Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,37

bed, slipped out, and padded silently from the room. Two boys waited impatiently for him.

Without a word, the taller one led the way through long corridors. The place was like a palace, yet familiar.

“Hurry,” the second boy whispered.

Keeping to the shadows, Ivar followed. They evaded guards, large men in battlesuits armed with blasters. Yet he was more excited than afraid.

He belonged here.

The rightness of it settled over him as he hurried after the boys before they disappeared.

The tallest boy opened a door and waved them forward and they slipped inside. “Why are we here?” Ivar asked. His stomach was jittery, his palms damp.

“I learned some new moves today.” The tallest one lit a lamp, allowing the dim light to spread across what was obviously some sort of training room. He had dark hair and eyes of gold. The younger one had dark-brown hair and eyes. They looked enough alike to be brothers.

“Show me, Spear,” the younger one almost danced in place, he was so excited.

“Spear.” Ivar said the name slowly. The tall boy tilted his head to one side, seeming confused.

“What?” He got into a fighting crouch. “Pay attention. You’re stronger than you think.”

The image started to fade. Ivar lunged for it. Disoriented, he bolted upright, surrounded by darkness, sucking in air like he’d run for miles.

“What’s wrong?” Like some avenging angel, Delphi crouched between him and the door, a blade in both hands.

It was only a dream. No, not a dream, a memory. He’d been a boy in the vision. He’d been sleeping in the bed in the large palatial home.

“Who is Spear?”

She silently slipped the blades away and put her hands on her hips, looking more alert and beautiful than she had a right to. “Why do you think I’d know?”

She knows. The defensive tone, the way her shoulders hunched the slightest bit gave her away.

“You asked if the name meant anything to me when I was in the cell.” He’d forgotten that until now. “You know who I am, so you must know those who are close to me.”

“And you think this Spear is close to you?”

He rubbed his hands over his face. He should be exhausted but was wired. “I dreamed of him. He was a boy. We both were. And there was another one, a younger one, I think.”

“Your memories are coming back.” She went back to her pallet and sat. “That’s good.”

She wasn’t going to tell him. In that second, he almost hated her. It burned in his chest as a bitter laugh escaped. “Is it? What does it matter? I’ll be in another prison in a matter of days.” He dropped back onto the ground, hands fisted by his sides. Maybe he was better off making a run for it when she was asleep once again. If he died, at least he’d die a free man and not a prisoner.

The silence was charged, both of them lost in their thoughts.

“Spear is why I’m here.”

It was a lifeline. He grabbed it with both hands, even as jealousy bit hard and deep.

“You know him?”

“Yes.”

“Are you involved with him?” It almost killed him to ask.

“Of course not.”

Relief spread through him like a cool healing balm. “Tell me about yourself.” Delphi was a first-rate assassin and one hell of a lover. Other than that, he knew little about her. When the silence deepened, he fought his disappointment. “Never mind.”

“I have a twin,” she blurted.

He couldn’t imagine two such beauties roaming the universe. “What’s her name?”

“His. We’re fraternal twins. His name is Zaxe.” There was so much love and affection when she spoke his name.

Ivar frowned. “That’s unusual and not a normal Zaxian name.” Again, he didn’t question the knowledge. It was simply there.

“Our names are not the ones we were born with. They were given to us by the woman who took us in and trained us.” Her tone was clipped. Whatever the story was, it wasn’t a pleasant one.

There was so much he wanted to ask, but that would only make her clam up. Listening was the most important part of any conversation. Knowing when to speak and when to remain quiet was a skill few possessed.

But he did. And he was exceptionally gifted at reading people—the slight changes in their bodies and the nuances in their voices.

Another clue to his mysterious past.

“I have a sister, too. Not a biological one, but one by choice. She was taken in by the same woman. We banded together to survive.”

“I’m sorry.”

Through the gloom, he saw her shrug. “It