Heir of Broken Fate (HOBF Book 1)

I awake to the sound of waves crashing as the sun shines through the balcony doors, the sea breeze flowing into the room through the crack I left open last night. I sit up, stretching my limbs, marveling at how comfortably I slept. I grew accustomed to Hazel’s cot, so much so the other side of the bed is completely untouched.

My stomach rumbles, making me drag myself out of bed. My bare feet pad across the plush white carpet as I change into my fighting leathers. I’m unsure of what’s to come today and I want to feel prepared.

Strolling across the hall to Hazel’s room, I knock twice, my gaze sliding down the hall to Knox’s room. It’s utterly silent in the halls, no guards to be seen or heard on the level.

The hinges squeak as Hazel pulls open the door. She still looks a bit ill, yet the color has returned to her freckle-covered cheeks.

“Are you hungry?” I ask softly.

“Starving! I was too nervous to eat a proper meal last night,” she exclaims.

I offer my elbow. “Let’s go find some breakfast.”

We walk the same halls as last night, retracing our steps to the dining room. I freeze when I find Knox seated at the head of the dining table, drinking what smells to be coffee and reading a book. I’m not stunned to find the owner of this house seated in his own dining chair.

Knox is wearing similar clothes to yesterday. Tailored black pants, creamy white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled to his biceps, showing off his tan skin. The top buttons are undone once more, revealing the start of his hard planes and collarbones.

It’s not that he’s impeccably dressed again that’s shocked me either—quite the opposite.

It’s the purely ravenous heat I find sizzling in his eyes as he stares at me.

The corner of his mouth turns up, satisfaction ringing throughout his smug face as he watches me. “Morning, Angel.” He doesn’t wait for a response. He simply addresses Hazel, already sitting beside him to his left. “Hazel, sleep well?”

“You have the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on,” she chirps, serving herself food.

I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat, taking the same seat as last night. I sit beside Knox, ignoring the hole he’s searing into the side of my head as I look at the array of food lining the table. Buttered croissants, eggs, sausages, pastries, pancakes…How many people are eating here this morning? This is an outrageous amount of food for three people.

Knox leans forward, plucking a croissant. “I didn’t know what you like to eat, so I asked the kitchen to make everything.”

I chastise my traitorous heart for starting to beat faster from his considerate actions. Not trusting myself to speak, I place eggs, toast, and bacon on my plate.

I clear my throat. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”

Hazel places pancakes on her plate. My eyes sadden. I wonder if the last time she ate them was with Luna.

Changing the subject to distract Hazel, I say, “What’s on the agenda for today?”

Knox takes a sip of coffee, his movements graceful. “I have business in Azalea. When I return, we can start with magic lessons.”

“What sort of business?”

“It doesn’t concern you,” Knox dismisses.

I grit my teeth. He’s already beginning to hide things. “Does it concern the demonic creatures or missing Fae?”

Knox turns his head to the side. “Yes, not in the matter you think, though.”

“Information for information, remember?” I say sweetly, pointing my knife at him. “I’ll join you,” I declare, cutting into a slice of bacon.

Hazel leans toward Knox. “When she gets that look in her eyes, just agree to whatever she says. You’ll get nowhere with her.”

I gasp. “Hazel!”

“It’s true!” she protests, splaying her hands in front of her.

“Yes, she does seem to be stubborn, doesn’t she?” he murmurs to Hazel, while his eyes lock on mine.

I narrow my own in return. “I’m sitting right here.”

Knox takes a slow slip of coffee, then grins. “If you wish. We can work on magic when we return.”

“Why can’t Hazel continue teaching me?”

“You have essence magic. I figured the King of Essence would be more helpful,” he drawls.

Hazel’s jaw drops open. “Well, that answers a lot of questions.”

I’m more confused than ever. “Essence magic needs to have more than one elemental power. I only have fire.”

Hazel shakes her head. “You cloaked us that day in the garden. That comes from water magic.” Guilt fills her eyes. “I was distraught that day, I forgot. I’m sorry.”

“Hazel, it’s okay,” I whisper.

“You also have air power,” Knox chimes in.

“How?” I demand.

“You can hear me when I speak into your mind. You can do the same to me if you allow me to teach you,” he says smugly.

Hazel shakes her head in astonishment. I open and close my mouth, utterly speechless, flailing around like a fish out of water. “You spoke into Hazel’s mind. You showed her the images as well.”

Knox crosses his powerful arms over his chest. “I intended to do that…I didn’t intend for you to hear me the other times.”

“You say rude comments into people’s minds without them knowing?”

Knox throws his head back, his boisterous laugh sending electricity throughout my body.

Damn him and damn my body for reacting.

He simply shrugs. “It passes the time and keeps me polite.”

I roll my eyes. “This is absurd…What other powers do I possess?”

Which is the wrong thing to say as his eyes spark with delight, a smile spreading across his lips. “We’ll find out this afternoon,” he purrs.

I change into more appropriate clothing, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention to myself in the city by wearing my fighting leathers. I dress in dark navy tailored pants, hiding my blades by taping them on the inside of my thighs and hips, tucking the crystal pendant below my cream tunic. Peering at myself in the mirror, happy with my more friendly appearance, I make my way to the main foyer, my eyes locking on Knox as I descend the stairs.

It’s truly unfair how beautiful this man is.

“Shall we?” he drawls.

I ignore his question, instead looking around the foyer. Hazel’s missing and there appears to be no guards posted in the foyer either. “Where’s Hazel? Is she not coming?”

Knox shakes his head. “She wanted to stay back.”

I frown. Why didn’t she tell me herself?

“Why don’t you have guards posted around the house?” I ask.

Knox stops dead in his tracks before he turns, his face guarded. “Why do you ask?”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Considering you’re meant to be a king, I figured you’d have more guards posted around the halls.”

Knox cocks his head to the side as he slides his hands into his pockets. “How do you know there aren’t any in this very room?”

With his taunt, I snap my back up straight, clenching my hands to stop from looking around the room. I refuse to give Knox the satisfaction.

I can’t believe I didn’t think about cloaked guards.

I lift my chin, refusing to let him get under my skin. “Very well, continue.”

Walking to the front door, Knox’s lips spread into a heart stopping smile. “Welcome to Azalea.”

As the steel doors fly open, I have no words to describe the beauty that greets me.

The house we’re in sits atop the highest point of a cliff. Gardens full of life spread across the front of the grounds, leading to a wrought iron gate.

Looking over Azalea I finally find my breath again.

An array of different colored buildings line the cliff’s face, surrounding the ocean. When low sounds from the streets below float toward us, I tuck my hair behind my ears, focusing on the music, cheers, voices, and laughter. My eyes burn, tears forming at the happiness I feel emanating from the city. I look toward the rich, aqua blue ocean, the exact same color of Knox’s eyes. People are splashing around playing, others flying around the coastal city.

Turning to Knox, I find him watching me, his eyes shining with an emotion I can’t decipher.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.

“Are you ready to explore?” he asks softly.

“Yes.”

Knox opens his arms to fly us down to the city.

I have to be in his arms…

He sees my hesitancy. “I’m not going to harm you,” he says defensively.

Except I’m not worried he’s going to drop me. I’m worried about how I’ll react to him being so close. I take a deep breath, knowing it’s either this or walk for hours to reach the main streets.

I dip my head once, giving Knox my consent.

His strong muscular arms wrap around me, lifting me gently into his chest. I feel the erratic thumping of his heartbeat against my shoulder as his warmth surrounds me, soothing my nerves.

I haven’t felt this comfortable around a male since…Easton.

The thought makes any warmth I felt completely disappear as Knox takes off flying over the city. Swooping low and high above the buildings, I try to enjoy the flight and the city before me, yet the more happiness I hear, the sadder I feel.

The one thing in the world Easton deserved to see is this—a city of happiness.

I’m so consumed with my thoughts I barely register Knox landing on a busy street until my feet hit the cobblestone path. Vendors line the roads and vines snake around the multi-colored buildings. Hundreds of Fae are walking the street, some going to and from stores, others sitting in restaurant verandas listening to the live music playing on the streets.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I have never seen a city so joyous,” I croak.

Knox studies my face for a moment. Placing his palm on my lower back, he leads me forward. “There’s a house I have to visit before my meeting.”

We walk through the streets for ten minutes, up and down alleyways and residential streets lined with beautiful houses of all various shapes and colors. I try my hardest to focus on everything, yet all the colors seem to blur as grief drags me down.

We reach the house Knox needs to visit, a small quaint yellow house surrounded by a short picket fence. Knox taps twice on the door, fidgeting as he waits, adjusting his impeccable suit. It’s the first time I’ve seen him appear to be nervous. A small woman answers the door. She’s older than the Fae I’ve seen. Her skin is more weathered, her hair peppered with gray. Her face is red and blotchy as she looks from me to Knox.

“Christy, this is my dear friend, Delilah. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve brought her here today,” Knox says gently.

Dear friend?

Christy pushes her door open further. “That’s all right.” Christy looks to me when she says, “Please excuse the mess; we haven’t had much time lately—”

“Oh, no problem at all!” I insist.

Stepping through the wooden door, the inside of the house is a completely different energy to what the front emanates. All the curtains are drawn, and small candles are lit around the space, yet it doesn’t help the darkness that covers the room. Papers and maps litter every surface.

“Have you received any news?” Christy asks, hope lining her eyes.

Knox slides his hands into his pockets. “I’m sorry, Christy. I have good news and bad news.”

Her entire face drops, tears forming in her chocolate eyes as her chin wobbles. “Is she dead?”

My chest constricts, my heart sinking to my stomach.

Why did he bring me here?

Knox gently takes her hands. “No,” he affirms. “She’s alive, but we don’t know how to get to her.”

Christy looks from Knox to me, her brows pulling low. “Where is she?”

Christy’s eyes go vacant, Knox’s own never leaving hers as he goes into her mind. In the next moment, she falls to her knees, sobbing. I instantly rush forward to hold her, my heart breaking at the sound of her cries, but Knox is faster than I am. He bends in front of her, whispering soothing words of comfort. “She’s alive, Christy. She’s unharmed.”

Tears roll down my cheeks. I turn away to wipe my eyes. When I look back, Knox has moved Christy to the couch and he—

Oxygen evades me as I stare at the image before me.

The King of Essence is kneeling before his people. My father would rather die than ever kneel before our people.

“I’m working on how to release them all. I haven’t spoken to anyone about this because I don’t know how long it will take to get to them.” He lowers his head, catching her eyes. “I just wanted you to know that she’s alive.”

“Thank you,” Christy says between sobs.

My chest constricts, making it harder to breathe.

I leave the room, no longer wanting to intrude on such a private moment.

Standing on the front pathway, it isn’t long before Knox exits the house, joining me.

“Why did you bring me inside?” I rasp.

“You insisted on coming,” he states coldly.

I grit my teeth, waiting for the real explanation.

Knox sighs, strolling forward. I follow him as he speaks. “I saw Christy’s daughter at the compound in your memory. Because of you, Christy now knows her daughter is alive. I thought you would want to know you were a part of something good.” His tone is still cold, yet I swear his eyes have softened.

I nod, not wanting to talk any further about the topic at hand. I can feel my resolve slipping on my emotions and the last thing I want to do is break down in front of this man.

“I’m going for a walk by the ocean.”

“I have a meeting I have to attend to in town.”

I start to back away. “Okay, just let me know when you’re done.” I turn my back on him, walking as fast as I can toward the ocean.

Praying I can outrun my feelings.

Easton should be here.

It’s that one thought that keeps repeating on a loop in my mind that makes me break.

Sitting on a rock on the water’s edge, with no one in sight to see me, my resolve completely crumbles as sobs wrack my body. I hug my knees to my chest, failing miserably to keep it all in.

I don’t understand why he isn’t here. We were so close to the boat; my mind can’t make sense of it. Part of me believes he’s back at the palace waiting for me to return, yet my heart knows he’s truly gone.

Easton was everything good in this world. He was kind, caring, loyal, and fair. Like when he would sneak me doughnuts if I had a bad day. When he’d rock me to sleep on the nights my father beat me. He loved everyone and brought so much joy to my life that it’s horrendous that, in return, he died because of me.

Easton died.

Easton is dead.

The words clang through me, knocking me back as if someone physically struck me. That horrible word makes nausea fill my throat. I lean to the side as I vomit, no longer able to hold back the bile. My chest heaves, my heart beating so fast I’m afraid I’ll pass out as my arms and legs begin to shake.

The wave of unending sadness and pain crashing into my chest makes it harder to breathe. I’m crying so hard I can’t see through my tears, not noticing as someone approaches.

A warm hand lands on my back, making me jump.

Fear courses through me, making me blindly react. A wave of gold power erupts out of me, the same power I used against my father.

Before it can hit the person in front of me, it’s swallowed up by an invisible force.

I lift my head in horror. Knox.

Dread lines my stomach, bile burning my throat once more as I realize I just tried to attack the king.

Knox kneels beside me. “Delilah, what’s wrong?” he asks, his voice holding a hint of concern. He pays no attention to my puke, also ignoring the fact that I tried to blast him with my power.

The sight of Knox kneeling on the ground beside my puke undoes me. I shoot out my hand, trying to stop him. “Go away,” I wheeze.

Knox ignores my pleas. Instead, he simply scoops me up and takes off, flying us back to the house.

I try to focus on calming my breathing, praying that I don’t vomit again, yet I can’t get the picture of Easton’s lifeless eyes out of my mind. The image of his body, unmoving on the ground, overtakes everything in front of me. I see nothing but the moment my father killed Easton, as if it’s playing on a loop.

Boots tread on tiles, moving up and down as if we’re walking up stairs. All movements around me pause as a knock fills the empty space. Then I hear Hazel gasp and I’m moved again, unseeing as Easton’s body crumples before me in my mind, his blood on my hands as it oozes into my clothes. Sweat trickles down my back, making everything I’m seeing in my mind as real as the day it happened.

Knox’s voice echoes throughout the room, his husky drawl making the images pause.

“Can you please help her into the bath? I think it will calm her down.”

Blinking rapidly, my eyes adjust to the bright room to see we’re in Hazel’s bathroom. Knox sets me on the side of the tub, the sound of rushing water joins my panting. I claw at the tub, holding onto the porcelain so tight my fingers begin to turn numb, my nails cracking.

Mortification makes my cheeks heat.

Oh gods. He saw me kneeling over my own puke, crying.

My breathing begins to wheeze as the panic crawls its way further into my chest, burying down so tightly I know it won’t go away any time soon.

So, I do what I do best.

“Leave,” I croak.

I don’t dare lift my head. I can’t see the disgust in his eyes. I don’t need the added embarrassment.

His footsteps retreat. Once the door closes, I enter the bath, not caring for my clothes as the sound of my sobs fill the room and Hazel strokes my hair.

Hushed whispers and muffled voices pull me from sleep, my head pounding so roughly I don’t dare open my eyes. I can feel silk sheets below me. Running my finger through the fabric, I notice I’m in my nightwear. Who carried me to bed?

The muffled whispers begin to clear, and my hearing picks up on Knox and Hazel’s voices.

“What did you say to her?” Hazel hisses.

“I didn’t say anything! I found her like that.”

Sleep tries to drag me under as Hazel fires something back. But the next words that leave Knox’s mouth snap open my bleary eyes.

“Who’s Easton?” he growls.

I thought he saw it in my mind. I thought he saw everything in my mind.

“That’s not my story to tell,” Hazel insists.

“Is he her mate? Did he hurt her?”

“No, you buffoon. They don’t have mates in the human lands.”

“You know what I mean, Hazel. Did he hurt her?”

“Stop growling at me like a wild animal! No, they weren’t together and no, he didn’t hurt her. That’s the only thing I’ll tell you,” she snaps.

A small sigh of relief floats from my lips that she didn’t tell him. I don’t want him to know about Easton; he doesn’t deserve to know. I don’t want fake sympathy from a royal. Not when the very thing that took Easton away from me was someone who was meant to protect his people. A king.

I close my eyes, fresh tears pooling, spilling down my cheek as sleep pulls me under once more.