All Chapters of BRED FOR DUTY: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

40 Chapters

The Shadow Between Us

Adalia’s JournalDay 2,412.A ghost from my past stands before me, demanding the heart I gave away years ago. But every step I take toward him feels like walking away from the woman I am becoming.“What’s so funny?” Xander’s voice cut through the cool night air like a heavy blade entering water.He stepped out from the deep shadows of the stone archway, his hand resting tightly on the pommel of his drawn steel. He had been listening to the light, effortless banter between Archer and Adalia for minutes, watching the way Adalia’s dark eyes flashed with playful irritation before softening into genuine laughter. That laughter was a dagger in Xander’s chest. He knew he had to intervene.Xander’s mind flickered back to his roots. His father had once been the pride and glory of the Southern Kingdom, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with King Gabrielle in blood and battle. But Xander was born of a mistress—an unacknowledged bastard in a house of noble blood. Yet, his ruthless prowess and tireless

A Dark Ambition

Archer’s JournalDay 2,412.For twenty-four years, every breath I drew belonged to the crown. Tonight, looking at her, I felt a toxic, dark urge take root: I will tear down my own sister’s happiness if it is the only rope that binds Adalia to me.“Novia, what is this?” Archer demanded, stepping into the center of the hall, his voice cutting through the rising cheers. For the first time in his life, he felt a sharp, burning animosity for a man other than Xander.Novia was his little sister—his jewel. Ever since he was a boy staring down at her tiny button nose and rosebud lips in her cradle, Archer had vowed to protect her. Seeing her wrapped around the Southern Prince’s arm set off every alarm in his chest.“I want to marry him, Archer!” Novia chirped, her eyes sparkling with unyielding excitement.Archer caught her elbow, gently dragging her away from Randi toward a quiet marble pillar. He glanced over her head, spotting King Gabrielle and his father in a deep, whispering huddle in th

The Price of Desire

Adalia’s JournalDay 2,412. He walked out on me in front of the entire court, his eyes cold and unreadable. I thought I was offering him freedom, but the look on his face told me I had just struck a nerve I didn't even know existed.The entire grand hall held its breath, awaiting Prince Archer’s verdict. Adalia immediately shot her brother a thumbs-up, high-fived him, and wrapped Novia in a tight hug. “Welcome to the family, sweet girl.”The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence as everyone turned to Archer. Adalia saw the dark, stubborn clench in his jaw and the cold calculation in his hazel eyes. She could tell he was about to weaponize his power as heir to flatly deny the proposal and ruin his sister's happiness.Acting quickly, Adalia grabbed his armored arm and yanked him into a private alcove behind a heavy velvet drape, pulling him away from prying eyes.“Think about it, Archer!” Adalia whispered urgently, her dark eyes wide with a sudden, brilliant idea. “If Randi and Nov

Vows in the Moonlight

Adalia’s JournalDay 2,413.I snuck into the cold night to find the man who has held my heart since childhood. When he knelt before me, I said the word that changes everything—and now I must carry a lethal secret.Adalia crept out of the chamber assigned to her and her younger sisters, slipping into the dim, torchlit corridor like a shadow. She was looking for Xander, having no doubt she would find him on one of the upper stone balconies. He loved to train in the cold midnight air; it keeps the senses razor-sharp, he used to tell her.As she navigated the winding hallway, she noticed the guards roaming the castle on their rounds, their numbers noticeably doubled after the rebel attack on the courtyard. She didn't think any of them would dare stop their Princess, but she mentally prepared a cover story just in case.“It was hot and I needed to cool down,” she mumbled softly to herself, clutching the heavy folds of her gown tightly to her waist so the silk wouldn't make an annoying swish

The Silver Bow

Archer’s JournalDay 2,413.Dear World, I’ve lost her. Or perhaps I am a fool for thinking she was ever mine to lose. I watched her promise herself to another man under the moonlight. For the first time in my life, I did not want to be a Crown Prince—I wanted to be the knight holding her in the dark. I do not understand what I feel for her, but I know this: I will burn my own honor before I let him take her from me.Adalia awoke at the crack of dawn, her mind racing. Dressing quickly in her simple leather training tunic, she hurried back to the balcony, expecting to find Xander warming up before the morning patrol.Instead, she stopped dead at the entrance. A tall, broad figure stood in the center of the terrace, his back bare to the morning air, muscles rippling and flexing with tense, explosive power as he drew a heavy weapon. It wasn't Xander. It was Archer.He held a magnificent silver longbow, adorned with intricate Northern engravings and tipped with gleaming jewels. Adalia’s

The Price of Treason

Adalia’s JournalDay 2,413.He pinned me to the wall, his heart wild against my chest, his lips inches from mine. I expected to feel disgust, but as I looked into his eyes, I realized the terrifying truth: I wanted him to kiss me.There was no space left between their bodies. Archer’s towering, sweat-sheened frame pressed Adalia firmly against the cold stone, her wrists pinned securely above her head in his broad grip. She could feel the erratic, thunderous beat of his heart through his chest, his hot breath washing over her flushed skin as her chest heaved to catch air.His hazel eyes roamed over her face, settling on her parted lips. Adalia was certain he was about to kiss her. A sensible princess would have fought, pulled back, or demanded he unhand her, but Adalia found herself utterly frozen. She waited for the impact of his lips, a strange, electric thrill running down her spine that had nothing to do with martial duty. She closed her eyes, leaning subtly forward.Instead of a k

The Sacrifice of Honor

Adalia’s JournalDay 2,413.He could have exposed my treason to both our fathers and ruined my name forever. Instead, he stepped between me and my executioner, taking the dark blame upon his own shoulders.Archer ripped his injured hands away from Adalia, taking a sharp step back as his hazel eyes narrowed into slits of dark fury. Following her wide, terrified gaze toward the upper archway, Archer took three long, deliberate strides until he was face-to-face with Commander Xander.Archer’s mind rumbled with violent scenarios—one of which involved drawing his steel and cutting Xander down on the flagstones. But before he could act, he felt Adalia’s soft, trembling fingers brush against his armored forearm. The touch acted like ice over his burning blood. He looked back at her pale, pleading face and realized the devastating truth: Xander was the man she loved.Archer turned away, squatting heavily against the stone wall. He wanted nothing more than to sprout his wings, launch into the f

The Weight of Conscience

Adalia’s JournalDay 2,413.I thought freedom from Archer was what I wanted. But watching him prepare to march into a bloody war to protect my honor made me realize that my freedom costs far too much.Adalia stood frozen in the center of the grand hall as Queen Leora’s sharp, analytical gaze pinned her to the spot. Her mother possessed the terrifying ability to read people like an open book. Knowing she was in deep trouble, Adalia turned to make a hasty exit, but Leora’s sharp voice whipped across the stone.“You! Come here.”Adalia walked toward her mother with heavy, dragging steps, her eyes glued to the floorboards. She had never been a good liar; whenever she attempted a deception, her eyes betrayed every word that left her lips.“It’s my fault,” Adalia confessed in a rush, her conscience shattering under the weight of the moment. “Xander asked me to marry him last night, and I said yes. Archer found out.”Queen Leora cleared her throat, a terrifying stillness settling over her fac

The Master Plan

Adalia’s JournalDay 2,413.My family prepares to depart for the Southern capital, but I refuse to be sent away while Archer marches into the jaws of death. I will use every trick in my arsenal to stay by his side.Adalia retreated to the high stone terrace, needing to escape the suffocating chaos inside the keep.From the balcony, she could hear Queen Ilana arguing passionately with King Lionell near the stables, while her own parents prepared the royal carriages. Novia was weeping softly, clinging to Randi's arm as he tried to console her before his departure with the Southern vanguard.And Xander stood near his steed, relieved that he might still have a chance with Adalia, yet entirely oblivious to the stormy emotions raging inside her chest.Adalia leaned over the marble balustrade, taking deep, shuddering breaths of the crisp mountain air. She was torn between duty, guilt, and a sudden, overwhelming desire to protect the Northern prince who was willing to die for her honor. As a b

The Irony of Shadows

Adalia’s JournalDay 2,414.I stayed behind under the pretense of wedding preparations, but he sees right through me. Every time he looks at me, I feel like a soldier standing naked on a battlefield without a shield.“Why are you still here?”Archer was getting frustrated. Ever since Adalia’s family had departed down the mountain pass, she had been tailing him everywhere he went—through the armory, along the battlements, and across the courtyard—filling his ears with unnecessary jibber-jabber.“Why did you stay?” Archer stopped dead in his tracks, turning his sharp gaze on her. “I know it is not for the crock pot excuse you served your father.”“I thought it would be a good idea,” Adalia shrugged nonchalantly, her tone deliberate as she walked past 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,” Archer muttered, his hazel eyes tracking her as she began to pace around him in a tight circle.Her hands were clasped

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