A Forbidden Fate (A Forbidden Fate Series Book 1)

by Kaven Hirning

“For you, above all, know how important my sleep is to me.” He huffs a laugh of sorts, then faces me. “Just like your mother,” he says. He meets my gaze and half smiles.

Lin says as he stands and shakes the dirt from his rear.

Typical. Torrent, the great hulk of rage and death, with the blood of his enemies dripping from his sword, freeing an animal caught in our mayhem. He always does this and, when questioned, only shrugs. “Why should they suffer for the sins of their riders?”

She’s…gorgeous. The kind of beauty that knocks a grown man to his knees. The kind a kingdom would worship.

“That’s right, Little Sparrow. It’s the man you almost married. Have you missed me?”

As I pass him, the young Prince leans in close to my ear and whispers. “By the way, you really shouldn’t listen to Teddy. That’s definitely not how heirs are made.”

I want to kiss him. Even if I’m not sure how.

The animals’ fate and the night’s horrors have worn at her face, but she’s still beautiful. Unfortunately.

I sigh heavily. “I’m finding it extremely difficult to believe you can play nice for even a moment.” She tucks a curl behind her ear. “I’m finding it extremely difficult to believe you can wipe your own ass.”

If she can’t touch my skin, I won’t give her the satisfaction of getting underneath it.

I smile at their stupidity. Braizen puffs himself up as if to reprimand me, but I speak before he can open his mouth. “So, the rumors are false then? Baellileans do know how to shut their mouths. My father will be shocked to learn this!”

“What!?” Torrent rages and stalks past Braizen. “Braze, don’t you dare humor this conniving little bitch! She’s trying to trick us!” My mouth tenses at the word, and Braizen notices. He turns to Torrent. “Speak like that to her again, and I’ll cut out your tongue,” he says in a low growl.

My jaw drops, and I take a step back. “You think what suits me? My wounds?!” I ask sharply. A small laugh escapes him as he lifts himself back onto the carriage. “Wounds from a fight are just reminders,” he answers coolly. “Reminders that we care enough about something to fight for it.”

Idalia giggles when he passes it to her, then looks right at me. Her eyes are wide and bright; her smile takes over most of her face. I decide that I’ll do whatever I can to make her smile like this more often.

My grin widens and pulls to the right. When I’m King, mutton will always be seasoned just the way we like it.

I scowl, wishing with everything inside me that we could touch, just long enough for my hand to strike his cocky face.

“No offense, but your descriptions could use some work.” Nuri’s plump face turns to him. “No offense, but so could your people skills.”

“Tying me up will no longer be necessary, thank you.” I stalk away, keeping a safe distance from the hatchet woman, who looks ready to swing at my neck.

The crowd is loud, and my stomach begins to roil, my head spins. They cheer, but some faces look less than satisfied with me. Women in green grimace in disgust as if I’m a rotting carcass in their midst. Men dressed in red eye me with evident discomfort. Even our nobles dressed in blue appear vexed. My throat closes in; I’ve failed to make them all happy. He grabs my hand and squeezes. I squeeze back.

An arm reaches out and closes in on my abdomen. Before I can exhale, he’s holding me to his chest. “What happened?” Braizen whispers. I bury my face in his chest and whimper. “Nothing. Not really. I got spooked by a guest.” “You’re safe now, Sparrow,” he assures me while stroking my hair.

He slows his pace though the music doesn’t, and I realize what’s happening. He’s leaning forward now, and his eyes close. His mouth puckers. I swallow the nervous lump forming in my throat, nerves buzzing in a chaotic symphony. I am apprehensive about doing such a thing in front of so many people, but at the same time, I want to. I want to kiss him, and I resolve that it might be romantic to share our first kiss during our first dance. I lean in and feel his warm lips draw near.

His hands cup my cheeks, and his bright eyes dart between my own. “Are you hurt?” He whispers. “No, but my mother…” I can’t finish the sentence. I can’t bring myself to utter the words.

Both kings look confused; the crowd begins to murmur. Braizen squeezes my hand, but his gesture doesn’t remove my fear this time. This old woman intimidated me before; now, I’m terrified.

“Look at how he cares for the girl already,” she titters. “Do you see, Kings? Do you now understand what you have done? Your Kingdoms would have thrived under their rule and grown as a great, unmovable tree. But now? Because of your unrighteousness and inequities, they will never get the chance to bloom.”

“I curse your children, the blood of your blood, the heirs to your thrones. I curse their love, and I take no pity on them!” she proclaims. She glances between Braizen and me, and a mocking smile creeps across her face.

The Lady raises her arms and cries, “Should Idalia Hyland and Braizen Brader ever touch, they will die, and their Kingdoms will fall with them.”

Lorna gawks, and I laugh. I’m not alone; Idalia covers her mouth as giggles spill from her.

Idalia kicks off her shoes and dances with the tall woman, smiling and clapping to Torrent and Nuri’s song. Her laugh spills from her like liquid. If only I had a cup, I’d gladly scoop it up and merrily drink it.

“Enough distance?” He smiles, and I turn to meet his arrogant stare. “I suppose. Unless the cliff decides to crumble, and we meet at the bottom.” “In that case…” He scooches another inch away from me. “How about that?” I expel a heavy breath that comes out as a laugh. “Perfect.”

“Duck!” Braizen shouts. Instinct takes over, and my head swoops down as a small dagger spirals overhead and pierces the beast in one eye. It yelps, violently shaking its giant head. “Get up!” Braizen yells. “I can’t carry you! Get up and run back to the lights. Now!”

“He wouldn’t let her body be carried behind us. He said it wasn’t honorable. Nor did he trust anyone else to bring her home, not after what happened. So, he sat her next to me in the carriage, where she’d be safe.” Braizen’s breath hitches, and he drops the shoe string.

“You rode home with her body,” he murmurs. “My gods. It’s no wonder you hate us.” “Please, Braizen. Anything else.” My mouth quivers, and I clamp my lips tight and frown so I don’t break into sobs. “Anything else,” I repeat, and my voice wavers.

Idalia looks sick, her fair skin turning even paler as the conversation goes on. I can barely stand the sight of it.

Idalia pushes back from the table, and her chair crashes. She runs towards the cobble path that leads back to the clay homes.

I scowl, then turn on my heel to follow Idalia.

I grunt, picking away at the tiny gravel imprinted in my palm. I’m embarrassed for the way I spoke too freely last night, utterly humiliated I let him into that secret place. All the while, he was planning on hand delivering me to his father. Gods, I hate him. I hate him!

“But if Mineas can only send themselves back, that would make me…” I pause and hold up one finger as if to stop my thought. She chuckles under her breath. “A Minea? Yes, I suppose it does.”

None wanted to drink as much as I did, laugh as loudly, or talk as much. None were like him, the bastard. That rotten, filthy tongued, uninhibited, untamed, undeniably gorgeous bastard.

“The Great Darkness is in your blood, Idalia. Should you choose to face your fate, you will not survive it. However, should you choose to ignore your fate, the world will be swallowed whole, and all light shall pass away.”

“Where is she?” I demand. My voice is harsh, but they don’t seem to notice.

I remain silent, but Lin sees the look in my eyes and draws a long, unsteady breath. “Lady and Guard,” he whispers. “You don’t plan to take her to your father, do you?”

Lin jumps, and I whip my head to see her standing on the path. The sleeves of her tunic are pulled down, and her hair is half pinned back. She looks stunning. She looks dangerous. I eye the others, signaling them to say nothing of our conversation.

“You know, you’re pretty fast for someone so small,” Torrent says with a wide grin as he joins us. Idalia coughs out a laugh. “I’m full of surprises, as you should know by now.” “Aye, I do know,” Torrent cheekily agrees.

There’s something different in her tone. Almost as if she’s been drinking in the Minea’s house. I flash her a cocky smile and shrug. “I don’t see why not. A few days here wouldn’t be so bad. Why? Are you in a hurry to get somewhere, Little Sparrow?” I eye her, not knowing where we stand. Surely she’s still furious that I was working for my father, but her face looks calm. Happy, even.

Nuri speaks with Rianne in hushed whispers. Idalia is smiling, perched on the grass beside the dancers. She claps her hands and laughs as the Idunn villagers twirl, and Torrent almost squashes them all. I don’t mean to stare at her, but I can’t help it.

She’s watching me, and I can see from her expression that she heard the entire conversation. A single tear drips down her cheek. She sits near the lavender thickets, her legs curled to the side, her hair uncoiling over one shoulder. I'd paint this image if I knew a damn thing about art—the fair snow maiden who comes alive in the trees.

“What happened to his family isn’t your fault,” she says. “Yes, it is,” I whisper and sit a safe distance away. “I didn’t know that… I don’t believe my father would give orders like those. Slaughter innocents? Murder children?!” She stays quiet, and I suppose she’s reveling in the satisfaction that she was right about my father.

“Let wisdom be your staff,” she murmurs. “Grip it firmly. Let compassion be your crown; wear it proudly. And above all, bring joy with you wherever you go. Cling to it with all your might.”

“What? I can save his life, but I can’t shorten his name?” Lin’s eyes crinkle, and he snickers. Braizen stares at him then turns to me. “Call him whatever you like. Hells, call us all whatever you’d like.”

Torrent finally breaks his facade and growls at the wind. “I’m going to run for a while. That way, I’ll get nice and hot for you,” he says to me. “I’m getting excited just thinking about it,” I quip, taking the last bite of fruit.