Kyren had been prepared to end it quickly. Heād done these assignments a million times, before. Sneak into the Manor, get into the room of his targetā the Dukeās sonā and end his life before anyone even knew he was there.
The lack of payment still pissed him off, but this was āa favorā for one of his bossās friends. He couldnāt exactly refuse.
What he wasnāt prepared for was finding the Dukeās son locked away in the room, covered in bruises and blood, trembling from the cold. There was an ankle chain keeping him to the bed, and he was so thin⦠Kyrenās eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.
The Dukeās son looked up, blue eyes wide with fear. He shrank back, the chain rattling softly as he did.
āP-pleaseā¦ā His voice shook when he spoke, tears in his eyes. āPlease donāt kill me.ā
Kyrenās grip on his bladeās handle loosened. āAre you Wesley?ā He asked, hoping he was wrong. The Duke was horrible, but he wouldnāt do something like this to his own son. It felt like a punch in the gut when the trembling boy nodded.
Kyren looked around at the room before spying a key on the wall, just out of the Dukeās sonās reach. He grabbed it and walked towards the bed, which made Wesley whimper and cower away.
āCalm down. Iām taking the chain off.ā
He leaned down, quickly uncuffing his ankle. It was hard not to notice the bruises, the exact size and shape of the cuff, wrapping around his skin.
A soft whimper snapped him from his thoughts. The Dukeās son was hugging his knees to his chest, shivering. After a brief hesitation, he looked up and locked eyes with the assassin. āAā¦a-are you g-going tā¦to k-kill me?ā Despite how terrified he sounded, there was almost a hopeful undertone. Like he wanted to die, but couldnāt say it.
It was a split second decision, and Kyren even surprised himself as he shook his head. āNo. Iām not. Iām going to take you with me.ā
Kyren wasnāt sure what he was expecting for a response, but it wasnāt this. The Dukeās son squeaked, shrinking away from him and furiously shaking his head. āN-no, I canāt leave! I-I canāt! My father will⦠w-will be mad!ā He cried out, starting to sob.
Kyren tensed. The sudden outburst could get him caught. He grabbed Wesleyās arm and yanked him off the bed, causing the boy to yelp loudly. His hand clamped over his mouth.
Wesley fought against his grasp, close to pulling free at one point. Kyren let out an annoyed growl and yanked out some rope. In one swift motion, he tied the Dukeās sonās wrists together in front of him.
āNo, l-let go!ā Wesley cried out again when Kyrenās hand left his mouth. āHelāmmph!ā The assassin clamped his hand back over his mouth, yanking him back. He whimpered, starting to let out muffled sobs.
āLook, you want me to kill you? Because thatās why I came here.ā His response was a quick head shake. āThen donāt fucking fight me. Iām doing you a favor here. Now come on, letās go.ā
He dragged Wesley to the balcony. āYou going to scream if I move my hand?ā The Dukeās son weakly shook his head. Kyren moved his hand, still keeping it close just in case. When he was silent, Kyren nodded in approval and pulled him up onto his back. He made sure to wrap the boyās bound arms around his neck to keep him from falling off, and then jumped.
The Dukeās son yelped, his arms tightening around the assassin as they fell towards the ground below. Kyren caught himself on a tree branch, slowly sliding them both down to the ground below. When he landed, he let out a whistle. Seconds later, a horse came galloping up, and the Dukeās son stared at it in awe.
āYou wonāt try running if I untie you?ā
Wesley looked up and shook his head. āI-Iāll bā¦be g-good.ā
With a simple nod, Kyren grabbed his knife and sliced through the rope. āHop on, before anyone sees youāre missing.ā
After several failed attempts to climb onto the horseās back, the assassin sighed and tossed him over before jumping on himself. He grabbed the reigns, the Dukeās son sitting in front of him.
āTry and keep still, so you donāt fall off. Lean back into me if you need to.ā He paused briefly, pulling off his cloak and draping it over the shivering Dukeās sonās shoulders. Once Wesley seemed comfortable enough, he sent the horse off into a run. He didnāt slow down until the palace was completely out of sight, and even then, the horse kept a steady pace. Looking down at the Dukeās son, who was now leaning against him with his eyes closed, he sighed.
What have I gotten myself into?