Page 3 of The Faebound Trials (Mates and Madness: The Phantom Prince and The Bloodweaver #1)

I wasn’t born an assassin. I wasn’t born a thief or a beggar.

I wasn’t born like Asael who could throw daggers and hit the target at the center. I wasn’t special. Being born like this I had to work ten times harder than anyone. I grew up in poverty and neglect.

My parents being elite soldiers in Enara didn’t make my life any better.

I was just a simple girl whose parents were apparently Bloodweaver elites. Them becoming leaders of The Order was unfamiliar to me. Being an heir was something I didn’t expect either.

My parents told me nothing, they were rarely home. And eventually, they had forgotten about us.

I only knew about their deep association to The Order when they died, when one of the soldiers brought what little they had left back home.

I didn’t even know they were heavily involved. Why? I knew they were doing something—too preoccupied they had forgotten they had children to take care of. They neglected us because of their duties as Bloodweaver elites.

I didn’t know much about The Order. I was living a life far from its complex society.

Enara had lost its glory years ago.

There were no kings that ruled this world. No central authority. Just orders, clans, factions, and groups left to fend for themselves.

Enara was abandoned. No one wanted to rule this death-ridden world. So, people clustered into groups they could fit in.

And what happens to a world where there’s no central authority? Organized crime lords replaced the kings.

What I knew about the Bloodweavers was that they were determined to save and protect what little Enara had left. They considered themselves patriotic soldiers. They swore to find the cure for Bonbell by bloodweaving.

The Bonbell Disease targeted the blood. I had seen what it could do to a healthy body. And I would never wish it upon my worst enemies.

But I didn’t have much information about my parents, The Order, and the bloodweavers.

I was busy protecting my sister, scavenging resources like food, water and shelter. My parents were everywhere but home.

And because of that, I got involved with the Embergrave. I tried not to steal so many times, so I tried to look for something that pays.

And I found myself working for Embergrave. A one-time thing that led to a year. There I met Asael, he was the one who entrusted my first assignment to me.

I had to deliver a box of something to someone. The level of secrecy was insane that I didn’t touch to see what’s inside. I knew better than when curiosity killed the cat.

I needed the money, their business had nothing to do with me.

Though that first assignment led me to meet the recipient of the box, the current leader of Embergrave.

Zairan Nikolai Kalen.

My life would’ve been easier if I had stuck to stealing stale bread or waited for my parents to come back.

His fixation with me didn’t help. He offered me shelter and food in exchange for my love and my womb.

Nikolai needed an heir to Embergrave. And he wanted nobody else but me.

I found his love for me sick and twisted. Overwhelming and cruel.

I didn’t want to be somebody’s wife. Or somebody’s mother. Lera was enough.

It would be cruel to bring an innocent life into this world where death and sickness kills your soul.

The Faebound Trials was my only chance.

I’d been dreading this chance at the same time looking forward to it. If I met the same fate my parents did. Lera would be alone and my uncle would come for her.

With me gone, Lera would be the next heir to the Bloodweaver’s Order. Or whatever the hell that was.

A sigh escaped my lips.

I couldn’t see the stars from where I stood, pollution had dimmed the glow of the stars. Even the moon was hiding beyond the sea of dark clouds.

I threw the things I wouldn’t need and eyed the rest of what I have, a bunch of random things, some were no longer usable but I kept it because I grew up poor.

Hoarding had been my illness.

When you grow up poor you develop a habit of thinking that maybe I could use that thing someday, or I might need it for something in the future.

I was attached to things that others had thrown away, or others had lost because there was no other way I could’ve had it.

It was either to pick whatever others had thrown away or steal it.

And I was once a kid who had gotten beaten up for stealing something pretty and shiny. I had to learn it the hard way.

I had to learn life the hard way.

People had gone to sleep as tomorrow, they would need to wake up early, hoping to scavenge scraps, and find a way to feed themselves.

Another day of struggling just to survive.

In these times, the mortal world collapsed like a house of cards.

Mortals who once butchered and reigned over kingdoms had fallen down to chaos.

Even royal bloodlines had been sold off by someone once smaller than they.

But no one was above anyone.

Everyone’s wishes had come true. The mortal realm became equal for everyone.

No one was better than anyone, no one was richer or poorer, or more powerful or weaker.

Everyone was suffering. And everyone would suffer.

Everyone had to face Bonbell sooner or later. No one was safe.

Looking at the pile of the only clothes we had, a sigh escaped my lips. Lera was sleeping peacefully as I packed our things.

It would take three to four days of travel before we reach Enoranthas.

When our world leaders stumbled upon Enoranthas, it was deep within the forest. Some of the people were lost, some people never came back in the maze of the shifting forests.

Hidden within three deep mountains, the journey to Enoranthas took many lives before they found it. Before any of the fae beings stopped playing with the feeble minds of mortals.

It was still a mystery why only Rowan Rigas got there and got out during the first days of the war.

None of them actually told us how they struck a deal with the High King, how everything had played out that led to all of this.

One thousand years ago, there were only mortals. Now there were bloodweavers and fae and other mortal beings with abilities that evolved throughout the years.

Holding Lera’s hands as we walked through the night, I couldn’t help but stay on guard.

The city lights were dimmed, casting little shadows as possible in the rows of makeshift homes and cardboard castles.

The eerie silence from the morning hustle hushed the slumbering snores.

Dawn was a few hours away. A raven’s sudden croak scared me. My hand tightened around her little hand.

Lera giggled. “It’s only a crow, L. Why are you so jumpy? Does the night scare you?”

“The night doesn’t scare me. It’s the absence of light that does. And no, It’s not a crow. It’s a raven.”

“How would you know?”

I grew quiet for a while.

“I could feel the blood flowing through their body. A raven is bigger than a crow. The supply of oxygen in their blood needed was significantly different,” I blabbered.

“How do you do that?”

I blinked, suddenly afraid of my powers. I’d always shake it off, the knowledge that comes from having this power. The advantage and the risks of having it.

I had always pushed it away because the pain of neglect and abandonment breaks me apart.

Now, knowing my sister has it too. I should’ve taught her how our abilities work. I should’ve taught her in case I died.

My parents weren’t there when I discovered I could hear mortals’ heartbeat. That I could feel their blood running through their veins, louder than anyone.

I would know the difference when someone had contacted the Bonbell from someone who had not.

I could feel anyone’s presence as long as I listened enough.

“Focus on the sound of the raven. Then from there, let your mind weave through the sound of their blood flowing in their veins.”

Lera was silent for a second.

Glancing at her scrunched face, I noticed how her brows moved as if she was trying to do what I said.

Then her face beamed.

“You’re right. L. I could hear it. I could hear the raven’s blood. This is amazing! How did you know I could do it too?”

I chuckled at how cute my baby sister was, my tense shoulders relaxed.

“Your heartbeat is the same as mine. And ours were different from your friends. I assume you could hear it too.”

I gave my sister a smile and pinched her cheeks. Her eyes were wide with excitement.

“I can’t wait to tell this to my friends, L. Do you think they’ll find me cool too?”

My smile faltered.

A broken street lamp snapped close after we’d passed it.

“I find you cool, Lera. You are amazing. But don’t tell your friends you could hear their blood, or their heartbeat.” I couldn’t look into her eyes as I spoke, “People fear the unknown. Sometimes they are not willing to understand. If they can’t understand the power you have, they will call you a monster. So don’t tell anybody, okay?”

I willed myself to look at her and I saw how my words tore her excitement away.

“That’s really sad, L. But I trust you.”

I saw her shoulders slumped. My heart sank. I squeezed her shoulders, an attempt to make her feel better.

I could finally hear the stagnant lake nearing the path after a few turns.

We were silently threading the dead lands of Seras when I stopped on my tracks. My hand tightened its grip on my sister’s shoulder.

Lera sensed it too when I saw her eyes wandered and her ears twitched at the sound of a heartbeat or of blood.

“L, there’s someone following us.” Dread had wrapped around my throat. “Is Nikolai coming with us?”

I could hear my heart thumping loudly against my ears. Blood drained my face. My hands were covered in cold sweat.

“Just keep walking, Lera. It’s just the two of us.” There was a slight tremble in my voice.

“But there’s a shadow too, L. He’s been tailing us since we left the tent.”

The sharp icy cold breeze hit me directly in the face. A chill ran down my spine when I sensed the presence of a man I had been running away from.

“Lera. L.”

His voice sounded haunting. Livid. And cold.

I was forced to stop.

I kept myself steady. I closed my eyes to breathe.

I turned around to see him standing there.

Nikolai was covered in stubbles as if something had troubled him. It was unusual. He always sported a clean-shaved face. Well-tailored suit.

He had always been particular with how clean he looked. It made mortals respect you. Being clean in Enara meant you had access to clean water. It meant power.

His hair was visibly raked by anxious hands, his usual slick back was gone.

Arms and neck covered in wild, vivid ink that contradicts his calm aura.

Face covered with scars, one slicing through his left brown down to his cheek. One carving his lips to a longer wicked smile.

Nikolai was no old man.

The thing was he was younger than me. And with his age, with what he had gone through, I knew what he had to do to get to where he is now.

Enara became a place where only evil could thrive. Only the brutal and ruthless could survive.

And Nikolai embodies every single thing that Enara had thrown at us.

His very presence was larger than he was. When he entered a room his aura commanded people to look at him.

His eyes bored deeply into my skin, hot, heavy, and intense. And the look on his face…

The look on his face was mixed with madness and disbelief. A hint of betrayal and distress clouded his deep green eyes, it was darker in the night.

How did he find us?

How did he know?

“Nikolai.”

His name sounded like a whisper when it rolled down my tongue.

And I wish I remained silent. Because the way he closed his eyes, he savored the sound of his name on my lips.

His obsession was weighing me down. Caging me in. Taking my ability to feel free. And I always felt trapped under his watch.

And I wished I never got the attention of a dangerous man.

I wished it wasn’t me who delivered that package that day. I wished it was somebody else.

I slowly hid my sister behind me. But every movement I did. Every breath I took, he was savoring it like he was addicted to my every movement, my every being.

His lips curled in a displeased curve. He was offended when I hid my sister away from him.

“Now, now. L. Care to tell me why you’re leaving?”

Fear and frustration bubbled in my throat.

“Nikolai. I…” His face changed again. As if he was euphoric the way I simply uttered his name.

I could feel his two bodyguards hiding behind the trees.

“You can be honest, L. You can always be honest with me.”

I snapped.

“What are you doing here again, Nikolai? In the middle of Seras? Embergrave is miles away from here.” I couldn’t contain the irritation and distress in my voice.

“I was following you.”

But my tone didn’t seem to faze him.

“Why would you do that?”

I looked away, uncomfortable with the way he looked at me as if he was a lover begging for attention.

“L, you’re running away from me. Are you?”

The hurt in his voice was accusing. I closed my eyes.

“Would you hurt me if I tell you the truth?”

He leaned to me as if he’s worried I’d hate him. I didn’t.

I was scared. I was scared of him. I was scared how he would act if I showed how much he infuriates me. How much his love was all consuming that it eats away at my fire.

“Never. L. I would never hurt you.”

I’m exhausted. I don’t want to hear this right now.

“Lera and I are going on a vacation.”

He smiled as if I displeased him. As if he caught me lying. I hate it! I was so bad at lying. How could someone find a place in the broken-down Enara for a vacation?

I’m so fucking dumb. I hate it.

“You don’t have money to go on a vacation, darling.”

He was pissing me off.

“I saved enough to unwind.”

“I told you. You didn’t have to save for a vacation. You could have told me. You could’ve used your money somewhere else. I could have paid for it.”

“Really?” Lera excitedly said and came out from hiding.

I couldn’t grab her. She was fast.

Nikolai smiled brightly when she went to him.

My nerves had gone haywire. I could feel my sweat running down my spine.

“Tell me little one, where are you planning to go?”

He kneeled to meet her eyes.

My heart would’ve skipped a beat if it wasn’t Zairan Nikolai.

“It was this paradise from the south. They said there were islands. L, wanted to see the sea for so long. And I wanted to see it too! Will you really stop us from seeing the sea?”

His smile faltered. I knew those eyes. He knew she was smart.

His glance was searing hot when it landed on me.

“Is your sister running away from me, Lera?”

“Nope, why would she run away from you?” She popped the p like a bubblegum. And she tilted her head to the right.

I grew desperate. I pulled my sister away from him and kept her closer to me. He slowly stood up. That answered his questions.

I didn’t anticipate this. I had a plan. But I was so careless that I neglected his obsession with me. I didn’t plan how I would escape him if it came to this. And that was stupid of me.

“Your eyes are telling me you’re afraid.” He raked his hair. “You were leaving me.” His tone went octaves lower.

I wasn’t the type to beg people to leave me alone. So, I pulled a dagger. I knew how to use one. But I was never confident with my skills.

I couldn’t stop myself from shaking.

“You don’t own me.” I shouted. “We’re not together. We’re not even lovers. We’re not even friends.” There was exasperation in every word. “How could I ever leave you?”

“It would’ve sounded sweet if only you meant it the way I want you to mean it.”

“I’m so tired of this.” I tipped my head up. “Don’t force yourself on me. Just let me leave. Leave me alone.”

“I love you.”

Fuck. Again?

I almost rolled my eyes.

“Do you?” It made me repeat the same question I said that night.

He reminded me of Lowen Vespertine. The man I buried after stealing his name and his destiny.

Why does my destiny suck so much?

“Would you take me if I said yes?”

I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes.

“I wouldn’t. You just don’t get it do you? I don’t want you. Leave!”

He clenched his jaw.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t want me. What matters is that I want you.” I saw his men move. “And you’re not leaving me.”

I grabbed my sister and carried her. I could hear her sniffing. I pointed my dagger to them. And they laughed, mocking me for how small it looks.

“You never fail to make me laugh, L.”

I positioned the dagger in between my knuckles as if they were claws. I feigned attacking them. They took a step back.

I bolted for a run.

I ran as fast as I could with Lera heavy on my arms. But I wasn’t the type to look behind. I wasn’t the type to hesitate.

I freely used my abilities to listen to their heartbeats. They were faster. They were getting nearer. I cursed.

The dock was a few meters away. And the trees were getting narrower. But hope bloomed inside me when I felt the ground was getting damp.

“L!” Lera shouted.

As I felt one of them was about to grab Lera, I ducked and we rolled over down the small hill. I cradled her tightly in my chest as I protected her head.

I almost smashed my head against a huge rock when we hit the bottom before the swamp. But I used my feet to anchor us to a stop.

I breathed in and stood up. I could feel Lera shaking in my arms, but she remained silent. I hope she wasn’t in shock.

“We’re going to be alright, sis,” I whispered.

I listened to their heartbeats, thankfully they were far from where we were.

When I looked back. I ducked quickly when I saw hands trying to move the thick fronds that hid away the swamp.

And I settled my back against the huge rock.

Then I felt a sharp pain puncturing me in the head. My hands went to my temple and I saw a smear of reddish-black liquid.

I couldn’t hear their heartbeats anymore. The bleeding muddled my thoughts, it weakened my bloodweaving.

I closed my eyes when Nikolai didn’t give up and he went down the swamp.

“So fucking persistent.”

I listened to his careful footsteps edging towards where we hid.

“L. Do something!”

I let out a sigh of relief. She’s okay.

“Apparently hiding is doing something, Lera. I don’t want him to catch us.”

She scrunched her eyebrows in annoyance.

I looked back. I couldn’t hear them anymore. Bloodweaving was useless when you’re bleeding.

Then when Lera clasped her hands together and closed her eyes.

“Dear Phantom Prince. I know you are not real. But I hope you help us. My sister is not pretty but I offer her to you in exchange for helping us get away from the bad guys. Sincerely, the prettiest Lera.”

I choked a laugh. I wasn’t mocking her. I was just shocked. I had to put my hand in my mouth to stop myself from laughing.

I received a punch from Lera.

“I was just trying to help! Being small makes me feel like a burden to you. I couldn’t help you at all when you clearly needed it so much, L!” She whispered-shouted.

My heart lurched at her words. I felt bad.

“I’m sorry for laughing.”

She didn’t have time to reply when we heard a shout from one of Nikolai’s men.

I stilled when I heard the loud gushing of the wind.

Nikolai’s calls were suddenly muffled as if we were underwater. Or as if he was calling from the other side of a wall.

And then the clouds hid the moonlight, erasing the tracks we left behind. The clouds were darker, fuller, and heavier than it was before.

I thought I was blind for a second.

Because there was just nothing.

Complete darkness veiled us in shadows.

I could feel the cold stone behind me, I could hear the damp leaves and the broken branches that fell from the trees at my feet, I could feel Lera’s hands on me.

But I could see nothing.

It was as if her ridiculous wish she uttered in the wind was granted.

And I stared in nothingness as I processed what just happened.