Fatebound (Book I: The Demon Lord's Bride)

"Thwack!" The stinging sensation that came after was instantaneous, forcing tears to my eyes.

"How dare you speak to him? How dare you even look at him?!" She yelled at me.

Princess Aria of Sharda, my not so nice mistress. I've been serving her since I learned to talk. Brought to the imperial palace since I was two because of a so-called prophecy that I was a special child. Thanks to her, my four thousand years of life has been nothing but miserable.

"He asked me a question," I said, defending myself.

The 'he' in question? Prince Argar of Marlon, Aria's fiance, and the man who seemingly has eyes for me and not her.

"What question?!" She pressed, her voice tight with anger.

"He..." I was about speaking when the maid beside her quickly cut in.

"His Highness is approaching," she informed Aria.

Aria quickly looked around, and confirming that it was true, she adjusted herself. "Rise," she said to me.

I rose from my knees, my head still bowed to the ground.

"What's with that smudge look on your face? Have you gone mad?!" She hissed at me just as always when she tries to hide the fact that she's merciless from Argar.

I straightened up, and finally looked her in the eyes. I wasn't a servant in the palace, the King and Queen made sure of that. But Aria? She made sure to counter that, and then pretend in front of everyone else.

Argar reached us, his gaze settling on me first, then he furrowed his brows. Stepping closer to me, he raised his hand to my face, but I dodged his touch. "What's this?" He inquired. "Why do you look swollen on this part?"

Of course, the place she hit me is swollen already, thanks to my very soft skin.

"Exactly what I was just asking her too," Aria stepped in, pretending like she wasn't the reason for this.

"Tell us, Allyssa, what happened to you?" She played dumb.

I wanted to scream that she did this to me, but I couldn't, unless I want my life to be more miserable.

"It's nothing. I was careless lately, and didn't look where I was going," I said instead.

Argar sighed. "You should be careful," he said, his tone softening. I could feel his gaze on me, but I dare not meet it.

"So," Aria stepped forward, tugging Argar's arm. "What did you discuss with my father?" She asked him.

"Oh," Argar answered. "The God of War is back."

God of War?

My eyes brightened up. I had never seen him physically except for his paintings in books, and frames, and yes, his statue that we pray to. He rarely visits our realm. If he's here then...

"There's trouble," Argar continued, his voice dropping. "The seal on Vaelric is weak. We need to strengthen it or there'll be serious trouble."

The atmosphere turned heavy, our faces pale of color.

Valeric, just the mention of his name alone was enough to make your blood drain.

Aria leaned into Argar's embrace, her voice slurring. "There's nothing to worry about, sweetheart. The God of War is here, and so are other powerful Immortals, they'll handle it."

Argar's eyes lifted to hold mine. His eyes were full of longing for me, the kind that wanted to reach out to me but couldn't.

I looked away instantly.

"Your Highness, I will take my leave now," I said to Aria who didn't even bother to give me a response.

Giving a bow, I walked away with my heart twisting in pain and my eyes burning with tears.

I needed to cool off, to get rid of this heart wrenching pain of seeing the man I love with another woman in his embrace. I know the two of us is impossible but I fell for him anyway.

I turned to the palace gates and walked out, heading to the one place I always found my peace.

The deeper I ventured into the forest, the quieter the world became.

Towering trees swayed gently beneath the evening breeze, their leaves shimmering beneath the moonlight. Streams of water trickled down moss-covered rocks, feeding the great waterfall ahead.

This place had always felt untouched by the chaos of the palace, untouched by Aria... untouched by heartbreak.

I climbed the familiar hill overlooking the waterfall and sat near the edge of the cliff, wrapping my arms around my knees.

The roaring waterfall crashed violently below, mist rising into the cool night air.

Usually, this place calmed me but tonight, it didn't.

Argar's eyes haunted me, the softness in his voice, the longing, the impossible distance between us.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as tears burned my eyes again.

How pathetic. I'm four thousand years alive, and still foolish enough to fall in love with a man promised to another woman.

I lowered my head, gripping the fabric of my dress tightly. "Why does it hurt this much?" I whispered brokenly.

Silence answered me of course, but not until...

"Alyssa."

My breath caught, my eyes widening slowly.

That voice... deep, smooth, dangerously cool. It was the same voice that haunted my dreams. The same voice I wake up to every night, gasping to an empty room.

I rose to my feet instantly, my heart pounding violently against my chest.

"Who's there?!" I asked into the air, forcing authority into my shaky voice.

"Alyssa." The voice came again, this time, from below the cliff, from the darkness beyond the waterfall.

A strange pull twisted inside me like something deep within my soul had awakened.

Before I could stop myself, I was already at the edge of the cliff, and I think I saw something sparkle in the darkness of the water.

I squinted my eyes, furrowing my brows to get a clearer look, unaware that my foot had moved. I slipped forward, tumbling over the cliff.