Something like a spell that causes "spontaneous human Combustion". A spell that needs sneak to get in close enough and is deadly from close range (like a dagger get massive bonuses) but doesn't cause the player to be detected. That or invisible fireballs.
We have illusion magic such as muffle and invisibilty that can also provide a means for an assassin to take the route of magic over agility based skills. Its just the killing that is missing.