The Alpha Assassin novel Chapter 55

“Are you okay?” Tia asked, and I nodded.

“I just need a moment.”

I strolled to the window, thinking over my options until we decided on something. I focused on the outcome to quell my rage.

The sky was still black, but there was a fuzziness around the edges. I scanned the treeline, and I saw some movement. I knew I was looking for him. I tried to focus on anything else. He would come when he could. Why did I already miss him?

I do, too - Aksala said - Last night was… nice

Nice - I repeated - Nice is an understatement.

She barked a laugh, and we went over the plan today, step by step, accounting for any mishaps. It calmed me, and when I came back to myself, the sky was almost gray.

A figure sat on the small balcony, and my heart thudded against my chest. I cracked the window, and his brows pulled together, looking behind me.

“Tia is helping me with something,” I explained.

Tia coughed and said in a shy voice, “I’ll come back in ten minutes. I need to get something anyway.” I heard her shuffle away, and the door opened and closed before I stood back.

Ezra was in front of me in a moment. “Here,” he said, handing me a pouch. I looked in it and went to grab the small saucepan they used for frying a single egg from the kitchen.

“Thanks,” I murmured, carefully pouring the last of my dried Silent Juniper into the pan once it was hot. “I need something else, something to silence a wolf,” I explained.

Ezra came to kneel beside me; he rubbed his chin as he watched as the powder turned into a silvery liquid. “I might have something, my brothers might,” he said. “When do you need it by?”

“As soon as possible,” I said.

“I’ll leave it in the book,” he responded. I loved the fact that he didn’t even question me.

“Hold this,” I instructed and opened the pouch he gave me, taking out the syringes one by one and filling them with the Silent Juniper before capping the needles.

I let them cool by the open window; their shimmering substance calmed me.

“What are you planning for that?” Ezra asked from right behind me. He rested his hands on my waist and leaned his chin on my shoulder.

“Nothing, really,” I murmured. “Just in case I need it.”

“For the challenge?”

“No. Never. The challenge will be a fair one, despite what he has done. I want it to be fair,” I said with a hard resolution.

“That’s very admirable of you,” he said and kissed my shoulder through the thin fabric of my nightgown. His hands wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me back. “I do have something for you.”

“Oh?”

He pulled back, and I frowned, turning to face him.

Tia came back, and Ezra slipped out the window. I was clutching the dagger to my chest that was still twisting and turning with emotions. I took a steady breath and tucked it in the folds of my nightgown.

Tia smiled at me and went back to her work, and I sat at my dressing table, slipping the dagger into the drawer and exchanging it for a brush. I worked on the tangles that I earned last night. I couldn’t help the smile in the mirror.

“You look good,” Tia noted. I glanced at her reflection in front of me. I didn’t drop my smile. “Different even.”

“I feel different,” I replied.

Today, everything that I planned would come to fruition. It was an unexpected bonus to have friends and Ezra by my side.

__

Alice came in and silently helped me dress. She frowned at the black dress Tia helped me update. It was tighter, lower. It showed off my lean figure. The long sleeves were gone. Instead, thinner straps hung off my shoulders.

Alice didn’t say anything as she re-combed my hair, bowing a little before leaving. I braided my hair, slipped on pants underneath, and strapped my dagger to my thigh. It felt good there, as steady as Ezra was.

I packed a few things, not entirely sure why. A change of clothing, a brush, and the little box Ezra made for me that I had hidden. I ran my fingers over it before I put it into the sack and hid it in the back of my wardrobe. I tucked the pouch into a pocket I had Tia put into the dress and looked at my reflection.

My eyes weren’t as vacant and lost as they were even a few months ago. Their soft gray seemed molten. I slid the elbow-length gloves Tia had made from the ridiculous sleeves. I was impressed by how much she did in those short hours. Lastly, I tied a bit of fabric left around my neck as a thin choker.

I gave myself one last look, I was satisfied. More than satisfied.

For the first time, looking into this mirror, I felt like myself.