2020, August 23rd
(Imperium, Stormhold)
KEIRA
Two days after mommy dearest died, the sharks were already circling.
Not to oppose me or my new rank. No one was that stupid. Rather to poke holes in the way I did things in the wake of Madz's death. Every last coward hoped the next person would do the challenging for him/her.
Madz's death created a void, caused unrest, even stirred rumours of war. The entitled imbeciles were getting themselves riled up. Not because they lamented the loss of the general. As they rubbed shoulders in my drawing room, lords and ladies whispered their concerns that they might be next to die.
"I have better things to do than pacify these idiots," I said with a bored sigh.
"Our condolences for Madz's death to The House of Dormer," said Theron, stepping forward to offer me his hand.
Honesty, he was a welcome reprieve. A soldier before he became a king, Theron got it. Unlike the rest, the pampered founding families of The House of Assassins, he wouldn't give a damn that I didn't feel like shaking hands.
My baby brother Nathan took his hand and shook it in my stead.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Nathan, ever concerned about appearances since I took charge of Imperium.
I swirled the Rum in my glass round and round. All eyes were on me as I stood in the center of the room, a long line behind King Theron and Queen Aria.
They'd all come to gawk at the new Archduchess of Imperium/Queen of Assassins.
I wasn't much different to the aristocrats in my drawing room. Madz's death didn't make me sad. I was more pissed off at the old lady for getting shot than anything else.
I'd finally gotten out. Mommy dearest wasn't happy about it, but there were few people dumb enough to come after me on purpose. So what could Madz do about it but die? It was finally okay to play and be happy. Not anymore. Not with all this shit going on around me.
Leaving Aiden behind was hard. The lies I tossed at him didn't take. He didn't believe me. I wouldn't allow him to stay with me though. I couldn't lose another love to Stormhold's politics. So I slipped away in the dead of the night without a word. It's been six months. We haven't spoken since.
"Why do you keep accepting these condolences like you give a shit whether she lived or died? She sure as shit didn't care about us that way. We were tools, weapons to be deployed, not her fucking family," I said to Nathan, his polite, ass kissing demeanor irking me.
As Stormhold mourned its former Archduchess/Queen of Assassins, my heart was breaking too. Mommy dearest somehow managed to snatch joy from my grasp from the grave. I had had just about enough of everyone and their damn condolences.
"Just playing the part. Someone has to and it certainly isn't about to be you while you're still sulking about he who shall not be named," a pepped up Nathan said with a shrug, raising his glass towards me.
We exchanged heated glares at his allusion to Aiden.
"Loss is loss Keira. She was still your mom," said Queen Aria, putting her arms around an indifferent me.
"Outside, five minutes. Bring a girl a drink Theron," I said, brushing his wife off, the sight of her irking me.
She was a reminder of lost love I didn't appreciate today. Discreetly exiting the room, I tossed Nathan a warning look so he wouldn't follow.
Theron did as he was told. Prompt soldier that he was, he showed up with two glasses of Rum in hand exactly five minutes later.
"I always wanted to be on the other side of this question. Why are you here Theron? What do you want? Are you going to put a bullet in me because I put one in your brother? You'd be doing me a favor," I said, taking the Rum he offered me.
"You did what you had to do, like you always do. Dean had to die. You protected my family and allowed me to become a king. I'm not about to let Imperium's new archduchess go out like the last one did. Stormhold still has a long way to go, as far as setting things right with the rest of the world goes. I can't do it without Imperium, without you Keira."
"Ever the flatterer, Your Majesty. What about your sister and the bullet that I put in her?"
"You and I both know Diane's death wasn't your fault, Keira. You and I are allies for life, whether you like it or not. I can't promise not to put a bullet in Kate if I should get the chance."
I looked him in the eye as he justified my kills. I had a hand in not one but both of his siblings' deaths. And yet there he stood, saluting me.
Yes, Theron got it.
For Imperium. For Stormhold. Always the soldier first.
"We're not fifteen year olds on the battlefield anymore, Theron. We're the grown ups now," I said, returning his salute.
"That doesn't make the fight easier. If anything… Do you have any suspects for Madz's murder?"
"Only the entire table. It could be anyone."
Was there a quiver in my voice? Theron was the man The House of Assassins spent a decade turning into a king. Before that though, he was my brother in arms, my oldest friend in the world. If he suspected me of something, he wasn't letting on.
"Including Nathan and Kate, I hope, " was all he said.
My eyes sharpened. Dormers were off limits to everyone except other Dormers. That was a House of Assassins rule. He could threaten Kate all he wanted. She could hold her own. I'd honestly pay to see that fight. Nathan was something else. To go after my baby brother was to sign your own death certificate.
"Don't you worry about my siblings. If either of them is involved in my mother's death, I'll handle it personally," I said, voice cutting and cold.
2021, February 14th
Our country had something of a dual monarchy. There was Theron and Aria, the official king and queen of Stormhold. Then there was me, Imperium's Archduchess, and my lesser known title, Queen of Assassins. For all intents and purposes, I was royalty. And yet, there I was, six months into my reign. Holding my breath as I prepared to pacify entitled nobles.
"We've had a sighting," Nathan reported, coming to stand next to me.
I was seated at the head of the table, watching last minute preparations being made.
We were already well into the new year, but Madz's unsolved murder was still a hot topic of discussion. It was doomed to be the main topic of discussion at my first Table's Assembly as Queen of Assassins.
Nevertheless, this took a backseat to a more pressing matter. It was time to bring Katie home. She was a loose cannon.
"Where?"
"You're not going to like it."
I turned my head towards Nathan, gaze boring into his.
"Where is Kray Kray Katie, Nate?"
"Maine. She's in Caspira. Guess who just so happens to live there now?"
My blood ran cold. Kate and I had settled the matter of my killing Dean. At least I thought we had. The man had had a suffocating hold on my sister for years though. I hadn't seen her since before Madz's death, so who knew what state my twin was in.
One thing was certain: her being in the same city as Aiden was no coincidence. It could mean nothing good. So much for him being safe away from me.
I had no choice but to go after her. No one else would do. She'd wipe the floor with them.
"You're not just Killshot anymore. You can't just do whatever the fuck you want to. The Table's Assembly is today, as per your request. Madz's killer is either in our house right now or on their way to it. What about all these people who already think—" Nathan mouthed off, evidently guessing where my mind was at.
"I don't give a shit what they think. He's not dying today, not while I'm alive. Stall them," I said, a rush of nervous excitement building up inside me at the prospect of seeing Aiden again.
"Kei, think about—"
Nothing to be happy about. It was just business. Stormhold couldn't afford an incident with a prince of Caspira. They were our allies. A relationship I had to protect.
Thudding heartbeat. Memories of his seductive laugh. His irresistible touch.
"You'd do we
ll to remember what you just said. I'm not just Keira or Killshot anymore, little brother. I'm not asking, Nate."