Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3) Jessie Eaker (best reads txt) 📖

And then she kissed me. It didn’t last long, only a heartbeat or two. My eyes flew open in shock. “Fumiko...”

She put a hand on the side of my face and sighed contently. “Zofie is so lucky.”

I felt her myst begin to gather. And with no fanfare, she sucked me into her memories.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The

Butterfly

After my tears had been cried, kneeling on that hard floor and cradling my first love, anger took over. Why had my masters ordered this man killed? He was a good lord. His people loved him, and he was fighting the darkness in the empire. Wasn’t that what I was supposed to be doing? And why of all people had they sent Jiaying? Why had they forced me to kill my only friend?

I had to have answers.

I swapped out the ceremonial knife for Jiaying’s sword and slipped out of Lord Luoyangei’s manor, heading straight for Master Xiao’s house. As expected, I didn’t make it far. I was intercepted by others from the Emperor’s Butterflies just outside his home. Three of them. I had expected as much. Master likely already knew.

They gave me no chance for explanation—no chance to persuade them to stop. Jiaying’s borrowed blade had to do my speaking for me. We traded blows, back and forth. They were just as well trained as I, but they were not myst users. And like the dark creature I am, the shadows were my friend.

I left them wounded and confused, wondering how such a small person could wreak such havoc.

The sky was just lighting as I stormed into my master’s house, easily defeating the few defenders I encountered and sending the servants fleeing.

I found him waiting for me. He sat on a cushion before a low table drinking tea.

“You dare to come here after failing in your mission!” he shouted.

And I nearly flinched in reflex at the stern voice that had disciplined me in my training. But my anger won out.

“Why was Lord Luoyangei ordered killed? What crime against the emperor did he commit!” I demanded.

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I leaned back and extended my myst, slowing the dagger that came speeding at me so that I could grab it out of the air. I sent it back, flying toward the attacker, who went down silently.

I stepped forward and slammed my foot down on the table, my blade stopping a mere finger’s breadth from his throat. “Tell me! Why was he targeted?”

Master Xiao shrugged. “You’ll have to ask the emperor.”

“My father?” I asked in astonishment.

“He asked for you specifically.”

“My father doesn’t even care that I’m alive,” I spat.

A new voice entered the conversation. “Quite the contrary, my dear. He’s been following you very closely. Asks about you all the time.”

That voice. Where had I heard it before? I wheeled toward it. Only I didn’t see anyone. I glanced at my master—his expression was grim.

“Show yourself!” I commanded.

“I’m right here,” said the voice. It came from the open window where a majestic butterfly rested on the window ledge. It took to the air and fluttered over to the table—its wings slowly opening and closing.

“Please excuse this form,” it continued. “But it seemed the fastest way to stop your rampage.”

“Who...?”

“I am Imperial Advisor Yonge.”

My eyes went wide. The voice of the emperor. That’s where I had heard his voice before. He was said to be the second most powerful person in the empire. And the person responsible for our group of assassins.

“Lord Luoyangei was targeted because he was disrupting the order of things.” There was a brief pause. “And those that disrupt have to be put in their place.”

“I saw a kind and just man...”

“You saw what he wanted you to see. He was going to stage a coup against the emperor. Such a threat had to be eliminated.”

“And what was wrong with that? I’ve seen it myself. The empire is rotten. And it’s the emperor that’s allowed it to happen.”

“I’m embarrassed to hear you speak of him that way. Although his eminence has been showing his age lately, he is a great man. A god almost.”

“I’ll kill him,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Come then. He’s resting in the palace garden at the moment. For someone of your abilities, it would be a simple task to get inside. I daresay you’ll have little trouble getting past the palace soldiers and even his personal bodyguards.” I could almost hear his smile. “But your mother would be dead long before you reached him.”

I tried not to show any emotion. “So what do I care? I have no love for her.”

There was a laugh from the butterfly. “Really? I think your relationship with your mother is a little stronger than you admit. Wasn’t she the one that taught you how to use your myst? Even told you never to reveal you had it. And insisted that you disparage her at every opportunity so you would not be drawn into the politics of the court. Sounds more like a concerned parent than someone evil.”

I shook my head in denial. How did he know so much?

He sighed dramatically. “Well, then come on to the palace. We’ll be waiting.” There was a pause like the advisor was pondering something. “I wonder if we have time to make this a public execution. That would bring great embarrassment to her, would it not? Perhaps have her mutilated body greet you at the door. That would get you all the more riled up.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” I spat. “Her family will rise up in anger.”

“Oh, really? Then I guess I’ll need to dispatch some imperial soldiers to restrain them. Killing your grandfather would be a good start. He’s been quietly plotting against us for