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CHAPTER SIX (B)
Adalia felt a pang of guilt surge into her heart. But she wasn’t going to allow herself or Archer to think about the idiotic sacrifice he had made on her behalf. Once she had gotten Archer’s rhythm pegged down, Adalia charged him and in ten seconds she had him flat on his back. But he was back on his feet in a fraction of a second. They fenced into the bushes and into the garden, calling a large audience to gather around them. They didn’t notice until Archer had Adalia flat on her back and him on top.
There was a roar of applauds, then Lionel’s voice pierced through. “Very good, I hope that by the time the week ends Archer would have changed his mind about leading the scouts and marriage. You are an asset and would make a perfect daughter in law and queen,” he winked at his son then walked back into the stone palace.Archer got to his feet and pulled Adalia up with him. “Sorry I didn’t mean to-,”“Hurt me?&rRelated chapters
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER SEVEN
“Archer?” Novia had been watching from her balcony. A part of her was happy when she saw them together. For a second she was sure that Archer wouldn’t go with the scouts, and the romantic in her was thinking of a double wedding. She flew down to her brother’s side when she saw the deep frown on his face. Gently she put his arm on his shoulder and felt bundled up muscles tense up. “It’s just me.”He wasn’t used to people sneaking up on him. But that one single act from Adalia had numbed his senses. Archer turned around to his little sister and tucked and unusually stray hair behind her ear. “Hey little one. I hadn’t seen you there.”“You look at her as if you love her.”Archer took this as his cue to leave. He picked up his swords, bow and arrows and headed towards the palace.“If you love her why are you leaving?” She didn’t need him to answer. She saw him wince as if
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER SEVEN (B)
Archer had made the decision to move to other side of the palace. It was a secluded place and far enough that he wouldn’t have to run into Adalia in the corridors. He had to remind himself why he was born. He was bred for duty and responsibilities. His position was more important than any feelings, desires and personal needs that he harbored. He would have to find a way to get over his ‘want’ for Adalia. He got cleaned up and went to the assembly to meet the guardian soldiers that would be accompanying him into the rebel forests.He looked into each one of their faces and immediately he knew his duty towards these guardians was more important. He couldn’t lead them with a distracted mind. He needed to be all there or they would all die. Archer was going to study the plans day and night. He had to make sure that only the scouting expedition and maybe the raid was on his mind.When darkness fell Ilana found her son bent over the picnic table in her ga
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER EIGHT (A)
*I think I love him. I love Archer. How ludicrous is that. But when he kissed me, I felt like the world had stood still and it was just us breathing in that heartbeat. I felt like my body would melt in his embrace. He held me so close I could hear his heart beating.The funny thing is my mother will not believe me if I expressed these feelings to her. She’s so used to me having a sword in my hand, dressed in armor and so focused on the fight to believe that I suddenly turned romantic. Randi will definitely make fun of me. I will never hear the end of it.But then there is Xander, as soon as they come for the wedding I will have to tell him that I can’t marry him, that I am marrying Archer. It’s going to be hard for him but this is how things are supposed to be. This is how I want it to be.There is no turning back.Adalia*She had only been away from Archer for the night, but she felt this yearning to be close to him. Although Adalia had to
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER EIGHT (B)
He rose to his feet when she returned a few minutes later. Her eyes searched the room for Xander. The guilt still burning fresh in her chest. Archer shook his head, his way of telling her that Xander wasn’t with them. Distraught she went beside him and took his hand. She was too busy feeling guilty to realize their mother’s giggling and pointing at the both of them.“So when is the covenant taking place?” Liora asked.“Maybe, a week from now,” Adalia answered. Her mind and her lips were in two different places. She was trying to figure out where Xander could have gone to and at the same time she was trying to keep up with the conversation.She sat in silence with the ladies as the men left for the throne room. They were busy admiring Novia’s dress. Adalia snuck out at the first chance she got. She expected Xander to be with the other soldiers. She found Conan at the palace doors, his rock expression not accommodating.&ld
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER EIGHT (C)
Archer took the threat as it was served, cold and loaded. He sat in a pocket of silence as he tried to figure out a way to get rid of Xander without hurting Adalia. But that wasn’t going to be easy.The next morning he was woken up by the noises of people running around, and silver platters dropping on the floor with loud clangs. He didn’t need reminding which day it was; Novia did her best not to let anyone forget. He could hear his sister singing from her room three doors down, and every part of him wanted the day to be done. Although at the end of it, Novia would have to leave for the South with Randi. He was going to lose his sister but he had Adalia to keep him company.Archer got dressed into his ceremonial suit, complete with his sword and his crown. He made his way to his sister’s room, where he found his mother hovering over her. Novia caught sight of her brother in the mirror; she stood up and twirled her white, beaded ball dress around for him
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER NINE
“Yes, your highness,” Xander bowed and growled through clenched teeth. He winked at Adalia before turning around and walking away.He met one of his men on his way out to the carriage. He needed everything to go smoothly, if possible perfectly. He tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword as he replayed the romantic moment between Adalia and Archer in his head. It wasn’t fair but he had a plan to correct everything that had happened.“Is everything ready?” He asked.“Just as you had requested,” the soldier fell back into line.Xander couldn’t help but think back to the point where everything had to change:-“Princess?”Xander could remember when he was just fifteen years old. He had escorted his father to the palace. His father, Crone, was Gabrielle’s right hand man; that was before he died and Conan came along. Adalia had a wooden sword in her hand, and she was fighting an immobile
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER NINE (B)
“You don’t have to worry about that, I don’t need protecting. I can take care of myself,” Xander’s eyes mocked with laughter. He had seen her fighting skills years before and hoped they had improved. Because even though they had finally pushed the rebels back the enemy lines, the Princess still needed protecting. “If you don’t mind-,”“Don’t mind what Princess?” Xander smiled bashfully at her.“You are holding up the line. I would like to get the meet and greet done before I turn ninety.”Xander couldn’t believe she had dismissed him like that. He stood at a corner in the room and watched how she interacted with the other men at the party. She was just as dismissive with them as she was with him, if not more. Xander was glad that he wasn’t the only recipient of her icy cold demeanor. It was obvious she didn’t want to be there. Even more obvious when she snuck out of the par
BRED FOR DUTY CHAPTER TEN
“Don’t do that,” Archer was slowly getting irritated by Adalia’s guilty expression each time they crossed paths with Xander. It made him feel like she didn’t think what they were doing was right. However, to him it felt perfect.“Do what?” She squeezed back tears.“I don’t like it when you make that expression,” he pressed his palms against her cheeks. “Like what we are doing is wrong?”She pulled his hands down. “What we are doing isn’t wrong. But what I did was. I shouldn’t have told him I would marry him without being sure first.”“Are you sure now?”“Yes,” she kissed into both his palms.He felt a whoosh of tense air exhale from his lungs. “It’s going to be fine.”***Once they were far enough from the North Kingdom, Xander turned his horse and geared it towards the forest. He was going to hide and watch
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