ARC: Assassin Queen Read Online Free PDF

his head. “ It doesn ’ t happen this fast, Aghat Kara. For all we know, there may be a way to counter this magic, so that none of it will ever happen at all. ”
    “ Not good enough, I ’ m afraid. ” She glanced at Mai. His glassy expression made her want to cry. Emotionally attached. Not bloody possible. “ I should leave. I can ’ t be allowed to hear the rest. The planning of this campaign is too important to take any risks. ”
    Mai slowly released his hold. As he stepped away, she shivered at the emptiness left behind, his absence making her feel unprotected, vulnerable. She turned away for fear that he might catch her expression.
    “ I don’ t think you should be alone right now, ” Mai said.
    She hesitated. She wanted to be alone, but given that no one knew for sure what was happening with her, it might indeed be a bad idea. “You ’ re right. ”
    Mai turned to his suite. “ Aghat Raishan, go with Kara and stay by her side until I replace you. ”
    Raishan saluted with a fist to his chest. His slanted gray eyes slid over to Kara, his lips creasing with a brief smile of encouragement. She smiled back, his air of calm efficiency making her feel instantly at ease.
    Mai stepped to the door and pushed it open. An Emerald guard appeared in front of the open doorway.
    “ Jahib Lenart, ” Mai said. “ You will accompany Aghat Raishan and Kara. Bring two of your men. Follow Aghat Raishan ’ s orders at all times. If anything unusual happens, send a man to report to me at once. ”
    Kara darted toward the exit, feeling everyone ’ s eyes on her, relieved to hear the thud of the closed door behind her. Her decision to leave the council as soon as possible was probably for the best. Yet it felt strange to see Mai place her under guard, as if no longer sure whether she was a friend or an enemy. This unwelcome thought brought a pang of pain, immediately followed by anger. Surely thinking like this played right into the Kaddim ’ s hands. In fact, they could well have planted the distrust into her head.
    Only death could sever the link. If Mai ’ s plan to seek out the Kaddim ’ s secret stronghold and destroy the Brotherhood could not be realized in time, would she have to be the one to die to free everyone from the Kaddim? Was this the only way to ensure she didn ’ t become an enemy? She forced down the thought as she strode down the hallway, holding her head high.
    4
    The Council

    Kyth settled into his chair at the council table, fighting a sinking feeling in his heart. Kara ’ s face when he told her about the Kaddim ’ s magic continued to haunt him. He had never seen her look so defeated.
    Knowing that he had lost her to Mai had been shattering, but he couldn ’ t help also feeling rewarded at how happy she seemed these days. And now, thinking of her falling victim to the Kaddim ’ s magic made Kyth boil with barely contained fury. He could see a similar fury reflected in Mai ’ s face as the Majat lowered himself back into his seat across the table. In a strange way, this feeling bonded Kyth to this man, his successful rival, whose boyish looks and dazzling, iconic beauty were so deceiving. At heart, Mai was a ruthless killer who would not stop at anything to get his way – and Kyth seemed to be the only one to see him at face value.
    “ What else do you all know about the Kaddim mind link? ” King Evan asked.
    Egey Bashi briefly glanced at Mai. “ While I would prefer to do some more reading on the subject first, Your Majesty, I do know that the consequences of such a link could be drastic. We have every reason to be alarmed. ”
    Kyth bit his lip. He knew the Magister ’ s tendency for understatements. He thought back to the way he had reacted to Kara back on the balcony, the warmth and excitement he always felt in her presence tainted with the bitter taste of the Kaddim magic. The memory of her trapped, helpless look wrenched his gut.
    “ According to my information, ” Magister Egey