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CHAPTER SEVEN
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2021-04-13 13:56:38“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 ifRelated chapters
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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
Last Updated : 2021-04-14BRED 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
Last Updated : 2021-04-15BRED 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
Last Updated : 2021-04-16BRED 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
Last Updated : 2021-04-17BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER NINE
“Yes, your highness,” Xander bowed and growled through clenched teeth. He winked at Adalia before turning around and walking away.He met one of his men on his way out to the carriage. He needed everything to go smoothly, if possible perfectly. He tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword as he replayed the romantic moment between Adalia and Archer in his head. It wasn’t fair but he had a plan to correct everything that had happened.“Is everything ready?” He asked.“Just as you had requested,” the soldier fell back into line.Xander couldn’t help but think back to the point where everything had to change:-“Princess?”Xander could remember when he was just fifteen years old. He had escorted his father to the palace. His father, Crone, was Gabrielle’s right hand man; that was before he died and Conan came along. Adalia had a wooden sword in her hand, and she was fighting an immobile
Last Updated : 2021-04-18BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER NINE (B)
“You don’t have to worry about that, I don’t need protecting. I can take care of myself,” Xander’s eyes mocked with laughter. He had seen her fighting skills years before and hoped they had improved. Because even though they had finally pushed the rebels back the enemy lines, the Princess still needed protecting. “If you don’t mind-,”“Don’t mind what Princess?” Xander smiled bashfully at her.“You are holding up the line. I would like to get the meet and greet done before I turn ninety.”Xander couldn’t believe she had dismissed him like that. He stood at a corner in the room and watched how she interacted with the other men at the party. She was just as dismissive with them as she was with him, if not more. Xander was glad that he wasn’t the only recipient of her icy cold demeanor. It was obvious she didn’t want to be there. Even more obvious when she snuck out of the par
Last Updated : 2021-04-19BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER TEN
“Don’t do that,” Archer was slowly getting irritated by Adalia’s guilty expression each time they crossed paths with Xander. It made him feel like she didn’t think what they were doing was right. However, to him it felt perfect.“Do what?” She squeezed back tears.“I don’t like it when you make that expression,” he pressed his palms against her cheeks. “Like what we are doing is wrong?”She pulled his hands down. “What we are doing isn’t wrong. But what I did was. I shouldn’t have told him I would marry him without being sure first.”“Are you sure now?”“Yes,” she kissed into both his palms.He felt a whoosh of tense air exhale from his lungs. “It’s going to be fine.”***Once they were far enough from the North Kingdom, Xander turned his horse and geared it towards the forest. He was going to hide and watch
Last Updated : 2021-04-20BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER TEN (B)
Adalia’s heart broke when he kissed her. She felt his fear, his doubt and also his will to stay alive. Her fingers smoothed over her lips. She wanted to say I love you back but he hadn’t given a chance to. She watched as he fought and knew that she had to do her part. She had to find his sister and her brother.“Your highness.”She heard someone say behind her. They were waiting for instructions. She had always wanted to be a warrior in her father’s army. But now as they stood in the thick of things, stepping into pools of blood and over lifeless bodies, she suddenly realized her idea of war wasn’t as poetic.“We are going into the forest. Find the prince and princess,” she barked out and led them.Adalia bit down on her trembling jaw. She couldn’t show fear, not to her men. She held her sword in front of her as she tiptoed around the leafy forest. But when she heard the sound of a branch break underneath some
Last Updated : 2021-04-21
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She slipped on her white dress and put the veil over her head. Adalia didn’t let her mother talk her into wearing her diamond tiara. She wanted to get married as she was, not as a state symbol but just as a girl. She waited outside the chapel doors her flowers in her hands. When the doors flew open she took one step at a time to the altar where Archer waited for her.He was in his royal attire, clean shaven, his hair cut short. He looked just like she had seen him the first time. Adalia thought about all the times that she could have lost him that this day seemed to be more like a dream than anything else. His face radiated a smile as she walked up to him. He was going to be her husband and she couldn’t be happier.Once they had taken their vows, Archer and Adalia ran to the balcony. She pulled off her veil and let her hair loose. Archer combed his fingers through her thick raven hair as it flew in the wind.“You want to fly with me?” he took off his jacket and tossed it on
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Xander felt like he had lost everything with Archer’s return. He went out to the palace gates and asked the rebels to fall back. He had a new plan. But this time he didn’t expect to come back after it was executed. He sent word to Archer and Adalia to meet him at the South gates. His need for power disappeared the second he walked into the chapel to find Archer and Adalia joined. Now all he wanted was revenge. Archer had robbed him of everything he wanted, while Adalia had watched and laughed in his face. Xander took several breaths to calm his unraveling nerves. He vowed to come out on top. They were going to regret ever mocking him.***“Are you sure about this?” Adalia knew Archer was more comfortable with leaving Adalia back safely at home while he faced Xander by himself. She knew something was up when the rebels suddenly pulled back. She had no doubt it was they did so under Xander’s instructions. “I don’t want you put in any
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER SIXTEEN (B)
This wasn’t the wedding she wanted. It felt forced, unreal. But she couldn’t say no either. The rebels at the palace walls told her so. For the sake of her people she needed to commit to this shoddy matrimony. Maybe later she and Archer could have a real bonding ceremony.“I do,” the words left her lips without a thought. And in a second she was out of Conan’s arms and into Archer’s. She stared into his eyes as he looked down at her. His touch fired the senses, his voice as though drifting on a magical breeze as he said. “I love you.”“I love you too,” she didn’t sound as melodic as he did. Her voice came out as a bare whisper, hoarse and scratchy to the throat. But Archer didn’t seem to mind. The gentle pressure of his lips against hers rendered her mind senseless. There was no more thinking, all she was capable of was feeling and she loved each and every moment of it. When he pulled away, a tentative
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“Father,” Adalia smiled at him. She sat next to him on the bed and held onto his hand. “I don’t blame you. But I think that it would be best if I chose m own husband from now on.”“You are my little diamond, you know that right?” His palm cupped her face and Adalia leaned into it. “I would never make a decision that would harm you.”“I know daddy.”“Your highness,” Adalia turned just in time to see Conan send a way a guard that she never knew had joined them. Conan’s brow drew together in a formidable frown, as his fingers curled around the hilt of his sword. “The rebels have formed a front line, just outside the palace walls.”“And where is Xander? Adalia rose from the bed, and with three large strides she was at Conan’s side.“He is with the palace guards. Apparently he is forming a defensive line,” Adalia could see the doubt and disbelie
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Adalia drew in a long breath when Xander stopped in front of her. Her fingers curled around the hilt of the sword, ready to pull it out on command and relieve Xander of his head. Archer put his hand over hers reminding her of the plan. Her heart still frozen in her chest she bit into her lower lip and let out a long breath.“I need to speak to you,” Xander shot darts of hatred at Archer, every look in his eyes telling him to leave them.Archer wasn’t sure that Adalia would be able to keep her cool. He wasn’t sure she would be able to refrain herself from killing Xander right in the very spot he stood in. But he had to trust her. He excused them but didn’t go very far. He stood in a corner next to Samson.“What’s going on?” he asked when he saw the intense hatred Adalia was staring Xander down with.“I told her that it was Xander who tried to kill me, who wants to kill her father,” his eyes didn&rsq
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Xander was at the palace walls. He had one more contact in the palace he was sure wouldn’t let him down. He had to send word to the rebels outside the palace. He had to postpone his plan to attack because right now everyone was waiting for them. They needed to catch them by surprise, especially now that Archer had arrived with an army of his own.He was cursing Archer’s return, wishing that he had driven his blade a little further into his body, and then maybe he would have died. But he needed to get back to Adalia’s side, play the concerned fiancé and hopefully push their marriage through.***“Adalia are you sure you are up to this,” Lionell could see the exhausted look on her face and so could everyone else.“You need to get some sleep sister,” Randi held her up by her arm.“I’m fine,” she mumbled.“When was the last time you slept?” Archer spotted the dark rings under her
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“Archer?” Adalia asked a silent question that only he could answer.Unable to contain his feelings anymore, he rushed to her and held her tightly in his arms. At first she didn’t reciprocate the hug. He could feel her uncertainty, her fear. So he said. “Feel my heart beat for you. Fell my arms around you, my breath on your cheek,” he kissed her. “My kiss on your lips. I’m real and I am never going to leave you.”Adalia felt her body collapse. She tried to wrap her arms around him but she couldn’t. There was no strength left inside her feeble body and there was barely and breath left inside her soul. She felt her body give in and the darkness took her.Archer stared into her face. He was taken in by how peaceful she looked immobile. Without a single expression on her face, he could see her; her lips, her rosy cheeks and her still eyes. But his moment was cut into when Xander appeared.“What did you do to
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Adalia walked out of her room, she didn’t wait for the royal band to serenade her, or for the flowers to be laid in her path. She matched out in her dress, without any make up or jeweler. She held her hair in a ponytail and placed her tiara on top of her head.“Adalia?” her mother asked her eyes wide in terror.“Let’s get this over with mother,” she walked into the chapel. She saw Xander waiting for her and she marched down the aisle. As people stood up and started clapping she shushed them. “Stop, sit down let’s get this over and done with.”The room fell silent as she made her way to the alter. “Xander.”“Adalia, you look beautiful.”“Liar,” she stood next to him, half paying attention to everything the priest said half wanting a wind to blow through the palace and blow her away.“Princess would you like to make your vows to Xander,” the priest asked.
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Liora found her daughter sitting next to the window as the first ray of sunlight slithered into her room. She didn’t look like she had had a wink of sleep.“Do you want to take a nap first?” She took her by the shoulders and led her to the bed.“Just five minutes, then I have to get married to Archer,” she moaned.“Xander,” her mother corrected.“Yes Xander,” Adalia pulled the covers over her head and closed her eyes.***Archer, Samson and a couple of men from the colony hid in the bushes outside the palace walls. They had been waiting there the whole night. At first they had planned to invade the castle in the dark but their numbers were nothing compared to the place guards that marched and flew over and around the palace walls.They slept outside, but Archer couldn’t sleep. His arms itched for Adalia especially since she was only a few footsteps away from her. Being so close he felt his
