The King's Harem

Chapter 27

"It didn't take any of you dying to realize you loved each other,"

"That is not necessarily true...

Tori

Life was abnormal for me from the beginning. I was born somewhere between the border of Galginash and the Morrowlands. My parents could not be bothered to care for me, so they left me with a woman in the Marrowlands. I stayed there until I was three years old. Then my parents showed up without notice killing the woman and taking me with them. From then on I was groomed to be an assassin. My parents worked for the King.

I had other siblings I knew nothing about. I vaguely remember other children a lot of them. We were trained together and tested each week, I was not sure if they were my actual siblings or not. At that point, it did not matter.

Our training was rural and if a child failed they would disappear.

I had no idea what that meant but I started to notice they would be lured out during the night never to be seen again. I took that as motivation never to fail a test. In the end, I was the only one left. When I was 10 years old I was sent on my first mission. It was simple, I was to kill a local lord.

It was night and the rain was pouring down heavily. I was drenched as I lifted the heavy golden knocker and slammed it against the door a few times.

After a few moments, someone answered. He was tall and slim and looked to be in his seventies.

"May I help you young man?" he asked me

"I'm lost I can't find my parents," I said simply schooling my face to appear almost scared.

"Oh, dear poor boy please come in out of the rain," The old man gestured. I knew he was not my target, just a butler doing his job. My real target sat in a sitting room right off the foyer. A pipe in his hand and his head in a book.

"Oscar who was that?" he asked not looking up.

"A small boy, he is lost it would seem," Oscar answered.

The man finally looked up and it was confirmed. Lord Gilrich Elroy, my target, was sitting right in front of me.

"Well, that won't do at all, son. Oscar gets him some dry clothes and put him in one of the guest rooms for the night. We shall find his folks in the morning," Lord Elroy ordered

Oscar nodded and quickly ushered me up the stairs. He made me a bath and left me clean clothing. Once he left me alone I put my plan into action. I warmed up in the tub and quickly dried and dressed. I waited patiently in my room until I knew for a fact everyone was asleep. In the dead of night, I slipped out of the room a sharp object in hand. I tiptoed down the hall to the stairs. My Intel stated his room was on the third floor last room on the left. I quickly made my way making sure not to make any noise.

The hall was slightly illuminated due to the moonlight through the large windows. Once at the door I slowly crept it open. Their snoring sounding in bed was my target. His wife was out of town for while. She made sure to do so, we let her know we do not do cover-ups or alibis. She promised to be gone. I tip-toed to the bed staring at the man. His throat was exposed and he looked so peaceful.

"I'm real sorry mister," I whispered before slashing the knife into his throat. It slipped through like a warm knife through butter.

That was my first time and I would never forget it. As I grew I became more requested

. Soon I was working for many high-profile people in the capital city. After that, I was working for the King exclusively. With that came a permanent residence in the palace and with that came the inevitable meeting between Prince Ari and me.

I was enamored with him the first time I saw him. A man so beautiful he almost brought tears to my eyes. Though that might be an exaggeration, he quickly became a light in my world of darkness. All I knew was death and solitude. Prince Ari was warm and kind and he was so clearly in love with someone already, or multiple someones. The more time I spent with them the deeper I fell for them, but I knew they only saw me as a friend.

Things turned around when I was given a mission by the King to kill an important council member in a foreign country.

I was to go undercover in another kingdom and was gone a long time. Once my mission was complete I was able to return. Upon my return, I was greeted with surprise.

Especially by Prince Ari.

"Tori?" He questioned the second he saw me. Almost immediately he gathered me in his arms. Before I could speak his lips were on mine and I could feel the wetness from his tears.

As it turns out the King was convinced I would get caught in my mission and sentenced to death, so he told everyone I was dead. Ari had a funeral for me and everything. I was surprised because I had not felt love like that since I was still with the woman from the Marrowlands. 

After I told Allayna my story I felt good, to be honest with her. But I also knew I was not completely honest....

Once again I found myself in the king's study a grim look on his face.

"I need you to kill two very important this time," He started

"Yes, your majesty," I answered

"My son shall choose a woman to join his harem. Once he does there is a plan in the works. The job is simple Tori my boy. The moment this woman has reunited her two kingdoms and steps into the golden hall of kings, you are to cut her down,"

"Who is this woman?"

"Her name is Allayna, Allayna Steelewater."