Vixen's Magic: The Fox and the Assassin, #2

By Aron Lewes

Kylin is learning to embrace her new life. Her brother is safe, and she's found a new home with Wilhelm and Vala. Her beau might be an assassin, and that's hardly ideal, but she's trying to accept it.

 

A new mission puts Vala and Wilhelm on a dangerous path. They're captured by a prince, who manipulates the assassins and turns them into his personal puppets.

 

But that's not the worst part.

 

Wilhelm might not be Kylin's chosen after all...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aron Lewes
• Release date: Apr 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393021971

Book preview

Chapter One

AXTON ALBRIGHT PINCHED his wife's arm and flung her into the carriage. She landed on her knees, flinching as her husband growled, "Sit down and be quiet! I'm tired of your protests."

"But I really don't want to go! Mary cried. I don't think it's necessary. Do you honestly think someone's out to kill you? It's ridiculous!"

Why wouldn't I? her husband croaked, leaping into one of the seats. I owe a lot of people a lot of money, and I don't have the coin for any of them. Would it be that surprising if one of them wanted me dead?

Mary had yet to rise from the carriage floor, so Axton grabbed a fistful of her dress and dragged her into the seat beside him. He heard the fabric rip, but it only made him laugh.

You drag your entire family from their home, at the crack of dawn, because of a single anonymous letter... Mary slipped a sigh into her thought. Who, apart from you, would go to such an extreme?

First of all, Axton held up a finger as he started his rebuttal, I value my life. I don't want to risk an assassin's blade at my throat. Secondly, my entire family consists of you and a child who isn't mine. He pointed at the blonde, pigtailed child sitting across from them. The girl was whispering to her rag doll, seemingly oblivious to the adults' conversation.

Milla is as good as yours, Mary said. She loves you.

"But she's not mine. How am I supposed to forget that? She looks everything like you and nothing like me."

I wish you would think of her as yours, Mary said. Hasn't it been long enough?

I didn't realize I was required to accept your previous husband's offspring as my own, Axton said. "Also... didn't I tell you to be quiet?"

Mary's head shook at her husband's crass response. She looked down at her arms, where red blotches had appeared on her flesh. He had squeezed her too hard, and it hurt, but she doubted he would care.

Should you treat me like this in front of Milla? Mary asked. Should you throw me into the carriage and order me around like a—

"Yes, Axton interrupted before she could finish. I think I'm setting a fine example for the girl. Your daughter must realize that man is king. Perhaps she, unlike you, will put her husband's needs before her own."

Mary's tongue tutted with disgust. She wanted to disagree, but it was pointless. Her husband's mind would never change.

Why isn't the carriage moving? Axton stuck his walking stick through a window and banged on the side of the carriage. Get moving, driver! I'm tired of sitting here!

Seconds later, the carriage lurched forward, and a satisfied smile spread across Axton's sallow face.

If you were actually worried about our lives, you should have hired a guard, said Mary.

"I'm worried about my life, he corrected her. And... with what money would I have hired a guard? I'm only in this situation because of the great debt I've accumulated. Glancing out the window, he said, Don't fret so much, Mary. When we change continents, everything will be fine."

"You are the one who's fretting, she said. You're taking us across the sea because of a vague warning in an unsigned letter. This is such nonsense, Axton! No one is out to kill you, and no one's going to—"

Mary was silenced by the unmistakable twhack of an arrow striking the carriage.

What was that? Axton cried, shifting in his seat. Hearing another twhack, he shouted again, more shrilly than before, "What was that?"

His wife peeled back the curtain that covered one of the windows. Peeking outside, she reported. There's a lady on horseback.

A lady? Axton's hand moved to the hilt of his sword, though he had no idea how to use it. It was more decoration than protection. It was a shallow pretense of strength. Well... what does she look like?

She's dressed in all black, Mary said. Black breeches, black vest, black coat. The coat has fancy stitching and some of the shiniest buttons I've ever seen.

"I don't care about her damn buttons! Axton growled. What does she look like? Her hair... face... are there any defining features?"

Her hair is purplish, and... I think I see a scar on her face, Mary said. There's a man with her.

"And what does he look like?"

Young, blonde. He's in a brown leather duster.

"Damn, Axton hissed. It's the assassins. The famous ones. I know they're after me. I know it!   A horrified squeak slipped from Axton's throat when a third arrow hit their vehicle, and a lady's voice demanded, Driver, stop the carriage! I'd rather not kill you, but if you stand between us and our job, we might not have a choice."

Four horses whinnied in unison as the driver brought the carriage to an abrupt and immediate halt.

They're dismounting, Mary reported to her husband. And... they're coming. Ohhh, Axton... I don't like this!

Axton's fingers clenched around his sword's shiny hilt, but he had no time to draw his weapon. The lady assassin knocked open the carriage door, raised her bow, and admonishingly clicked her tongue.

Nuh uh uh. No weapons, she said, pointing her arrow at Axton's sword hand. This will be much less painful if you do as I say.

While her arrow was fixed on Axton, the male assassin reached into the carriage and claimed their target's sword.

I'm Vala. He's Wilhelm, the lady introduced them. Remember our names, and feel free to share them. Our jobs get better as our fame increases.

Vala's voice softened when four-year-old Milla started to cry. The little girl balled her fists, rubbed her eyes, and unleashed a shuddering wail.

Aww. Don't cry, girl, Vala said. We're not here to hurt you. We're not bad people, I swear.

"That's debatable, Axton muttered. I know you're here to kill me. My wife had her doubts,  but I knew you were coming."

Wilhelm hopped into the carriage, sat next to Milla, and tried to distract her from her tears. What's your name? he asked.

Milla.

What's her name? He pointed at the rag doll in Milla's lap.

Milla's nose was already clogged when she answered, D-Dolly.

That's cute. No name's more appropriate than that. Wilhelm's gaze wandered back to Vala, and he said, I don't think we should kill the man in front of his daughter.

You shouldn't! Axton agreed. Do you want to traumatize a child for life? Even assassins can't be completely heartless, can they?

When Mary spoke, her voice was ice cold. Milla isn't your daughter.

What an awful thing to say! Axton inserted a whimper so dramatic, even the devil would pity him. I'm the man who provides for her. I care for her, I love her. I am her father in all but—

"Love her? Snide chuckles poured through Mary's lips. A moment ago, before the assassins came, you were saying she was not your daughter."

Are you trying to get me killed, Mary? Axton asked. "I always knew you were a stupid bitch, but I didn't realize you were that stupid."

While both assassins had their attention on his sobbing step-daughter, Axton kicked open the carriage door and scrambled outside. He didn't get far. Two seconds into his sprint, Wilhelm tackled him, and Vala's arrow was back in his face.

Should I loose my arrow and get this over with? Vala asked.

I don't know, Wilhelm said. Maybe we should drag him a bit further away? Even if that girl isn't his daughter, it seems wrong to kill a man in front of a small child.

Really? Vala raised a thick eyebrow. I didn't think you'd care about something like that.

Normally, I wouldn't, but... Wilhelm shook his head. Lately, I've been asking myself... what would Kylin want me to do?

Good lord. Vala groaned. "That girl has really gotten to you, hasn't she? She's turned you soft."

I don't think so, her brother protested. "If I'd gone completely soft, I would find a new occupation. I do think we should carry him away before we finish him off, though. I wouldn't want to be the cause of a little girl's nightmares."

Vala fired her arrow before her brother could sway her. Oops. Too late, she said. Look, I landed a head shot. Not bad, eh?

Wilhelm had no praise for her—only a scowl. He shook his head and marched away to apologize to Axton's family.

Chapter Two

A WHOOP OF EXCITEMENT echoed as Vala and Wilhelm boarded the ship with their steeds. It came from Rai, who raced around in circles when he saw the majestic beasts. Kylin, who was standing behind him, shook her head at Rai's excessive zeal.

Horses! Rai cried. I didn't know you had horses!

Wilhelm stopped to let Rai pet his mare, while Vala headed below deck with her mount. The horse had to bow his head as he clopped down the stairs.

Of course. We often need the horses for missions, Wilhelm said. Actually, we have a small stable in the basement. There are horses, chickens... and two goats, if you can believe it.

I want to see the goats! Rai exclaimed. "Will you take me to see them? Please?"

Sure. Wilhelm put a hand on Rai's shoulder and led him in the direction of the stairs. At the same time, he motioned for Kylin to follow. While the assassins were away, Kylin and her brother were trying to fish, but their net never hauled up anything better than seaweed.

I like goats. They're one of my favorite animals, Rai said. They have funny eyes... and have you ever seen one jumping around? It's hilarious.

Tizzy and Laurel won't be doing much jumping, I'm afraid. They're quite old, Wilhelm said. I do have a young dog, though. His name's Giorgio. Ever since Kylin boarded the ship, he's lived in the stables with the rest of the animals. He's a natural born hunter, so I had to keep him away. I thought he might be tempted to chase a fox.

Rai chuckled at Wilhelm's reply. Yeah... I've been chased by a few dogs before. It's not fun.

Kylin chimed in, "We weren't chased by dogs, Rai. Those were wolves. We lived in the forest. You can't find domesticated dogs in the forest."

Really? Rai cocked his head. I didn't know those were wolves. That's scary.

Wilhelm studied Rai's clothes—though it might have been more accurate to call them rags. It had been six