Kyler's Justice (Assassins of Gravas Book 3) - N.J. Walters Page 0,50

safe from the blast.

“Not so tough now, is he?” Heavy footsteps were followed by a scuffing sound. He was pulling her behind him.

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“I’m going to finish the bastard off. Make sure he’s dead.”

He readied himself to move. As soon as his target was close enough, he’d take him down. Just a few more steps.

“Stop,” Etta cried. “I can get you on his ship. It’s better than yours. Faster.” She was gasping hard, her fear palpable.

Was she betraying him? Would she let her brother on his ship? Allow him to take her sisters? Balthazar had claimed the entire idea was hers.

He dismissed it immediately.

Etta would not betray him any more than she would endanger her sisters. The certainty settled over him, locking into place. He’d never doubt her again. As usual, she was doing the exact opposite. She was trying to protect him. Him. He was the most dangerous assassin in the world and she was a cook. Still, she was putting herself in harm’s way for him.

Everything inside him stilled to a single moment of clarity. There was no longer any doubt that he loved her. There was no other woman for him. Would never be another. She was his mate, his kismara, his heart.

“Impossible,” her brother said.

“It’s not. I have this.” Kyler tilted his head the tiniest fraction, needing to see her. It was worth the risk since the hood of his cloak was lined with the same fabric as the body armor and would protect him.

She was holding up the coded device he’d given her.

“What is it?” Balthazar demanded.

“It’s a key. To his ship.”

“Give it to me.”

“No. It’s keyed to my fingerprint.” They moved away from him. His Etta was smart, getting her brother’s attention away from him. Too bad he’d wanted the man closer.

“Open it!”

Etta placed her thumb on the scanner. She was about to put his ship in full security lockdown. What he hadn’t told her was that would immediately signal Gravasian command.

Kyler rolled to his feet, knives in hand. He threw both in one fluid motion. One slammed into the back of his target’s neck. The other in his back. The big man lurched forward, making a grab for Etta.

She cried out and jumped back, coming up hard against the hull of Kyler’s ship.

Before her brother could touch her, he was there, kicking the man’s legs out from under him. He rolled his target onto his side, knife at his throat. “By order of the king of Gravas, you will face justice.”

“It was just some weapons.” Blood bubbled up from his throat and dribbled down his neck.

“The man you abducted, those were his weapons. His name is Ivar el Gravaso, prince of Gravas.” As Balthazar’s eyes widened, Kyler dispatched him.

Closing his eyes briefly, he took a breath before cleaning and tucking away his knives. Etta was leaning against the ship, her eyes wide, her trembling hand pressed against her mouth. She was as pale as the snows of Killaras. She’d witnessed too much death this evening.

Methodically, Kyler swept across the docking station deck, gathering all his knives from the downed men before striding to his ship without a backward glance. He placed his hand against the security panel. A quick scan and the hatch slid open. “We need to leave.” He wanted to touch her but wasn’t sure if she’d recoil from his touch. Even now his hands were stained with the blood of her brother.

When she didn’t move, he motioned her forward. “Etta, get inside. It’s not safe here.”

With a shaky nod, she stumbled forward.

****

Etta couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Was it finally over? The brother who’d terrorized her as a child, who’d controlled her as an adult, was dead. It didn’t seem possible. He was larger than life. Feared throughout the universe.

Kyler had taken him down with ease.

When something touched her, she jerked away. Kyler took a step back, his eyes dark and unfathomable. When had he removed his cloak? She shook her head, trying to get her bearings.

She started to tilt to one side. He reached for her again, but stopped. Was he disgusted with her? Look at the family she’d sprung from. And maybe he thought she’d been trying to betray him.

“I was trying to distract him. I would never have let him on your ship.” It was important he understood that.

“I know, kismara.”

She licked her dry lips. “What does that mean? Kismara?” Praying her legs would hold her, she took a step forward. Her