned and arched a brow at the chief mage.

  Hallon shrugged. “Go ahead.”

  Scorpio gave a nod to Hallon and then to Tessa before ducking into Hallon’s office and closing the door.

  C

  HAPTER 17

  HOLY SHIT.

  SCORPIO HAD NEVER expected Tessa to go to bat for him like that. He closed Hallon’s office door with a quiet snick and leaned on it.

  She more than trusted him, for her to badger her dad to let him make a call. She was looking out for him. And she had no reason to.

  Hell. Her softening nature tempered the fire of rage incited by Damien’s note. That goddamn piece-of-shit note. He wanted to crush it, set it on fire, erase anything that had to do with the powerful rival leader. But to his dismay, it contained a disturbing hint.

  A scent. One which he needed to keep to himself until he had more information. But the white paper envelope had carried the unique perk of peppermint…a fragrance he knew to come from only one member of the Bronwy coven.

  Zeebi.

  The scent, combined with her odd, abrupt disappearance on the metal gathering outing, had his skin prickling in warning. But he had to proceed with care. He was still the outsider, and Zeebi was Tessa’s best friend. Shit.

  Another smell had clung to the envelope, and especially the folded paper inside. Cedar mixed with a touch of sulfur and smoke. Damien? Or a messenger?

  He palmed Hallon’s phone. It didn’t have all the tech bells and whistles that Watchers had installed on their phones, but he only required the basics right now. He dialed the main HQ number and waited.

  Ana, the elven receptionist, picked up on the second ring. “Hello, you’ve reached the headqu—”

  “Ana, it’s Scorpio.”

  “Scorpio!” Her voice jumped an octave and he bet anyone walking by her stopped dead in their tracks. Ana was the picture of cool professionalism under pressure. She never raised her voice. “Scorpio, oh my gods. Where are you? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I need you to patch me through to Arawn.”

  “Of course. I will. It’s just, we’ve been so worried about you. You’ve been gone two weeks.”

  He stared out a window at the lush trees bordering Hallon’s back yard. “I know. Hey, I need you to do one thing for me after you transfer me.”

  “Sure. Anything.”

  “Tell Kira and Raff I’m fine, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “Of course. Stay safe. It’s not the same here without you. No one will sit in your seat in the briefing room.”

  He snorted. “It’s just a chair.”

  “The rest of the inner circle has been worried, though not all of them will admit it. So the chair…it’s a symbol of you, I guess.”

  A symbol. He grinned, touched by the respect of the fighters who had become his second family. “If that makes them feel better. But you can tell them I’ll be back, so don’t wreck it.”

  “Okay.” Her voice was warm with relief. “Hold on while I get Arawn.”

  The line clicked and silence filled the room as he waited. His colleagues, the inner circle Watchers, were used to the toughest assignments and were no strangers to losing people. But with him…they’d been in limbo. Not knowing if he was alive or dead, not able to mourn or reach out to him.

  Score one for Tessa. He was so used to keeping his emotions shoved into a box, he didn’t always think of the nuances of wishing and longing.

  “Scorpio.” Arawn’s voice growled over the phone.

  “Sir.”

  “Goddamn, it’s good to hear you’re alive.”

  “It’s good to be alive.”

  “Where the fuck did you end up after those spell blasts?”

  “Bronwy.”

  A low whistle echoed. “That’s a thousand miles away. There’s a witch coven there, right?”

  “Yep. I landed on the rocks in their river. I sustained broken ribs and a slashed femoral artery, but I’m healed.”

  “You need a pick up? Someone will be there in under an hour.”

  “No. I can’t leave yet.”

  A pause laden with tempered surprise. No one questioned Arawn. “What do you mean, can’t leave?”

  Scorpio let out a sigh. “This is a long complicated story but…my mate is here.”

  “What. The. Fuck.” Arawn’s words were clipped and shocked. “You weren’t involved with anyone.”

  “True. But I knew as soon as I got near her.” Scorpio rubbed the back of his neck. “Trust me, it was the last thing I expected.”

  “Okaaay,” Arawn drawled. “Shit. I guess, congratulations are in order?”

  “Ehh, not yet. She’s ah, not totally on board with the idea.”

  Pacing footsteps echoed through the line. “Ironically, I know exactly what you mean. I also know you can’t change who your mate is. No matter what.”

  “I don’t want to change her.” A surge of pride swelled in Scorpio’s heart. “She’s pretty kick-ass.”

  “So you’re bringing her back here?”

  “Not yet. She’s engaged to the rival coven leader.”

  Arawn let out a string of vivid curses. “This gets better and better. What the fuck else? Spill it all.”

  Scorpio summed up Vespera’s actions, Damien’s arrangement with Tessa, and also that Bronwy had thrown him in a cell for killing Pennar.

  “Holy
gods, man.” Arawn blew out a breath. “You barely talk, you don’t do drama, and all of a sudden, you’ve landed in a witch version of a bad soap opera.”

  “Yeah. Pretty fucked up. But I’m not leaving until I make things right.”

  “Fine. You’re lucky, things aren’t too nuts right now and I can spare you. You straighten out your shit. But I want you to call in more often.”

  “I will, if I can. I’m using the chief mage’s phone right—” A scraping sound outside made him freeze.

  “Scorpio?” Arawn asked.

  “Hang on.” Scorpio crept silently to the south wall of Hallon’s office, which was an exterior wall intersecting with the west wall. They formed the corner of Hallon’s home. And each had two windows.

  Scorpio pressed against the south wall, creeping closer to the window. He rotated his body slowly, craning his neck to look outside.

  The bushes under the other window shook as if recently disturbed. He glanced to the tree line behind Hallon’s house in time to see a flash of blond hair melt into the greenery.

  “Motherfucker,” he growled.

  “Talk to me,” Arawn said.

  “Add a new problem to the list. I have a bad feeling we have a spy in the midst of the coven.”

  “You want back up?”

  “No. I already offered it to the chief. He declined, seeing as half the population still wants me dead. They don’t want my friends here. Afraid the Watchers will bust me out or some shit.”

  Arawn snorted. “You can do that yourself.”

  “I know. But I won’t.” He would do nothing to hinder the progress he was making with Tessa and with the coven. Maybe some of the members wouldn’t ever like him, but that was okay. He didn’t need to be Mr. Popular. He just needed his mate to love him, and to free her people from their oppression. “I gotta go.”

  “Call soon.” A click, and the line went quiet.

  Scorpio set the phone down on the wooden conference table and strode to the window. He pushed it open and stuck his head out, taking a deep breath of sweet woodsy air. Below him, the trembling bush had stopped its frantic swaying.

  But the unmistakable bite of peppermint lingered, as clearly as if its owner had left a trail of breadcrumbs.

  Fuck. This was bad. So very bad. Zeebi was working with Vespera? Why in the fucking hell would she?

  Then again, he didn’t know her, really. He didn’t know any of them.

  He blew out a breath and closed the window. This situation required proof beyond a scent trail. The witches, with their weak senses, couldn’t verify it and wouldn’t believe him. No, he needed to observe Zeebi closely, and then catch her red-handed. And have a second pair of eyes to witness the whole fucked up mess.

  Tessa would be devastated.

  With heavy steps, Scorpio walked back out into Hallon’s living room and handed the chief his phone. “Thank you. My commander was very glad to hear I’m alive.”

  “And I suppose he expects you back immediately?” Hallon raised a brow.

  “No.” Scorpio stood in the stance he used with Arawn, hands clasped behind his back. It conveyed respect, and he wanted to put Hallon at ease. “I can stay.”

  “Well, that makes things easier,” Hallon muttered.

  Scorpio’s attention shot to Tessa, catching the brief but beautiful flicker of a smile gracing her face. She wanted him to stay. But she quickly schooled her features back to neutrality. Holy hell, she wanted him.

  With effort, he suppressed the desire that fired like a rocket, threatening to destabilize the cool professional demeanor he strove to maintain in front of the chief. “I would like to accompany your people on one of the perimeter patrols. I may be able to pick up on something that they can’t.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Tessa said, voice even and calm as if tension wasn’t thickening the air between them. “Dad?”

  “Agreed.” Hallon grimaced. “You’ll be outside coven land. Basically…free. You could take off at any given moment.”

  “I’m not leaving.” Scorpio said.

  “No restraints,” Tessa said at the same time, indignant.

  Scorpio met her endless blue eyes. Gods, he fell harder for her each minute.

  She jutted her chin. “I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again. No more.”

  Hallon turned to Kharv. “Are you comfortable with this?”

  Kharv nodded. “After the way Scorpio defended us with the crystals, and after the wolf attack, yes.” He faced Scorpio, one fighter to another. “I trust you.”

  Scorpio met the man’s eyes and nodded. “Thank you. All of you.” He swept his eyes to Tessa and Hallon, then looked to the door. “I’m ready to do a thorough search.”

  C

  HAPTER 18

  THROUGH THE WINDOW, TESSA WATCHED Scorpio walk to the center of the main area. His muscles flexed under yet another tight T-shirt, and the sunlight played in those surprising gold streaks in his dark hair. Tangible anger and tension had rolled off his body when he read the note.

  How in the hell had it gotten there?

  “You okay?” Hallon asked.

  “Yeah. Just mad.” She folded her arms, wondering how bold Vespera would get. “And worried. All they did was leave a note this time. But what will they try next?”

  Her dad came to stand beside her. Outside, Scorpio and Kharv met up with a group of guards, then disappeared among the trees. “He won’t be killed,” Hallon murmured.

  Tessa’s focus snapped to her dad, guessing exactly what he meant. With the way Scorpio had helped and defended her and the others, the possibility of his punishment being corporal had seemed more and more unreasonable. At least, to her. But hearing the option, even if it was denied, was a chilling reminder that some still felt death was what he deserved. “Good.” Her voice came out more breathy than she meant. “It’s extreme and unwarranted.”

  “I’m inclined to agree. But remember, we don’t know him that well.”

  I know that he cares deeply for his family. I know he’s honorable and trustworthy. I know he will never hurt me. But she kept those thoughts to herself, aware she was treading a fine line. She wasn’t exactly ready to share last night’s events with her dad.

  “Are you growing fond of him?” His tone was open curiosity edging over to surprise.

  Uh-oh. Tessa froze. Maybe her thoughts were more transparent than she thought. “No,” she said quickly. Maybe too quickly. “It’s just that I can see…” the man behind the actions. She swallowed, lost as to how to phrase this. “There’s a bigger picture. Vespera…the ways he’s helped us…that’s all.”

  “All right. I’ll maintain that your support of him comes from the circumstances.” Hallon’s focus shifted from the outside proceedings to her, believing and trusting. “And nothing more.”

  “That’s right.” Tessa took a step toward the door as guilt raised its ugly head again. She didn’t like misleading her dad, but she wasn’t anywhere close to disclosing her mixed feelings for the muscled warrior who’d kissed her senseless. She eyed the note where it lay on Hallon’s desk. “I’m actually dying to get out and check the wards.”

  “Go. Take whomever you need, go in groups, whatever you think. And Tess.”

  Hand on the doorknob, she turned to him. “Yes?”

  “I love you.”

  “Love you too.” Tessa stepped out into the morning sun and strode to the work area of the witches whose specialty was warding spells. A streak of gray caught her eye, hurtling toward her across the square. She stopped to stroke her wayward cat. “Missing your new best friend, huh?”

  Jinx meowed loudly and arched her back.

  Tessa scooped her up for a cuddle. “He’s checking to see which bad guys got in here yesterday. What about you? Did you notice anything suspicious?”

  A rumbling purr came from the animal’s chest and she contentedly closed her eyes.

  Tessa shook her head and kept walking. As she neared the group of cabins that was her destination, Zeebi rou
nded the same cluster of buildings.

  “Hey, girl!” she chirped, twisting her blond hair up into a messy knot. “Ready to work on blades today?”

  “No.” she scowled. “New plan.”

  “What happened?” Zeebi’s eyes were huge.

  “Somehow, a note from Damien was sitting outside my door this morning.” Tessa scratched Jinx under her tiny chin and tried to be calm.

  “From Damien?” Zeebi gasped. “How…oh my gods. What did it say?”

  Tessa scoffed. “Oh the usual asinine stuff. Can’t wait for the wedding, blah blah blah.”

  “Oh my gods, are you okay? It was right outside your door? Holy shit.”

  “Yes, I’m fine!” The words came out more forcefully than Tessa intended. “Sorry, Dad asked me that like a million times.”

  “S’okay.” Zeebi pulled her close for a hug, squashing Jinx in the process. With a flail of legs, the cat jumped down and trotted off.

  “The bigger problem is, how did they breach our wards to get it here? Nothing seemed amiss last night.”

  Zeebi glanced around. “That’s disturbing. If they got in once…”

  “Exactly.” Tessa grimaced. “I’m joining one of the ward checks. We’re going to inspect all areas. Plus the guards are doing a perimeter patrol.”

  Zeebi tilted her head. “Wards aren’t your specialty.”

  “I know, but I can’t sit around doing nothing, or placing spells on knives. Not while this just happened.”

  “All right. I know I’d be useless here.” Zeebi gestured to a group of witches emerging from their cabin. “And we have a big order. I’m going to get started on it.”

  “Okay. See you later.” Tessa waved and joined the other witches.

  With Kharv, Orser, and two other guards, Scorpio trekked through the abundant greenery surrounding Bronwy. Surprisingly, they had all been of a mind like Kharv in taking Scorpio along. All his senses were on alert, but he didn’t expect to find anyone. They needed to locate a trail of some sort. Scents would help, but with Scorpio as the only one who could verify that, it was the most tenuous option.