Kyler's Justice (Assassins of Gravas Book 3) - N.J. Walters Page 0,62

and grief pounded at him in equal measure. She was everything he’d ever wanted in his deepest dreams, even the ones he’d never fully admitted. Loyalty? She was the gold standard to which all others should strive. That she loved him—and she had to if she was giving up her chance to live to save him—was the greatest gift he’d ever received.

And he was going to lose her. She’d dared to lecture the king. Everyone in the room had been spellbound in shock, even the great man himself.

And the most astounding thing of all? She wasn’t wrong in her assessment.

“Sire, I have loyally served the crown. I have sacrificed my entire life in training and service, been exiled from my home. The only family I have is the one I hold in my arms.”

King Agman frowned. “You are Gravasian.”

He shrugged. “I was born here. My loyalty is here. But it is not my home. I’ve spent as many years away as I have here. And the years I was here, I was separated from my parents and siblings and trained for the destiny that was given me.” He’d never been asked. It had been decided by others. Honor had assured his compliance. “Now I’m asking for one thing. My life for her.” Because there was no way he’d let anything happen to her while there was breath in his body.

“If she dies, you will have to put me down.” It was inevitable.

“Is that a threat?” The others flanked the king—sons and assassins.

He shook his head. “No, sire. It is a fact. Etta is a fire in my soul, a burning in my blood. My reason for breathing.”

She turned into him, gripping the front of his cloak.

The king’s frown deepened. “You truly mean that.”

He inclined his head. “I do. There is a creature residing deep inside me. Maybe it has always been there, but training, the years, and life experience caged it, gave it a purpose and an outlet. Feral is too tame a word. I will protect her with every fiber of my being, every cell of my body. If you plan to execute her from crimes against the crime, you’ll have to end me first or I won’t be responsible for the vengeance I exact before you put me down. Let her live. Her sisters need her.”

“I forgive you.” Ivar broke the silence. “I knew something was bothering you that night at the bar. You all but told me to leave. I ignored all the signs because I deemed the mission more important. I was so close to uncovering the secrets about Helldrick and Balthazar that I took risks I shouldn’t have.”

“Thank you.”

“Father?” Ivar looked to the king.

He hesitated, and Kyler knew his mind had not changed. A lesson had to be sent, justice extracted. But was this really justice?

“I’ll take them and go.” The idea had merit. “I’ll find a safe place for them. No one needs to know they’re alive.”

“You’d lie?” the king asked.

“It’s no lie if you know. I am the king’s blade. I am answerable only to you. I’m asking for justice for my wife and her sisters. Justice for my family.”

Maggs leaned down and whispered to her sister, “I told you.”

“Shh,” Sera shushed.

“Told her what?” King Agman asked.

Maggs wiggled until he put her down. She pulled her data pad out of the pocket of her cloak and went slowly forward. “I drew pictures.” She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a sweet smile. “I know you said it’s dangerous for me to have pictures, but we’re with you now, so I knew it would be okay.”

Etta made a sound partway between a moan and a laugh. There was no way he could be mad with the girl. Not when she had such faith in him.

She opened up a program and pulled up an image.

“What is this?” the king demanded.

“It’s so lifelike,” Ivar added. “Like she’s met everyone in the family.”

King Agman took the screen from her and flipped it around so Kyler could see. The entire royal family, along with spouses and children were depicted.

“There are two more,” Maggs added. “They’re not as detailed.”

He thought about putting his hand over her mouth before she spilled more secrets, but the damage was already done.

The king flipped through one of him and the queen. But it was the final one that almost killed Kyler. It was an image of him standing with his arms around Etta. Beside them, a slightly older version of Sera and