Not far behind, Cole kept his place. Everything Lilah had noticed, he had also pieced together. Though the origin of the dark-clothed figures remained beyond him, he was certain Lilah faced serious danger. To him, she was growing more mysterious by the moment. How could a wealthy heiress become caught up with assassins of such caliber? The source of th?s content is

Lilah’s calm presence added to the riddle. Perhaps she failed to recognize the danger they posed, or perhaps she possessed a strength even greater than these assassins’. With these doubts turning in his mind, Cole chose to watch quietly instead of stepping in right away.

Elliana, for her part, ignored Cole. Advancing several steps more, she stopped and faced the black-clad figures directly. “What do you want?”

The woman at their head, draped in a black trench coat, stood with an air of frost, as though Elliana’s voice had never reached her at all.

The leading man in the same attire let out a harsh laugh and spoke with mockery. “Isn’t it clear? We came for your life.”

With her chin tilted upward, Elliana fixed her eyes on him. “Tell me who put you up to this.”

He smirked with smug delight. “You don’t deserve to know that. What matters is this: your time ends today. Still, since you’ve got a pretty face and a little talent with a brush, I’ll indulge you. Got a last request? Spit it out before I lose my patience.”

He leaned in slightly, his voice dripping with mock kindness. “One more thing. If you behave, I’ll leave that lovely face untouched so you can die looking perfect. But test me, and I’ll carve you up without a second thought.”

Elliana’s steady gaze lingered on him, amused at his arrogance. She couldn’t help but wonder if his strength was anywhere near as loud as his mouth. Once the clash began, she intended to smack him around until he learned that arrogance always collapsed in front of someone stronger.

Entertaining the thought, Elliana crooked a finger at him. “Step up and try it. Either you ruin my face, or I break you down so badly that you won’t know what hit you.”

Discover your escape on g aln ov el s .com

Her bold reply caught him off guard, and a scowl spread across his face. He let out a half-laugh. “Pretty thing, are you really not going to rethink this? Girls your age usually cling to their looks.”

Before Elliana could answer, the woman at his side snapped, her patience gone. Spinning toward him with a glare, she spoke in a voice cold enough to cut. “Enough with the nonsense. Are you attacking or standing down? If you’re too busy flapping your lips, then get out of the way.”

That sly grin of his faltered, and irritation flickered across his face. “Don’t like my voice? Then cover your ears. Pretty faces like that one’s don’t come around often, so what’s the harm in teasing a little?”

Anger surged through the woman, and she hissed, “Do you actually want me to end you right here?”

Quietly, Elliana took in their spat, her expression unreadable. Where the man’s arrogance carried the air of a scoundrel, the woman’s manner struck Elliana as blunt and forceful, the sort that cut straight to the point. Then, Merlin’s face came to Elliana’s mind—cold, unflinching, and lacking any trace of humor.

Oddly enough, despite being the one they intended to kill, Elliana wasn’t stirred to anger the way the woman was. If anything, the whole exchange amused Elliana.

The black mask concealed most of the woman’s face, but what little showed hinted at striking beauty and sharpness of mind. Brilliance was often carried in the eyes, and the lively spark in the woman’s eyes revealed intelligence beyond doubt. The man’s gaze, too, was clear and piercing, proof that cleverness belonged to him as well.

.

.

.