Chapter 1: Forbidden Desire

Loving him was a crime

Not a metaphor, not a whispered exaggeration lovers used to feel dangerous.

In Averyn, love—when forbidden —was not forgiven. It was answered with death. Swift. Public. Unquestioned.

It was a law carved with blood and governed without mercy.

Desire was not to be claimed in Averyn, it was regulated strictly with loyalty.

Step-siblings, sworn kin, promised women, high-profile individuals, and the commoner: sacred bonds, any romance that crosses these lines is met with the same sentence.

No trial. No mercy. Just execution.

Yet her back arched against the harsh wall, her body trembling as his tongue nibbled against her neck.

Uncontrollable sensation shot up her thighs as his fingers groped her butt, heart beating fast against her ribs.

Her old worn-out gown was bunched to her hip with him grinding between her thighs.

Her palms moved to his chest, fingers curling. She knew she should have stopped him, but she couldn't. The heat of his desire colliding with hers undoes her resolve, piece by piece.

He's the only man she's ever loved, the only man who occupies her thoughts every night and day, the one whose forbidden desire she couldn't resist.

“ My prince.” His name rolled out of her tongue almost like a whisper.

Fear crept in where desire bloomed.

Her lashes fluttered as she mustered all her strength to push away from him.

Her pulse races, the lingering feeling of his hand and lips left a prickle against her skin.

“ What's wrong?” He asked, amidst his ragged breath.

Her face slowly dropped. “ We.. shouldn't.” She muttered.

‘ I knew what this love would cost me. But I can't afford death, I can't afford to leave my brother all alone in this world.’ she said in her mind, reminded that they have no family, no relatives, and they're lower than the average commoner.

Embroidery was her only skill, the only thing that put food on their table, and yet, the one thing the prince had fallen in love with, that brought them together.

“ Not again, Seraphina.” He groaned, pulling away and running his fingers through his smooth black hair. “ How many times have I assured you?”

‘ A hundred times?’ she answered in her mind. ‘But is it enough?’

“ Love had never been enough to stop blood from spilling in Averyn.” She said, fear laced in her voice.

“ I know- I know.” He grabbed her hands into his, firm and steady. “ That's why I told you to be patient with me. Once I become the king, I'll change the law even if it means fighting to my death, so I can have you by my side, forever.”

Her nose burns.

Tear welled up in her eyes.

She stared back into his eyes, assurance and fear tangled in her chest.

Her eyes twitched, knowing if anyone could bend the law, it was him. If anyone could challenge centuries of rule and walk away untouched, it was the man holding her hands like she was all that mattered.

The prince.

She nodded as a smile curved at her lips.

He didn't wait another second before slamming his lips into hers, his tongue diving in with no warning, hot and needy.

A shiver ran down her spine but she pushed back just before it got deeper.

“ We can't afford anyone seeing us,” she whispered glancing around the stable. “ And moreover, I have to go to work.”

He grunted loudly in frustration. “ Seriously? Why won't you just let me have this moment? And I said I'll give you money.”

“ You know I can't accept it, people would ask where I get it and they might even accuse me of stealing.”

“ But..”

“ Please, my prince .” She pouted cutely. “ Caleb is also waiting for me. I have to go.”

She saw him hesitate and quickly gave him a peck before grabbing her basket.

‘ I have to sell as many embroideries as possible so I can buy grain and medicine, so my brother won’t have to go to bed on an empty stomach.’ She told herself before stepping away from the prince’s touch, even though every part of her protested.

**

“ Seraphina!” A familiar voice shouted her name the moment she stepped into the market.

It was one of the customers.

Her face lit up.

A grin bloomed over her face as she immediately hurried to her.

“ Hope you're having a wonderful day?” she asked grinning, quickly opening her basket, and began showing off her new designs.

“ What took you so long, I almost thought you were not coming today.” The woman shouted amidst the crowd and noisy market.

“ Eiiii, will Seraphina ever miss a day?” she asked giving her a teasing side eye.

“ Of course, never.” The woman giggled.

Soon, other women and men who loved her embroidery began gathering around her to patronize.

Warmth and joy crept over her chest as she looked at her now almost empty basket.

‘ I've made a lot today, I should be able to buy Caleb his favourite snack.’

She thought to herself, grinning.

Amidst the dust, sweat, and noise, the heavy sound of the soldiers marching and the weapons clattering washed over the market and everywhere immediately fell silent.

Sera straightened, turning with the other women to see the soldiers.

Her heart skipped so hard it hurt.

It always does every time she sees the soldiers, reminded of her crime, of her love.

Even though she knew they weren't coming for me, she couldn't stop the brutal twitch in her stomach, her pounding chest, and sweaty palms.

She drew in a deep breath, maintaining a poker face.

“ Seraphina!” One of the soldiers shouted.

Her heart jerked in her throat.

Her head snapped up.

Fear clawed up her spine as the soldiers marched toward her.

She glanced back to see if there was another Seraphina probably standing behind her, but she was the only one.

Her throat went dry as she turned back to the soldiers.

“ Y..yes?” she stuttered, tilting her body forward.

Her eyes widened in fear and hope it wasn't her.

“ Seraphina, you're under arrest for the sixth sin.”

Her breath caught.

Her body froze.

The market erupted into whispers and murmurs.

Soldiers marched forward and roughly grabbed her by the arm, immediately tying her hands behind her.

The sixth sin, the sin of forbidden romance.

“ I. I think you're mistaken. I.. I didn't..” she stuttered, her head spinning, her mind spiralling as fear and shock crashed hard into her.

‘ How did they find out. We were careful.’

People were beginning to point fingers and whisper as the soldiers dragged her away.

Cold sweat streaked down her face as they took her to the public execution center.

Her breath trembled.

Her body shivered like she was poured cold ice.

She looked around at the people who had gathered before looking ahead.

There he was. Sitting like the king in the middle of the chiefs, then she recognized a lady.

Maribel.

Standing so close to the prince.

She knew, that Maribel had always been in love with her secret lover and she was the daughter of one of the chiefs.

Why she was standing so close to the prince became the least of her worries.

Her chest heaved in relief. ‘ Whoever commits the sixth sin is always punished with their partner. If the prince is sitting there untouched then this must have been some mix-up,’ she said in her mind.

Just then, a guard pushed her roughly to the ground, causing her to scrape her knees.

“ Hissst.” She winced as pain shot up her knees.

She glanced up to see Maribel smirking devilishly.

Then she heard him speak, his voice, loud and stern. “ Seraphina of the Branton family. You've been arrested for committing the sixth crime.”

‘ Why..why is the prince announcing that? Wh.. what's going on?’ Different thoughts of confusion thudded in her chest.

Her face twisted with anxiety.

“ The sixth crime you committed, was having an indecent affair with your brother, Caleb.”

“ What?!” she exclaimed, eyes bulging out of the socket.

Caleb was dragged out just then, his face and body bruised with cuts and blood.

Sera’s heart sank to her stomach.

“ Caleb!” She shouted worriedly, but his head hung low.

She snapped her head back to the prince. “ This is a mistake. We didn't commit any crime, he's my brother.” She shouted.

“ Exactly.” Prince Theodore said with his voice laced with disgust before turning to Caleb. “ Will you repeat your confession to the world, Caleb?”

Sera turned sharply to Caleb in confusion.

“ What confession?” She asked.

Caleb looked up slowly, eyes red, face swollen and bruised. “ She..she.” he stuttered.

Sera's heart raced. Her throat refused to swallow anything.

“ She forced herself on me. Forced me to pleasure her every night.”He sobbed.

Her lips parted in shock.

Her shoulder slumped.

Her eyes remained glued on him.

“ Wh..what did you just say?” She asked, tears welling up instantly. “ Why..why would you say that, you know that's a lie, I'd never do that.”

She turned to the prince. “ It's not true, I won't do that, ever.”

Her chest panted heavily.

Her throat went harshly dry.

Her body trembled knowing the gravity of every word Caleb uttered.

Even though he was her stepbrother, she believed the prince knew this was a crime she'd never commit.

But when she gazes back at the prince’s face. His eyes held nothing for her, cold and dead, like he saw a verdict, a disgusting sinner, not the woman he assured hours ago.

“ Since you forced yourself on him. Then he'll be exempted from this punishment.”

She shook her head and turned to Caleb who refused to look at her.

And then. It dawned on her.

“ Therefore, Seraphina..” The Prince's voice echoed through the ground.

Her eyes turned to him, widened in shock and confusion.

“ Here's your sentence…”