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The Royal Target
House of Sozzini, Book 1

Prologue

“Again.” I’ve heard that word so many times throughout my training that the mantra of it has become ingrained in my subconscious, even when I sleep at night. 

 

“Again.” Good, but not great. 

 

“Again.” Great, but not perfect. 

 

“Again.” For the mission, it has to be perfect. 

 

“Again.” There are no second chances on a quest this dangerous. 

 

“Again.” Only the best get to go, and I’ve proven through the grit of sore muscles and achy bones that no one else but me has the tenacity to succeed and survive. 

 

Dario hands me my water bottle after the round of drills through the military-style obstacle course. Given the twists and turns that exist on the streets of our city, it’s not hard to imagine the types of escapes I might have to pull off for the mission. Climbing over walls isn’t out of the question for me. Some agents are sent as spies to collect information, but my training is specialized. 

 

The Resistance officially formed when those who were questioning the validity of the monarchy united and chose a leader. Their distrust stirred them to calculated action when King Vincenzo attacked a powerful duke’s estate. Initially, the organization was backed by an unnamed noble family, but several others have joined since. They strategically established their headquarters in the island city of Venezia on the opposite coast of the royal castle. Though I’m curious about the locations and titles of our allies, knowing wouldn’t be relevant to my current life. Given the risk that I could be captured on my mission, I shouldn’t know those details. The King of Lazio doesn’t seem to take kindly to possible betrayers. All I can guess is that my biological parents were caught in the crossfire. 

 

I was eight when the Resistance decided to recruit me for their school and training program. Every year, my class would undergo a strict evaluation, one that always cuts the remaining group in half. By the time I was sixteen, I was the only remaining candidate. In hindsight, that was the easy part. When all the training—all the pressure—was focused on one point, it forced me to either break or do what it took to get stronger. I quickly learned that the best way to survive is to make sure that breaking is never an option. Though he’s the last person to show me sympathy six days of the week, it’s on the seventh day, my designated rest and recovery day, that Dario transforms from my relentless coach into one of my two best friends. 

 

The Resistance assigned Dario as my guide, and at the same time, I was given high-level information about my ultimate mission. He was my mentor when I started the training program, but the mission demanded a new level of commitment. By choosing my close friend, they were betting that he would know exactly how to push me to my greatest potential in a way that a stranger would take months to figure out. Dario is often kind, but he’s also stubborn and resilient. Six days of strength training, cardio endurance, archery, shooting range, hand-to-hand combat, and memorizing every nook and cranny of the capital city are routinely followed by a day off. Holidays are no exception. Although I thrive under the pressure, I live for those days off.

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