Niyx Samantha Kroese (i am malala young readers edition .TXT) 📖

Onyx snorted, as he kicked a chair out and sat in it. He put his boots up on a stack of papers on the desk as he leaned back, arms behind his head. “Isakael, you didn’t tell me that beautiful red-headed noble girl I’ve been chasing is staying here.”

Isakael shuffed his papers, then brushed Onyx’s feet to the side so he could grab one off the stack. He relaxed, but only slightly. “Oh, have you come to ask about her? Caught your eye, did she? I know you make a living out of killing dangerous noble women, but I suggest you leave that one alone. I have heard she is like bedding a viper.”

“I like them dangerous. Tell me about her,” Onyx put his feet down and leaned forward. “Like why I saw her come from the Templar hall dressed as a Templar when women aren’t supposed to be training as Templars?”

The color drained out of Isakael’s face, and he stared at Onyx with wide eyes. Then he sat forward, lowering his voice. “All right. What do you want? That can’t get out. Money?”

“I want to meet her,” Onyx said, raising a brow.

“Bad idea,” Isakael insisted. “As you know she’s training as a Templar. Do you think they would approve of your profession or the fact that I’m funding you? There are thousands of women in Aderaan. You’re a handsome young man and very persuasive. Go find another one.”

Onyx resisted the urge to bare his fangs. He had been extremely careful to make sure all of Aderaan knew him only as a deadly assassin. If they knew he was a Night Creature he would be run out of the city. “It wasn’t a request,” Onyx warned as he drew his dagger and considered the edges of it, watching Isakael’s reflection in the metal. “I have reason to believe she’s involved in crossing me. Introduce me, or I’ll be introducing myself later in a less friendly way.”

“That’s impossible. Callistra would never be involved in anything like that. She is secretly training with the Templars as a side hobby, nothing more.“ Isakael reached for another paper. He sucked in a breath when Onyx’s dagger ended up stabbed through the stack of papers he had reached for, the blade just between his fingers.

“That could have been your hand,” Onyx warned. “Someone messed with my family, Isakael. It’s personal. She has information I need. Let me talk to her. I promise I’ll be gentle unless I find out she was involved.” Onyx narrowed his eyes. “Come on, Isakael. You said we were friends. Help me out. You know I could just stalk her, corner her, and torture the truth out of her instead.”

“No! Onyx, no. She’s my adopted daughter, all right? I owe a life debt to her father. Please, just leave her alone,” Isakael scowled at him. “What information do you need? Maybe I have it.”

“Tell me about her father then,” Onyx said coolly as he retrieved his dagger and sheathed it.

“Raijin? He’s nothing. He’s a washed-up Templar. He was injured badly in an attack by a Night Creature in the woods. It has taken almost ten years to heal him enough to allow him to return to duty and he just trains other Templar recruits. Surely, he’s no trouble for you.” Isakael said, waving dismissively.

“You’re lying to me. I know he led the attack on the Night Creatures in the woods the other night. I know he’s the Leader of a new sect of Templar zealots sanctioned by the King himself to hunt the Night Creatures,” Onyx hissed.

Isakael stared at Onyx, dumbfounded. When he finally found his voice, it trembled. “Onyx, my friend, I don’t know why you are mixed up with the Night Creatures, but you need to stay out of this one. It’s bigger than you can imagine. Stick to your assassin work and your own business.”

“Maybe you should have let me meet Callistra. She might have distracted me.” Onyx stood up.

“Oh? And why would you think that?” The harsh feminine voice from the doorway made both of them spin to look at Callistra. She stood there in a noble woman’s dress, her red hair piled on her head in delicate curls, and her face done up with cosmetics. Nothing like the dusty Templar Onyx had seen just a short time ago.  She narrowed her eyes at Onyx. “Why are you here, and why does it seem like you’re threatening my father?”

Isakael cleared his throat and stood. Instantly a benevolent Lord again, he smiled at her and walked over to take her hand. “Nonsense, Callistra. Lord Onyx is a friend of mine. A colleague. He’s from House Hrral’tyn.“

“I know who he is,” Callistra snapped to cut him off and crossed her arms. “I know what he does, too. And what he wants.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “And not all women are fooled by his looks and charm. I think you had best leave now, Lord Onyx.”

Onyx felt a thrill go through him. It wasn’t often he came across a woman to whom he was attracted who did not just throw herself at his feet. This one would be a chase. That excited him more than he wanted to admit. He wanted to stay here and banter with her but instead, he bowed to them. He had not found out much for Niyx and his brother’s mission took precedence for now. “Of course. Forgive my intrusion.” He glanced at Isakael. “We will talk more about this later. Don’t forget.”

Isakael just nodded slightly as they stood aside so Onyx could leave. Onyx walked past them and down the hall, but he smirked when he felt Callistra’s glare on his back the entire way.

CHAPTER NINE

Several days later Onyx returned with a new plan. He would take Niyx into Aderaan to gain an audience with the King. Rumor had it that the King was attending one of the big parties and Onyx had an invitation. The only problem was