2020, July 26th
(Location Undisclosed)
AIDEN
Keira's trigger finger was still on the gun, but something wasn't right. Too calm out in the open like that. Yet still on high alert, looking for the slightest signs of Kate. She tossed me an alarmed glance, then looked away hurriedly.
My heart softened. Something clicked and her actions made sense. She wasn't being a show off. She was making stupid choices to protect me.
It should have been obvious, but it wasn't. People didn't protect me. Henry. Mary. Jane. Avory. Elena. Even John. They took what they wanted then left. Surprise turned into a warm feeling in my chest. Has anyone not on the royal pay roll ever put me first like she was doing?
Well fuck her martyr bullshit. I wasn't an assassin, but Mary made certain I knew how to handle myself in a shoot out. Even if that weren't true, I wasn't cowering behind a tree stump while my woman chased a seasoned killer.
"You're not going without me," I said resolutely, rising to my feet to make my way over to her side.
She glared at me, anger and fear mixing in her too dark eyes. Our backs slammed up against each other's. I still felt like we should be moving, but I knew the argument would come first. Even with her sister trying to kill us, her stubborn ass would have something to say.
"Neither of you are going anywhere," said a voice.
We spun towards it at the same time, guns at the ready. The woman the voice belonged to was not Kate. She stood up straight, hands clasped behind her back. A regal, almost immortal air surrounded her. Like she was untouchable.
"I see where you get your recklessness from," I said to Keira.
"Madz, Aiden Condron. Aiden Condron, mommy dearest. Queen of Assassins, Archduchess of Imperium," Keira said, lowering her gun with a heavy sigh.
"We've met. Always a pleasure, Your Grace," I said, cautiously lowering my gun too.
Both women acted like her presence magically eliminated the danger. My finger still wouldn't move off the trigger.
Madz looked me over, sizing me up. Then she gave Keira the same treatment, before her gaze returned to me.
"So, you're the reason my number one won't come home," Madz observed.
"Lost her," said Grayson, showing up with an equally out of breath Nathan on his heel.
"Not before she gave us the run around for a while though. Man, what the hell is in your DNA and why didn't I get any? You guys are super freaks," said Nathan, jovial as ever.
"Yes, he is," Keira confirmed.
Keira looked at me and my guard went down. I gave her a warm, loving smile. Obviously I was the one keeping her from Imperium, but having her say it to her family meant something to me. It made us more than two people stuck between four walls, lost in each other. Not that I had a problem with that.
"He is not a crown prince anymore Madz. There's no conceivable way even you can fuck this up," a bitter Keira continued, handing her gun to Nathan.
"Meet the Dormers, Condron," said Nathan, throwing his arm around my shoulders, Keira's gun still in hand. "Are you sure you still want her?"
"Now more than ever," I answered without hesitation, watching her pick up her sword and slash through the air with expert precision.
Her sister almost killed me not five minutes ago and all I could see was her, wielding that sword like she was born doing it. She was probably going to get me killed, but I just couldn't stop wanting her.
"I figured. You probably would have died for her just now, wouldn't you? We've all been there, man. I call it The Keira Dormer Effect."
Nathan set his sister's gun down, picked up my sword off the ground and threw himself to the wolf that was Keira. This time I really did pay attention. I watched them closely, studying their movements. The events of today would make her even more paranoid. I guessed I was a sword guy now.
"You're rusty," Nathan teased.
"Figured I'd give you a fighting chance in hell by not picking up a sword for a few months," Keira taunted right back.
They didn't hold back, doing fierce battle in between goading and mocking each other. Maybe Keira had unresolved issues with her mom and maybe her sister truly was insane, but she loved Nathan. There was a bond between them I couldn't replace, no matter how happy we were together. A bond like the one I shared with my own siblings.
She probably had a similar bond with Kate, judging from the way she felt the need to justify her kill. Whatever her reasons for killing Dean, he wasn't stopping. If she didn't take the shot, I would have had to. I was completely out of my depth. How did I go about getting a family of assassins to make nice?
"I don't suppose I can convince you that it's in everyone's best interest for you to go home?" Madz asked, coming to stand next to me to watch her children with me.
She gave Grayson a nod and he disappeared.
"No," I said, standing tall, not about to be intimidated by this admittedly intimidating old woman. "She deserves moments that make her happy, like this one. Keira's more than just a killing machine. She's, damn what is she? She's hope and peace."
"Your petty feelings for her won't keep you alive. I can," Madz dead panned, after I foolishly poured my heart out to the leader of a house of killers.
"Say I convince her to come in and she finds Kate. Then what? Last time she walked away she had to flee to escape you. What happens this time, Madz? Your concern is touching, Your Grace, but what happens next is Keira's call. Not yours and not mine. Get used to my presence, Your Grace. I will stand by her regardless."