The sting of a dagger against my cheek caused my back to stiffen if only for a moment. Harsh winds rushed through my hair as the weapon lodged itself in the tree to my left. I reached up to grab the hilt with my left hand as my right moved my cloak behind my shoulder. With the dagger in hand, I spun around and swiftly sent it back in the direction it came from.

A few words played on my lips as they upturned, “That was the worst assassination attempt I’ve seen.”

The darkness seethed, and my smile grew. Before I could utter another word, a voice traveled through the shadows.

“If I intended to strike your heart, I would’ve.”

I took a daring step forward, a familiar pair of green eyes catching in the light of the moon. I wrapped my cloak around my shoulders to fend off the wind before quipping back.

“Don’t tell me you’ve grown to liking me,” I kept a smug grin on my pale face for the assassin to see. This wasn’t their first song and dance, and his excuses for missing became impossible to believe.

A snicker left his lips as he turned his head, hood hiding his entire face like usual. I hadn’t seen him up close, but his eyes were impossible to miss.

“Lady Evelyn,” his condescending tone sent a rush through her, “You’ve not swayed me even a little. What fun is it to simply kill your prey when you could taunt them first?”

I raised my eyebrows and took a couple steps forward. He didn’t move away from the tree he used as cover. “Mm. So even assassins feel bored on the hunt? Interesting.”

“Nothing wrong with keeping things fresh, lady.”

Another step forward. He still didn’t move. “You’re well mannered considering your profession.”

“Manners won’t kill anyone.”

His eyes were visible again, as was the scar that sliced over his thin lips. He was a perfect stranger, armed and threatening, but I continued to close the distance. He didn’t move away.

“What should I expect when you actually finish the job, hm?” I taunted. The man in the shadows shifted, but I didn’t flinch.

“That’s for me to know,” he took a step forward this time, face fully visible. He was covered in scars, his dark clothes were torn and tattered under his cloak, and that familiar dagger rested comfortably in his bloodstained fist. “…and for you to find out.”

When my hand reached out between the two of us, he didn’t move away. My forefinger ran along his stubbly chin, and an air of confidence surrounded me. “Well, stranger, I’ll look forward to it.”

His free hand swiftly reached out and snatched mine before I properly registered his movements. A smirk played on his scarred lips, and his eyes shone in the moonlight.

“Me too, Lady Evelyn.”