The sun had barely begun to cast its heavy, violet light over the Great Palace when the glowing financial ledger was dropped onto the mahogany table.
Lexianna stood over the wood, her silver eyes scanning the demonic parchment with the practiced, ruthless speed of an auditor dismantling a fraudulent expense report.
The Shadow Guard knelt on the floor on the opposite side of the table, a shifting, formless mass of dark mist and lethal intent.
"Lord Vane," the assassin rasped, his voice sounding like two stones grinding together. "A minor noble from the eastern territories. His accounts were near default three days ago. Yesterday afternoon, a deposit of ten thousand red gemstones was anonymously routed through a merchant guild directly to his primary estate."
Lexianna traced the glowing ink with her perfectly manicured fingernail.
