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CHAPTER FIVE
Dear World,
I’ve lost her.Actually I haven’t. She wasn’t mine in the first place.When I saw her creep out of her room, I thought it was a good opportunity for us to talk again. Our last conversation was short but filled with laughter.But no, I found her with Xander. They looked happy. She sounded happy.When I heard him make his vows to her, I wished I was in his place. And when she said yes to his marriage proposal, my heart sank.For the first time in my life, I the future king of the North wanted to be a knight. I wanted to be Xander, touching her skin and feeling her lips on mine. I envy him and because of that part of me despises him.I don’t know what I feel for Adalia and I don’t understand it.I just don’t.Archer***Adalia got up at the crack of dawn. Quickly she got dressed and hurried to the balcony she was on the previous night. She was expecting Xander to be there, training aRelated chapters
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER FIVE (B)
Xander wondered what Archer’s game was. To be kind to Adalia and get her to fall for him, or to act like her martyr by taking the blame. He had to find out. He spent the rest of the day at Gabrielle’s side. He went into tactical meetings in which Adalia and Archer were also present. He paid attention to the looks she shot him and the cold glances he gave her. To Xander, Archer seemed to have given up the cause but he hadn’t old Gabrielle or his father what had taken place that morning.Once the meeting was over, Archer decided that this was his chance. He wanted to say what he had to say in front of Xander and Adalia, just to show them that he was keeping his word. Once both queens walked in, he called to their attention. “Your highnesses, Princess Adalia and I have something to share with you and I am afraid it isn’t good news.”“What is it?” Ilana instinctively stood beside her son.“I cannot marry Adalia,”
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER SIX
“Why are you still here?” Archer was getting frustrated. Ever since Adalia’s family left, she had been tailing him everywhere he went, filling his ears with unnecessary jibber jabber. “Why did you stay? I know it’s not for the crock pot excuse you served your father.”“I thought it would be a good idea,” she shrugged her shoulders and walked away from him. “Besides I don’t think it’s fair to let your family plan my brother’s vows alone.”“They are my sister’s vows too,” his eyes followed her as she paced around him. Her hands held together behind her back and her shoulders elevated to her ears. She looked like an innocent little girl, and her sweet demeanor could trick you into believing that she wasn’t the same girl that was slaying intruders one by one, while balancing on the castle walls.He laughed. Her long red and black dress swept the floor. Her jet black hair
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER SIX (B)
Adalia felt a pang of guilt surge into her heart. But she wasn’t going to allow herself or Archer to think about the idiotic sacrifice he had made on her behalf. Once she had gotten Archer’s rhythm pegged down, Adalia charged him and in ten seconds she had him flat on his back. But he was back on his feet in a fraction of a second. They fenced into the bushes and into the garden, calling a large audience to gather around them. They didn’t notice until Archer had Adalia flat on her back and him on top. There was a roar of applauds, then Lionel’s voice pierced through. “Very good, I hope that by the time the week ends Archer would have changed his mind about leading the scouts and marriage. You are an asset and would make a perfect daughter in law and queen,” he winked at his son then walked back into the stone palace.Archer got to his feet and pulled Adalia up with him. “Sorry I didn’t mean to-,”“Hurt me?&r
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER SEVEN
“Archer?” Novia had been watching from her balcony. A part of her was happy when she saw them together. For a second she was sure that Archer wouldn’t go with the scouts, and the romantic in her was thinking of a double wedding. She flew down to her brother’s side when she saw the deep frown on his face. Gently she put his arm on his shoulder and felt bundled up muscles tense up. “It’s just me.”He wasn’t used to people sneaking up on him. But that one single act from Adalia had numbed his senses. Archer turned around to his little sister and tucked and unusually stray hair behind her ear. “Hey little one. I hadn’t seen you there.”“You look at her as if you love her.”Archer took this as his cue to leave. He picked up his swords, bow and arrows and headed towards the palace.“If you love her why are you leaving?” She didn’t need him to answer. She saw him wince as if
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER SEVEN (B)
Archer had made the decision to move to other side of the palace. It was a secluded place and far enough that he wouldn’t have to run into Adalia in the corridors. He had to remind himself why he was born. He was bred for duty and responsibilities. His position was more important than any feelings, desires and personal needs that he harbored. He would have to find a way to get over his ‘want’ for Adalia. He got cleaned up and went to the assembly to meet the guardian soldiers that would be accompanying him into the rebel forests.He looked into each one of their faces and immediately he knew his duty towards these guardians was more important. He couldn’t lead them with a distracted mind. He needed to be all there or they would all die. Archer was going to study the plans day and night. He had to make sure that only the scouting expedition and maybe the raid was on his mind.When darkness fell Ilana found her son bent over the picnic table in her ga
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER EIGHT (A)
*I think I love him. I love Archer. How ludicrous is that. But when he kissed me, I felt like the world had stood still and it was just us breathing in that heartbeat. I felt like my body would melt in his embrace. He held me so close I could hear his heart beating.The funny thing is my mother will not believe me if I expressed these feelings to her. She’s so used to me having a sword in my hand, dressed in armor and so focused on the fight to believe that I suddenly turned romantic. Randi will definitely make fun of me. I will never hear the end of it.But then there is Xander, as soon as they come for the wedding I will have to tell him that I can’t marry him, that I am marrying Archer. It’s going to be hard for him but this is how things are supposed to be. This is how I want it to be.There is no turning back.Adalia*She had only been away from Archer for the night, but she felt this yearning to be close to him. Although Adalia had to
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER EIGHT (B)
He rose to his feet when she returned a few minutes later. Her eyes searched the room for Xander. The guilt still burning fresh in her chest. Archer shook his head, his way of telling her that Xander wasn’t with them. Distraught she went beside him and took his hand. She was too busy feeling guilty to realize their mother’s giggling and pointing at the both of them.“So when is the covenant taking place?” Liora asked.“Maybe, a week from now,” Adalia answered. Her mind and her lips were in two different places. She was trying to figure out where Xander could have gone to and at the same time she was trying to keep up with the conversation.She sat in silence with the ladies as the men left for the throne room. They were busy admiring Novia’s dress. Adalia snuck out at the first chance she got. She expected Xander to be with the other soldiers. She found Conan at the palace doors, his rock expression not accommodating.&ld
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER EIGHT (C)
Archer took the threat as it was served, cold and loaded. He sat in a pocket of silence as he tried to figure out a way to get rid of Xander without hurting Adalia. But that wasn’t going to be easy.The next morning he was woken up by the noises of people running around, and silver platters dropping on the floor with loud clangs. He didn’t need reminding which day it was; Novia did her best not to let anyone forget. He could hear his sister singing from her room three doors down, and every part of him wanted the day to be done. Although at the end of it, Novia would have to leave for the South with Randi. He was going to lose his sister but he had Adalia to keep him company.Archer got dressed into his ceremonial suit, complete with his sword and his crown. He made his way to his sister’s room, where he found his mother hovering over her. Novia caught sight of her brother in the mirror; she stood up and twirled her white, beaded ball dress around for him
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