Assassin's Crown (The Assassin and her Dragon Princes Book Book 3) Read online

  His gaze swept me from head to foot, his sharp black eyes looking for injury. “Been well, My Prince. But why are you here at this hour?”

  “Can’t I come over to check up on the healer who delivered me into this world?”

  He chuckled, sweeping back the long length of his white, wispy hair. “I held you before the king or Lady Jifa, My Prince. I’ve seen you grow up. You’ve never been one to beat around the bush, so stop jesting like the court nobles and tell me why you’re here.”

  “Nothing escapes you.”

  “Your Highness?” His gaze was now narrowed at me, his mouth curving downward. “Does Lady Jifa need this old servant again?”

  I shook my head. “Mother is fine. At least, I think so.” Moving closer to him, I stared into his glassy, obsidian eyes. “Someone else needs you. She’s been badly hurt and slashed with a sword. The wound isn’t deep enough to be immediately lethal but it’s been over an hour and she still bleeds. You will have to bind it for her and give us the medicine to feed her as long as she’ll need them.”

  “Who is she?”

  I paused before answering him. Should I lie and tell him she was nothing but a maid? As I looked at Koishi, I could see he was staring at me closely. He was seeing right through me at the moment. He could feel the anxiety seeping from me, and even hear the pounding of my heart in the silent night.

  “She is the woman I love,” I said, looking him in the eye. “Prince Zane of Drakhaven hurt her and she needs you urgently, Master Koishi. Please help me one last time. I’ll make sure never to ask you of anything in the future.”

  Koishi’s wrinkled face softened at once. He shook his head as he gripped my elbow. “That’s no way for a prince to talk. Come with Koishi and tell me what happened.”

  He led me inside the humble thatched hut and lit a lantern.

  The main front room was filled with racks of drying herbs. Some hung from the ceiling. A mortar and pestle stood in the corner. There was no furniture other than a thin mattress in the corner that served as his bed. It was astonishing to see how the best healer in Baledonia was living now.

  “Where is she?” asked Koishi as he put on a tunic over his under robe. “It will take some hours to reach the palace.”

  “She is not at the palace,” I replied, glancing at the jars of dried and ground herbs. “We’re hiding her. And you can’t tell anyone about tonight.”

  Koishi glanced at me from the corner. “Why is that, My Prince?”

  “You’ll know soon enough.”

  I waited as Koishi stuffed his reed bag with yards of linen bandages, rolls of cotton, bags of herbs and jars of poultices.

  “You’ve packed enough herbs and poultices, haven’t you?” I asked when he slung the heavy bag around his torso. “We won’t have any opportunity for a refill when we’re fleeing to Drakhaven.”

  “You’re leaving?” he stared up at me, halting in his steps.

  “Meet my mother later today. She’ll bring you up to speed. And while you’re there, tell her I’m fine. I don’t want to worry her needlessly. And whatever you’re going to see tonight, you must keep it to yourself. Do you understand?”

  Koishi shook his head, knotting the length of his white hair on top of his head. “I am just a humble medicine man. I treat the patient despite who he or she is. My patient’s secrets are mine to keep.”

  “Good man. Let’s get going.”

  I led the way out of the cottage, glancing backward to make sure the bent old man was keeping up with me.

  “Is the lady in the woods?” he asked, panting as he tried to keep pace with me.

  “No. I will take you to her. I’m just making sure that when I transform, I won’t trash your cottage.” I came to a stop at the spot where I’d landed near his yard. “Master Nam, this may come as a shock to you but try to brace yourself.”

  “What?”

  In reply, I let my dragon take over. Within seconds, I was staring down from several feet down on the cowering old man. He was looking at me with wide, glassy eyes, his lips moving in an unreadable mumble. I was about to speak to him when he turned around and fled towards his cottage.

  “Master Koishi!” I shouted, but it came out as a loud roar. “Damn it!” Extending my dragon’s neck, I let my monstrous teeth delicately bite into the back of Koishi’s loose tunic. He screamed and thrashed as I lifted him off the ground. “Stay calm!” I grumbled, hoping he could hear me in his mind just as Daria and my friends could.

  I took flight, making Koishi screech out in shock.

  “Just hold on,” I told him. “We’ll be there soon.”

  Thankfully it didn’t take hours to reach the river side near Huadu. Flying was really the best way to travel in my opinion without any obstructions.

  Reaching the clearing at the edge of the woods, I landed on my feet and gently dropped Koishi to the ground. The old man scarpered away several feet before falling to his knees and hurling the remnants of his dinner.

  Morphing back to my human self, I rushed towards him.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, gently massaging his back.

  He turned around to stare at me with wild eyes. “Your Highness!” he shouted, staying on his knees. “You’ve transformed into your true form. You’re a true son of your father!”

  I smiled, not believing he was the same man who’d been screaming madly. “Are you all right now, Master Koishi?”

  He nodded, slowly getting to his feet. “I am too old for this kind of surprise.” A low moan escaped him as he massaged his chest. “You’ve got to warn an old man or risk making his heart stop!” he chided.

  I allowed him a few more minutes to catch his breath. Part of me felt guilty for disturbing his peace but there was no one else I could trust to treat Daria. It had to be him.

  Koishi looked all around him. “So where is the injured lady?”

  “This way,” I said, leading the way into the woods. He followed after me, stumbling on rocks and roots in the dark. A short distance away, I spotted the lit windows of the abandoned cottage. “There it is,” I whispered, rushing forward.

  “Wait for me, My Prince,” gasped Koishi, panting after me.

  I couldn’t wait to see Daria anymore. It had been hard to leave her side when she was fighting to live. I wanted to hold her hand and tell her she would be fine. That she just needed to hold on a little longer, that help was near. This close to her, I just wanted to reach her and hold her in my arms again.

  3

  We watched Adal’s dragon fly into the night sky and disappear within seconds. It was an awe-inspiring sight, something I thought I’d never see unless Emperor Ivan was coming down to kill me.

  It was incredible to think I’d transformed into my true form only hours ago. Both Daria and I had been so intimate, reaching our climaxes together. And while I went through the horrific pain of my first transformation, Daria had been submerged into her locked and suppressed memories.

  I looked down at the wounded woman in my arms. A sob caught in my throat as I tried to say her name. Matted blood and bruises covered every exposed part of her body. Her pretty face was horribly pale.

  Cain stepped towards me, laying a gentle hand on her forehead. “She feels so cold.”

  “It’s not right for a dragonborn to go cold,” I said, looking down at Daria. The most unbelievable secret had come to light that night. Daria was the daughter of King Helmut and the long lost princess of Drakhaven. Being his daughter made her a dragonborn and being Queen Eibhlin’s child, she attained the powers of a blessed woman of the Fire Clan. That was the reason, we were able to transform into our true forms after mating with her.

  “Let’s take her inside the cottage,” said Cain, bringing me out of my thoughts. I nodded, heading towards the direction of the abandoned shack.

  Entering it, I cringed at the state it was in. The place was dusty and in desperate need of repair. Neither Cain nor I had bothered to clean anything because we assumed we’d be on our way to Drakhaven that
very night.

  Cain moved past me to the cot in the corner. Pulling off the dusty covers, he beat it a few times, throwing clouds of dust in the air. He laid the blanket back on the bed.

  “Put her down now,” he said.

  Gently laying Daria on the bed, I straightened. Her face was scrunched in an expression of pain as cold sweat covered her forehead. My heart squeezed painfully to see her in so much agony. The dragon within me roared with rage, promising death and destruction to the people responsible for doing this to our mate.

  Calm yourself, I said internally. We need to protect Daria before the burning and killing. My dragon settled down but I could still feel his white-hot rage coursing through my veins. I barely had a minute to myself when a large shape descended down on me, pecking at me with sharp talons and beak.

  “What the…” I shouted, throwing my arms over my head to block out the screeching white owl intent on tearing my hair and clothes. “Calm down, you fucking owl!”

  “Calm down, Tuto,” said Cain in a cold, commanding voice. “Norvin is only helping your mistress.”

  The owl flew away and flopped on the floor of the cottage. It hooted and squawked angrily, glaring at both of us.

  “Hey, we didn’t do this to her,” I shouted, hoping the infernal creature could understand me. We both had bred some enmity between us from the time he tried to eat me in Linmoor. The owl thought to make a meal out of my snake form. He was disgruntled with me from the moment Daria scolded him.

  Tuto hooted, a little more reservedly now. Turning his back on us, he flew up to the wooden beam overhead and perched there, glaring down at us.

  “I can’t watch her like this,” said Cain, turning his gaze on me. “I am going to get some water and wash the blood off her. Stay with her till I get back.”

  I nodded. “Thank you, Cain.”

  He squeezed my shoulder before heading out. A long breath escaped me as some of my pent-up frustration was released. Cain’s calm and determined façade helped me stay grounded, despite the sudden changes in our circumstances. He was the sole reason I could control my dragon’s rage.

  Sitting down on the cot beside Daria, I gripped my hair. I can’t rely on any more excuses, I told myself as well as my dragon. We will stay alert and focus on what’s best for Daria and our friends. We keep our emotions under control at all times. We’ll never hurt innocents and turn into the very tyrant we’re trying to defeat.

  To my astonishment, I felt my dragon agree wholeheartedly. I could feel his rage cool. A strange calmness spread through me, allowing me to focus better on the woman at my side.

  Leaning down, I moved away some of the loose strands of Daria’s hair that had fallen on her face. Unable to bear looking at her half-naked body covered in wounds, I shrugged off my tunic and used it to cover her. My fingers gently caressed her cheek. She was cold to the touch as Cain had said.

  “This won’t do,” I muttered, taking off my undershirt as well. Baring myself completely, I climbed onto the bed beside Daria. Space was cramped, but it was to my advantage. I held her against me tightly, letting the heat from my body seep into her chilled skin.

  A soft moan escaped her as she nestled closer to me.

  “I’ll keep you warm,” I whispered in her ear while my fingers gently stroked her hair. “Adal said he’ll bring someone to heal you. I doubt the person will be as good as you, but at least better than us three trying to patch you.” I chuckled softly at my lame joke, feeling my tears choking my throat once again. “You’ll be fine. Just hold on.”

  I used Cain’s robe to cover both our bodies, forming a more efficient way to warm up Daria. Her powers had been suppressed for years but now they’d manifested fully. A dragonborn was stronger than a regular human. Daria’s body would heal itself fast but first, we had to stop the long gash from bleeding.

  Sound of soft footfalls alerted me. Raising my head, I watched Cain coming inside the cottage with two buckets of water. His silvery gaze fell on me. For a moment, I caught the emotions flicker through his eyes. He may act calm but he was just as worried and angry as me.

  Without a word, he burned the twigs that he and Daria had stored some time ago. Once the flames rose up, he filled a copper kettle with the water from the bucket. Hanging it over the fire, he came over to lean over Daria.

  “She looks slightly better,” he said in a low voice, his intense gaze fixed on Daria. “It was a good idea to warm her with your body heat.” I was about to get up, but he gestured for me to remain beside her. “Stay by her side. Once the water heats up, I will wipe away the blood.”

  Going back to hold Daria firmly against me, I watched Cain systematically pouring the boiled water in an earthenware basin. From the corner, he brought out a basket of clothes. Choosing the cleanest ones, he ripped them into tatters. Setting both the basin and pieces of torn fabric on a wooden board, he brought them over to us.

  “How did you learn to do such things so efficiently?” I asked in awe. As princes, we rarely lifted a finger in our palaces. We even had people to bathe and dress us. I was truly impressed to see Cain being this competent in such manual tasks.

  “Daria taught me,” replied Cain in a grim voice, setting the tray on top of a rickety stool. “This is what she did when we brought you in here the first time. She heated the water and used unsoiled cloth to clean your wounds. Of course, she had her herbs to do it better but for now, this would have to do.”

  He dipped a strip of cloth in the steaming water and wrung it out. Starting with her forehead, he gently made his way down her face, then her neck and her arms.

  “Let me help too,” I said.

  “Stay by her side,” said Cain. “It’s the best way to keep her warm.”

  I nodded, lying back on my side, content to observe Cain instead.

  It was harder to watch when he lifted aside my clothes to expose the long gash in her torso.

  “What the fuck was Zane trying to do to her?” I whispered, staring at the bloody wound.

  Cain shook his head. “Looks like he was trying to weaken her before raping her,” said Cain, his fist closing over a damp piece of cloth. “He is as sick as his father.”

  “Daria left her weapons in Adal’s quarters before leaving for the temple,” I said. “I believe she was unarmed when she faced him.”

  A string of curses hissed out of Cain’s mouth. His fists shook at his side while his broad chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. I knew he was struggling to keep his dragon under control.

  “Why would she do that?” he asked in a hoarse voice. “Why go to the temple unarmed?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” I said. “She didn’t want the wrong needle to poke her or me while we were being intimate. No one could foresee the events that happened afterward.”

  “What about later? She didn’t arm herself after reaching the palace.”

  “She was too excited and desperate to see Lady Jifa and her maid,” I said, thinking back to the events when we were outside the dragon temple. “Don’t be hard on her, Cain. Daria always wanted to know where she came from. She had a hard life in Linmoor. A delicate little princess doesn’t turn into the best assassin of a secret guild of mercenaries overnight. She even had her powers suppressed by the old hag.”

  A shudder ran through Cain. “Lady Elga could extinguish the life from our hearts if she wanted to.”

  “Yeah, that’s one heck of a monster,” I said, relaxing against Daria. Cain continued to clean the wound, turning the water in the basin a dark crimson. “I can’t even imagine the torture she went through with a master like that hag.”

  Cain walked away to change the water, coming back with a basin of fresh, clean water. He exposed her legs and wiped them. Apart from a few scratches, there were no open wounds there. We both held our breaths as he reached between her thighs. Before he could proceed, I covered her.

  “She’s fine over there,” I said, meeting Cain’s gaze.

  “Of course,” he said, dropping the cloth in the
basin.

  The part of the tunic covering Daria’s torso was soon soaked in blood. Adal needed to hurry back. Just as I was about to mention him, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

  “They are here,” said Cain, getting to his feet.

  Within seconds, Adal rushed inside the cottage and came straight to the cot. After a quick glance at me, he stared down at Daria. His sapphire-blue eyes burned with a mix of rage and pain. Kneeling beside the cot, he leaned down to gently kiss her forehead.

  “Thank you for looking after her,” he said, raising his head to look at me.

  “Don’t thank me for that. She is as much mine as yours,” I replied, not bothering to leave out the hint of possessiveness from my voice.

  Before Adal could reply, a panting old man stumbled into the cottage. He looked in a terrible state with his thin white hair coming out of the small knot on his balding head. His skin was badly sunburnt and wrinkled like he’d been outside for hours. Snot dribbled down his nose as his beady black eyes looked all around the cottage. A loud angry roar escaped the man as his gaze fell on me.

  Spluttering and pointing at me, he hopped on the spot. “How…how dare you sleep beside the prince’s woman? Do you want your head taken off your shoulder?”

  I smirked and glanced at Adal. He looked too tensed to find any humor at the old man’s fury.

  “Lord Koishi,” said Adal in a tired voice. “That’s Prince Norvin of Redfall.”

  “What?” The man stared at me with a parted mouth.

  “And that over there,” said Adal, gesturing at Cain, “is Prince Cain of Iorna.” A hoot sounded from overhead. Glancing at the snowy white owl, Adal motioned at it. “And that’s Tuto, my lady’s pet owl.”

  The man’s left eye twitched as he stared between me and Cain. “What are you doing with the rebel princes, Your Highness?”

  “They are my companions,” said Adal, turning away from Daria to look at the man. “This is not the time for this talk. Come take a look at Daria. She still hasn’t stopped bleeding.”

  The man muttered something about having a talk with his mother but he obeyed Adal and came forward to hover over Daria. He kept shooting me dirty looks but quickly checked Daria’s pulse and prodded her around the throat and chest.