Princess of Fire and Smoke (Forbidden Court Book 1) Read online

  Princess of Fire and Smoke

  Forbidden Court Series:

  Book One

  Stephanie Bell

  Contents

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  THANKS FOR READING!

  Prologue

  A thousand years ago, a war raged in the world of Nijarah and the darkness threatened to destroy everything good.

  Hoping to save his people, the King of Chadonia traveled to a forbidden land full of danger and magic. The stunning creatures that lived there were like nothing he’d ever seen. They could transform themselves into animals, make you think you were seeing something you weren’t, and some of them could even see the future.

  The queen of this foreign land was curious about the stranger, so she granted him a chance to save his people. She gave him three trials to prove his worth and when he passed the trials, she gave him a great power.

  But no one warned him that magic always comes with a price. When the Queen gave him the means for his salvation, she also gave him a warning, ‘Magic can only keep the darkness at bay for so long. When a corrupt ruler sits on your throne, the darkness will find its way in, and when it does, it will be up to the true ruler to stop it. If they fail, your entire kingdom will crumble.’

  The King was terrified of the darkness infecting his people, so he put a magical barrier around his kingdom, locking them away from the rest of Nijarah and their war. He declared that to prevent the prophecy from coming true, there would be a trial to decide who the next ruler of Chadonia would be. He modelled these trials after the ones he went through in the foreign land, because surely if they were able to decide he was worthy, they could decide if an heir was worthy as well.

  Over the years, the borrowed magic seeped into every part of the kingdom, filling the once ordinary people with power. To this day, the trials are still being used to decide who will rule the kingdom.

  But, there’s something hiding in the dark. It grows larger everyday, corrupting the people and taking control of the land. It's waiting patiently for the chance to escape and it laughs at those who think they can outsmart a prophecy.

  Chapter One

  Tears pull in my eyes as I tug my bow and quiver over my injured shoulder. The arrow that is lodged in it has pierced all the way through, and I grit my teeth against the pain. My once purple shirt is now a dark maroon from the amount of blood that’s seeping from the wound. The sight of it has my head spinning and the sharp, stabbing pain is worse than anything I’ve ever felt.

  How can this be happening?

  I throw my hand over my mouth to cover up my sob as horrible memories force their way in. I see my mother’s face as the dagger sliced into her. She hadn’t looked surprised, or even afraid. She had looked at me with determination in her eyes and one thought ringing clearly through my head. Run. Save your kingdom.

  And that’s what I’m doing. I’m running and I’m trying to survive. Because I’m the High Princess and it’s my duty to protect my kingdom, even when my life has just been destroyed.

  The heat of my magic that normally radiates off of me has vanished and a vast numbness has taken its place. The only thing that’s keeping me moving are my mother’s words ringing in my head. Over and over again. Not her actual magic that allows her to speak into my mind, but the horrible memory that refuses to stop.

  I follow the halls instinctively. There is a maze of tunnels hidden beneath my feet, but if anyone ever tries to infiltrate the castle, there is one, in particular, I’m supposed to escape through.

  Stopping at the end of the hallway, I pause and listen. After hearing nothing, I carefully peek my head out around the corner. My shoulders sag in relief when I don’t see anyone waiting. I turn and run as quietly as I can.

  I cautiously wind around a corner and my brain falters at the horrific sight in front of me. I barely hold back my scream as I stare at the bright red that’s splattered across the walls in front of my mother’s rooms. The bodies of the Queen’s Guards are scattered across the floor. Bile burns in my throat as my stomach threatens to heave up my dinner.

  My eyes flitter over the figures dressed in black that had attacked them. I’m not surprised that the small group of elite soldiers were able to take down so many of the enemy. They were handpicked by my father, King Jerome, the most skilled fighter in the kingdom.

  Panic surges through me at the sound of footsteps pounding down the hall heading my way.

  I ease into my mother’s sitting room, careful not to step in the blood and leave any tracks. Quietly, I close her door, locking it behind me, and rush through the sitting room towards her workroom. The smell of jasmine that meets me almost undoes me right there. A sob escapes my throat as I struggle to keep the rush of memories pushed back. I know if I don’t focus on something else, I will crumble and never make it out of here in time.

  Fighting the heartbreak that threatens to overcome me, I take one last look around the room at the stacks of papers on her desk and the books shelves that line every wall. Then I run over to the full-length mirror nestled in the corner. It’s simple wooden frame and tarnished glass make it appear plain. No one would ever suspect the powerful magic hidden beneath it.

  I ignore my reflection as I glimpse a mess of long spiral red curls and blood-soaked clothes. Instead, I gingerly touch my shoulder and dab my finger in the blood pooling there. Stretching out my hand, I reach my bloody finger out and touch the mirror. Like most of the deep magic hidden in the castle, it’s activated by the blood of my parents and their descendants. The mirror instantly dissolves at my touch and my hand glides straight through it.

  I’ve explored many of my castle’s tunnels, but this one has always been a mystery to me. I squint my eyes trying to glimpse anything through the darkness on the other side.

  “She must be in here.” A man shouts. A loud cracking splits the air as they kick the door to the sitting room.

  Fear clinches like a fist around my chest and I jump through the mirror.

  Pain pulls at the wound in my side and I'm immediately, I’m thrust into inky darkness. I cringe as my hand rubs against a spiderweb. My heartbeat races and I try taking a steadying breath, but instead of fresh air, my lungs fill with dust. I bend over and cough until my eyes water and my head throbs.

  When I can finally breathe again, I turn around and look back at the mirror. Or I try to look back at the mirror, but the entrance is gone. The portal must have closed as soon as I stepped through it. Good, at least that will make it harder for them to follow me.

  Using the walls as my guide, I stumble and trip my way down the rocky path. My eyes slowly adjust, making it slightly easier to pick my way across the uneven floor. When the tunnel comes to a sp
lit, I glance towards the eastern exit.

  Adeline, go east and find help. Father had instructed me. But little did he know the betrayal that awaited him from that direction.

  Tears pour down my cheeks as I turn toward the southern tunnel. There’s only one person who might help me now. I imagine my best friend Charis’ long blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

  He said he was going to tell everyone you did it. A little voice whispers into my head. Do you really think anyone will believe you?

  The unbidden memory pushes its way into my mind and my vision blurs. Uncle Maximus is sneering down at me, encouraging me to run. Saying it will only make his story more believable. Why would someone run away if they were innocent? They wouldn’t. But I didn’t have any choice. The people would never believe that I murdered my own parents, would they?

  Charis is the Princess of Aith and if anyone will believe that I’m innocent, it’s her.

  I curse softly as I trip over a stone that’s protruding from the ground and my injured shoulder slams into the wall. I expect pain to radiate through it, but I don’t feel anything at all. I poke around the wound with my finger and realize my entire shoulder has gone numb.

  I remember enough from my father’s lessons to realize that’s a bad sign. I should probably rest, but if I can just make it out of the tunnel, I can find a safe place to hide. Or some herbs to help slow the bleeding.

  After what must have been hours of stumbling through the tunnels, I finally see a light in the distance. I force my exhausted legs to keep moving until I stumble out of the cave entrance.

  My eyes blink furiously at the bright light, attempting to adjust, and slowly a large forest comes into view. I spin in a slow circle as I take in my surroundings. My mouth drops open as I glance up and see that the entrance for the tunnel is carved out of the largest oak tree I’ve ever seen. Slowly the entrance disappears entirely, leaving only the rough bark of the tree in its place.

  I stare incredulously at the large tree, waiting to see if anything else is going to happen. But, when nothing does, a deep instinct pushes me to keep moving, so I do. I glance around the forest, but everything looks the same. I have no idea which direction is south.

  I close my eyes and try to remember my childhood scouting lessons with Father. If you’re ever lost, Adeline. Listen to the trees. I remember his deep voice saying. The earth magic binds every living thing. It connects them, just as it connects us to them. But you must be willing to listen.

  I stumble towards one of the large trees and place my hands on it. I’d watched father do this plenty of times, but I’d never been able to hear anything from them.

  “Which way is south?” I ask it tentatively, waiting for a response. “Please, I need your help,” I beg it.

  Nothing. I hear nothing from the trees.

  A sob escapes me as I fall to my knees and lean into the tree. “They’re dead,” I whisper, fighting back the memories. “My parents, the High Queen and King are dead.”

  A gust of wind whips my hair away from my face and I close my eyes. Leaning forward, I rest my head against the tree to rest. The wind gets louder and louder, roaring in my ears until it’s impossible to ignore. That’s when I hear it. A whispering amongst the noise.

  “You must go, child. Quickly.”

  My eyes pop open as the trees begin to sway and the ground shakes underneath me. Together, as if they were one, the trees move creating a path for me.

  The trees actually answered. Father would have been so proud. My heart constricts when I think about him.

  Gingerly, I climb back up, careful of my wounded shoulder, and follow the path the trees have created for me. The ground rumbles again startling me, but it’s just the trees moving back into place after I’ve passed them. Blocking anyone else from following the path, I suppose.

  As I walk past them, I touch one of the trees and whisper, “Thank you.”

  I walk for a long time, my path a slow one while I fight consciousness. When I glance down at my shoulder the amount of blood that’s soaked into my shirt makes my stomach churn. I pull a chunk of moss off of one of the trees and try my best to pack it around the arrow shaft, careful not to jar the arrow.

  I can’t reach the back of my shoulder, so this will have to do for now.

  As I walk, the forest trees begin to thin out, and in its place are tall skinny trees with light green leaves. A deliciously sweet scent fills my senses and I stumble over to one of the trees and peer up at it. I see red circles dotting the branches and my stomach growls at the thought of the sweet fruit above.

  I know where I am now. I must have made it to the apple orchards.

  I glance at the branches of the tree doubtfully. The apples hang on thin wobbling limbs and before I even start climbing, I know this is a horrible idea. But I know if I don’t try and regain my strength, I’ll never make the journey to Aith.

  I place my hand on the tree and ask for its help. When I don’t hear a response, I pull my bow and quiver off and lean them against the tree. I reach for the lowest branch with my good arm and pull myself up. Pain sears through every part of my body and I cry out in agony. Determination washes over me and I fight the exhaustion and pain, slowly climbing higher into the tree.

  The branch I stop on is about the thickness of my arm. I glance down and instantly regret it. My stomach ties itself in a knot at the thought of what a thirty-foot drop would do to my already injured body.

  Stupid, stupid idea…

  I hold onto the trunk of the tree with my uninjured arm as I carefully step one foot out on the branch, testing its strength. I let out a breath of relief as the limb holds. The apples above me are almost within reach. I stretch my injured arm out towards the apple and bite my lip to hold back the scream forming. It's almost within my grasp and I loosen my grip on the trunk slightly to lean out further.

  I grab the delicious red apple and a surge of happiness washes through me. I pull the apple towards my mouth as a large snapping reverberates through my body. The branch underneath me collapses and I plummet towards the ground.

  Limb after limb smashes into me as I fall. Starbursts flash in my vision as pain radiates through my body.

  I welcome the darkness when it washes over me, dragging me into its oblivion.

  Chapter Two

  Mother tensed beside me while she spoke into that quiet place in my mind, “Adeline, there is someone in the garden. Find somewhere to hide, now.” While her voice was steady, one look at her face made me realize that something was wrong. Horribly wrong.

  She pulled her ring off of her finger and slipped it into my hands. “Take this, just in case.”

  I gasped as I looked down at the royal seal engraved in the fine gold. This ring belonged to the ruler of Chadonia. I looked back up at her face with an argument forming on my tongue, but her glare silenced me.

  “Swear to me, Adeline. No matter what happens, you will compete in the trials and you will become High Queen.”

  The desperation in her voice terrified me, so I nodded my head yes. “I swear it, Mother.”

  She smiled down at me, then turned and ran further into the garden.

  With a moment’s hesitation, I turned and sprinted down the opposite path. I had no interest in hiding while someone was after my mother. Coming to a skidding halt, I reached for my bow and quiver that had been leaning against a hedge.

  I chose a different path that led back to my Mother and I ran as swiftly and soundlessly as I dared. This wouldn’t work if I was captured. I crept around a bend in the path and saw four men surrounding my mother. I positioned an arrow on my bow as I surveyed the scene.

  The man closest to her jumped in to try and catch her from behind. But my mother must have seen it coming in his thoughts, because she ducked around him, pulling out a knife from her boot and plunging it into his chest. Swiftly and furiously the man was on the ground.

  There was yelling and growling coming out of the other men now as my mother pulled the blade out and spu
n on the next man who came after her. But, as I aimed my bow at him and let out a breath, my arrow found its mark. Straight into his heart. Only two left. One of them knocked my mother to the ground while the other turned and sprinted into the woods. No doubt going back for reinforcements.

  “Nice shot, girl.” The man said as he hauled my mother up in front of him and pressed a knife against her throat. “We heard you were good, but just how good are you? Are you willing to shoot me, even with the High Queen standing between us?” His voice came out in a rough laugh.

  He was stalling. He wanted me to hesitate so his partner could go for help. This was our only chance. I notched another arrow on my bow and took aim. I let out a breath just as he moved his head towards the left and came into a perfect shot. My arrow pierced directly into his eye.

  I was running to her before the man had hit the ground. We only had a few minutes to escape. We could find my father and gather the guards.

  When I was within a few feet of her, I felt it. The sharp piercing pain that shattered down my left arm. I heard my mother scream as I crumpled to the ground in agony.

  A hand grabbed roughly into my hair, yanking my head backward, and pinned me to the ground.

  ∞∞∞

  A scream catches in my throat as I wake up from the dream. I press a hand on my chest trying to ease the frantic rhythm of my beating heart. Last night's memories are still raw in my mind.

  I’m not back in the castle. It was just a dream. Or rather a nightmare.

  I shiver as the memories from that night fade slowly from my head.

  I force one eye open as soft light filters down from the trees. A sweet, fruity smell fills my head, and my stomach rumbles. Where am I? My brain is struggling to keep up and I almost miss the deep voice murmuring quietly nearby.

  Memories of last night come flying back and my adrenaline has me acting on instinct. I sit up quickly and spin towards the voice. My hand meets nothing but air as I reach for my bow.

  Where the hell is my bow?

  Pain sears through my shoulder and I bite back a scream.