Chapter 1 THE ASSIGNMENT

CHAPTER ONE

"Comm. Check. Adam, come in?" I said over the traffic noise I was hearing through the small device hidden in my ear.

"Roger that," Adam said from his safe distance behind the old shipping warehouse a few blocks away.

I pulled the leather coat up tighter around my neck as a woman and child passed me on the street beneath the Dark Fortress. I'd been given an unusual assignment from Gerald, the leader of the Guild, where I worked.

Break in and steal the Dark Prince of the Fae's crown. Normally, given my history, I'd have walked away or given this particular assignment over to another from the Guild. But Gerald , the Guild leader, had demanded it be me who took it. It was an overly risky and stupid assignment as far as I was concerned, but I had no say in the matter.

Adam and I typically worked as enforcers and assassins for an organization of Witches that kept Otherworld creatures on the right track and out of the local newspapers. Thirty- some years ago, those of the Otherworld crept out of the shadows and made it known to the Human race that they were no longer alone here on earth.

Of course, Witches had always been among them, but we'd been content just to watch from the shadows. Until the Fae who, taking matters into their own hands, came out and let the Humans know they were no longer the top of the food chain. It had changed everything. Governments were now run with the help of the Otherworlders.

It had been a huge adjustment for the Humans, but, eventually, most had come to terms with it, and those that were considered royalty of the Otherworld creatures had been given safe passage, as well as diplomatic immunity. Even now, I was walking on sovereign land that had been legally declared a section of Faery.

Normally, my job was supposed to be easy-enforce the laws and protect Humankind from becoming food for the Otherworld creatures. Today, it wasn't that simple. I was stepping out of my comfort zone and into the realm of the Fae, where no Human rules could be applied. If I failed, they could kill me, and no one would ever know.

It was a small price to pay for what I had been given. When I was young, my parents had been brutally murdered by the Fae. I'd gone to live inside the safety of the Guild soon after and, while it hadn't been ideal, it had become my home.

I had more than what most orphaned children had, and I'd been trained to take my place among the Guild. We were taught that life wasn't about being selfish, it was about giving back to those who needed it or those who couldn't protect themselves from the deadly creatures who wanted to feed off of them. That's where I come in. I keep them safe, even if they never realize it. I'm not looking for payback or gratitude; I'm in it to keep this world safe.

I turned, watching the wide glass doors open as an entourage of Otherworld beings that guarded the Dark Prince emerged from the embassy. Ryan was reported to be a notorious playboy-right up until last week when he announced his engagement to the Heir of the Light Fae who had seemingly appeared out of thin air.

The Fae normally kept their lives out of the spotlight, but this story had hit every major newspaper around the world in a matter of hours. It wasn't every day that the Fae announced weddings, or anything for that matter, and this one was going up on a grand scale. Two royal houses combining together was big Fae business. The papers loved it.

"I've got movement; seven guards and a male in a dark leather trench. They're heading for the black limo, over," I said, pulling my magic around me and making myself look like one of the everyday Humans on the street just milling about for a paper or a look at the royal Prince.

One of the challenges for the Guild was how little we knew about the Fae. They were incredibly secretive, and what we did know came from rumors. The Dark and Light Fae were friendlier with the Humans. However, there was grapevine chatter that there were other castes of the Fae that we had less information on. There was even one caste called the Horde that was supposed to be the stuff of nightmares, and there were whispers that the Horde King had gone walkabout a little over twenty years ago.

Without a guiding hand on that group, who knows what kind of trouble could happen? As it was, there were hints coming back to the Guild of skirmishes within the Fae castes, and this was probably why we were experiencing such an increase in the Fae population in our world.

The secrecy just contributed to the problems. Some Humans were infatuated with the Fae; others were simply terrified. It was a mess and some just wanted the Otherworld creatures to pack up and leave our world, or be shipped to camps where they could be monitored. Bad idea. They're powerful, immortal, and, even with the sheer number of Witches being trained, it would be an all-out bloody war if we tried it.

The comm device in my ear hit static before Adam's voice came out clear. "Confirmed. It's the Prince. You are clear to engage, Clara. Chandra's in play now, as well. Good luck."

I let out a shaky exhale. No one had ever tried this before, nor should they. It was basically suicide. There was a reason this embassy was called the Dark Fortress.

Five hundred highly-trained Fae reportedly guarded this Fortress. Our sources told us the crown was inside a vault that had one of the most deadly security systems known to every Otherworld creature.

I placed my finger to my ear. "Are we sure it was the RP?"

"Confirmed, Clara-be careful. There's no contingency plan," Adam replied quietly.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," I said with more bravado than I was currently feeling.

If I got caught, we cut ties. I would be stuck at the mercy of the Fae who were notorious for not having any. I waited until the door opened once more, slipping in as a tall blonde walked out with a radiant smile on her face.

The Fae were beautiful, ethereal creatures. Many had taken jobs as movie stars or models. They were the ideal creatures to be on the posters representing the Otherworld beings as they never aged. Timeless beauty frozen right around the age of thirty.

I scanned the room and found two sets of elevators against the far wall. There were guards stationed in front of the one I needed to get on. I scanned the faces of the Fae guards who were armed to the teeth and dripping with testosterone. I checked the rest of the lobby before heading to the front desk. I had on a long, flowing skirt that made me look similar to the only woman working in the lobby of the Dark Fortress.