She’d seen Basem as a way out of the Red Masks. Away from her fanatical father, who had raised her but did not see her as anything but the assassin he had created. She’d wanted more. And now, standing on the battleground in the wake of their victory, she understood his vision. Why he had always treated her so. A part of her still wanted to escape, but how could she be anything but this? The only thing she knew how to do was be an assassin.

And tonight, she wanted to finish it.

She’d seen Kerrigan’s red hair in the crowd. Watched her now struggle with the prince who should have hated her. He should have been on their side. Not siding with some half-Fae.

She could complete her mission.

She could kill the girl.

Father had told her to abandon the task. It had been given to her by Basem, not Father. He didn’t approve of it.

The last thing he wanted was for Kerrigan to go from being a symbol to a martyr. There would be no turning back the wave of support then. Her death could mean the end of the Red Masks.

But still, she hated her. Hated the life she had and the prince and the role in the government. How could a half-Fae have it when she didn’t?

Isa defied orders and strode across the barricade line. She would end this here, today. Then, something happened. The prince grabbed her. His black magic swept around them, and they popped out of existence.

“No!” she screamed into the crowd.

Isa whipped around, looking for them. His magic wasn’t that strong. She’d gathered from her spying that he couldn’t travel much distance at once. Which meant they might still be within reach. She could still end this if she found them. And even better, he would be depleted of his reserves.

She turned back the way she’d come and watched the smoke reappear. They’d made it across the line and into safety. Or so they thought.

She pushed past the remaining Red Masks on the line and ignored them as they tried to focus her elsewhere.

“Father’s orders,” she snapped.

Kerrigan looked around herself in terror, as she must have realized that she wasn’t completely out of danger. The prince had fallen to his knees next to her. He didn’t look like much as he was now. Not like the last time she’d gone up against him. She’d been practicing too. Maybe she’d forfeit both of their lives. Two less half-Fae sympathizers was all the better.

Kerrigan scrambled to her feet. She saw Isa coming toward her and put her hand on Fordham’s shoulder. He shook his head. He couldn’t get up to help her.

Good.

“Miss me?” Isa called to Kerrigan.