The Death Kingdom

Chapter One

It's time.

My dark blue eyes meet Akita's brown ones, my heart pounding in my chest. Fynn nudges my right shoulder and I turn my head to look into his light green eyes, the intensity shining bright.

With a quick breath, we jump into action, gloved hands grabbing the ropes we already secured to the roof of the two-story building we're on top of.

I propel my body over the ledge of the roof, gripping the rope just enough to keep myself from free falling. The three of us slide down the side of the building in unison. When my feet touch the cobblestone street, I take off, running towards the carriage lead by two midnight-colored horses. The coachman and guards notice our abrupt approach, but too late. Before they can make a noise, Akita strikes the coachman in the head with the handle of her knife and then moves on to another guard.

Fynn makes his way to the two guards hopping off the back of the carriage, his arrogant swagger coating each step. He engages those as I take on the one standing in front of the very door I wish to open.

The guard swings his staff out in a crushing arc, narrowly missing my head as I duck. I lunge forward and smack the outside of his hand holding the staff. It clatters to the ground in between us. The guard makes a desperate move to pick up the staff but I ram my knee into his chest. He takes a staggering breath, the air knocked out of him, but I don't let him finish it. I elbow him in the temple hard enough that he collapses to the ground unconscious.

I don't spare another second and yank the carriage door open. A middle-aged man is clutching a sword in his trembling fingers. It's probably the first time he's ever had to pull his sword from the scabbard hanging from the side of his hip. His graying hair matches his gray eyes that are pulled wide with fear.

"What do you want?" He tries to sound dignified, but his voice cracks at the end. He stares at me, taking in my black cloak with the hood pulled far over my face and a scarf wrapped around my nose and mouth.

I step up into the carriage, moving until I stand right in front of him. I lower myself to be eye level with him, tilting my head in the process as I take in the emerald green of the Reserve's military uniform.

"I think it's very clear what I want," I say, a smirk forming on my lips even though he can't see it. I quickly glance at the chest of gold resting on the bench next to him.

That gets him to straighten up.

"This is the King's gold! You think you dirty little thieves can steal from the King?" His face starts to flush with his anger and he swings his sword at my neck. I jump back, just out of the way before grabbing my dagger from the inside of my left boot. The man makes to swing again, but before he even gets the chance I kick out with my foot, slamming it into the hand holding his sword. The sword clanks to the ground and in the same second my knife presses against his exposed throat. He swallows and a little bit of red blood starts to spill down his neck.

I savor the way his bright red blood slowly travels down his neck. The power high I get when holding a blade to a person's throat start coursing through my veins.

What I would give to make him shed a little more blood.

I tighten my hold on my dagger and give me head a light shake. I need to snap out of this.

"Wrong move," I tell him, my teeth clenched together. "Fynn!"

"Right here," he replies from the opening of the carriage door.

I turn my head to look at him, my brows furrowed. Has he been standing there this whole time?

"I saw nothing you couldn't handle." He gives me a cheeky grin, before stepping in and grabbing the chest from the bench inside.