Chapter 1: Dahlia
Fractured Prince: Of Blood & Chains Book 1
I shake out my hands, willing the tremors to subside as I crouch in the shadows of the ancient forest.
Before me, perched atop a jagged cliff overlooking the Far West ocean, looms Castle Ravanan. Its imposing silhouette cuts a stark figure against the blood-red sunset, spires reaching toward the darkening sky like grasping fingers.
The dying light casts long shadows across the weathered stone, creating the illusion of movement along the castle walls.
Gargoyles with snarling faces and razor-sharp talons peer down from their lofty perches, their eyes seeming to follow my every move. A shiver runs through me, and I can't shake the feeling that the castle itself is aware of our presence.
That as much as we’re hidden here, waiting for our moment, it’s really the castle lying in wait like a predator ready to strike.
The thought’s ridiculous, but it terrifies me, too. My heart races in a staccato rhythm.
But I've come too far to turn back now. I take a deep breath, inhaling the scent of pine and sea salt mingled with the earthy aroma of decaying leaves. That’s real, I tell myself. Not the idea of castles watching me, but the rotting world surrounding me.
I know the plan I've concocted is risky, perhaps even foolhardy. But it's all I have. I glance over my shoulder at the small crew I've assembled, mostly hired mercenaries with a reputation for getting the job done, no matter the cost. Their faces are grim, determined. They know the stakes as well as I do.
Vamir, the lead mercenary, sidles up beside me. His scarred face is a map of past battles, and his eyes hold the cold calculation of a man who's seen too much death. "Princess," he whispers, his voice a low growl, "we should go over the plan one last time."
I nod, turning to face him fully, reciting the plan like a schoolgirl who’s memorized a lesson. "We breach the castle's defenses using the secret passage I uncovered in the old records. Once inside, we make our way to the east wing where Lord Talon Ravanan's chambers are located. We subdue him, and then we extract, using the same passage to escape."
Vamir's eyes narrow. "And you're certain about participating in this raid yourself? It's not too late for you to stay behind."
His tone reminds me he’s made his argument against my participation at least a dozen times.
I stiffen, straightening my spine as my tone turns formal. "I am a princess of the Night Fae, Vamir. It is expected that I participate in any battle my people undertake."
He snorts, clearly unimpressed. "With all due respect, Your Highness,” he emphasizes my title, “this isn't some courtly dance. It's a dangerous operation, and I can't guarantee your safety if you insist on coming along."
"I'm not asking you to," I retort, my voice sharper than I intended. I soften my tone, remembering that I need his cooperation. "I appreciate your concern, but I've made my decision. I'm coming."
He shakes his head, a mix of frustration and resignation on his weathered face. "You're the one paying us, so I can't stop you. But I want you at the back of the group. No heroics, understood?"
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. As much as I hate to admit it, part of me wonders if Vamir is right.
Am I truly prepared for this? I'm only a minor princess, after all. My battle training was cut short when the Sun Fae Queen's forces attacked, and I've spent more time running and hiding than fighting since then.
As if summoned by my doubts, the memory of that terrible day floods my mind, and I see it all again in vivid, horrifying detail.
The Sun Fae Queen, resplendent in her golden armor, her beauty as terrible as it is mesmerizing. Her cruel, lovely laughter as she cuts down my family one by one. The screams of my people as they fall before her relentless assault. The acrid smell of smoke and blood filling the air.
My gorge rises and I swallow hard. I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. The pain grounds me, pulling me back from the brink of despair. No. I cannot falter now.
I need Talon Ravanan’s power to take revenge, to reclaim what was stolen from me and my people.
And I will get it.
The sun dips below the horizon, plunging the world into dark twilight. Vamir raises a hand, signaling to the team. Silently, they begin to move out, melting into the shadows like wraiths.
I fall in behind them.
Have I made the right choice? Am I taking these men and women to their deaths for a fool's errand?
As we draw closer to the looming castle, I push my doubts aside.
I will have my revenge, no matter the cost.
The forest gives way to barren rock as we approach the base of the cliff. The castle towers above us, a dark monolith against the star-studded sky.
Vamir leads us to a narrow crevice in the cliff face, barely visible in the dim light. "This is it," he murmurs, running his hand along the rough stone. "Let's hope your intel is correct."
"It is," I say, with more confidence than I feel. "The records were clear. This passage leads directly into the lower levels of the castle."
He gives me a long look, then turns to the rest of the team. "Kirat, you're on point. Dron, watch our backs. Everyone else, stay alert and stay quiet. We don't know what kind of defenses Lord Ravanan has in place."
As we file into the narrow passage, the darkness swallows us whole. The air grows thick and stale. Our footsteps echo softly off the rough-hewn walls, and I have to fight the urge to look over my shoulder constantly. Again, it feels as though the very stone is watching us, judging our intrusion.
We climb steadily upward, the passage twisting and turning like the innards of some great beast. My legs burn with the effort, and my lungs strain in the thin air. Just when I think I can't take another step, Kirat holds up a hand, bringing us to a halt.
"There's something ahead," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "A door, I think."
Vamir pushes forward, examining the obstacle. "It's old," he says after a moment. "Probably hasn't been used in centuries. But it's locked."
My heart sinks. Have we come all this way only to be stopped by a simple lock? But Vamir is already reaching for his tools. "Give me a moment," he mutters, bending to his task.
The seconds stretch into an eternity as Vamir works. Every small sound seems magnified in the confined space, and I'm certain that at any moment, we'll hear the thundering of guards' footsteps coming to investigate.
But there's nothing but the soft scraping of Vamir's tools and the ragged breathing of our team.
Finally, there's a soft click, and Vamir straightens. "We're in," he says, a note of satisfaction in his voice. "Remember, once we're inside, we move fast and we move quiet. No unnecessary risks. Our target is Lord Ravanan. Anything else is secondary."
He pushes the door open, revealing a dimly lit corridor beyond. The air that rushes in is cool and damp, carrying with it the musty scent of age and decay.
We emerge into what appears to be a long-abandoned section of the castle's lower levels. Cobwebs cling to every surface, and a thick layer of dust covers the floor, undisturbed for who knows how long.
Gods. Does Ravanan even know this part of his castle exists?
As we make our way through the twisting corridors, I marvel at the castle's interior. Even in this neglected area, signs of its former grandeur are everywhere. Faded tapestries line the walls, their once-vibrant colors muted by time. Ornate carvings adorn the ceiling, depicting scenes of battle and triumph, beautiful and terrible all at once.
We encounter no resistance as we climb higher into the castle proper. The lack of guards or servants is unsettling.
Surely a lord as powerful as Talon Ravanan would have better security?
Unless... unless he's so confident in his own abilities that he doesn't feel the need for conventional defenses.
The thought sends a chill racing across my skin. What kind of man are we dealing with?
As we near the south wing, where Lord Ravanan's chambers are supposed to be located, the atmosphere of the castle seems to change.
The air grows heavy, charged with an energy that makes the hair on the nape of my neck stand on end.
Vamir holds up a hand, bringing us to a halt before a set of massive double doors. Intricate designs are carved into the dark wood, swirling patterns that seem to move if you look at them too long.
This has to be it. Lord Ravanan's chambers.
Vamir draws his sword. The rest of the team follows suit, weapons appearing in hands as if conjured by magic.
I reach for my own blade, a slender thing that feels woefully inadequate. My palms are sweaty, and I have to adjust my grip to keep the sword from slipping.
Vamir looks back at me, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Last chance to stay behind, Princess," he says softly.
I shake my head, steeling my resolve. "I'm seeing this through.”
I’m proud that my voice doesn't waver.
Vamir nods once, then turns back to the doors. With a deep breath, he pushes them open.
The chamber beyond is vast, its high ceiling lost in shadow. Moonlight streams through tall, arched windows, casting long lines silver across the polished floor.
The room is a study in opulence, filled with priceless artifacts and sumptuous furnishings.
But I can’t take my eyes off the figure at the other end of the room.
Lord Talon Ravanan turns to face us, and I gasp, though I don’t know why, exactly.
He's tall and imposing, clad in dark clothing that seems to absorb the moonlight. His features are sharp, aristocratic, with high cheekbones and a strong jaw.
But it's his eyes that arrest me. They're a deep, mesmerizing blue, like the depths of the ocean in a storm. And as I watch, they seem to flicker, changing for just a moment to a fiery red.
A slow smile plays across his lips as he surveys our group.
"Well," he says, his voice a rich baritone with a dark chocolate undertone to it. "What have we here? Uninvited guests in my home? How... delightful."
Vamir steps forward, his sword raised. "Lord Ravanan," he growls, "we've come to—"
But he never finishes his sentence.
With a casual wave of his hand, Talon sends Vamir flying across the room. The mercenary hits the wall with a sickening thud and crumples to the ground, unmoving.
The rest of the team springs into action, charging forward with weapons raised. But they might as well be moving through molasses.
Talon's movements are a blur, inhumanly fast. One by one, my hired mercenaries fall, tossed aside like rag dolls, struck down by blasts of dark energy that crackle from Talon's fingertips.
In a matter of moments, I find myself the only one still standing, face to face with the man I'd come to capture.
Fear courses through my limbs, paralyzing me where I stand.
This is no mere nobleman. The rumors of his power were true, perhaps even understated.
Talon's gaze falls on me, pinning me in place with his sharp consideration. "And what about you, little fae?" he asks, his voice a silky purr. "What did you hope to accomplish here?"
I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out.
My carefully laid plans, my dreams of revenge against the Sun Fae Queen, they all seem laughably naive in the face of this man's power.
He takes a step toward me, that smile of his turning cruel, and I stumble backward, my back hitting the closed doors.
There's nowhere left to run.