Page 6 of King of Inferno

“You worry too much. As long as I have the king’s favor. I can do no wrong. I have set my goal. No one will get in the way of my end results. I will have the power I seek. I will avenge our family and all that was stolen from you.”

“But I’m not asking you to do any of that. I like my life here. We have peace here. Even if you were to end things with Bradan, we would still have a good life.

“Think, Seraphina. Your actions could bring us so much pain. Dagger looks after me, but he’s loyal to the brotherhood.

“Don’t cause him to turn his ire on us both. We won’t survive. The fire fairy king and prince’s wrath would pale in comparison,” she pleads.

“You cannot find true love because a monster wears your heart around his neck. Becoming Bradan’s queen is how I plan to get that necklace with your heart back. I would do anything for you, including give my life.”

I vowed to myself I would seduce Bradan to gain his trust to one day free my sister. Somehow, along the way, I did fall in love with him, but retrieving Nori’s heart and gaining power to get my revenge is and will always be my main goal.

“Just be careful, Seraphina. You’re all I have. I would gladly live a heartless life as long as you are safe. Maybe there’s another way.”

“There isn’t,” I say with finality.

Warning

Ilook around the dark forest, making sure I’m not being watched. The last thing I need is for one of the brotherhood’s spies to see me and report back that I’ve been here to visit my aunt.

It would be catastrophic if it got back to the fire fairy king as well. I need to get in and get out without being seen. I take one more glance around for good measure.

“Come in, my child.”

I whip my head back toward the door that’s now wide open. Standing before me is a woman with a sheer veil over her face. I lick my lips and rush inside.

“I know what it is you seek. Are you sure this is what you want?” she asks once I’m inside.

“Yes, it is the only way to help my sister,” I reply.

She releases a laugh. “You say that now, but it won’t always be this way.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

She pushes the sheer veil back and looks me deep in the eyes. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You will seek revenge and power, but it will bring you to your knees if you’re not careful.

“The ingredient you seek is futile. It won’t work. Not on the likes of whom you intend to use it on. Walk away, my darling. This road holds nothing but pain.”

“I will not leave my sister to continue this way. I need to do this.”

“You say that now, but you’ll have a change of heart and your sister will fall far from your mind. Once you remember her, you will be too far set on the course that will take you away from her,” she says almost pleadingly.

“Why do you care? Take the money and give me what I need,” I snarl.

“I will always look after you, my child. I’m only trying to protect you.”

“I can protect myself. I have done so for most of my life.”

“For that I am sorry. I … never mind. Your heart wants what it wants. You will not hear me.”

She turns and goes over to a table to retrieve a box, then turns back to me to hold it out.

I move forward to take it from her. However, she doesn’t release it once I have it in my grasp. I go to tug it from her hands, but she tightens her hold.

“We will meet again,” she says with a distant look in her eyes.

New Attention

Six weeks later …

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