Heir of Broken Fate: Chapter 12

Dread fills my stomach as I walk down the corridor. I know this hall; I know it all too well.

Unfortunately, I was summoned and when you’re summoned…you never dare disobey the order of the king.

Walking through the black stainless steel doors, I make eye contact with my father as he sits proudly in his throne atop the dais. The diamond-filled crown resting on his head shines as bright as a star.

I approach the dais with my chin up, spine straight, and eyes locked on the king. I will courage to fill my veins instead of fear.

Reaching his throne, I bow low. “You summoned me, Your Majesty?”

His grating voice makes the hair on my nape stand on end. “I’m afraid there’s been a traitor found living in the palace.”

My eyes widen.

How did he find out? No one’s ever found the people I set free.

“Bring him in,” the king barks.

I turn as the doors open behind me, my heart falling as my stomach twists. I stand frozen in place as three of my father’s personal guards drag Easton to the foot of the dais.

I shake my head vigorously. “No, this is a mistake. Easton is innocent!” I scream. No one pays attention to me as they continue to drag Easton to his doom. “IT’S ME! I’M THE TRAITOR!” I scream so loud my throat burns.

The three guards flanking Easton kick the back of his knees, making Easton fall to a kneeling position. The sight of him on the ground in front of my father makes my eyes water.

Easton’s honey smooth voice fills my ears. “It’s okay, Delilah.”

I run to him, screaming profanities at my father as guards suddenly tackle me from behind, knocking the air from my lungs. My father steps off the throne, taking the offered sword from the guard beside him.

My father lifts the silver sword above Easton’s head.

A guttural scream leaves me, ringing throughout the room so loud my ears buzz.

I try to wiggle free of the four grown men holding me down when Easton starts thrashing. He twists his murderous, rage-filled face toward my father as he screams, “Don’t you dare touch Del—”

Easton doesn’t get to finish his sentence.

His head thumps to the ground, rolling toward me, stopping inches from my face. Crimson blood scatters across the white tiles, covering me and my clothes as his gorgeous forest green eyes, vacant of life, look up at me.

I lift my head to see my father, covered in Easton’s blood, smiling down at me.

I explode.

Red hot flames blast throughout the room. The guards that were holding me down are flung back by the force, flying into the wall, their bodies hitting it so forcefully they crack the very foundation.

I stand, stalking toward my father, satisfaction coursing through my body as his face drains of color.

“Burn in hell,” I growl.

Raising my hands, I roar as fire engulfs my father. I pour all of my rage and grief into blasting him with burning hot fire, sending wave after wave crashing into him. An anguished cry tears through me as my heart breaks for the loss of Easton.

I distantly hear my name being called but I only have eyes for the king—the monster that broke me each day, belittled and hurt me until I was nothing.

“DELILAH!”

The flames around me extinguish abruptly until I’m suffocating.

My throat constricts, tightening until I have to claw at my neck, trying to get—

I jolt, gasping for air as ash coats my tongue. My chest heaves as I look up into Hazel’s bewildered eyes. “It’s official. You have fire magic,” she pants.

Tears roll down my cheeks as Easton’s lifeless body flashes through my mind.

Taking a shaky breath, I get up in search of water. “What happened?” I rasp.

Hazel trembles as she sits on the cot. “I heard you scream; it was such a terrifying sound I came to check on you and you were…” Hazel’s gaze roams the living room. “The entire room was on fire.” She pauses, looking at me. “Yourself included. I don’t know how you didn’t burn anything; you must have subconsciously known it was a dream.”

I rub my eyes with the heel of my palms. “I’m sorry,” I sob.

Hazel wraps her arms around me, the tip of her head reaching my collarbone as she squishes me in a hug. “I understand, it’s okay,” she whispers.

We stand there in the middle of the living room, hugging each other until my crying finally subsides. I wipe the tears away with the sleeve of Easton’s shirt. I sleep in his clothes every night.

Hazel pulls back, tugging me down to sit beside her on the couch. “Do you want to talk about it?” she asks softly.

“It was Easton.” My voice cracks as my lips tremble. “I don’t think I can handle talking about him right now.”

Leaning back, she sits with me in silence while I scramble to lock away all the sadness of Easton safely into my heart. The grief of losing him is unbearable and so heavy I have no choice but to bury it. If I feel it, I’ll break.

Hazel’s unsteady voice cuts through the silence. “I had horrible nightmares when my daughter passed.”

I snap my head to her.

Hazel’s lip quivers. “It happened the day the Fae were trapped. When the beasts from another world descended and attacked.” Her voice cracks on the last word. “I was walking with Luna on Bexery Bridge in Eden, the city of the Earth Court. We were going to pick up supplies to make pancakes.” She laughs sadly. “Luna was obsessed with pancakes.” Hazel’s anguished face lifts to mine. “One moment I’m holding her hand, listening to her vibrant laugh and the next she’s ripped away from me, airborne. No one knew what creatures they were or where they came from; it happened so fast. I flew after the beast that had her in its talons, and all I could see was the back of it.”

Her breathing stutters as she plays with the ends of her cotton shirt. Tears run down her freckle-covered cheeks. “It dropped her so quickly,” she whispers. “I flew as fast as I could to catch her… I got to Luna a second before she hit the ground. I was so worried about catching her in time that I didn’t look as I held her to my chest.” Hazel squeezes her eyes closed. “I felt warmth soak into my chest, so I checked to see if she was all right.”

Hazel’s next words cleave my heart in two.

“It had t-torn her open.” Hazel’s body shakes from the force of her sobs. “Luna was dead before it decided to drop her.”

I have no words that could comfort Hazel, that could begin to heal the horror of what she experienced. The pain of losing your own child, a part of your soul, in such a horrendous way. I lean forward, wrapping my arms around Hazel, returning the gesture she so kindly gave me. I let Hazel lean against me as she falls apart.