Broken by Marianne Curley Read Free Book Online Page A

hundreds of layers of pure silk, intricately woven to keep light from showing through it and inadvertently revealing the chamber’s position. Security was high that night because the infant was already promised in marriage to a high-ranking prince, a future king.
    But I foolishly allowed a splinter of light to escape the birthing chamber when I exited. That single glint revealed our secret location. And I will never forget the injured soldiers’ screams as they lay writhing in agony when the enemy’s fiery explosions bore down on us, burning their skin and melting flesh off their bones.
    Michael doesn’t rush me as I prepare to reacquaint myself with my homeland. He sees my memories flooding in and out at staggering speeds, and slaps his hand down on my shoulder. ‘Easy now, cousin, remember who you are.’
    But . . . Michael, who am I?
    Placing his hands down on my shoulders, he turns me to face him. ‘You are Nathaneal, Seraphim Order’s highest-ranking prince, a future king.’
    ‘That’s not what I mean.’
    He frowns. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘The legend told about me . . . is there any truth to it?’
    ‘Oh, that thing written in hope and stardust before the Earth was born.’
    ‘Are you saying it’s nonsense, because I would be thrilled to know there is nothing in it and I can be free to live my life with my beloved Ebony.’
    His gold eyes lose their playful light. ‘The legend says hope and stardust, our king says blood on a wall of stone.’
    I stare at him a moment. I haven’t heard this before. ‘Are you saying my name is written on a stone wall in blood?’
    He nods slowly. ‘As the One who will lead us in battle, defeat our enemy, and bring peace and unity to all the worlds.’
    ‘That’s all ?’
    He laughs, until I ask, ‘Whose blood?’
    ‘The blood of those who died in the great revolt.’
    ‘The first angelic war.’
    ‘Is it any wonder Prince Luca wants to eliminate you?’ he says.
    ‘But I’ve done nothing to justify being named this leader of angels who will unite the worlds in peace. That would be you, Michael. You’ve commanded Avena’s armies for three thousand years. What experience have I had?’
    He gives me a sympathetic look. ‘You’re still young, Nathaneal. Give yourself time.’
    ‘What if I can’t be this defender , this champion of the people ? So far I have only been a burden to Avena. What if I don’t have what it takes to be a king?’
    He studies my face, golden eyes unblinking. A smile starts slowly and quickly grows. ‘You will. You just have to trust me on this. Can you do that?’
    I look to the horizon where the Lavender Forest merges into the sky. When I think of home my thoughts turn to Ebony. In those fleeting moments before her birth, Ebony understood how destiny had entwined our lives. She shared those visions with me in a mind-link from her mother’s womb. But today she can’t remember the images or their importance. I’m asking her to trust me, just as Michael is now asking me to trust him.
    I take a deep breath and nod at him. ‘I can do that.’
    He thumps my shoulder. ‘Good.’
    ‘And you will be with me, cousin? Whatever happens?’
    ‘Always. Don’t ever doubt it. Just look to your left and I will be there.’
    ‘Why my left?’
    ‘Finally, an easy question,’ he jokes. And grinning, he says, ‘It’s your weaker side.’
    ‘What? I don’t have a weaker side.’
    ‘Yes, you do.’
    ‘No I don’t. Both sides are equal.’
    ‘Spoken like a future king.’

9
    Ebony
    Jordan concentrates on the road as he drives us home. He hasn’t spoken since we left school. He’s gloomier than usual and I feel his sadness pulling hard on my heart, almost as if his pain were mine. Nathaneal would say this is the way the Guardian bond works, experienced more acutely when Guardian and Charge live in close proximity to one another. But if Mr Zavier is my real biological uncle, then I’m not an angel. In that case, could my feelings for