Page 1 of Destiny Redeemed
Chapter 1
What a gruesome way to die. Again.
That was my last thought as I closed my eyes, bracing for the arrow’s impact. The arrow whizzed past my ear, missing me by a hair’s breadth. Instead of piercing pain, I felt the wind knocked out of me as a solid mass slammed into my body. The familiar scent of sandalwood and leather filled my nostrils.
Anderic.
My eyes flew open to find myself sprawled atop the golden prince, his arms wrapped protectively around me. His chest heaved beneath mine, our breaths mingling in the narrow space between us. For a moment, time stood still as I gazed into those impossibly blue eyes, my heart thundering against my ribcage.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” He hissed, his blue eyes blazing with a mix of fury and… was that concern?
Oh, shut up, Ilyana. Stop pretending to be surprised that he cares. Just accept it.But I ignored that little voice of reason.
“Well, good morning to you too, Your Highness,” I wheezed instead, trying to catch my breath. “Fancy meeting you here.”
Anderic’s lips twitched, almost as if he was fighting back a smile. “Your sarcasm is hardly appropriate given the circumstances, Lady Stormbourne.”
“Actually, I’m not Lady Stormbourne anymore,” I chirped with far too much cheer for someone who just dodged death. “Noah and I are officially divorced as of this morning.”
Anderic’s eyes widened slightly, the only crack in his perfect mask. I caught the flash of surprise before he could hide it away. His chest rose and fell beneath mine in a steady rhythm that made it difficult to focus.
“Is that so?” His voice held that dangerous edge I’d come to know well. “And you chose now, in the middle of an assassination attempt, to share this news?”
I shrugged, which was awkward given our position sprawled on the marble floor.
His fingers flexed against my waist, where he still held me. The warmth of his touch seeped through my dress, making my skin tingle. I made the mistake of meeting his gaze again, those impossibly blue eyes drawing me in like a moth to the flame.
Focus, Ilyana. This is not the time to get lost in his eyes, no matter how…
“Are you alright?” Anderic’s voice was low and husky, pulling me out of the daze.
I managed a nod, trying to ignore the warmth of his body against mine. “I’m fine. Thank you for saving me… again.”
A ghost of a smile played on his lips. “Perhaps you should consider staying out of trouble, Lady D’Arcane.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” I quipped, but it came out more bitter than I’d intended, earning a raised eyebrow from the prince.
Before he could respond, the reality of our situation came crashing back. Chaos reigned around us – shouts, clashing steel, and the acrid smell of smoke filling the air.
Smoke? Where did that come from? I looked around, and at the same time, Anderic’s expression hardened as he gently but firmly set me aside and rose to his feet.
“I need to go,” he said, his eyes scanning the area for threats. “Stay here, and for once, try not to do anything reckless.”
I rolled my eyes, more out of habit than anything. “Your concern is touching, Your Highness.”
He shot me a look that was equal parts exasperation and something I couldn’t quite decipher. “We need to talk about… everything.”
I gulped.Hell no!Then, in a flash of golden curls and deadly grace, he was gone.
I watched him go, a strange feeling settling in my chest. It wasn’t attraction—certainly not. More like… grudging respect, perhaps? Or maybe it was just indigestion from Laurel’s questionable stew. All of these happened in a few minutes, but it seemed like an eternity.
“My lady!” Laurel’s panicked voice cut through the din as she rushed to my side, her face pale with worry. “Are you hurt? I saw the arrow, and then Prince Anderic, and I thought–”
“I’m fine, Laurel,” I assured her, patting her arm. “It seems I have a rather persistent guardian angel.”
My maid’s eyes widened. “The prince saved you, right? I think I saw him.”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” I muttered, brushing off my skirts. “I’m perfectly capable of attracting near-death experiences and royal rescuers.”
