Chapter 3 #2
Amos stared into the darkness, unseeing, as a piece of his soul chipped away and blew into the wind with every strike. His father had forced him out behind the palace walls at the base of a large plateau where no one would see.
The cold dirt dug into Amos’ cheek, but he barely felt it. Every lash seared a new memory into his skin, and for a moment, he wondered what he’d done to the gods to deserve this.
The fabric of his shredded shirt stuck to the open wounds on his back, and briefly, he wondered if it would embed itself there permanently. Tears tracked down his cheeks against his will, and black spots danced in front of his eyes.
He thought he’d passed out, but he couldn’t be sure.
Finally, his father lowered the whip to his side, chest heaving as he looked at his son with blatant disgust. “You do not disrespect me again. Do you understand?”
Amos knew he should respond, but the pain paralyzed him. Another crack. Another flash of pain. “Do you understand?”
Somehow, Amos managed a nod.
“Good,” his father snarled. Without another word, the king left, disappearing around the massive stone wall that protected the palace from attacks.
Amos fought the quiver in his lip. If he cried, it might jostle his body, and the thought terrified him.
He didn’t know how long he had lain there wishing for death, but eventually a familiar voice cried out and footsteps hurried toward him. “What has he done?”
Alice crouched beside him, staring at him with tears of her own. “Baby boy,” she whispered, her voice breaking. The endearment reminded him of his mother. She and Alice called him that as a small child.
Mother.
He wished she were here, then maybe he wouldn’t be so alone.
TWO WEEKS LATER
Amos fought the urge to scratch at the healing scabs on his back. Tender to the touch, scratching would give him no real relief, but the way they itched drove him insane.
He quickly dressed and hurried to his father’s office to tell him the name of his mate. Today was his birthday in the eyes of the kingdom, and the council waited on pins and needles for the name of their future queen.
All night, he’d tried to think of a name that no one would possess. He’d settled on Jennifer. Surely no one had a name like that.
Before he’d left Dragon’s Village, he and Rainer had formulated a plan. Amos would give a fake name, and when no such person existed, he would claim to not feel the bond. He didn’t know what would happen after that, but it was their only choice.
Rainer also told Amos to start a list of those who supported his father and his father’s ways.
Observing conversations would become Amos’ hobby, and if possible, he would act as though he agreed.
Rainer said if the men believed him to be like his father, they would be more open with their true beliefs.
He hated it, but it would be necessary to start eradicating the loyalists now. It would make the transition to the new ways smoother. Hopefully.
Standing dutifully outside his father’s office, he awaited the king’s arrival. Showing up to a meeting with his father late would only feed the king’s ire.
“Son,” his father’s voice called, jerking him from his thoughts.
The king’s smile, so much like Amos’ own, was bright.
Amos hated that he looked like the monster before him.
Golden blond hair, suntanned skin from the unforgiving Desert sun, and hazel eyes.
All Stratton traits that had been passed down for generations except for a few heirs here and there, like Rainer.
Phillip patted Amos’ shoulder, aggravating his wounds.
His father’s ability to switch between cruel dictator and doting father was unsettling.
The morning after turning his son’s back into ribbons of flesh, he’d come to Amos’ room and apologized for having to be hard on him.
“A king needs discipline,” he’d said, “and you’re too soft.
You need to toughen up and follow my lead. ”
Amos would rather die than turn into his father, and it soothed him to know that if he ever did become another version of Phillip, Rainer would kill him.
The king opened his office door and sauntered inside. “Have a seat. I already have the list of fae with your birthday.” He looked excited, and Amos wanted to throw up. “What’s their name?”
Amos cleared his throat. “Jennifer.”
His father paused and looked up. “Jennifer?”
Amos chuckled, hoping it sounded normal. “Ridiculous, isn’t it? I’m sure a woman named her.” Every time something vile crossed his lips, he reminded himself to remember the plan. Make the men believe you’re one of them.
The king’s booming laugh made Amos’ skin crawl. “Indeed. Let’s see which kingdom she’s from.”
Silently, Amos practiced his lines. “I don’t feel the bond.” “Is that normal?” “It’s not?” “Do you think she’s dead?”
Easy. He could do this.
The king tapped the paper with a wide smile. “She’s a Desert girl, and a highborn at that.”
Amos’ blood ran cold. That’s not possible.
“You’re sure?” he croaked. “Jennifer?”
The king arched a brow. “I can read, son. She’s from an oasis village. Her family would be at the bottom of the highborn here, but there, they’re top of the food chain.” He laughed and clapped his hands once. “This is excellent news.”
This could not be happening. Amos rubbed the back of his neck to give himself time to think. “Do I have to meet her now? I don’t want to be tied down to a girl yet.” What a stupid excuse.
The king winked. “You won’t have to be. We’ll bring her here for training, but you can still scratch your itch with whomever you’d like.”
Scratch his itch? What did that mean?
“Okay,” Amos conceded, not knowing what else to say. “When will she arrive?”
“It’s early enough to send for her today. The East Oasis is only a half day ride from here.”
And just like that, Amos’ life went from terrible to horrific.
Amos stared at the letter in his hands. Anger, guilt, and horror warred within him, trying to dominate each other.
Amos,
What happened? Are you okay? What I felt through our bond last night hurt so bad that my family thought I was dying. So did I. The amount of pain you were in… I didn’t know if you would survive it. I sat up all night praying you wouldn’t die. It still hurts.
Please be okay. Please. Rainer sent Sasha to check on you. She can speak to the dragons through a mind link, and she’ll tell Ember, who will tell Rainer, who promised to let me know. If you need help, Rainer will come for you.
I wanted to come to you, but Rainer and my family wouldn’t allow it. I’m to leave for the Human Kingdom tomorrow with my brother, Nathaniel. You didn’t meet him, but he’s moving to Friya with me. He refused to let me go to the Human Kingdom alone.
Write back. I’ve included a separate paper with my brother’s new address in the Human Kingdom. He’ll get the letter to me.
Whoever did this to you, don’t let them break you. Survive. Fight back.
Clover
He’d forgotten about the bond; forgotten that Clover would feel at least some of his pain. Maybe not all of it, but even a fraction was too much. Working on blocking out the pain would be his top priority. His mate wouldn’t suffer because of him.
The East Oasis was a burst of color among the dreary desert. There were four oases throughout the kingdom with a crop of rainbow-colored trees of all kinds, lush, pink grass, every flower imaginable, and clear blue lakes.
Amos loved them and would be excited to look around if he weren’t dreading the reason for visiting.
Too soon, he stood on the porch of a sprawling estate, waiting for the door to open.
A short man with a rounded stomach and thinning hair answered with an eager smile. “Your Grace.” He bowed and repeated the action to Amos. “I was surprised to receive your missive earlier today. Please, come in.”
His only saving grace was that Jennifer would not feel the bond and then Amos could say he didn’t either. Problem solved.
“Thank you, Christopher,” the king said and scanned his surroundings. “I trust your daughter is here?”
Christopher beamed. “She is waiting in the sitting room.”
He led them through the marble maze until they reached a golden, arched doorway. “Jennifer.” A pretty redheaded girl with alabaster, freckled skin stood quickly. “This is King Phillip and Prince Amos.”
The girl dropped into a curtsey. “It’s nice to meet you, Your Graces.”
Phillip nodded his approval. “As I’m sure your father informed you, the gods whispered your name to my son today.” Her wide eyes met Amos’. “You are the only Jennifer in all of Eden. Have you felt the bond?”
Amos tensed. This was it.
“I have,” she lied with a smile.
What the hell? Amos kept his jaw from dropping out of sheer will. What did he do now?
“Very good,” the king replied and turned to the girl’s father. “Let’s give them time to get acquainted while you and I discuss the future.”
Amos wanted to run after the men, tell them there had been a mistake, but they’d already disappeared and closed the door.
He whipped around. “You lied.”
Jennifer wrung her hands. “I’m the only Jennifer in Eden. Your father said so himself.”
Amos stalked toward her and lowered his voice. “We don’t have a bond, and you know it. Why did you lie?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she pulled herself to her full height, which wasn’t much. “Why did you? Why would you say my name? I’m the only Jennifer there is, and if there’s no bond between us, then you lied too.”
Amos faltered. Jennifer noticed and smirked. If she tried to tell his father, she would be guilty of treason for lying to the king. Revealing his secret would secure her death, and she knew it. He grabbed her arm and tugged her to the sofa farthest from the door.
Keeping his voice low, he said, “I didn’t think anyone would have the name Jennifer. What kind of name is that anyway?”
She bristled. “I was named after my parents Jenavieve and Christopher.”
He blinked at her, dumbfounded. “Who does that?”
“There’s nothing wrong with my name,” she snapped, her polite mask slipping before catching herself. “I mean—”
“Don’t,” he cut her off. “I’m not going to beat you for defiance.”
Her shoulders sagged, and his stomach turned. “I’m desperate,” she whispered. “He said I was the only Jennifer in Eden, and I saw a way out.” She shrugged. “If you said you heard Jennifer, and I’m the only Jennifer, I figured either our bond was broken, or you lied. I saw my chance and took it.”
“Chance for what? To be queen?”
“No. Well, yes, but not for the reasons you think.” He wanted to throttle her for her vague answers.
“My father already promised my hand in marriage to a man. An awful man who makes my father look like a saint.” Jennifer looked away.
“He has already let the man have me. I-it hurt a lot, and the things the man said he’d do once we marry… I can’t even repeat them.”
Amos stared at her with a sinking feeling in his gut. “Have you?”
“Sex,” she whispered. “He would only sign the contract if my father allowed him to have sex with me so no other man would want me.” More tears fell, and she shrugged.
“I guess he worried I would run away with someone else.” She’s only thirteen.
Amos mentally made a note to add both men’s names to his list.
“I don’t know what to say,” he rasped.
“It’s the way of our world.” She swiped at a tear. “There is nothing to say.”
“I’ll take you back with me as my mate,” he said finally, hating his father and the loyalists more than ever before. “You’ll have your own rooms and attendants.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “Really?”
“Yes.” He couldn’t leave her with these monsters. In the capital she would be subjected to the cruelty of court life, but no one would touch her sexually as the prince’s mate. It was better than nothing.
“We will not marry,” he informed her. “I cannot tell you everything because I don’t know you well enough to trust you fully, but there will never be anything romantic between us. Understood?”
She nodded so many times he thought her head might fall off. “Yes. Thank you. I will be the best fake mate you’ve ever had.”
He realized a fake mate worked out in his favor too. No one would have a reason to search for Clover.
Amos stood. “I’m going to find my father. Pack your things.”
Clover,
I’m sorry for what you felt the other day. Sometimes my father’s punishments get out of hand, but they’re nothing I can’t handle.
By the time you get this, you’ll be in the Human Kingdom. I felt how nervous you were the day you left, and for the thousandth time, I wish I could have gone with you.
Tell me about it. Pages worth, if you can. I want to know everything.
I wish this letter was longer, but it’s late and I had a long day. I promise to write more next time.
Yours,
Amos
P.S. Thank you for worrying about me.