I became an assassin at the age of fifteen after making my first kill. Over the next four years, I killed whoever Lady Elga commanded me to. There were no questions asked apart from details that would help me complete my mission. 

So far, I’d successfully completed twelve assignments and they’d all been humans. Some of the tasks took skills and strategy to get close to the target, but at the end of the day, they were all human, easy enough to finish off with my bare hands.

“Assassinate Emperor Ivan.” Adal’s voice rang in my head.

I hadn’t seen a dragon in my life but their descriptions filled pages of every archive in the four kingdoms. Gigantic, fierce and merciless. These were a few choice words that came to mind when one thought of dragons. Footlong talons, sharp as swords, clouds of fire and ash, scales as hard as rocks. Was it really possible to overcome a dragon?

I lay down on my bed, still fully dressed in my dusty attire from last night. The princes left me to make my decision, saying they would speak to Elga only after I agreed to do it. It was the first time someone gave me a choice. 

My hand brushed over the fat cushion beside me. It was almost a habit now to stroke to Naya every now and then to feel his warm smooth scales under my palm. A part of me wished he hadn’t transformed into the handsome Prince Norvin. I missed my pet snake.

A heavy sigh escaped me. The princes left me with a lot to contemplate.

A knock sounded on the door. Sitting up, I called for them to come in.

To my surprise, Tilly appeared at the doorway. She looked a lot better now. Her skin was clean and she wore a long wool pinafore. “I brought you some food,” she said shyly.

“Thank you, Tilly. I haven’t eaten a bite since I got back.”

“Oh.” She shifted guiltily. “I already ate two meals.”

I chuckled. “It’s all right. Bring the tray over here,” I said, gesturing at the low table in the corner of the cottage. 

Tilly moved inside to place the tray there. She unloaded it and then proceeded to sit in the formal position by bending her legs and sitting on them, with her feet tucked under her bottom. It looked like she was already being trained to be a server. 

“Can you draw me a hot bath, Tilly?” I asked, picking up a bowl of wheat porridge. 

“I don’t know where the ladies bathe,” she replied, looking uncomfortable. She suddenly shrunk away just as I was about to pick up the spoon. 

“Good goddess, Tilly!” I chuckled at her relieved expression. “I am not going to hit you for not knowing where the bath is. You’ve only just arrived here.”

“Thank you, Miss.”

“You don’t have to be so afraid here. As long as you follow instructions, you will be treated right.”

She gave a nod. 

“Okay, go find someone in the kitchen and tell them to fix me a bath. I will go there within the hour.”

“Okay, Miss.”

I smiled after her. Tilly was obedient and would fit in Linmoor like a glove. 

I finished the rest of the meal. Feeling much better with a full stomach, I went to look into the cupboard. Assassins like me had a closet full of expensive gowns, makeup, and jewelry. They were never supposed to be for the sake of vanity. They were just another form of weaponry we chose to complete our missions. 

However, today’s situation was different. I wanted to dress up solely for the princes. They made my heart flutter every time I glanced at them. The three princes were the most beautiful men I’d ever seen. Not only that, they treated me with so much care. In just one conversation, I felt close to them. Maybe it was my closeness with Prince Norvin, but even Prince Cain and Adal welcomed me to join their banter.

The other thing I couldn’t ignore was the way my body reacted in their presence. The intimate place between my thighs throbbed along with my heart. It was a heady, addictive emotion that I wanted to explore further. 

I knew my decision before I’d even finished contemplating the consequences of taking on the mission to assassinate the emperor who ruled over the four kingdoms. 

I wanted to be close to the princes. The feelings they brought out in me were addictive and I desperately needed to see where they would lead me to.