Finally as Enforcers began to circle me, knives raised, I caught a glimpse of his white shirt amongst all the darkness of the Empire’s death squad.
I pushed at the Enforcer. If only I could keep my gaze on Kaden, then he would be safe. The forest buzzed to life with the Enforcer ship whipping the trees. My eyes stung from swirling debris, trying to stay open. Kaden disappeared behind the black uniforms, then appeared again as the Enforcer lifted me into the ship.
Two men approached Kaden. The first struck him across the face causing him to stumble to the ground. The second man pulled out a red dagger.
The last thing I saw was Kaden being stabbed in the back. A dark Enforcer knife lodged in his flesh. I couldn’t tell where the knife began and Kaden ended.
My world went black.
Chapter One
Six years later
I yawned as the scent of water lilies and lilacs wafted into my room. It was more of a prison, but I never said the word aloud lest I upset my adopted family and cause my own death.
I was already in trouble for trying to leave the castle grounds without Lex’s commanding presence. He was my own private security detail and an all around easy guy to get along with—at least when he was in a good mood, which, lucky for me, was often. I read to him, and he took me wherever I wanted to go.
Those in the service of the West Republic were never allowed an education. It was the one way the Republic was able to keep order within the realm. If servants were not educated, then they lacked the knowledge to rise up against authority.
I, of course, was an exception, considering I was captured at such a young age. The Emperor never told me why he spared my life, or why I was to be untouched by any of the Enforcers. Only that I had a specific destiny, one that even he could not reveal to me until the time came.
He’s old. That’s why I often credited his odd ramblings to his senile mind. After all, what could one girl possibly do that would affect the world in any way?
Besides, that life was gone. It was taken from me the day they killed my best friend. Tears burned my eyes at the sudden memory. Six years was a long time to mourn the loss of a friend, but at night the tears still rolled down my cheeks, the smell of pine needles wafted into my consciousness, and the absolute terror that gripped my chest the moment Kaden was ripped from this world all came back.
I would never see his playful smile again. It had always seemed to make my days better when I could start off the morning with Kaden greeting me or teasing me. His smile had been devastating, innocent but at the same time secretive and sensual. Yet nothing compared to the way his hand felt in mine. I shuddered, never again would the warmth of his tight embrace surround me.
He had given me my first kiss that year.
We were hunting for squirrels. He’d stopped to pick up a smooth stone—I always collected smooth stones for my slingshot. He’d handed it to me and then kept hanging on to my hand.
He had said, “I know right now it doesn’t make sense to you. But I pledge my life to yours.” His green eyes had twinkled, and I loved the way that he made me feel, as if I was the most beautiful girl in the world.
“And I pledge my life to yours,” I had answered back, swearing my undying loyalty, though I was so nervous I had thought I might throw up. Even in my immaturity I knew the oath that I had made. I had told him that I wanted to be with him and nobody else. I was his and he was mine.
“Forever?” he’d asked.
“Forever,” I had repeated, my gaze never wavering as it burned into his.
Kaden’s head descended, and in an instant his warm lips swept across mine. My knees had almost buckled, but I managed to keep upright as he pressed his lips against mine.
With a chuckle, he pulled back. “One of these days, Kyle, you’re going to be mine, and if you faint, I’m just going to have to kiss you harder.”
Embarrassed that I had almost passed out during such a mind-altering exchange, I had turned away.
We never spoke of the kiss again. Three days later, he was captured.
“Kyle?” The Emperor’s voice reverberated down the hall, shaking me from my melancholy.
I turned to face the man I had grown to hate, my slippered feet lightly tapping the marble as I approached him.
“Your Highness?” I bowed, crossing my arm over my chest to touch my opposite shoulder.
The man I owed my life to surged through the room. His large belly protruded from his white court dress. Every time I spoke to him, I felt sick to my stomach and prayed I wouldn’t get struck with the whips again. Nobody was allowed to lay a hand on me, but the Emperor had his own idea about the rules given by the Elders.
“Why are you not dressed?”
I looked down, embarrassed that I was still in my silk nightgown, and that he of all people had seen me in such a state of undress. “I was just about to get ready. Did you need something, Highness?”