The bodies lay scattered across the chamber, their blood pooling on the pristine marble floor. Asher wiped his dagger clean on one of the attackers' cloaks, his mind churning. These men weren't palace guards, nor did they belong to the Shadow Court. They had been too uncoordinated for the Court's assassins and too well-equipped for common thieves.
"Who were they?" Asher demanded, his voice sharp.
Alaric knelt beside one of the corpses, inspecting the insignia on the attacker's armor. His expression darkened as he recognized the mark—a red, three-pronged crest.
"Mercenaries," the king said grimly. "Hired by someone with enough gold and hatred to bypass my guards."
Asher frowned. "Mercenaries don't come for kings without cause. Who wants you dead?"
Alaric straightened, brushing the dust from his hands. "Half the kingdom, I suspect." His tone was light, but his eyes betrayed the weight of the truth. "But if I had to guess, these men were sent by one of the lords opposing my reforms. Many aren't pleased that I've been dismantling their… lucrative arrangements."
"Reforms," Asher echoed, his tone dripping with skepticism. "You mean stripping power from the nobles so you can play savior to the common folk?"
Alaric's gaze met his, steady and unyielding. "Exactly. Or do you disapprove of a king who wants to undo centuries of corruption?"
Asher didn't answer. His entire existence had been shaped by the cruelty of the nobles Alaric sought to defang. And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that the king's idealism was either genuine—or incredibly naive.
"You're still breathing," Asher said flatly. "Consider that my approval for now."
Alaric smirked. "A high compliment from the Shadow Court's deadliest assassin."
The sound of approaching footsteps cut their exchange short. Asher instinctively shifted into the shadows, his dagger ready.
"It's my captain," Alaric said quickly, raising a hand to still him.
Moments later, a man in armor burst into the chamber, sword drawn. He froze at the sight of the carnage, his wide eyes darting from the bodies to the king.
"Your Majesty!" the captain exclaimed. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Captain Marlow," Alaric said smoothly. "But your timing leaves much to be desired."
Marlow's jaw tightened, his gaze flicking to Asher. "Who is this?"
"A new… ally," Alaric said, his tone casual.
Asher stepped forward, his movements calculated and deliberate. "Don't mistake me for one of your men, Captain," he said coldly. "I'm no ally to anyone."
Marlow's hand tightened on his sword, but Alaric held up a hand. "Enough. Marlow, I'll need a full report on the palace security lapse. I trust you'll handle it?"
Marlow hesitated, his distrust of Asher plain, but he nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty."
Once the captain was gone, Asher turned back to Alaric. "You've painted a target on your back with these reforms. If the nobles want you dead, it's only a matter of time before they succeed."
"Which is why I need you," Alaric said, stepping closer. "Your skills, your connections—you could protect me in ways no guard ever could. And in return, I'll give you something the Shadow Court never will."
"And what's that?" Asher asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
"Freedom," Alaric said simply.
The word hit Asher harder than he expected. Freedom. The idea of a life without chains, without the constant weight of orders and threats, was almost laughable.
"You're asking me to betray the only people I've ever known," Asher said, his tone sharp. "And for what? A chance to serve you instead?"
Alaric's gaze softened, though his determination didn't waver. "Not to serve. To choose. Stay with the Shadow Court, and you'll be nothing more than their tool, used and discarded. But if you join me, you can forge your own path."
Asher's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "You make it sound so simple."
"It's not," Alaric admitted. "But nothing worth having ever is."
The room fell silent, the weight of the proposition hanging heavy in the air. For a moment, Asher considered walking away, disappearing into the night and leaving the king to fend for himself.
But something held him there, a thread he couldn't quite sever.
"Fine," Asher said at last. "I'll stay. For now."
Alaric's smile was slight, but triumphant. "That's all I need."