Page 48 of Slayer

“If you’re training, you should never be without a weapon. Ever. You can use mine until you’re back and issued your own.” He studies the blade for a second before pulling it free. It’s the same blade I handed him in the Ring. I took it back to ensure this is the life he wanted to lead before handing over one of my daggers.

“I’ll see you soon,” he says, glancing over his shoulder. I nod once. Then he leaves.

I exhale. Gods, I hope I didn’t just make one of the worst decisions of my life. I just placed the only person who feels like a son to me into the hands of this vile academy. But I need an heir if my life goes to shit, and I’d rather have some control over Zorren’s fate than none at all. In any case, it’s better than letting him join the royals.

I glance around the large room, taking in every detail. For a moment, I see it as it was, blood sprayed across the walls. Silas on his knees. The look on his face when I shifted. Pure terror and awe, the only honest emotions he ever showed me. I lean forward, elbows braced on my knees, fingers pressing into my temples. I hadn’t realized my head was pounding until I touched it. Pain blooms behind my eyes.

I think of the four royals locked in the dungeon for Zorren’s training. I should check on them. I want to know what they know about their king. Their prince. Something tells me there is something far darker hiding in that castle, something I never imagined.

A knock sounds at my door. It creaks open a moment later.

“Master?” a male voice calls. Master. That’s going to take some getting used to. I forgot that I asked all the leaders of each unit to come meet with me tonight.

“Come in,” I reply. Six men and women step into view, each of them lean, toned, built for their life in the shadows. Strong enough to command darkness without being consumed by it.

I gesture toward the chairs lining the far wall. A few retrieve them and arrange the seats without a word before sitting. Their attention settles on me, sharp, expectant, and disciplined. They don’t speak.

For the first time since claiming this place, I feel the power settle into my bones. This is mine. They are mine.

“So,” I say, my gaze sweeping the room, “I know some of you.” My eyes pause briefly on Korrin, breaker of men, extractor of truths. I only worked with Korrin for a short period of time. By the time he was brought into the Academy, I was already handling jobs without the need to be trained on torture.

Then I look to Seris, who waits in quiet stillness. Last I saw him, I was leaving the Academy. He was here the majority of the time I was. Healed me a few times when I would come in from jobs bleeding and needing immediate attention. I would only go to him in an emergency, only when I couldn’t make it to Nyra in time. Most slayers owe their continued survival to him. He’s not a healer in the sense that Roman is, but he is a master of herbs and medicines and has saved countless lives at the Academy. I turn my attention back to the others.

“The rest of you,” I say evenly, “give me your name, your age, and your position.” My focus settles on the youngest among them.

She has slick black hair pulled tightly back from her face, revealing deep, dark, blue eyes. Small in stature, but not slight.

“My name is Rhea,” she says. “I'm twenty-six. I specialize in gathering intelligence from the royal courts. Alliances, troop movements, hidden negotiations, affairs, blackmail. If someone is keeping a secret, I'll uncover it.” She smiles. "Fast and clean.” Confidence, not arrogance, I think.

I study her a moment longer, then lean back in my chair. “How fast,” I ask calmly, “can you cross the sea to Coral Haven and back?”

“It takes about two weeks,” she replies. It takes me two days by flight, but would take an ordinary human four days by ship one way. I know no one can get there as fast as I can, aside from maybe the Pirate Lord’s ship, The Leviathan. “Depends on what you need,” she continues. “If I have to remain undercover, it would take longer. If it’s something I can extract quickly, I won’t linger.”

I nod once. “Very good.” My attention shifts to the man seated beside her.

He’s tall. Broad-shouldered. Wire-framed glasses sit on his nose, doing nothing to soften the severity of his presence. A full beard shadows his jaw, and his sandy-brown hair is cut short, looking deliberately unrefined.

He seems like someone who’s studied all there is to know. “Thalos,” he says. “Twenty-nine. I control the shores. I watch who comes in, who leaves, and who doesn’t leave.” His voice is low and he speaks in unhurried, well-pronounced syllables.

I meet his gaze. He must have seen the royals docking, then.

“So,” I say evenly, “that means you’re the one who sent slayers to the Ring. The one who ordered them to follow me.”

“Yes,” he answers.

“Thank you.” I reach for a dagger strapped to my thigh and draw it free. Leaning forward, I press the blade into the surface of the desk and slowly twist. The wood protests beneath the steel.

“Tell me,” I say calmly, “why send slayers to follow my movements?”

“Royals are always watched,” Thalos answers. “But you were followed because of recent events.” His gaze sharpens. “Many loved Silas. Word spread quickly that you ended him. There are those who will want retribution.” He pauses, glancing briefly at the others before continuing. “But Silas was weakening this academy and turning it into something unrecognizable. It isn’t feared the way it once was.” I still my dagger.

“I sent my squad to follow you,” he says, meeting my eyes again, “because we believe in you as our new leader. Your name carries fear across the entire world.” He leans forward slightly. “Not just anyone could take down Silas. But you did.”

“How did word spread that I defeated Silas?” I ask, my eyes narrowing into his steady brown gaze. “Because I’ve heard rumors that I was taken by the king.”

“The locals gossip,” he says evenly. “But those in power know the truth. The Academy knew Silas was dead the moment you didn’t come back down those stairs. You killed his son— if you’d escaped with him alive, he would have butchered half the Academy for it.”

I nod and twist the blade deeper into the wood. I say nothing.