The Angel's Assassin (16 page)

“If you kill him, I
still will not sign and where will that leave you? You shall lose your leverage
and grip on me.”

Benedict stepped closer,
his lips turned up in a snarl. “You are bluffing, child. I know you, Annabel.
You are soft.”

Raising her chin,
she met his chilling glare. She knew full well she could not let Nicholas come
to harm but she would not let her uncle see that.

“Once I was,
mayhap. The events of this sennight have shown me much of my own strength.” She
released a small smile of satisfaction. “You see, Uncle, in forcing me from my
home, you have damaged your cause for I will not bow to your will now.”

“God’s teeth!” He slammed
his fist into the table, causing the candelabra on it to jump.

“Pray tell, Uncle,
why this elaborate plot? There were surely easier ways to gain control of
Alderweald?”

“One would think,”
he said depreciatively. “Unfortunately your men are too loyal and you are too
highly thought of by the king. Any attempt on your life proved nearly
impossible and I could not outright kill you. Your reputation with the king is
somewhat fairer than mine, I fear.”

Annabel shook her
head in disbelief. “You have gone to much trouble to see me unseated. You
wished for me to meet with an accident while I was gone I presume? Why then did
you send Nicholas? Surely you would have known such a man would not fail in his
duty to protect me?”

“You seem to put a
lot of faith in that man.” He watched her curiously as if awaiting a reaction.

“Why would I not?
He has saved my life twice.”

“It pains me to
inform you, Niece, that the man is naught but a hired assassin.”

Annabel laughed.
“You lie.”

“Nay, unfortunately
not. I know, you see, because I hired him myself. He was to kill you…until he
changed his mind…” he added bitterly.

Annabel blinked.
Nicholas? An assassin? She had begun to think her uncle had lost his wits, his
desperate need for power driving him to commit absurd and wicked deeds, but did
he really think she would believe such a tale?

“Nicholas would
never hurt me.”

“Mayhap not now.
But he has hurt many. He is a wicked man and you have sullied yourself, child,
by dealing with the devil.”

“Say what you will,
Uncle, for I will listen no longer.” She turned away, crossing her arms across
her chest.

“Mayhap this will
make you see the truth.” He handed her a crumpled piece of paper. “Here is a
missive recommending Nicholas. He thought he could remain nameless of course,
but he underestimated my reach.”

Reluctantly she
dragged her eyes across the missive. It described a man of Nicholas’ likeness
before naming him. Her mouth dropped open and she could feel her stomach churn.
Nay, this must be some forgery. Another terrible part of her uncle’s outlandish
plan.

But her mind could
not help but question her own conviction.

The forest, when he
had practically chased her away. He had told he was dangerous then. Was he
trying to tell her of his awful duty?

Her uncle watched
her with gleeful eyes. “You see it now, don’t you, child? Do you still wish to
protect him?”

She crumpled the
paper in her hands and threw it to the floor defiantly. “Take me to him. I
would hear the truth from his own lips. I trust not the word of a traitor.”

Benedict brushed a
finger over his mouth, enjoying himself. “As you bid.”

Godfrey’s meaty fingers pressed
into her arm, no doubt soiling it with his sweaty fingerprints. She was flung roughly
into the cell, crumbling in a heap as the iron bars slammed shut behind her.

Nicholas cried out
her name, his voice tinged with relief at the sight of her. She remained where
she was, curled double, afraid to lay eyes on him. Would she see the truth if
she did? Out of the sight of her uncle, her courage had deserted her.

His hands grabbed
at her arms, hauling her to her feet as he looked her over frantically.
“Annabel, are you well? Did he hurt you?”

“Is it true?” she
whispered.

Nicholas dropped
his hands and she risked a look at him. His expression told her everything. Her
uncle had been telling the truth.

Her voice shook as
she stared at him coldly. “You were to kill me?”

He stared at her,
his face a frozen mask of anguish.

“Nicholas?!” she
fairly shouted.

“Aye,” he said
quietly.

Her eyes flew wide
and she stumbled back from him, clutching at her stomach and doubling over.

“But pray believe
me; I would never have done it. I could never hurt you, angel.”

His hand reached
out tentatively to her but she smacked it away. If he touched her, she would
surely be lost again - deceived by his gentle touch once more. How could a man
that had loved her so tenderly have actually intended to kill her? Had it all
been some twisted game?

She sucked in an
unsteady breath before straightening. “You have killed before?” she asked
quietly.

“Aye.”

“Many men?”

“Aye.”

“Oh, God.” Her
stomach rolled again. “Do you repent your actions?”

Nicholas looked at
her uneasily. “I cannot say that I do.”

Annabel stared at
him in shock. He did not care that he had ended many lives by his own hand? How
could this be? Was she that bad a judge of character that she had managed to
fall in love with a man who knew naught of honour?

“I tell you this…”
he reached for her hand, but she pulled it back, clutching it to her chest. “I
tell you this, because I wish to lie to you no longer.” He dropped to his knees
in front of her. “I lay myself at your feet, Annabel, for you to judge me as
you will. I take no pride in my actions. I have lived my life in detachment,
driven by naught but greed. Those deaths do not weigh on my soul because I was
a different man, but I swear to you, that man stands before you no longer.”

She eyed him with
mistrust, as his dark eyes pleaded with her. Coldness and anger stirred in her
belly, frightening her. “Why should I take your word that you have changed? How
can a man change so suddenly? I believe it not.”

“‘Twas you,
Annabel. You wrought the change. I will not ask your forgiveness for I do not
deserve such a kindness, but pray allow me to continue in my duty.”

“Your duty?” Wasn’t
his duty to kill her?

“Aye, I believe I
was sent to you to protect you. It has become my duty now and I would do all I
can to see you safe.”

“You’re asking me
to trust
you
with my life? A man that makes his living through death?”

“I am.” He bowed
his head.

The anger that had
been boiling inside of her unleashed itself, unlike any other emotion she had
experienced before. “You, who once accused me of being too trusting, would ask this
of me? You have destroyed that trust, Nicholas!”

He looked up at her
in surprise at her outburst.

Her heart hammered
in her chest as her throat constricted with unspent tears. “You have destroyed
me,” she added huskily.

Nicholas’ eyes
closed briefly. When his eyes opened they reflected the pain that echoed inside
of her heart. It weakened her and she tried to force the anger to fill her once
more, but all she could feel was sadness. Sadness for herself, and sadness for
a man so lost.

He reached for her
again and this time she allowed him to hold her hand.

“Do not touch me,”
she muttered weakly. “I hate you.”

It felt like a lie,
even as the words left her mouth she knew they were not true, much as she wanted
them to be. Could she really still love a man so depraved?

“I know,” he
whispered.

They stayed like
that for several heartbeats, Nicholas at her feet, imploring her to trust him.
Her heart felt as if it were split in two, the pain of his betrayal was
agonising. Part of her – the part that always saw the good in people – wanted
to believe him, but the part that had emerged when the truth about him had been
revealed could not let her forgive such wickedness.

A lone tear spilled out,
trickling down her cheek, and Nicholas jumped to his feet, forgetting himself
and intending to offer her comfort. He pulled her roughly into his embrace and
she struggled momentarily as he pressed her head to his chest. She ceased as
sobs overwhelmed her and his heart throbbed excruciatingly, hating himself for
hurting her so. He could feel dampness welling in his own eyes.

Her weeping
subsided slowly and she tilted her head to look up at him, her eyes searching
for something in his. Nicholas dragged his hands over her cheeks, swiping away
the dampness, and he wished that he could express his sorrow for causing such
hurt. Words would not come, for how could he possibly find them? He was
powerless under her accusing eyes and all he could manage to do was lower his
lips to hers in the hope of one last taste.

Annabel gasped at
the contact and a sob bubbled up from her chest as her hands clamped around his
head, holding him forcefully to her. Desire and the fear of losing her consumed
Nicholas, stripping him of all reason, and he plundered her mouth as he gripped
her to him. The beast in him unleashed as her nails scrabbled across the back
of his neck and he grabbed at her hips, pinching his fingers into them.

“I hate you,” she
whispered as she returned his kiss with fire, her lips painfully demanding, and
they clashed again and again.

Forcing her back,
they stumbled until Annabel’s back slammed into the damp stone wall. She cried
out at the contact but Nicholas silenced it with another assault of her mouth
as he pressed her against the wall. He clumsily worked his hands over her body,
trying to memorise every part of her. Her fingers came about the neck of his
shirt and she tore at it with frustration until it gave way, the ripping sound
only spurring them on.

Her fingernails met
his skin again, clutching at the dark swirling hair of his chest and he
wondered vaguely if she was trying to punish him. Her teeth grazed sharply over
his lips and he decided that she was, but for all the pain she attempted to
administer, it seemed only to provoke him. Lifting her swiftly, she latched her
legs around him and Nicholas faltered as Annabel pressed against the aching
juncture of his thighs. With a groan, he pushed her into the deep embrasure,
resting her bottom on the cold stone.

As he bit into her
neck and shoulder, she surged against him in a frenzied movement, crying out at
each touch of their bodies. Becoming impatient, she yanked up her skirts and
ground her wet sex against him. With a feral snarl, he wrenched down his
braies, not even bothering to remove them entirely, and plunged himself into
her.

The sudden heat
shocked him and Annabel gasped as he took her. Grasping her hips, he plunged
again, drawing her closer to him. Relentlessly he pounded into her as she
punished him with merciless kisses, and he almost wished she would hurt him
further, hoping she could hurt him as much as he had her. Clutching at her, he
crushed her to him, driving into her until she sobbed his name. As she
convulsed around him, he lost himself to her, a hoarse cry escaping his lips as
he buried his head in her neck.

As the world came
back into focus, Nicholas became aware of her rigid body still entwined with
his. Annabel had dropped her hands to her side as her breathing slowed, but she
stayed frozen as he remained inside of her. He inhaled deeply, taking in her
scent, knowing that this would be the last time he would ever be so close to
her. Never would aught be as difficult as drawing himself away from her. With
reluctance, he pulled back, his heart sinking with the realisation of what he
had just done.

Tugging down her
skirts, he arranged them around her before pulling up his braies.

"I have
wronged you again, sweet Annabel," he said with regret.

She curled away
from him, drawing her knees to her chest as she avoided his eyes.

"Redemption
shall never be mine now," he murmured to himself.

A depreciative
laugh from Annabel drew his gaze back to her prone form. "Redemption? You
speak of redemption? Think you that 'twould ever be within your grasp after a
life of such sin?"

Her words were said
with little malice, just a cold sorrow, and they failed to wound him, but the
hurt in her gaze cut through him like the steel of a sword.

"I doubt it
not. I have failed in my duty...I have failed you most grievously."

"What is this
duty to speak of? You say you were sent to protect me, yet how could that be?
You are a devil in man's clothing, what protection could you possibly
offer?"

"You are not
mistaken, Annabel, but be that as it may, I was sent to you. You are an angel
on this Earth and 'twas my duty to defend you against the evils of this world.
It seems I could not protect you from the evil within myself."

Annabel considered
this for a while. "If you thought me an angel, why did you take my innocence?
Was that an act of evil too?"