Prologue and Author’s note

Prologue A

Third person POV

They came too soon. Sooner than she had expected.

Than she had hoped.

Her home was no longer the safe haven as she always knew it. No longer impenetrable by her fortifications.

Soon, it would be the last thing she would see before crossing over to the land of the faithfuls. And that was because the pillars she had trusted, granted the leaks to the hands that wanted her head on a platter.

Now her desires were far from what you would think. She was not aiming to avoid this death anymore, it was inevitable. She only desired the gods made it quick and painless lest she suffer twice.

Her nature was given to her by the gods and if they wanted her soul back in return for her gift then she was more than willing to oblige.

She increased her pace as she ran to the kitchen. Unlike the ambience she was familiar with, there were no aromas of delicacies sweeping through the air today. Her home had been known to make the best dishes in the whole of Aspena.

Now it was a ghost town.

Surprise was very far from her. In fact, it would be a greater shock if she found someone doing the dishes or dicing some onions. She would swear the person had a quest for the afterlife more than she did.

The predictions had been foretold weeks ago, she knew it was only a matter of time before her family would be abandoned.

Some tried to stay to prove their loyalty, she in particular doubled her efforts to convince them that it would be of their better cheer if they left. What she did not expect was the people she tried saving, being the ones to submit.

There had been only one person trusted, and he was given a clear instruction.

“The day of my demise, they are in your hands”

It was a solemn agreement that she hoped he would keep even in her absence. Particularly in her absence because his loyalty was only to her husband.

A charming man who was no more. Dragged into this fracas by the offense of getting married to her. He was the easiest and the first to be exterminated. Barely being used to this life and having the stubborn courage of a mountain owl from the North, they ended him.

Crashing sounds from outside reminded her that they were close. Inside her home now.

She ran to the drawers and shelves, looking for the sharpest knife she could find and came across one that glistened against the ceiling lights.

Achieving her goal, she ran back out and up the stairs to where her daughters lay. One, barely a decade old; the other half of a dozen, but in the middle of an unavoidable horror.

The sound of the door being pushed open caused her older to jerk from her bed. These last few days had taught her to be at extreme alert.

“Mama?” She said, there was a crack to her voice, showing her sleep had been interrupted. Her little sister still snored away, oblivious to the ruckus.

“Baby open your eyes and give me your hand”

Her obedience was something worth emulating. She extended her full arm to her mother who wasted no time in slicing open her palm and that of her daughter’s.

A wince from the little girl’s mouth let her know that she might have cut too deep but there was no longer time to dwell on that.

She clasped her bleeding palm against her child’s own the blood mixing like a light coat of honey but rather a crimson color.

“Of my desire I give you my soul. Of my will I give you my blood. Of my choice I give you my life, take this part of me and be whole. May the gods approve of this trade”

She held it there for a few minutes, having what might be the last feel of her daughter and then she went towards the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled the room. She was washing down her hands and the sharp tool that had just seared layers of her skin.

When she was done, she came back and met with the confused and yet sleepy eyes of her beautiful offspring.

“Make sure you wash your hands and go back to sleep. Boron would come get you soon” after which, she placed a kiss on her forehead and pulled her into a hug.

“What about you mama?” Her confusion was still clear but she knew her daughter was smart enough to understand what was happening, she probably just did not believe it yet.

“Boron will let you know when he comes for you and your sister. Make sure you look after her” a weak smile danced on her face in stark contrast to her rapidly beating heart and she turned away.

It was time to face reality and surrender.

She walked out the door and surely, to her death.

PROLOGUE B

He held a dagger against his father’s chest, against the shouts of his mother and every other person who watched in dismay.

He saw how they stared at him like a ghost from Lerida had returned. There was disgust mixed with fear but none of them dared approach because they presumed they would be next in line for such treatment.

The tip of the dagger had already pierced the skin slightly. The white coat his father wore was soaking up with blood slowly.

“You will say it” he commanded his father whom he had cornered and had disarmed moments ago after a treacherous fight which the King had ordered the guards to not intervene.

Regardless, resurrected or possessed, he was still the prince.

“And you will spare me” the king said in return, silently pleading for another chance at life.

But Xanthanius’s blood rushed with a certain amount of adrenaline that he was scared his flesh would melt right off his bones.

He had waited for this moment and he would do whatever it takes to seal it.

“So be it” he whispered, because he did not want the implications that would follow from saying such words out in the open.

His father began to recite the rites which he was too enraged to hear. He saw blood and blood he would see.

“… May the gods approve of this trade of the crown” the final words of the rite left his father’s mouth and he grinned, a devilish kind of expression that made his father realize he had been played.

“I lied” was all he said before jabbing the dagger deeper into the King’s chest. The sounds of the bones crushing as the blade speared through to his heart filled him with satisfaction.

Soon enough, the king was dead with wide eyes of shock.

No one said a word about the scene that unfolded before them.

Xanthanius picked the blood stained crown from his father’s head and placed it on his.

“Welcome to a new reign of Aspena” he said proudly. The years of training paid off.

AUTHOR’S NOTE (PLEASE READ ME!)

Thank you for counting this book worthy of your attention and time!

Welcome to my first ever attempt at a Romantasy (Romance and Fantasy) genre. I sincerely hope you enjoy it.

This book is entirely and purely a work of fiction, the inspiration for this novel came randomly to me in the middle of the night on the 10th of December 2024 and a week after I got to work. I sincerely apologize to anyone who seems in line or offended by the scenes, acts, characters and ideas of this book.

While writing this book and at the time of constructing this author’s note, it appeared it would be a standalone but time would tell as the book goes on.

Trigger warnings:

This book contains some scenes of knife, fights, blood and gore, emotional triggers, sexual and spicy moments. You have been informed.

That being said, please do not steal or duplicate my story without my consent. Constructive criticism and feedback is always welcome. Kindly leave a like, vote, follow or comment as you go on, it builds my enthusiasm to carry on.

Thank you for reading this…

Now the story begins