Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12)

by Bowles, April

  “Not bad for your first time.” Seth said.

  “Whoever said that was my first time?” Rory asked with a smile.

  We looked at each other.

  “You’ve been holding out on us then.” Bryce said. “Where have you done this before?”

  “I’ve done some dueling in my time in Hintus for money. It was an alternative to stealing what I needed but that all changed when I broke my arm.”

  “So, how good are you?” Seth asked.

  Rory smiled. “Care to find out?”

  Seth raised his eyebrow. “All right. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  Rory smiled as he took a quick strike toward Seth. Seth blocked and returned the hit, starting the match. Rory moved aside, out of the way and swung up at Seth. Seth flipped backwards to get out of the way as Rory stepped to him, continuously swinging his stick. It was good but then Seth blocked, pinning Rory’s stick down to the ground. He looked up at Seth with wide eyes as Seth smiled and quickly swung his stick up. Rory jumped back and blocked.

  His eyes caught the attention of something for a quick second and it was like he lost all thought as to what he was doing and Seth knocked him to the ground.

  He hit hard and we reacted together. “Ooh!”

  Seth dropped his stick and we all went over and stood around him to make sure he wasn’t dead.

  “Shit, are you all right?” Seth asked.

  Rory continued to lay on his back but he nodded. “I think I’m in love. I didn’t even feel that.”

  “In love?” I wondered. “What are you talking about?”

  We looked up and saw a Ledian carriage had arrived since we’ve been out here.

  “Oh, the King has arrived.” Seth said. “You’re in love with the King?”

  “No.” Rory quickly got to his feet and looked over there but no one was around. “There was a girl. The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. She had long hair that would shame the very shine of the amber stone and the face of my future.”

  I laughed. “Shit, Seth. You hit him pretty hard. He’s talking crazy.”

  “No, I think he’s talking about Oren’s daughter, the Princess.”

  “She’s a Princess? Fuck yeah!”

  Rory took a step forward but Seth stopped him. “No. You are not to have any contact with her so long as she’s here, understand?”

  “Why not? That doesn’t seem fair.”

  “She’s here vacationing with her father for the last time before she goes to Rugis to marry Prince Ellis and you are not to get in the way of that. Their marriage has been planned since her birth.”

  “You mean she’s being forced to marry but he’s got to be almost ten years older than her!”

  “It’s just how things are. Not everyone can be as lucky as we have been. Some things just need to be pushed in the right direction for the future.”

  “But—”

  Seth held up his hand and stopped him. “I don’t want to hear it. It’s the King’s decision and you are not to interfere.”

  “Fine.”

  “Good. Now, that’s enough of this. It’s time to get back to your training. You have two weeks until your final test and we shouldn’t delay progress by standing around talking about this. Let’s go.”

  We walked into the palace and continued to train Rory up in his room away from any distractions—meaning the Princess.

  Chapter 36

  Cadence

  Naomi had been so nervous about returning to Randal. She was worried that we’d find out she’s pregnant and it wouldn’t be Bryce’s.

  The thoughts of it never even went away when we walked into the palace because we were immediately greeted.

  “Welcome back.” Adele said. “I hope your mission was a success.”

  “As always, your majesty.” I replied.

  “Good but before you can go, we need to see you for a moment, Naomi.” Naomi took a deep breath and nodded as she knew why. “This way.” Adele turned and we followed her, Jaylyn and Ruby into a room right here on the first floor. “Please, sit.”

  Naomi walked over to the bed and sat down as Lana and I sat at a table. Jaylyn walked over to the bed and sat down next to Naomi. “We know what happened to you and it’s all right. We don’t need to talk about it but it’s time to know for sure.”

  Naomi nodded as she moved back onto the bed and laid down. Jaylyn faced her and held one hand over her lower stomach for a moment. She lowered her head as she closed her eyes and we all knew what that meant.

  Naomi’s eyes filled with tears as the thought of Bryce’s rejection consumed her mind again. “No. This can’t be happening.”

  “It’s all right, calm down.” Adele said as she went over to the bed.

  “How can I calm down?! This is going to ruin my life! What will Bryce do?!”

  “He’s not going to do anything.” Ruby cut in. “We can get rid of it.”

  “You can really do that?” Lana wondered. Her and I got up from the table and walked over to the bed to hear more about this.

  “Yes and Bryce never has to know.”

  Naomi had her hands over her face thinking about what would happen if he did find out. I knew her worry and was curious. “And you’re sure it will work?”

  “It will.” Adele said. “But there will be pain.”

  Everyone looked over at Naomi and she looked up at Ruby. “Do it. Do whatever it takes. I won’t lose him over this.”

  Ruby nodded and Naomi laid back down. Everyone surrounded her for support and Ruby brought her hand to Naomi’s lower abdomen and Jaylyn put her hand over her heart. A light breeze filled the room and Naomi reached for Lana’s hand. She took it and I took her other. She had closed her eyes and took deep breaths but she started to react loudly to the pain.

  “Sorry about this.” Adele said. She walked up by her head and put her hands over her mouth so her cries wouldn’t travel outside the room.

  I was sad for her and it took everything I had not to cry. I hated seeing her in pain but it only lasted for another minute until finally Ruby stopped. “It’s done. It should be gone.”

  Adele moved her hand from Naomi’s mouth and Jaylyn moved her hand down to check for a heartbeat. “It is. It worked.”

  Naomi freed her hands and sighed in relief. “Are you sure?”

  Adele looked over at me and nodded. I brought my hand over Naomi and didn’t feel life present other than her own. “They are. There’s nothing. You’re free of it.”

  Naomi smiled and was almost in tears as she hugged Ruby and Jaylyn. “Thank you so much. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for this.”

  “Just never mention it to Bryce.” Jaylyn said. “What just happen must and will always stay between us.”

  “Agreed but I want to see him now. Where is he?”

  “They should be somewhere training young Rory.” Adele replied.

  “We’ll find them.”

  Everyone got up off the bed and started heading to the door.

  “I think they were in Rory’s room last.” Ruby said. “First door on the right in the upper west wing.”

  We nodded and headed upstairs to knock on the door.

  It took a moment but Seth swung it open in one quick motion and his voice expressed high levels of anxiety. “What?!”

  Lana was standing on the other side of it closest to him. “Well, good thing I didn’t come all this way to see you.” She walked up to Dirk and put her arms around his neck. “You’re the one I came to see.” She smiled then leaned into him and they kissed.

  “Sorry.” Seth said as he hugged me. “I didn’t expect it to be you. How was your trip?”

  “It was fine. Thanks for asking. How’s everything here?”

  “It’s been going.”

  I looked behind me and Naomi stood in the doorway and was looking over at Bryce. We could tell that something was different about him because he hasn’t looked at her yet. She walked over to him and stood right in front of him as he looked u
p.

  “You need to see something.” She took his hand and put it on her lower stomach. There was a pause as Bryce looked down and probably felt nothing like I did. He quickly looked up at her and she smiled. “That’s right. I’m not.”

  Bryce quickly hugged her. “I should never have doubted it but I was worried.”

  “Well, you don’t need to be anymore. I only give myself to you.” Bryce smiled as they started kissing and moving back onto the bed.

  “Whoa.” Rory muttered.

  “Bryce!” Seth shouted, making them both look over. “Take that out of here.”

  Bryce and Naomi smiled at each other, a good sight and headed for the door.

  “Later, kid.”

  “I hate you.” Rory replied.

  We watched them leave and it got quiet.

  “So, she’s really not?” Seth asked.

  “Oh, no. Of course not.” Lana said.

  “Well, how would you know?” Dirk asked.

  Lana and I looked at each other and both knew that we couldn’t even tell them the truth without risking Bryce finding out.

  “We just know.” I said. “When we got back, I checked and I couldn’t feel any other life than hers so it’s fine. Everything’s fine. Let’s just go.”

  Seth and Dirk looked at each other strangely by my answer but didn’t question it.

  “Well, sorry to have to cut today’s lesson short, Rory but we have other plans.” Dirk said, still holding Lana snuggly in his arms.

  “Yeah, lucky.” Rory smiled. “I’ll wait.”

  “Don’t bother. Take the rest of the day off.”

  Rory looked shocked like he hasn’t had a break yet to know what one was. “You better at least tell me about it then.”

  “Sur—”

  “No!” Lana shouted.

  “I mean no. Rory, what are you thinking?” Lana went out the door as Dirk turned back and smiled and nodded. Rory smiled back as Dirk closed the door behind him.

  “That really means no.” Seth said. “You can stay out of trouble for a while, can’t you?”

  Rory sighed. “I guess.”

  “Just for today.”

  “Okay.”

  I turned with Seth and headed out the door.

  “He seems different.” I said.

  “It’s been going well. He should be ready by his sixteenth.”

  “Good. So, what should we do?”

  Seth smiled. “What’d you have in mind?”

  I blushed and tried to keep my eyes off him. “Come on. Don’t make me say it.”

  “After all these years you still can’t?”

  “I feel weird saying it.”

  “Then I guess we can’t if I don’t know what you want.”

  I groaned, tugging at his arm while we walked. “Seth, that’s not fair. You’re pressuring me now.”

  “No, I’m not. I just want to know what you want. I wouldn’t say that’s too much to ask.”

  We reached his room and closed ourselves inside. I tried to be brave but it got more difficult to say it when I turned and looked at him. His smile was charming like he was waiting on me.

  I took a deep breath and stepped closer to him, gently placing my hands on his chest and looking up into those perfect blue eyes while I spoke. “We’ve been apart for too long and I’ve missed how wonderful you’ve always expressed your love to me. I’d like to experience it again.”

  He smiled wider and touched my face. “See? That was a bit more lengthy than what I had in mind but was that so hard to say?”

  “Yes. Horrible.”

  He kissed me passionately and I felt the warmth of his love already. It made me want more and of course he knew. I guess there were still times when he liked to hear it. I had to start getting used to that.

  I moved around him and positioned myself at the end of the bed. Seth smiled and approached me, standing in front of me. I was much less nervous when we weren’t talking and I slid my hands up his shirt, feeling his warm skin. He pulled his shirt off after I did it and leaned down to kiss me while getting my legs to wrap around him. He could make the simplest thing feel special and I hurried to get out of my clothes so I could experience it again.

  His touch was delicate like I was made of glass but it didn’t make me feel fragile or weak. Seth made me feel so alive and the love we shared always reminded me of how much we were meant to be. He knew how to treat me and this was a time I didn’t have to speak it. He would just always know and I loved him for every moment he gave me. These were the times I would always cherish.

  Chapter 37

  Rory

  I was left alone in my room—again.

  This was turning out to be a fun day—not. I thought about what I should do with my given day off but I didn’t think staying in my room would have been suitable so I left and walked every hall in the palace before going outside. I walked through the gardens next and made my way all the way back around when I saw that lovely flowing amber hair that caught my eye this morning accompanied by common clothes, walking into the stables.

  I paused for a moment, thinking about what Seth said but I couldn’t help but want to follow her so I did. I walked into the stables like I didn’t know she was in here and saw her standing with her amber colored horse that matched her hair, stroking its neck with her hand. I walked right by and started to get the saddle on my horse.

  “Hello.”

  I looked up and saw her watching me. “Hello.”

  “You must be Rory.”

  “You know me?”

  “I’ve heard your name mentioned a few times. I’m Vera.”

  “Oh.” It was a beautiful name. “You’re the one here with your father on vacation, aren’t you?”

  She sighed. Even its sound was lovely. “If you want to call it that.”

  I laughed to myself. “What would you call it?”

  “Not vacation, that’s for sure.”

  It was quiet while I finished readying my horse. “What are you doing out here if you don’t mind me asking, Vera?”

  “Visiting my only friend in the world. She gets nervous in strange places.”

  “She’s beautiful.” Vera looked over at me and smiled. I gulped. “I mean, your horse. Not that you’re not beautiful yourself because you are but what I meant that the time was about the horse and I’m just going to stop talking now.”

  Vera laughed and I got up on my horse before I humiliated myself further. “Where are you off too?”

  “Don’t know. I’ve just been cooped up here for the last two weeks and I thought I’d take a ride through the city while I have a day off. Are you interested?”

  “In you or going on a city getaway?”

  I smiled. “Whichever way you want to take it.”

  “Both. If you don’t mind waiting?”

  “Of course not but it’s best if I do it outside the gates so no one sees us together.”

  Vera nodded and probably understood my reasoning. “All right. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  I took my horse out of the stables and through the palace gates. A few minutes later, Vera rode out and I approached her side, anxious just to be with her. “Ready?”

  “I guess. Do you know where you’re going? I’ve never really been out in this city before.”

  “Not really but Seth says the best advice he ever got was to just wing it. So, let’s just do that.”

  “You’re so adventurous. I like that.”

  I smiled and we rode off into the city.

  We spent the rest of the day together and stopped in a small park near the palace on the way back and let the horses graze in the grass while we sat on some rocks overlooking a fish filled pond.

  “I love it here.” Vera said. “It’s all so peaceful like the problems of the world could never touch this place.”

  “If only it could last forever.”

  She sighed but it was more depressing than cute. “I know. We can never truly have them the way we’d like them to be. Too
many rules.”

  I knew she was thinking about what was to come of her and I had to speak up and say something about it no matter the consequences. “It’s not fair.”

  Vera looked at me, confused. “What’s not fair?”

  “That you can’t stay—with me.”

  She smiled sweetly and I was nearly glad she was just as interested in me. “I know, believe me but I have a responsibility to my country to unite with another to secure our future.”

  “But with Rugis? They’re just a bunch of rogues that only wish they could be so great. Why not unite with a stronger nation? One of considerable honor and stature. A true worth of such a Princess.”

  She smiled again and leaned closer with a playful expression. “Oh, really and where would I find someone of such a place in which you speak that could possibly be worthy enough for me?”

  “Perhaps right next to you. I am the Kaluian Prince, you know?”

  “You’re the Prince of Kalu! No way!” She playfully pushed me over but I lost my balance and fell down into the pond. Vera gasped and covered her mouth while starting to laugh. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to do that! Let me help you.” She put out her hand to help me.

  “No, let me help you.” I took a hold of her hand and pulled her in with me.

  I laughed when she stood up and wiped the water off her face. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

  She went to hit me but I took her wrist and stopped her, pulling her body into mine. She calmed down when she looked into my eyes and we shared a kiss.

  It was incredible and only made me want her more but she pulled away. “I’m sorry, my father would—”

  “Shh.” I brought my hand up to her mouth and stopped her from continuing. “No one ever has to know. Just think of it as a last time for fun.”

  She smiled that thankfully meant that she agreed with me and we started kissing again while still standing in the pond.

  It was beautiful but we really shouldn’t have stayed in here. We climbed back out onto the rock and dried under the setting sun while we could but we were still holding each other in some way even if it were just our hands.

  I loved being here with her. She was amazing but our time had come to an end when she gasped. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” She went to her horse and started to get on.