Forsaken (The Shadow Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  Forsaken

  The Shadow Chronicles Book 3

  By K. R. Fajardo

  Copyright © 2017 K.R. Fajardo

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover by Christine Powell Gomez

  Edited by Cheree Castellanos

  This book is a work of the author’s imagination and is not intended to be taken as anything other than the work of fiction that it is. Any resemblance of the characters, places, or events in this book to real people either living or deceased, is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilouge

  Acknowledgements

  This book is dedicated to all my friends and family who have stood by my side and encouraged me in this adventure. To Salem, Crissy, Erin, Lori, Ana, and Amy, I love and appreciate you guys so much. You have stuck with me since the beginning, excitedly reading my rough, unedited messes and telling me how much you love them despite their obvious flaws.

  To my wonderful editor Cheree Castellanos, I thank my lucky stars every day that we managed to cross paths. Your words of encouragement, not to mention your phenomenal talent, have helped transform my fragmented sentences and misspelled words into the magical tales they were meant to be.

  To Christine Powell Gomez, the genius behind my covers, I thank you. Despite the old saying ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’, based on the number of people who have emailed me and messaged me to say they loved my books but wanted to admit they had purchased them based solely on their covers, I can hereby testify that statement is in fact a lie.

  To Jennifer Malone Wright, thank you for so all the hours and sleepless nights you put in to help, not only me, but so many authors get the word out about their books. You work your butt off all the time, and though we may not always say it out loud, I can assure you, each and every one of us love and appreciate all you have done and continue to do for us.

  And last, but not least, to my beautiful family. To my mom and dad, grandparents, husband, and three beautiful children… all I can say is I love you guys so much and thank you for all your support and patience as I take this time in my life to pursue my dream.

  “Love. Oh, she is a fickle beast. So beautiful on the outside, she uses her charms to lure the desperate and lonely into her waiting arms. Yet, underneath the pristine exterior lies await a vile beast who thrives on pain and misery. I have lived thousands of years, been tortured mercilessly by my enemies, watched people I cared for pass before my eyes, and have been betrayed more times than I care to recall. But this I can assure you, all that pain wains in comparison to what I experienced the night love was forever ripped from my life.”

  K

  Prologue

  K startled awake to the sounds of birds singing all around her. Shooting upright, she angrily searched her surroundings for any signs of the Wanderers whose deceit was still fresh in her memory. However, her brow furrowed as she took in the beauty of one of the most grandeur rose gardens she had ever seen. All around her heavily blooming branches sagged under the weight of the brightly colored petals while their sweet fragrances bombarded her senses. A cool breeze blew through, taking the edge off the humid temperature and carrying on it the distinct sounds of laughter from somewhere in the distance. Taking a moment to give herself a quick once over, K’s temper flared once more upon noticing her clothing had been changed while she slept. Gone was the black leather sparring gear she had been wearing in the forest, having been replaced with a thin silk gown as red in color as many of the roses surrounding her. Reaching up to pull a strand of hair in front of her face, K breathed a little easier upon seeing the straight black lock twisted in her fingers; thankful that at least the traitors hadn’t figured out how to force her out of her mask.

  Once again the sounds of laughter in the air caught her attention and ignited a fire within. Foolish Wanderers, K thought. Spinning her legs over the edge of the stone table, she landed barefoot on the soft grass below. I will teach them to celebrate before they have finished the job.

  Taking a moment to better gather her bearings, K surveyed the towering hedges that enclosed the garden until she spotted an arch shaped opening leading into another section. A faint giggle from outside its opening drew her in its direction. Upon crossing through to the other side, K halted at the sudden familiarity of her surroundings. “No, it can’t be,” she breathed as her heart rate doubled within her chest.

  Before her, an immense green expanse opened up, littered with numerous rocky paths. All along the twisted lengths a multitude of flowering fruit trees cast their shade over the stone benches that lined them on both sides. Meanwhile vibrant flower beds brightened the mostly green expanse with an exquisite rainbow of bright petals; the highest concentration of which focused in the center where all the trials converged together.

  No. No. No. Closing her eyes hard, K attempted to will the scene before her to change, but to her dismay, when her eyes reopened, it all remained as it had been. In the distance ahead, nestled in the center of the grassy flat and blooming flowers, sat a white gazebo heavily laden with morning glory blooms. Inside a young couple stood locked in a passionate embrace, kissing each other as if the world were coming to an end. I don’t want to see this, K pleaded looking to the darkening sky above, Please, I will endure whatever manner of torture you can concoct, just don’t make me go through this again.

  However, as with all the other times she asked their help, the stars ignored her pleas as yet again the sound of giggling filled the air; giggling she now realized belonged to the young lady. Pulling free of her lover’s embrace and with more than a hint of mischief in her smirk, the lady took her suitor by the hand and led him in the direction of a towering castle that materialized suddenly out of nowhere. Obediently her dark-haired gentleman followed without objection.

  The moment the massive iron doors of the palace closed behind the star-struck lovers, K found herself engulfed in a swirling mist that robbed her of her vision and nicked her skin with its harsh winds. Crouching down, K buried her face inside her hands and waited patiently, knowing the storm would pass momentarily. Seconds later the winds died down and K rose to find she was now standing in the center of a lavish bedroom. Smooth stone walls decorated with the finest works of art, floor to ceiling draperies made up of expensive heavy fabrics, and delicate vases filled with freshly cut flowers were just the beginning of the extravagances that made it clear to K that she was anywhere but where she belonged.

  However, as much as she felt out of place amongst the fineries, K couldn’t deny the fact that many of her fondest memories had come from within these very walls; some of the best of her existence, if she had to be honest with herself. On the far side of the room a massive bed sat, topped with a variety of silks and furs, and covered in an obscene amount of pillows. K made her way to its side, brushing her hand gently over the soft fabrics. Struggling to fight back the flood of mixed emotions that threatened, K grimaced as she felt the result of her instability rebounding back through her link to Citera’s fragile body.

  “I’m sorry child,” K soothed in a low whisper whilst battling the memories that were the cause of the painful emotions; but it was proving to be a near impossible task. So many wonderful days and nights she had spent in
this room, relishing in its extravagances and enjoying the company of the one person in the world who understood her better than anyone else. But as much as she cherished this room for its pleasant times, the emotions she was dealing with in this specific moment, centered on one of the most tumultuous nights of her existence, and right now, in this specific moment she longed to be anywhere else but within these walls.

  The sound of a man’s voice caught her attention just as the bedroom door swung open. “I am telling you, there is nothing to be concerned about.” In walked the dark-haired gentleman and his now visibly upset companion. “You are just being paranoid.”

  The young lady didn’t miss a step as she continued across the room to a vanity in the corner. Once there, she proceeded to pull a set of silver blades from her dark mahogany hair; allowing a cascade of ringlets to fall down her back. With her back remaining turned to her companion, she then proceeded to aggressively remove various articles of jewelry. “It is not paranoia.” She clipped, slamming her hand and the items down on the vanity. Narrowing her hazel eyes, she glared at him through the small oval-shaped mirror. “I can hear what they say, Mallok. And don’t pretend that you don’t.”

  Mallok smiled easily as he approached her from behind. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he leaned over her tense form, whispering softly into her ear. “Who cares what they think Kahjoul? We have stayed apart long enough, if the Council or anyone else has a problem with it then they can all go to hell.”

  From beside the bed, K watched as her past-self turned in Mallok’s embrace to face him. “It’s not the Council I am concerned about, it’s our own people.” Reaching around, Kahjoul rested her arms on Mallok’s firm shoulders as she locked her gaze on her dearest companion. “Mallok, we have many enemies and we don’t need to make more. You know as well as I that your people already hate me. They see me as nothing more than a monster draining the life from their precious leader and using him for his power. I know, I have heard the whispers they don’t know I can hear. Meanwhile my own people think I have abandoned them and the truth is, I have in a way. Even Jaron, who I trust with all my heart, grows more bitter toward me by the day.”

  Mallok placed a light kiss gently on her lips as he then threaded his fingers tightly into the back of her hair. Pulling her body flush against his, he smirked. “I have a feeling I know why Jaron is bitter.”

  Not many men could get away with doing something like that to her. Actually, there were only two who K could think of that she would allow herself to be that submissive with. But being with Mallok had always been as natural as breathing. He knew her better than anyone else ever had, either alive or dead. He had stood by her side and defended her against the Council when she had no one else. And it was this deep-rooted trust that she had for him and he had for her that made this particular memory so painful.

  K, rooted in place by an unseen force, continued to struggle watching the scene from her past unfold. And as the emotions and the resulting discomfort grew increasingly unbearable, K watched her past-self smile and willingly close what little gap remained between the two of them. “You’re not taking this seriously.”

  With a low groan, Mallok tightened his grip in his lover’s hair. Tilting her head to the side, he hungrily exposed the sensitive skin at the base of her neck. Beginning at the vulnerable soft tissue, Mallok kissed his way up to her ear, pausing only a breath away. “I would take it more seriously if you showed me the woman I fell in love with so long ago.”

  “Mallok…” Kahjoul began, but he quickly silenced her by crashing his lips firmly against hers. Meanwhile his hand, not tangled in her hair, crept lower, painfully grasping her hip.

  “Don’t deny me again Kahjoul,” he growled into her ear once he released her from the kiss. “It’s not like I can’t feel the scars anyway. None of it changes how I feel about you, just grant me this one night to see you as you are, as the girl I first met all those centuries ago.”

  K watched as Kahjoul hesitated, casting her eyes to the floor. Eventually she would have given in, she never had been able to deny him. But Mallok, not knowing the power he truly held over her, and seeing her self-doubt, decided to try a gentler approach. Unfisting her hair, he ran a thumb gently under her eye and wiped away the tear that threatened. He then lowered his hand to her chin and eased it up to face him. “Kahjoul, my love, I will not force you to do anything against your will, surely you know this. It’s just that… well, I don’t understand the reason for hiding from me what I have already seen. I know who you are, I know what you have been through, and I know what you look like under this mask, so why? Why continue this ruse when it isn’t necessary?”

  Kahjoul locked her saddened gaze with his for only a moment before dropping it once again to the floor. Mallok, frustrated by not getting his way, dropped his hands to his sides and turned away. Walking across the room, he took a seat on the bed, less than a foot away from where K stood, and proceeded to angrily remove his boots. “Fine, do whatever you want. I’m going to take a shower,” he snapped, heading across the room toward the bathroom on the other side. “I just don’t understand why you can’t completely trust me after all we’ve been through together.” And with that said, he slammed the bathroom door shut behind him.

  K clutched her chest tightly, watching as Kahjoul fell to the floor grimacing under the same whiplash of emotions. Once her former self finally managed to regain control, and with her protective blocks safely back in place, Kahjoul ran to the balcony and leapt into the garden three stories below. Then, under the cover of the night, she vanished into its depths.

  Knowing that it was coming, K braced as the storm of mist rapidly descended over her once again. When it faded away she was standing in the midst of the rose garden she had just left behind, except this time, Kahjoul sat in the center, silently staring at the stars.

  “Give me some kind of a sign.” she pleaded to the twinkling lights above, “Tell me that we… I am doing the right thing. Show me we aren’t setting both our people up for failure.” A melody of crickets chirping in the silence was all the answer she received. But what had she really expected, the stars themselves had cursed her, why she had expected them to offer her any guidance was beyond K’s understanding. Grunting at her own naivety, K watched Kahjoul sit silently for a few more moments contemplating her options before standing with a sigh and a refreshed look of determination. She had decided to return home. She had wasted enough time living in a fantasy that could never truly be a reality and it was high time she faced her responsibilities to her people.

  With her mind made up, Kahjoul slowly began to make her way back to the castle while trying to figure out the best way to break the news to Mallok. K, knowing she had no choice, followed quietly a few steps behind her. She knew Kahjoul was worried about what Mallok would think of her leaving. That she was concerned about how angry he would be with her. But Kahjoul rationalized—this was how it had to be. Besides, it was easy for him to judge her when he was nestled safely amidst his happy constituents. His people still had their ruler, while hers were left to fend for themselves. Granted they had the Shadows to handle all the major issues, but lately even they seemed more distant and standoffish when she was around. No, it was settled, she needed to go home and one way or the other, Mallok would have to deal with it.

  Halfway back to the castle, mumbling inside one of the gardens caught Kahjoul’s attention. Voices? In the garden at this hour? Curiosity getting the best of her, Kahjoul inched closer until she could better make out what they were saying.

  “Come on, they will be starting soon.” A man’s voice urged impatiently.

  “I don’t like this Victor. I don’t think the king’s love life is any of ours, or anyone else’s concern.” His female companion argued back.

  “So you are okay with letting that blood thirsty demon become our queen? What if she summons you to her chamber to donate her next meal, huh? Bet you would agree with us then.”

  “I don’t think she woul
d do that. She has been coming and going from here for months and not once has she fed off any of our people.”

  “Are you so certain about that? How do we know they aren’t hiding it from us? I hear she can erase people’s minds so they don’t even remember being fed upon.” Victor straightened, crossing his arms over his chest confidently. Meanwhile K took a seat on the bench a few steps from the arguing pair. Leaning back into her seat, she crossed her legs, and watched as Kahjoul fought to stifle her rage. “Anyway, it’s not like we are the only ones concerned. A few members of the Council are even attending this meeting and they have agreed to help us come up with a plan to get rid of her.” Victor paused as his lips turned up in a smug grin. “By this time next week, the White queen will no longer be a concern to anyone.”

  At the mention of the Council, Kahjoul lost it. Appearing in flash before the stunned Victor, she grabbed him by the front of his shirt and lifted his feet off the ground. His female companion shrieked, turning to run away only to wind up face down in the grass after Kahjoul’s free hand connected with the back of her head. Once confident the girl wasn’t going to be any further problem, Kahjoul then turned her attention back to the terrified Victor. “What have you done?” she yelled in his face, causing Victor to inadvertently wet his pants.

  “Nothing! I haven’t done anything!” he cried, trembling in her grasp. “I was just going to listen I swear.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure you were.” Kahjoul growled, splaying her fingers across his temple.

  “What are you going to do?” Victor shrieked, struggling uselessly against her hold.

  “I’m going to see what you and your friends have been up to, now shut up before I rip that traitorous heart from your chest.”