The Mate I was sent to Kill

I slept.

Without a nightmare. I slept soundly through the night.

I didn't know which was more surprising; that I came so hard I saw stars or having straight uninterrupted sleep.

I didn't let my thoughts distract me from doing what was necessary.

I rolled away from Zephryy's arm and hastily got dressed. I didn't know if it was any consolation that he was also deeply asleep.

I threw one last look at the male who brought out a side of me I didn't know I had. The male who got the edginess and wildness in my veins to quieten.

Immediately I stepped out the door, my mask slid in place. I was the Xanda in charge again. Last night was over and would never repeat itself.

Chin jutted forward, I strode purposely out of the nightclub.

Out in the streets, my lips curved up approvingly when people scurried out of my path. As it should be.

I hailed a cab and enjoyed the ride home in silence.

I alighted at my apartment and let myself in.

All plans to quietly go into my room fled at the sight of Iris.

She whistled and sang to herself as she deep cleaned the living room.

"Xanda!" Her face lit up in excitement when she saw me. "How was work? Was it okay?" She chewed her lips. "I mean, it was successful right?"

Iris knew about my line of work. She had run into Mazedon a few times and she had been exposed to what we do. I knew she hated my job and worried for me but tried to play it cool.

I ran a hand though my wavy hair, pulling it back into a ponytail. "I didn't go to work," I told her.

"You weren't?" Her eye widened. "Where were you?"

"No where important," I grumbled, making my way to my room.

I wasn't prepared for the body that barreled into me. I swerved too late, causing both of us to fall.

"Xanda," Iris screamed, laughing as I righted us. She placed her hands on her waist, pushing out her chest. "Miss bad and dangerous. You don't get to brush me off," she warned.

Despite myself, I chuckled. "Did you just try to look intimidating?"

"Xanda!" She giggled. "I'm serious. Spill."

"Nothing gets pass you does it?" I brushed a stray strand from her hair. "What gave me away?"

"Apart from your ruffled look?" She tilted her head sideways. "You blushed."

"I do not blush," I growled.

"Okay, okay." She raised her palm. "Was it Ted?"

"It wasn't."

"Goddamn you, why are you so tight lipped?" She muttered. "How was the sex? At least give me that."

"Explosive," I answered truthfully, escaping her claws to my room.

Her soft laughter bounced through the walls of our apartment. "Anyway, your phone has been ringing nonstop," she shouted after me.

It was true. Mazedon had almost blown up my phone with calls.

It had to be an emergency if the boss called himself.

I didn't bother with a change of clothes, I grabbed a protein bar and my special milkshake from the kitchen fridge and headed to the Vault.

From outside, the Vault was a crumbling estate with peeling paint. The glass deliberately left translucent was actually bullet proof.

On the inside, it had arch and passageways that led to an underground training grid.

I nodded at Kerry, a roguish human male and went in search of Mazedon.

"Is Don in?" I asked the red head at the reception.

"Xanda," he waved at me. "He is in the den."

I took off to the part of the underground which was filled with different sizes of armor.

The boss sat behind a recliner, toying with a part of a dagger. Bray and a strange male talked in hush times with him.

"Don." I bowed slightly.

"Lyxanda," he didn't raise his voice. He never did. "You went after Kallas."

Shit, he was angry. "I had to," I said quietly.

"What was my order?"

I swallowed. "To let him be for now."

"You're testing my patience, Lyxanda."

My fingers curled into fists by my side. "He killed my brother!"

Mazedon clicked his fingers and the men left immediately.

"You will not question my order," he told me.

Feeling the stirring of that wildness in my veins, I closed my eyes, willing myself to calm down. "Sorry, boss."

His eyes flashed and I reared back. What more would he be angry about?

"Last night, you didn't let Rex assist."

Fuck, that was what he was on about? The bastard had ratted me out.

"I did until I got in. I later handled it perfectly."

"Perfectly?" He threw he dagger and it flew past my ear and embedded in the wall behind me.

I didn't flinch.

"Just five minutes after you left, the sheriff and his boys pulled up into the baron's driveway." He leaned forward,  picking another wicked gleaming pot. "Do you know what that means? A minute more and you'd be busted."

"The baron's dead," I said flatly.

"Yeah after you let your emotions get the best of you and chopped his manly part."

I bit my cheeks, resisting the urge to laugh.

"Lyxanda!"

I burst out laughing. "I'm sorry, okay," I said between feats of laughter.  "I couldn't help it," I told him.

His gaze turned soft. "Put your head in the game, you can't afford to lose it."

"I get it, Don."

His voice lowered. "You loyal with your suppressant?"

I bristled with irritation. I hated it when he started to act like I could break at any point. "I take care of myself just fine."

He straightened and threw a file at me.

"There, I wanted to give the mission to Rex but the client requested specially that you do it."

I raised a brow.

"Yeah," he shrugged. "You're fast making a name for yourself out there. They call you the black huntress."

That wasn't new. I was pleased that I was making wave out there but I was disgruntled that the Don still preferred Rex taking a job to me.

It grated on my nerves that I wasn't his go to person and he trusted Rex to do a cleaner job.

"Zephryy Ashwood," Don gestured to the file. "Wanted dead in two weeks.

I opened the file. A look at the picture attached and I froze, muscles locking in place as all the colour drained from my face.

"..Has a tight security detail so you have to draw a fast plan to get close," Don was still speaking. "You up for it?"