I had been born for the sole purpose of this responsibility—infiltrating the crown. A duty my father bestowed upon me when I was still an infant in my mother’s womb before he knew what the gods had planned for his daughter.
In an instant, my mind transported me back to the pivotal day that changed the trajectory of my life forever.
My fingers twisted in my lap the whole carriage ride to Isla’s harbor, where a ship awaited to bring us home to our small city of Doraeli off the coast of the Vayr Sea. Our annual meeting with the king, queen, and Jameson had been delightful, as it was on every annual trip. I could easily see myself being the consort to the kind and handsome male, though we hardly knew each other. But to be queen...it was all my father wished for and the sole purpose of my birth.
I smiled to myself, knowing I would be a doting wife and queen, the kind the realm needed, just as Jameson would be as their king.
The carriage ground to a sudden halt, and my father opened the door, sticking his hand back in to help me out. “Come, Idina.”
I took his offered hand, stepped down, and became enchanted as I faced dark brown curls that tousledin the wind as it rolled off of the sea’s waves. And suddenly, all thoughts of Jameson escaped my mind.
The male appeared to be a few years older than me, as I just turned fifteen, and he wore the mark of a sailor for the sea trade upon his cloak. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by his appearance. His gaze darkened as it found my own while introducing himself, and immediately, I found myself resenting the life the gods bestowed upon me at birth.
As our ship sailed over the waves, he walked alongside me atop its deck, speaking of his love for life at sea, and as we neared the dock of Doraeli, my heart sank. There was so much more to this male I wished to know—longed and needed to know. The thought of never seeing him again had my lips in a near tremble.
I turned from him and searched for my father, whose back was to me as he spoke with the captain of the ship. My eyes metCallius’ once more as I gently placed my hand atop his own as it rested on the rail. “I do not wish to leave you. Will I ever see you again?”
His eyes softened as he stared down at me. “My duty is to that of the ship. I have signed my life away as a sailor, Miss Idina.”
I shook my head as my throat clogged. “No, my father is a lord and a friend of the king. He could easily get you out of a contract and find you work.”
He gave me a gentle smile as he combed his fingers through his curls. “I wish I could do that, but I have a duty to uphold. This was my dream. But I do hope to see you every time I make port in Doraeli. I will make time to find you and visit your family’s estate.”
My smile dropped as I realized that this could never be. “My father would never allow that. If we were to see each other, it would need to be in secret.” I couldn’t even believe the words as they came out of my mouth—I never lied or went against my father, but something inside me was screaming to do just that.
Callius’ lips tilted in a menacing smile as he guided me to a hidden corner of the ship, where no other eyes and ears may lie upon us. He took my hand in his and lifted it to his lips, pressing them against my skin. “Then let this be our first occurrence of secrecy.”
Heat rose to my cheeks, and suddenly, the crew was shouting about needing to dock.
When we rushed out from the shadows of where we hid, my father shot me a look and then offered me his arm. I curtsied to Callius and the rest of the crew before he escorted me down the gangplank and into the city. Sneaking peeks back at the ship, Icould feel his eyes on me as I walked away, already longing for our next secret encounter.
And now, two years later, we were still sneaking around together in the dead of night every time he made port in Doraeli—talking of life, holding hands, and stealing kisses that felt as if one of the gods themselves placed it upon my lips.
My heart raced as my thoughts consumed me. I was now seventeen years of age and expected to see Jameson for our annual meeting in mere weeks. The idea of it made my throat nearly clog, and I knew I would have to tell Callius the truth of why we had to sneak around so carefully behind my father’s back. Originally, I had told him it was due to him being a mere sailor, and the lie tasted wretched on my tongue.
“I must tell you something,” I said to him as a tear slid down my cheek.
He swiped it away with his thumb as we lay in a field beneath the stars outside of the city. “You can tell me anything, Idina.”
With those words from him, I burst into a river of tears and told him everything. Of my duty to the kingdom and my father. The look of devastation on his face would’ve sent me to my knees if I wasn’t already on the ground as he listened to my words of being promised to another at birth—but not just any other—the future king of the realm.
When I was finished, Callius cupped my cheek in his calloused hand, rough from manning the ships in the sea, as he looked me in the eye and said, “Stay. With me.”
In that moment, I knew I was doomed to live a life of heartache and regret, knowing my father would kill us both if I were to breakmy vow.
Before I could answer him, he firmly pressed his lips to mine—it was all-consuming and ignited something inside of me. Without a single rational thought, we made love for the first time beneath the Velyran stars, feeling nothing but pure magic flowing between us.
I was innocent in the ways of males. Was this how it always felt? Or was it my love for Callius that made it so intense and beautiful? All I knew for certain was that I was terrified my father would somehow discover my treachery of his oath to the Valderres.
After another hour of laying together in intimate silence, Callius walked me back to my family’s massive estate. My body trembled with fear the entire stroll beneath the moonlight, making him even more on edge and protective.
“I will be fine, this I promise you,” I lied to him.
A growl erupted in his chest. “Your fear is palpable. I can feel it.”
My eyes flared, unknowing of why he was so certain of this, but I cupped his cheek with my hand and assured him again that he was just being paranoid. I could sense his anger just as he sensed my panic and lies.
Once at the front gate of our estate, he kissed me fiercely with a gleam of what could only be described as pure love in his eyes. “I will find you tomorrow before my ship leaves port.” My heart sank in my chest as I realized he would be forced to leave me again for many weeks at sea. With a final kiss goodbye, he turned from me and quietly stalked down the walkway.
