The Shadow Mistress

"Who do you choose Rayla?" comes Akatsuki's voice, "The people who took you in, away from your resentful family or the people who accepted you and cared for you even after all the things you did. Choose wisely Raylana, because once you decide, that decision will be final."

I look at two groups beside me. One of which I have lived with for the past twenty-five years and the others that have made me what I am now. I look at my father with his outstretched hand who has raised me with a care that I didn't know I needed and then I look at Jake with his out-stretched hand who could possibly be my mate and who took care of me and vouchered for me, even after all the things I had done.
I lift my hand up and extend it to the group of people I chose, "I choose..."

Life was always perfect for Christina Sullivan until her ninth birthday when she accidentally lights her house on fire. Now eleven years old, she is abandoned by her family and is forced to join a group of assassins and their Sire, Akatsuki Hassildor. Given a new identity and a new life, Christina now Raylana Sullivan has to pass the brutal training to become the best assassin Akatsuki has ever made. Will she make it and become the Shadow Mistress, or will she break under the pressure?
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Depictions of violence and child abuse.