Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms 1)

“Come in, Lucia,” her father called as she pushed open the large doors. She entered to find that her father wasn’t alone. Magnus was with him. Her chest tightened at the sight of him.

He wasn’t looking at her. He stood by the wall, his gaze fixed on the king. Magnus had spent a great deal of time with their father since the king arrived back from Auranos. She had no idea how he’d reacted to Magnus’s admitted failure during the trip leading to the deaths of two guards. She wished she knew the whole story. Magnus had been so upset when he returned.

“I know this has all been very difficult for you. Especially what Magnus told you about your birth.”

She tried not to look at her brother. Nevertheless, she now felt the chill of his gaze on her. “I’m trying to accept everything as best I can.”

“Know this, you are my daughter. I love you beyond any other I ever could have hoped to have. You are a part of this family today, tomorrow, and always. In every way. Do you believe me?”

His words felt solid and truthful. A small, tense piece of her finally relaxed. “I believe you.”

The king sat down in a tall-backed chair. She braved a look at Magnus, but he’d averted his gaze again. He had yet to even acknowledge her presence. It had been that way since the night she came to his room and tried to comfort his pain more than a week ago. At every meal since, he’d flatly ignored her. When she’d crossed his path, he sidestepped her. She’d become like a shadow to him.

She’d wounded him deeply. But she’d had no choice. What he wanted from her, she couldn’t give him.

“Do you know what my plans are when it comes to Auranos?” the king asked her.

She nodded. “You mean to conquer it alongside the chieftain of Paelsia.”

“Very good. And do you think this is a wise plan?”

Lucia squeezed her hands together on her lap. “It sounds very dangerous.”

“Yes, it will be dangerous. But it’s meant to be,” he said. “Magnus will be at my side. Together, we might have to give our lives in this siege to ensure the future strength and prosperity of Limeros.”

She looked at him with alarm. “Please don’t say that.”

“You care about us, don’t you, Lucia? Even now that you know of your true origins.”

She was an orphan who’d been taken in by this family, no matter how that situation had come about. Without her adoptive family, she had nothing. Without the Damora name, she was a Paelsian peasant. “I do.”

The king nodded. “I want you to come with us. Your magic was foreseen to be more powerful than anything the world has witnessed in a millennium. Your magic is the key to our success. Without you, there are no guarantees that we’ll survive.”

She swallowed hard. “You want me to use my magic to help you conquer Auranos.”

“Only if absolutely necessary. But we will inform them that we have a very powerful weapon at the ready. Perhaps then they will back down without a fight.”

“I’m not sure this is entirely wise,” Magnus finally said. “The prophecy could still be wrong. Perhaps Lucia is just another witch.”

Magnus’s voice was so cold, so detached, it sent a chill racing down her spine. He made it sound like an insult. Like something easily discarded. She watched him, and his eyes flicked to her for a second before they moved away.

He hated her now.

“You’re wrong. But, of course, the ultimate choice is up to Lucia,” the king said. “I believe with all my heart that she’s the key to our success or failure. To our life or death.”

Lucia’s love for Magnus would never die, no matter how cold he now tried to make himself appear. She would do anything to keep him safe. Even if he was cruel. Even if he hated her now until the day he died.

“I’ll go with you,” she said firmly after a long silence passed. “And I’ll do everything in my power to help you defeat Auranos.”

The combined forces of Limerian and Paelsian foot soldiers marched across the border of Auranos.

A little less than three months ago, Jonas had stood at this very border planning to make a forbidden crossing so he could extract vengeance for his brother’s death. The threat of Auranian border guards executing him on the spot was the same danger he’d faced when poaching with his brother.

But today, no mere border guards attempted to stop the invasion of five thousand strong. They had retreated to join the main Auranian force a few miles inland.

“Nice armor on the Limerians, huh?” Brion commented as he and Jonas marched side by side. They hadn’t been given horses like many of their countrymen. Instead, the chief had given them the task to keep an eye out for any stragglers and to ensure that everyone continued to move forward toward their destination. Brion likened this to being dogs trained to keep sheep properly herded.

“Very shiny,” Jonas agreed.