Page 53 of Marked
“Yeah, I get that, but you’re going to have to be a little more specific. I already know his name and that he’s an asshole. I’m one, too, if you hadn’t noticed and my patience is non-existent.”
“I don’t trust him.”
“Again, you have to be a little more specific.” I narrowed my eyes. “And why couldn’t this wait until we returned to Perga? You could’ve easily pulled me aside, then, without drawing any attention to us, or this conversation.”
His expression closed off, his emotionless healer mask sliding into place. “I did a little digging after you left and it’s not safe for you to hunt with him.”
Did my brother put him up to this? Those two rarely interacted, so probably not. And Orion didn’t usually sensationalize information. He was acting out of character, but why? Why was it so important for me to return home tonight?
“Again, you’re going to have to elaborate,” I said. “Especially when you were so determined for me to accept him as a partner in the first place.”
“I’m worried about you, okay?” His voice rose. “I thought he might use this outing as an opportunity to hurt you and I wanted to warn you.”
“So, you decided to follow us in case I needed help defending myself?”
Nala growled.
I nodded at her. Though I didn’t speak wolf, I fully agreed with her.
It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the sentiment of him worrying or caring—I did. It was nice that someone other than my brother gave a shit. But I was fully capable of taking care of myself and Orion’s actions undermined my capabilities. Actions always spoke louder than words and his said he didn’t think I could take care of myself. He didn’t think I was smart enough to understand danger. Maybe he was right, maybe he was wrong. But I never appreciated being treated like an ignorant incapable girl. Like a weak mouse that needed protection.
I’d been helpless as a child and made a promise to myself never to be weak again.
Orion glanced at the darkening sky, as if it would somehow provide him with the answers to all his problems. “I know you can handle yourself, Emi. This is not some veiled insult to your skills. You might be immortal, but you’re not invincible.”
“I literally cannot be killed. That’s pretty phaaning close to invincible if you ask me.”
“You can’t be killed in any way that we know of, but galeons and phaanons used to kill each other all the time. There is a way, we just don’t possess that information anymore,” Orion said. “Besides, there are worse fates than death. You should head back to town instead of making camp.”
Well, that took a dark turn.
I glanced over at Ace who continued to glower. “And that’s what you think Ace has planned for me? Biological testing or the dreaded but vague fate worse than death? Do you think he’s going to start a fire and hope for success? Hope I’ll just stand there while he tries to shove me in or cut off my head?” Though, I guess he could wait until I fell asleep.
Orion pressed his lips together, his gaze flicking side to side to study my face. “Two days ago, you were furious to get a partner and now you’re defending him. What happened?”
“Nothing happened. I’m still pissed at the queen’s meddling and I’m not Ace’s biggest fan. Look, I appreciate that you care and are concerned about my safety. I really am. But I just don’t understand why you’ve stomped through the woods to deliver a useless, vague warning. You know I don’t trust easily, and I’m already very aware of how vulnerable I am when there are only two of us out here.” I dropped my hands from my hips. “I get that you are worried about me, but you seem to have forgotten I am one of the most cynical people in Perga and certainly one of the most dangerous. I might’ve known Ace years ago, but I don’t trust him. We have no idea where he’s been or what he’s been doing since he left, and he doesn’t seem intent on sharing that information. He hasn’t earned my trust. It takes more than an archery contest and cooking a meal for that.”
Orion frowned. “He cooked for you?”
“Are you two just about done?” Ace called out. “We’re losing daylight.”
Frankly, I appreciated the interruption. This conversation was going nowhere, and I’d already reached my tolerance for bullshit today.
Orion scowled over his shoulder before leaning in to hold my arm. “He’s dangerous, Emi. There’s a reason why he’s so good at shooting and why he disappeared from Perga five years ago. He’s been working for the royals this whole time, just not as a hunter.”
“As what then?” My heartbeat picked up as my mind raced through the possibilities. I kept coming to the only answer that made sense and I didn’t like it at all.
“As an assassin,” Orion said, confirming my fear. It somehow sounded even worse out loud.
Ice flowed over my skin as the missing piece to the enigma of Ace slid into place. That would explain why he had average skills at tracking and hunting animals through a forest at night yet hit a target just as well as I could. If he was an assassin, he probably stuck to urban areas. He could hunt, just in a different setting. It also explained why he moved like a fighter.
When I lived on the streets, I’d run into a few assassins before, and they always scared the crap out of me. In the back of my mind, I knew it was only a matter of time before one of them got sent after me.
“An assassin?” I mumbled.
“That’s what my source said,” Orion whispered. “What if…what if he’s still an assassin?”
I swallowed and glanced over to Ace. “That doesn’t mean he’s here for me or anyone else in Perga.” He might’ve decided on a career change.