Angel's Assassin by Laurel O'Donnell

Hands rose up so conversations could
continue in hushed voices behind these discreet barriers. Bodies
shifted subtly to face them, continuing to turn as they moved
deeper into the vast space.
    Damien’s gaze swept the crowded hall. Scents
of venison and rich wine floated in the air. Aurora moved toward a
table, greeting one of the occupants, an elderly woman. Damien
moved with her, her escort, an honored guest. The title was a
mockery of who he really was.
    He searched the shadows and corners for the
assassin he knew lurked nearby, letting his gaze take in the
surrounding faces. Some watched him as well. And in their eyes was
no form of welcome. Suspicion. Jealousy. Contempt.
    “Damien,” Aurora called and held out a hand
to him.
    He moved up beside her and her hand touched
his arm, sending warmth radiating through his body.
    “Hannah,” she said, “this is Damien.”
    The old woman smiled at him, a gap toothed
grin. Wrinkles lined her eyes as she surveyed him. “The young man
who saved you.”
    Aurora nodded.
    Damien inclined his head in greeting.
    “We are so lucky you were in the village this
morning,” the old woman said, patting his hand. “Saving Aurora. You
are a very brave man.”
    Damien nodded, watching as Aurora swept past
him when another woman called out to her from a table length
away.
    From the back of the room, servants balancing
trays of mugs and goblets filtered through the swarm of seated
people. Damien quickly spotted Marie as she came toward them.
    “Come to Acquitaine for the cider?” Hannah
wondered.
    “No,” Damien answered, watching Marie move
closer to him. She was carrying a tray with about ten goblets of
wine. As she came to the table they were at, she began handing them
out, randomly setting goblets before each person. A gleam of sweat
lined her brow.
    “Did you come for the famous Acquitaine
bread?” Hannah asked.
    “No,” Damien answered.
    Marie rounded the table, passing Damien. She
paused to hand Hannah a goblet. Five goblets were left on the tray.
Something caught his attention, but Marie moved on. It was the
center goblet. Inner alarms sounded through his mind. He had seen
something amiss, but could not exactly place it.
    “Then what did you come to our village for?”
Hannah wondered.
    Marie walked toward Aurora, who was still
talking with others at a nearby table.
    Damien turned his back to Hannah, his gaze
focused on Marie. She reached past two goblets that were positioned
on the tray closest to her, grabbing for the center goblet. She
handed that goblet to Aurora.
    Damien moved instantly, stalking towards
Aurora.
    Aurora’s hand closed over the goblet handle
as she smiled a thank you at Marie.
    His walk turned into a rush and he charged
forward. “Stop!” he shouted.
    Aurora lifted the cup to her lips as she
turned towards the sound of his voice.
    He wasn’t going to make it.
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    D amien swiped
a hand across the goblet, sending it flying through the air. It
thunked against the wall, the wine splattering along the stones
with a violent splash of red spray. The dark liquid dripped down
and disappeared amongst the rushes on the floor. One of the castle
hounds padded over to the spill and began licking the wine from the
wall.
    Aurora stood absolutely still, her blue eyes
wide. Her hand was still raised where she had lifted the goblet,
her fingers now empty.
    Around her, the room exploded into chaos.
Knights rushed Damien, pushing him back, hooking their arms through
his to pull him away from her. One knight drew his sword.
    “No!” Aurora screamed, grabbing the knight’s
arm.
    Damien was shouting something, but Aurora
couldn’t hear what it was through the pounding of blood in her ears
and the shouts around her.
    “Stop!” she ordered in her most authoritative
voice. The knight hesitated, a scowl on his brow, but he relaxed,
lowered his sword, and then nodded at her. Aurora turned to
Damien.
    He surged forward, his lips grit. The