King of Thieves (Book 3)

𝓒𝓱.7 ~ 𝓐 𝓜𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻'𝓼 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮

Arianna felt like she was being watched as she returned to the Healer's Quarters, but when she looked around the room, all she could see were fellow healers and servants. Yet she still felt as though someone was watching her every move as she grabbed a new change of clothes and headed to the bathing pools.

The pools were empty and the room was filled with steam, making it hard to see the entire room. Servants went about their duties, cleaning and scrubbing, not taking any notice of her as she stripped and entered one of the nearby pools. The hot water eased her worries, forgetting about her uneasiness as she closed her eyes and sighed, melting into the pool.

Arianna missed Caine each day since he left without a goodbye. No matter how much bad the man has done in the past, she still loved him. It was sad it took for her to get stabbed for Caine to realize his ways and come to his senses. His mission to obtain the Jewels of Arondale for himself consumed him into darkness instead. Now Caine was a mission for redemption and would not return until he fixed what he has broken. Whatever that meant, she hoped he was doing well, wherever he may be.

Climbing out of the pool, she dried herself and dressed in her healer robes, finding it easier to sleep in her work outfit in case of emergency patients visiting in the early hours of the night. Returning to the quarters, she still felt like someone was watching her as she laid in her bunk.

Closing her eyes, Arianna listened to the other healers sleeping, drifting off to sleep to the sounds of their light snoring when she heard shuffled footsteps. Opening her eyes again, she saw a big, muscular man wearing servants clothes, he had a scar across his left eye. He held a piece of cloth to her mouth and nose, a sweet scent filled her nostrils as she tried to fight the man away. It was no use, her body was slipping into unconsciousness. The other healers continued to sleep as the imposter smiled down at her with a gap toothed grin. His smile is the last thing she sees before the darkness took her completely. Arianna's body went limp.

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The hitman hoisted the Healer's small frame over his shoulder before sneaking out of the room. Keeping out of sight, he carried Arianna to the Maid Halls, where he used the fire escape to reach the stables. After saddling a horse, the hitman rode back to the mill factory to please his boss and receive half his payment. The other half would be received after he kidnapped Jezamine. His next target...

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Rowyn sat restlessly in the tavern, growing stir crazy as each second past. He waited for his hitman, Wrath, to return with Arianna and Jezamine. He was eager to take over the Guild and challenge Kaleb, but not before gaining the boys trust and toying with him first.

There was a sudden knock at the door, three hard taps followed by one light tap. Rowyn froze in place and smiled at his little brother. "Now I wonder who that could be?"

Opening the door, Wrath entered with Arianna on his shoulder before dropping her on the bed carelessly. Rowyn smiled while Caine thrashed in his binds, unable to speak with his mouth gagged. Rowyn could tell by the way his brother's eyes darkened that he had the right woman. Now all he needed was his dear niece and the real fun could begin.

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Caine watched in disbelief as the other man walked in with Arianna over his shoulder like she was a nothing more than a sack of potatoes. She was unconscious, which made him mad. What did the thug do to his wife!? From what he could tell, Arianna was not injured or hurt, she was only out cold.