The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 46 – Murder W*hor*e
(Caspien)
We pulled up before the dust fully settled from the last car, and I hoped it was one of ours. Griffen pulled the woman out, she was definitely different again. Her hair was longer, shinier, and her face seemed tighter.
Being around her unnerved me. She smelled like a wolf, but I didn’t trust her. I saw how she was changing, moving within her skin and I didn’t know what else she could have faked. Silver seemed to contain her though, seemed to.
“This way,” I nodded to the treeline as our car pulled away.
“Make a move and you die,” The woman glared at him and I did respect it, but the more she moved the deeper the knife dug in. I gave Griffen a glare, and he pulled the knife back a bit. I didn’t want her fresh blood, her scent, spilled before we needed it if we did.
“Come on,” he whispered, tugging her shoulder. The knife resumed its place on her throat and she tried to pull away but Griffen held firm.
I led them through the trees, quietly and slowly, painstakingly slow. The five minutes that I gave Cali were gone, and with every step we took, I could feel waves of anxiety churn through me.
If something happened, Holden would never live it down, he would never forgive me, nor would Willa. I shook my head trying to push that away. I focused on my footing, keeping my feet light and my eyes between the GPS and the dense forest floor.
A twig snapped, somewhere near but not from us. I held up my hand, and Griffen slowed; the woman started to make her muffled scream, and she was silenced; I didn’t care how.
I focused on my surroundings. I saw nothing.
It was almost as that twig was an animal, but I knew it wasn’t. It was intentional, loud. It seemed like a signal.
I held my breath, tension filled the air, or maybe my aura was coming out of my carefully leashed grip.
Another sound, another snap, and my attention shifted to the right.
A lone man strode towards us on feet too silent for what was littering the ground. I studied him, and he met me with impassive eyes. He scanned me quickly, but his head barely moved, his jaw set in a hard line and I waited for him to come closer.
“Prince,” he breathed; it was so faint I thought I might have imagined it.
He inclined his head slightly and turned, leaving us, not acknowledging the woman or Griffen I tried to keep hidden behind me.
What was that? He didn’t mindlink anyone Griffen asked
That doesn’t mean he’s not going for help
We would never let intruders go, never leave them unattended. I wondered if this was one of Ezra’s ‘brothers’ but I wouldn’t believe in that coincidence. I wouldn’t hope for that.
I looked back down at the GPS, we were almost on top of the glowing dot. I nodded my head toward Griffen, indicating for us to move forward. I didn’t need to tell him to keep an eye out.
Cali’s voice came softly in the distance as we edged closer to thick trees a moment later, and I held up my hand, trying to get a good vantage point through the thick trees.
“I don’t need you either, and I never insinuated that you did. This is to decide if this is mutually beneficial.” Cali said, her voice clear and unwavering.
She was good at this, really f*uc*king good.
Cali was standing across from him, The Silent a*s*sa*s*sin.
It was just two of them in a clearing. I strained to listen to their words, Griffen had to pick up the woman who was struggling and trying to kick.
The Silent a*s*sa*s*sin’s Gray eyes seemed to bore into mine, “Who followed you?” He asked Cali, and I held his stare.
Wait – I linked Griffen – Update Holden
Done
I walked out through the trees, having to push myself through. I internally frowned at the picture I was painting, struggling to get through those trees. Cali offered a smile, and I could tell she was trying not to laugh, but she slid into an impassive face before the a*s*sa*s*sin looked back at her.
“A friend of yours?” His gaze hardened as he looked at Cali. Cali tilted her head, looking me over, and shrugged.
“Define friend,” I said, taking a step towards them, Cali gave me a deadpan stare and the a*s*sa*s*sin king looked between us, his jaw hardened.
“You’re not leaving alive,” His voice was soft and hard at the same time.
I took another step, “You can’t touch me,”
“F*uc*k the oath,”
“I need to know who took out a hit on Emmett Balfour,” His brows tugged together slightly.
“Why do you think I know that?”
“I don’t have time for you acting s.tupid. We both know you’re not that incompetent or would trust anyone else to handle all of your accounts.”
A smile curled on one side of his face, “I have a lot of contracts, what’s he to you?”
“He’s my heir,” the a*s*sa*s*sin blanched, he kept his face composed. Besides a slight parting of his lips, but all of the color drained from his face.
“I didn’t know,” His voice was a whisper.
“You didn’t do your research,” I said, taking another step, “However, I did,” His gray eyes flicked to mine, curiosity pushed past his shock.
“If I would have known-” He trailed off.
“I don’t fully believe that. I need to know who took out that hit,”
“You know I can’t give you that,” His dark playfulness returned.
“You’re going to have to.”
“I have a code,”
Cali laughed once, “You just said you didn’t.”
“I have a code with my clients.” He explained.
“Murder W*hor*e,” She whispered, and he scowled.
“Nice try, really nice actually, but this won’t work.” The a*s*sa*s*sin laughed once, “I didn’t take The Alpha Prince to be such a fool.”
I raised an eyebrow and couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
Bring her
I held his gaze. He broke his away from mine when there was a rustling behind us. Cali followed his gaze and seemed appreciative as the woman was tugged next to Griffen. I studied The Silent a*s*sasin’s face, fear flashed across it for a second, and he swallowed before plastering on a too-wide smile.
“You took my barkeep,” He frowned, “That’s going to be annoying to replace; so hard to find trustworthy help these days.”
I nodded once, “I agree,”
“I have to commend you for even being able to do that,” He jutted his chin slightly toward Griffen, who came to stand next to me, “How?”
“When you foster loyalty, that can be bought, it can be bought by anyone,” I said.
“Nice try,” he shrugged.
“Kill her,” I commanded.
I was met by a muffled scream and sounds of Griffen fighting with the woman, but I didn’t move my stare from him. He opened his mouth and closed it, seeming to fight within himself, his dark brows bunched and unfurled again and again.
“Wait,” he said. I held up my hand knowing Griffen would pause, “There is no need to kill her, I cannot provide the information you want, but I can promise to never come after him or others you love again.” His words seemed to strain him.
“That won’t be enough, and you know that.” The a*s*sa*s*sin’s eyes didn’t leave the woman.
“Nice to see you again,” Cali stepped closer to us, directing her attention at our prisoner, “Looking well might I add,” Cali flashed a wicked smile.
“Remove the tape,” I commanded, and Griffen ripped it off.
“You f*uc*king son of W*hor*es, all of you.” She shouted, “What the actual f*uc*k is wrong with you?” She sounded like she was crying, her voice cracked, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off him. He relaxed a bit and gave her a look I couldn’t decipher.
“Tell us who took out the hit, and I want proof, or she’s not leaving.”
His gaze turned to mine and hardened, “I cannot do that, that would not only ruin my reputation but the careful balance I created.”
Cali snorted, “A balance that involves kidnapping children.” Her voice held nothing but pure anger.
“This doesn’t involve you,” He shot Cali a deathly stare that would have sent others running, but she held her ground crossing her arms and staring him down. I wonder if this was an act or if she was really this unphased.
“Actually it does,” She told him, “You f*uc*ked with my family.”
“Ah,” He paused, “So you are sentimental.”
She shrugged, “My name is Cali, by the way,” She fixed him with a smile, but her eyes were fiery, “Figured I could tell you since you’re not coming out of here alive.”
He laughed once and his eyes clouded over. I stole a glance towards Griffen and saw his were doing the same.
It was game time.
“Come here,” I commanded Cali, and for once she listened standing next to me.
I took a half step in front of her shielding her. I gave her a look telling her this wasn’t up for debate,
I would protect her as Holden’s mate, my mate’s best friend, my Gamma female, and my friend, my family.
Men dressed in black stepped in behind the a*s*sa*s*sin from the other side of the clearing. They did it a h*ell of a lot more eloquently than I did. I moved my face away from the a*s*sa*s*sins for a second to appraise the new group. I recognized one of them that we ran into earlier, and I let out a breath.
Ezra.
I hoped he stood by his word, but I realized this could be a trap. There were ten of them, but there could be more hiding. I mentally did a calculation against our men. We were almost eventually matched even though our numbers were larger. I knew one a*s*sa*s*sin could take out multiple men, but the ones with us were highly trained.
“The Silent Pack only answers to me,” He held up his arms, staring at Cali, “You wanted proof,”
“I thought they were going by another name these days,” I countered, and his icy stare snapped to mine, his eyes squinted slightly.
“I just want the name, that’s it.” I lied.
We have visuals on you, waiting for your command – Holden came into my mind.
The a*s*sa*s*sin shook his head, a half smile playing on his face, “You don’t understand, Prince darling, you are not in a position to make requests. These are my top men, one can take down twenty of yours,” I scoffed, “Fine, let’s say ten, even five, the ten waiting behind you will be no match. I don’t want to kill you, too much red tape,” He frowned, “But you can leave now, give me the girl and never try something this stupid again.”
I studied him, not saying anything else.
“Your funeral,” He went on shrugging, “Last chance to leave with your life,” He smiled, and a long moment passed, “Okay then,” He held up a hand and flicked his fingers. The a*s*sa*s*sins moved in a unit, converging in on us.