Th e Heir & Th e Promise

Sneak Peek: Draft Prologue

CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1 (THE ARCHER & THE FLAME)

The content of this chapter is not final and will likely contain typos, clunky phrasing, an abundance of commas, and other quirks, but you get to read it before anyone else!

Silas

Three months ago

There was something rather liberating about watching fire destroy the harbinger of my doom. 

I'd never suffered the agony of a burn, my Blessing granting immunity from fire's wrath. I imagined it would be similar to the throbbing ache in my fingers as they clutched the parchment. Wisps of smoke danced in the air and the edges of the invitation blackened, crumbling in my grasp until nothing was left but a pile of ash. 

Good. It would save me obsessing over Faralt's elegant handwriting, dissecting every line and curve in the hope it would reveal my captor’s true motive. 

The walls of my bedchamber closed in around me. I shuddered, pacing back and forth until the sensation eased. Many would consider me fortunate. The suite of rooms making up my private quarters occupied the entire top floor of Castle Valour, but despite the finery that surrounded me, it was a prison in all but name.

My four-poster bed was no exception to the imposing decor. Thick velvet drapes hung off the mahogany frame like a cloak, symbols representing the four Blessings etched into the wood, each element rendered in exceptional detail. As I ran my fingers over them, I imagined the rulers that had come before me, and the magic they’d commanded. Legendary fae leading Eirel into eras of glory and power. I swallowed thickly, withdrawing my hand. 

The golden mantle existed to mock me. It was engraved with the words ‘victorious in valour’ and surrounded by emeralds. The only valour I’d seen was in the murals hanging on the castle walls, depicting the many triumphs of my room’s previous occupants. It was never meant to be mine, and my chambers seemed determined to remind me of that fact with every ridiculous tribute.

A scuffle in the fireplace disturbed my thoughts, but I disregarded it, flopping face down on my bed with a sigh. The silken sheets clung to my body like a shroud.

The last time I’d left my quarters was the Sarunite ball, several months past. No coin had been spared to celebrate the god of prosperity. I was trussed up in all my finery to charm the attendees and pretend that it was perfectly normal for the Lord of Eirel to never leave Castle Valour. Where my every attempt of seeking help for my situation had been thwarted by the High Council, their loyal supporters watching over my every move. By the end of the night, I’d resigned myself to drowning my sorrows drinking spiced wine straight from the bottle, paying dearly for it with a brutal hangover that took days to subside.

The noise continued, this time accompanied by a polite cough.

“Good evening, Valeria,” I said, barely lifting my head from the pillow.

A slipper-clad foot poked out from the bottom of the chimney breast, my visitor emerging as elegantly as one could from a fireplace. Her gown, intricately stitched with swirls of silver wind, was black with soot, and the spark trapped within her green eyes burned fiercely.

The council would throw a fit if they saw the second-in-line to Eirel’s rule looking so dishevelled, but Valeria had never cared for their opinions.

The fae in question’s nose twitched. “How did you know it was me?”

I raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t like I had guests queuing up to visit. The council wanted me isolated, grateful for any scraps of attention they threw my way. “Who else would it be?”

“Good point.” She looked around the pristine bedchamber. “I thought princesses were meant to be the ones trapped in a tower awaiting rescue?”

Feigning a gasp, I gestured to the embroidered doublet I wore, an exquisite garment which used the emerald green of my house colours to its full potential. “Am I not just as glorious?”

Valeria stroked her chin as if considering the question. I threw a ridiculously soft pillow at her. She dodged, agile as a cat.

“I’ve missed you. It’s been weeks.” 

“I know. I’m sorry.” The bed sank as she joined me. A heaviness lurked beneath her usual confidence, tightening my stomach. “Something urgent arose and I couldn’t sneak away.”

“You don’t need to apologise. It’s a huge risk for you to come here. If they find you…” I trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

“A risk I’m willing to take.” Her hand found mine, clutching it against her chest. “We’re all each other have. If you believe anything would stop me from lifting your spirits when you need me, you’d be wrong.”

I swallowed back tears, masking it with an easy smile. “If that’s what you must tell yourself.” I paused, unable to meet her gaze. “I will never stop being grateful for what you did for me, even when I wasn’t ready to realise it.”

She released her hair from the bun it was styled in, brunette strands spilling over her shoulders. “If you ever call me a jealous opportunist again, I won’t be so forgiving.”

I winced. It hadn’t been my finest moment. The council’s malignant influence corrupted slowly, too subtle to recognise until it was too late. 

It had started small, snide remarks dressed as sympathy while I was deep in mourning, questioning my capability until I believed it myself. Only Valeria had realised their intent, persevering until she finally got through to me. Even now, I battled the stubborn roots of doubt they’d planted.

“Sometimes I wonder if being blissfully ignorant was better. At least back then I had my freedom.” Though being the council’s unwitting puppet was its own form of imprisonment.

“Anything is better than that. You didn’t see yourself back then, at Faralt’s mercy. You were a shadow of yourself, hollow to your core. If I didn’t intervene, I feared you would waste away before my very eyes.”

“I’m feeling more like myself every day. There’s just the small matter of being locked in a tower, but no one’s perfect.”

Valeria was quiet, an unusual occurrence at the best of times. My stomach twisted into knots. “I take it you didn’t crawl through the castle walls for idle chatter.”

Her expression turned grave. “No. That’s the reason I haven’t visited. I was spying on the High Council.”

Not again. I sat up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “I've told you before, there’s no use going against them. They’re too influential. Besides, Faralt already came by and explained everything. I’ve accepted my fate. There’s nothing I can do about it. In a few weeks I’ll be wed, and this will all be a distant memory.”

One I’d long for, if Faralt’s odious daughter was as unpleasant as our previous encounters.

Valeria shook her head. “You don’t understand. This changes everything.”

I waved her away nonchalantly. “I’m already trapped here. What harm could more misery do? It’s a marriage born of duty. If I’m lucky, I’ll see her a few times a year at most.”

“Silas.” She took in a sharp intake of breath. “Listen to me carefully. They’re going to kill you.”

They... what?

I froze mid-gesture. “I must have misheard you. I thought you said they were going to kill me.”

“I’m so sorry.”

I stared at her, mouth agape. This couldn’t be real. “What are you talking about? I’m to marry Faralt’s daughter.”

Valeria’s hands fisted in her skirts. “That’s only part of their plan. Once they have your title, they’ll have no need for you anymore. Assassins will come for you before the ink is dry on your marriage certificate. I can’t let you die.”

Through the window, the Temple of Mist’s coloured dome felt suffocatingly close. “I don’t understand. They already rule in my stead.”

“Fae like them are never satisfied. Once they have what they desire, they set their sights on the next thing. While you draw breath it will never be enough. And with a valid wedding, I’ll be replaced in the line of succession. They’ll have everything they need to take over Eirel.”

“We have to stop them. They can’t get away with this.”

Her jaw set in determination. “That’s why I’m here.”

“You have a plan?” As expected from my cousin. She played the political games on the Isle of Mist better than I ever could.

A cold breeze rushed through the room, lifting my hair. Valeria’s body was fraught with tension. “You have to run, Silas. Escape and go far away from here until you’re out of the council’s clutches.”

It was unthinkable. Eirel was my home, but not only that, it was my duty. “I can’t just abandon my subjects to save my own skin. I need to stay, fight this somehow.”

“Without you in play, there’s a chance to prevent this wedding and foil their plans,” Valeria said, her voice low. “We need to get you out of Eirel, just long enough to buy us some time.”

“What about you? They’ll know you’d have a hand in my disappearance. They won’t let you get away with it.” 

She cocked her head. “I can handle myself. Ambitious fae have underestimated me for decades, but I’ve always come out on top. I have no intention of stopping now.”

I launched to my feet, pacing around the bedchamber, needing to do something. “I don’t like this.”

“You don’t have to, but do it for me, please.” Her features darkened. “I can’t lose anyone else.”

It was the one thing she could’ve said to shatter my resolve. We’d both experienced enough loss for a lifetime. “You’re talking about escaping a heavily guarded castle where even the shadows have eyes. I don’t see how it’s possible.”

She handed me a scroll of parchment from her pocket. “Here. The reason I’ve been so pre-occupied recently.” 

“What is it?” I asked, unrolling it. A neatly drawn map of the Isle of Mist was sketched out on the parchment, several areas marked.

“When the first lord established the Isle of Mist, making it defensible was his priority. He chose an island in the middle of a great lake, built an impenetrable wall on the surrounding land, and used the natural shielding of the mountains to protect it from attackers from the north. But he ensured that escape routes existed in the event of a siege.”

“You’ve spent time in the library recently,” I remarked.

“I was searching for a loophole to help you, but there is no shortage of tomes filled with the endless bragging of previous rulers. Many of them referenced these escape routes, but not where they could be found. So I took matters into my own hands. For months, I used my Blessing to search for secret entrances. Unfortunately, all I succeeded in doing was giving myself a headache.”

She walked to the fireplace, bracing her arms against the chimney breast. “But in pushing my magic to its limit, I’ve strengthened its sensitivity. One day, my hard work paid off. I sensed a difference in the airflow in this passage. A false wall concealed its full depth, but I broke through it and discovered a network of tunnels spanning the entire district. Every castle. Under the lake. Even beyond the gates.”

I scrutinised the map, realising the markings revealed several entry points into what she described. Warmth blossomed in my chest, dragging me from my exhaustion and filling my veins with a spark I thought was long dead.

“Silas…I know where the escape routes are. I can get you out.” She looked at the door, warded and heavily guarded as it usually was. “How long until they bring your next meal?”

I noted the position of the sun as it began to set behind the distant mountains. “An hour, give or take.”

She nodded, all business. “Then, there’s no time to waste.”

Valeria set to work staging a struggle, tearing the bedsheets, sweeping the ornaments from the mantle until they crashed on the floor, knocking over the armchairs in the living room. 

“This won’t work. They know I’d go willingly with whoever broke in,” I said.

She paused her work in the dining room, smashing decorative plates one by one. “It doesn’t need to be convincing, only seed enough doubt to give us a head start.”

The familiar clench of my chest held me back from helping her. “I don’t know if I can do this, Valeria. Eirel’s all I’ve ever known. How am I going to survive out there?”

Valeria crossed the room in an instant, grabbing me by the shoulders. “You are Silas Stormbrook, rightful Lord of Eirel. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. This is your chance to learn what you’re made of. I only wish I could come with you.” She surveyed the room with a satisfied noise. “Time to go.”

“But I haven’t packed anything.”

“It’s already taken care of. Take the route I’ve highlighted, into the chimney, turning right until the tunnel expands and you can stand upright. The section under the lake floods in parts, and you’ll need to wade through the water, but then the final passage should be straightforward from there. I’ve left a pack near the exit with supplies, but the rest is up to you.”

“You’re not coming with me?” I staggered backwards.

Valeria’s mouth set in a firm line. “No. I need to be here to figure out what else the council have planned. They will have contingencies, so I must stay one step ahead.”

“But what will you do?”

“For now, delay your evening meal being brought to your rooms to postpone the discovery of your absence. A little ruckus in the kitchens should suffice. Beyond that, I’m still figuring out.”

I wrapped her in a tight hug that must have verged on painful. “Thank you.”

“There’s nothing I want more than for you to claim your title and be the compassionate, just lord I know you’d be. And I will never stop fighting for that possibility.”

Her lips pursed like she wanted to say more, but she held herself back.

“You know you can always speak freely with me,” I coaxed.

“I want you to promise me that you’ll live. That you’ll try your hardest to find happiness far away from this festering place.”

My eyes widened. “What are you saying?”

“Promise me if you find something better than this, you’ll never look back.”

I shook my head, unwilling to consider the possibility. Valeria had never wavered in her loyalty. What kind of fae would I be if I abandoned her in return? “I’ll come back for you. For Eirel. I won’t stop until I find a way to fix this. That’s the only promise I can offer you.”

In a battle of wills, we were equally matched. I met her gaze until she bowed her head.

“Then, I’ll hold onto it on my darkest days, knowing I will see you again soon. Come now, we should hurry. Let me give you a boost.”

With Valeria’s help, I entered the chimney, finding a crawlspace cut halfway into it. Dust coated my mouth, making me splutter, and a smoky smell invaded my nose. I didn’t breathe clearly until the passage widened, as Valeria suggested it would, calling a flame to my finger to help me read the map.

One thought kept me moving while my legs ached and my throat burned. I wouldn’t stop until I found a way to return and stop the council. I had a promise to keep, after all.

Sneak Peek: Chapter 1 (Draft)

Willow

Present Day

A punch pounded my stomach, ripping the air from me in one powerful strike. I wheezed. Each breath was a battle I struggled to win. Endure it, I told myself. But I couldn’t move in time to dodge the jab to my back, crying out as I staggered forward into the mud.

The sentries wavered in their attack, exchanging nervous glances.

“What are you doing?” I barked. “If I was an intruder infiltrating the Old Keep, would you stop to let me catch my breath? Again, or I’ll inform Sal of your incompetence.”

The unlucky fae stationed in the courtyard when I’d stormed outside had looked at me strangely when I’d requested their assistance. I supposed it wasn’t every day that a scout asked to train with them, but I had no choice but to be resourceful when time was running out. 

Moonlight flooded the courtyard, holding the darkness at bay, though it stubbornly clung to the outer reaches of the open space. The rest of the ruined castle was in a deep slumber, resting to prepare for the duties demanded of them in the morning. My breath clouded in front of my face in the chilled night air. I mourned the warmth of my bunk, Silas’ sleeping form nestled against me. But comfort would have to wait. 

The sentries shifted into a fighting stance once again, and I pushed through the pain, preparing for the onslaught. They were sturdy, built with the kind of muscle that could only be obtained through the discipline of regular training. I couldn’t hope to hold my own facing them head on, but if I could outmanoeuvre them, I might stand a chance.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, they froze, pulling back. I turned to see who, or what, had caught their attention and swore under my breath. 

Silas sauntered towards us in no hurry, rolling his shoulders as he walked. His clothes were rumpled from sleep, his russet hair dishevelled like he’d rolled out of the bunk and headed straight to us. He took in the dirt that splattered our clothes, the angry red marks already visible on my body, the sweat that coated us, and his eyes narrowed. 

“Waking up in the middle of the night to bully sentries? Where was my invite?” he said, a smirk playing along his lips. Some tension eased from my body. I could handle a playful Silas. “It’s Karel and Welby, isn’t it? Lucky you, drawing the short straw of night duty tonight. Go on, save yourselves and get on with whatever it is you should be doing. I’ll take it from here.”

The sentries took him up on the offer, scurrying away as quickly as their legs would take them.

“Why would you do that? I need them.” My heaving chest was evidence enough of that. I was sorely outmatched and in need of practice.

He closed the distance between us. “You’re not doing yourself any favours. They already blanch at the sight of you without you giving them more reasons.”

“They shouldn’t hold their punches then. They certainly don’t when they train with each other.”

Silas laughed. “Can you blame them? The only things they know about you are that you attacked Norwyn and somehow have the Lord of Eirel wrapped around your little finger.” He grasped the offending finger, pressing a kiss to it. “They’re terrified.”

“But I’m not...”

“I know,” he said quickly. “If they saw what I see in you, then I’m sure they’d realise there’s nothing to fear.”

“Don’t hold your breath.” I’d never been good at endearing myself to others. Silas had been the rare exception, though I’d tried my hardest to push him away too. He was foolishly stubborn, worming his way into my heart until I had no choice but to relent. It had been one of my finer decisions, his steady optimism a balm to my guarded caution. “This doesn’t come naturally to me. I’ve been alone so long I don’t know how to let anyone in.”

His arm wound around my shoulder. “I’m not asking you to befriend everyone. Just ease up a little. You never know, they might do what you ask if they weren’t afraid of the repercussions.”

“When did you become so wise?” 

“I have been all along. You just chose not to listen. Now, did I steal all the blankets again or was there another reason you couldn’t sleep?  If you need to talk, you’ll know I’ll always lend you my ear.”

There was so much I wanted to say to him. More than two months had passed since Reuben informed me Eirel was my next mission and too little of it had been spent with Silas. I’d naively assumed once he had sworn his bargain, we’d leave in a matter of days. But Reuben insisted nothing happened until he cleared it, and despite my daily petitioning to do something, each day brought no news.

It should’ve been a gift, granting us ample time to prepare, but the anticipation of it all was crushing. The simple fact was I wasn’t good enough to win Silas’ freedom. So I’d devoted myself to hunting my weaknesses and eliminating them, using every waking moment to be better.

But how could I admit that to him when his belief in me never wavered? It would devastate him.

An icy breeze swept through the courtyard, lifting the ends of Silas’ unkempt hair. I shivered. Standing still was doing me no favours without my cloak for protection. 

“Right now, I want you to lend me your fists. Spar with me. The others hold back, but I know you won’t be intimidated.”

If he was surprised by the request, he didn’t show it. “Dare I ask why we’re doing this in the middle of the night?” His eyes darkened. “I can think of several things I’d rather be doing.”

My body agreed with him, leaning towards him in anticipation, but I shook my head, snapping out of it. As tempting as it would be to abandon my plans, I couldn’t waste this opportunity.

“On the Isle of Mist, how many vantage points are there where an arrow can be fired? How long can I wander the castle with my bow on my shoulder before I’m discovered?” I asked. “I’ll be going into this mission without the one thing I can always rely on. I must compensate.”

“Bow or not, you’ve always held your own,” he said.

“Not while surrounded by so many enemies. Scouts are only taught basic self-defence. Our presence is meant to be undetectable. If our mission results in a confrontation, we’ve failed. It’s the sentries that train in all weathers, preparing for hand-to-hand combat. I have a lot of catching up to do, and little time to do it in.”

“So, what, you’ll train like a sentry? Infiltrate Eirel with your fists?” 

Something in his tone rankled me. “I don’t have a Blessing like you. I want to know I can take care of myself.”

“You’re nervous.” It wasn’t a question. “If there’s one thing I’m confident of, it’s that you can take care of yourself. Physical strength means little in Eirel, it’s mental resilience you’ll need to survive. The fae there thrive on manipulation, on finding your weakness and exploiting it until you cease being useful to them. And that’s something you possess in abundance,” Silas said. 

I softened, remembering what the Eirelean High Council had done to him. The years of tearing him down until he lost faith in himself as a ruler. “I’m not the only one. You’re stronger than you think.”

“Want to put it to the test? Since we’re already out here, I’ll be your sparring partner. I was once told I have an extremely punchable face.”

He was deflecting, but I couldn’t help tensing in response. “Who told you that?”

“No one important, just some upstart on the Isle of Mist with a point to prove. It’s not easy being devilishly handsome. Some can’t handle the competition.”

“Perhaps I’ll pay them a visit.” I wanted to do a lot more than that, should the opportunity arise.

Silas grinned. “You like my face that much? I’m flattered.”

I trailed my hand down his cheek, anchoring my thumb in the curve of his dimple. “Actually, I’m inclined to agree with them. Your face is temptingly punchable at this very moment.” 

“Try it. It’s not my first time sparring. I think you’ll find me a worthy opponent.” Silas untied his shirt, his toned chest on full display as he pulled it over his shoulders.

“You’re seriously resorting to cheap tactics?”

“My sweet Willow, I’m not above using anything to my advantage. You’re lucky I’m keeping the rest of my clothes on.” 

“Small mercies.” 

I launched myself at him in a frenzy. Silas was caught off-guard, not expecting me to pounce mid-banter, yelping in surprise as I tackled him to the ground.

“Not bad,” he said. “But that’s a lot of energy to waste without a plan to keep me down.” He rolled us, pinning my shoulders to the mud. But I was ready for him, neutralising him with a swift kick between his legs. Silas groaned, toppling over, and I used the window of opportunity to climb to my feet.

“Should’ve kept my mouth shut.”

I charged at him again, but this time, Silas stepped to the side, letting me pass by harmlessly. “You’re becoming predictable. Mix things up a little.”

Taking him at his word, I held back, waiting for him to make the first move. His mouth curved in a pleased smile. When he acquiesced, surging forward in a barrage of punches, I blocked what I could, but others found their mark. I accepted the pain, welcomed it, because I was finally getting what I needed. A challenge.

I channelled my determination at Silas, inching closer as I hit his chest. But when I was within arm’s reach, he didn’t attack. Instead, he captured my mouth in a demanding kiss, desire shooting through me in response. I returned it hungrily, the adrenaline from the fight surging through my veins as my nails raked down his bare back. I was moments away from dragging him into the north tower and riding him all night. Before the haze in my mind cleared, Silas pushed me, knocking me off-balance. I tripped, splattering into the mud.

“I thought we were finished. That’s cheating.”

“Lesson number one. You’ve got to be prepared for anything in a fight. It’s called being resourceful,” Silas said smugly.

“Are you finished with your lecture? Because I can think of better uses for your mouth.” I tugged him towards me as if to resume the kiss, but instead, swiped his legs out from underneath him. 

“Look at that. You’re right, it does work,” I said as Silas crashed to the ground beside me.

“Well played.”

I burst out laughing at the state of him, mud clinging to his bare flesh. Silas’ lip quivered and he joined in, taking me back to the last time we’d seen each other so dirty.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” I asked. He was a surprisingly capable opponent without his Blessing.

“Before my imprisonment I trained daily in Eirel. All nobles did. What use is a Blessing if your attacker has your arms wrestled behind your back?” He wiped a hand over his face, but only succeeding in smudging it further. “So, are you going to tell me what’s really going on? I thought you’d relish the chance for us to share a bed while we have one, but I’ve barely seen you recently.”

He was right, I had been avoiding him. “I suppose I owe you something for being my training partner.”

All he did was fix me with a pointed stare. I sighed.

“I’ve never felt pressure like this. I can’t sleep at night, and the rare moments I do, I jolt awake with my heart racing. There’s a constant dread hanging over me, like something bad is going to happen. This isn’t like any other mission. This is your life. I cannot fail.”

For decades, I hadn’t let anyone get close, knowing the cost of growing to care for someone. How it could destroy you. But Silas had given me a reason to try again, to risk it all. Yet every happy memory was tinged with fear, wondering if it could be our last.

He was my weakness, the chink in my armour, the ripple in my glamour. The reason I had to fight but the thing that exposed me the most.

Failing this mission meant losing everything. 

He pulled me against his chest. I hadn’t realised how cold I’d been until his steady warmth settled into me. “It’s not your burden to bear. You’ve given me a fighting chance to save Eirel. That’s more than I’ve ever had.”

“But what if that’s not enough?”

“Then we’ll face the challenges together, like we always do.” He frowned. “If it’s adding this much pressure onto you, perhaps you should stay behind.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Just try and stop me from coming with you. After everything you’ve told me, I won’t let you anywhere near Eirel without being by your side as you face those who wronged you.”

He grinned, but it wasn’t with his usual amusement. This smile burned with an intensity that I couldn’t look away from. “I can’t wait until they realise who will bring their downfall.”

“And I can’t wait to witness the moment we win your freedom.”

I yawned, unable to hold back my tiredness any longer. Silas stood, pulling me to my feet. “Come on sleepy head. It’s time to rest. I won’t suffer kindly if you nod off during my briefing tomorrow.”

I blinked. Tomorrow? The days had passed in a blur, weeks going by without me noticing. “I’ll be hanging onto every word.”

“Good, because I’ve been practicing. I’ve never given a briefing before. It all feels very official.”

“I’ve never sat in one. We’re not usually so fortunate as to have an informant living in the Old Keep who can tell us exactly how to infiltrate a district.” I set off, dragging Silas along with me. “You need your beauty sleep too. Reuben will bombard you with questions, and you’ll want to be at your best.”

“Is it too late to back out?” Silas asked, dragging his feet through the mud as he followed me back to the dormitories.