The Unexpected Bonding Vow - Michelle Howard Page 0,3
feet and darted off into the dark of night, abandoning Garik and leaving him to face the consequences of their joint actions—alone.
He lowered his arm brandishing the blade and shook his head. He wasn’t a fool. He knew he stood no chance.
“Does your family know you do this to get by, or is it a lark with you and your friends?”
The question was tossed his way as Garik backed up one slow step at a time in hopes of fleeing as well. Garik stopped his retreat and bit off a bitter laugh. “I don’t have a family any more. And those weren’t my friends.”
Just a crew he’d hooked up with to survive.
“Then I suppose you do this because you need credits?”
Garik didn’t answer as he calculated his odds and which direction to run.
The stranger blew out a rough breath. “Either I’m feeling really generous, a rarity I assure you, or I didn’t drink nearly enough.”
The man’s clothing rustled as he shifted about and Garik’s fingers tightened on the weapon he still held. Through sheer luck and skill, he’d managed to eat at least once a day and avoid this particular option. Today wasn’t the day he planned on succumbing either. He wasn’t desperate enough to sell himself. Yet.
“No, thank you,” manners compelled him to say as he glanced around the empty alley and wondered at his chances of escape. Obviously, he planned to fight but after seeing how this guy handled Phinneas and Ward, Garik’s chances of getting away were probably slim.
Silence filled the short space between them. Then the man shoved back his hood and met Garik’s gaze with an incredulous one. “Not that, little one. Never that.”
Garik was young but not little. He was fifteen if his recollection of dates and times weren’t too far off. From what he could make out, he and the stranger were probably the same height except Garik had none of the bulk and muscle. In a fight, he’d lose. Garik firmed his lips and took another determined step backward.
“Fuck my life.” The stranger let out a rough chuckle and grasped the back of his neck. He came forward and a sliver of light from the drinking establishment displayed the angles of his face. Dirty blond hair and eyes of an indeterminate color. “I’m offering you a chance for something worthwhile. A purpose if you’re interested.”
The sleeve of his duster shifted, offering a glimpse of a wrist gauntlet on his forearm bracer style when he moved his arm in a swinging motion. Garik flinched then caught the object flying in his direction. He fingered the square chip in confusion.
“The Assassins Guild. If you have what it takes, I think you’ll find it will change your life.” With a casual twist to his lips, he added, “It changed mine.”
Garik’s gaze narrowed. Assassins Guild. He’d heard of them. Everyone in the quadrant had. Men and women who killed for a living but didn’t have to fear the law. “Who are you?”
Pulling his hood back up, he concealed his appearance once more and countered, “Does it matter?”
Garik barked an unexpected laugh. “I don’t guess so.”
Was he really considering this? Garik fingered the info chip he’d been given and decided he might actually like the idea of being an assassin.
“If you make it, look me up. The name’s Nevo Xyman.”
Then Xyman aimed his hand at the railing of a balcony above them. A cable launched from the gauntlet on his wrist and hooked on a bottom rung. With a leap and twist, he landed in a crouch on the balcony. He sent a two-fingered salute Garik’s way then vanished with a running jump to the next balcony and the next until he soared up onto a low cropped roof and faded from view.
“Welcome to the Assassin’s Guild, Garik Denikon.”
The pronouncement yanked Garik from the past and he remembered to bow to the Master. Today was the official beginning of his future.
Chapter 2
Present Day
Saedra paced her bedroom and mentally marked off how much time she had left before it was too late. Staying with her father wasn’t possible any longer. She knew that. Felt it in her battered bones. If something didn’t change right away, she would forfeit her life.
Lord Maurin Cressler had grown increasingly erratic and downright cruel in his treatment of her. Saedra didn’t have scales like a true Dragonian, she didn’t possess any psychic abilities like her mother’s race, the Meeta, and most importantly, she hadn’t blossomed into a raving beauty with any notable skills