Tarnished Empire: A Standalone Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance

by Ava Harrison

  I won’t let him see my tears.

  George and I weren’t close, but he’s been with my father since the day he took me in. I can’t believe he’s gone. I can’t believe that Alaric—

  I stop myself. Of course, I can believe it. As I said, he is a monster. A certifiable monster. If I thought there was a way off this island without him, I would kill him myself for what he’s done.

  I feel helpless.

  Nothing I do will change what’s happened, but it’s the feeling of the walls inside me closing up and no solution that makes the oxygen in my lungs feel depleted. Ever since I was a child, I have hated this feeling. I have tried everything to prevent it, and this man has stranded me in it.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “Away from you.” It takes everything in me to hold back my sob as I hiss at him.

  “Yeah, and where is that? We’re on a deserted island.”

  “Anywhere but where you are sounds promising.”

  Walking a few feet in the opposite direction, I head toward where the trees part, leading farther inland.

  “I wouldn’t go that way if I were you. It’s about to get dark out. Who knows what lives in there. And seeing as I have the knife and you have no weapons, it wouldn’t be smart.”

  I scoff at his comment and continue walking. I don’t go in, though. Instead, I find another palm tree to plop myself in front of, and in silence, I let my tears fall. Like wax slowly dripping down a candle until there is nothing left, I, too, fall apart.

  21

  Phoenix

  My stomach won’t stop growling. It’s as if an animal is living inside me. Unfortunately, food isn’t an option. But as much as I know I can’t eat, it doesn’t stop the gnawing feeling of hunger from spreading inside me.

  My vision is spotty, and my limbs shake. But I’m too stubborn to do anything about it; even if I’m so dizzy, I’m afraid I’ll fall over if I move too quickly.

  Maybe if Alaric wasn’t a murdering asshole, I could bite my tongue and ask him for one of the protein bars in the safety pack he grabbed before we left.

  But, alas, that won’t happen. I’d rather starve to death than speak to him now.

  Which very well might happen.

  Instead of eating, I stare out at the ocean.

  The bastard was right. My SOS is no longer written on the beach. It’s long gone. Battered by the water.

  The waves are stronger now than they were earlier in the day.

  They crash against the shore like a storm might come. That would be just our luck: stranded on an island with no shelter when a hurricane hits. Behind me, I hear hammering. Alaric is building something, but I refuse to turn around and acknowledge whatever he’s doing.

  The sea blurs after a time, and the sunlight fades into the horizon as night beckons.

  My stomach screams at me to grow up, and I’m thankful he left a bottle of water with me.

  At least I have that.

  From across the sand, I can hear the crackling first, and then the smell hits me.

  Fire. The bastard started a fire on the beach.

  Great. Just freaking great.

  Here I am freezing, and he’s probably roasting marshmallows.

  No, not marshmallows, as those weren’t in his survival pack.

  My eyes roll of their own accord. If I could gag over how annoying he is, I would. But seeing as I have no food in my stomach, vomiting won’t happen.

  “Are you going to sulk over there all night?” he asks, and I’m still angry and hurt over what he told me earlier, so I respond, “Yes.”

  “Suit yourself.” He goes back to whatever he’s doing.

  “I will,” I mutter under my breath before I look up to the night sky and pretend I’m on this beach alone.

  With the silence descending yet again, it grows nearly impossible not to look, so I do. I turn my body and glance at where he is sitting.

  With his back against a palm tree, he’s tied the raft to a tree to keep it from moving. In front of him is a makeshift firepit. He’s even using the damn blanket.

  From this angle, it looks like Alaric Prince is living his best life. Must be nice. He’s on vacation, relaxing, the only thing he needs is a drink with a little tiny umbrella in it. I turn away so he doesn’t catch me staring. Instead of looking at the endless ocean, I turn my gaze to the sky.

  I have never seen a sky like this. Millions of stars twinkle in the darkness.

  I feel so small, looking up at the vastness above me.

  Leaning my back against the tree, I will my breathing to slow.

  Inhale.

  Exhale.

  Praying that sleep finds me.

  I’m woken the next morning to the sound of buzzing by my face.

  The mosquitos are in full effect this morning.

  My stomach revolts from the lack of food, and sharp pains stab my insides.

  Reaching my arm up, I wipe the sleep from my eyes.

  It’s hard to pry them open today. As much as I slept, I still feel groggy and sleep-deprived. A tree apparently does not make a suitable bed. I wonder how he fared with his tree, his fire, and probably his turndown bed. I stretch my arms and look over to where he set up camp. It’s empty.

  The fire long since put out. Where did he go?

  Now awake, I move to stand, and that’s when I realize one of the protein bars is sitting on my lap. In my mind, I think I am better than to tear into the wrapper like I’m starving even though I am.

  Unfortunately, any semblance of restraint was apparently set adrift because I want to be calm, but I’m not.

  Nope. Instead, my actions resemble that of a rabid animal feasting on a meal after months of starvation.

  I’m pathetic.

  But as I rip into the wrapper and stuff a piece in my mouth, I let out a sigh of relief.

  “I wouldn’t eat that so fast. Take small bites and have a sip of water with each bite.”

  My chewing stops when I see Alaric standing directly in front of me.

  He looks as disheveled as I feel, but I probably look like I have a bird’s nest in my hair, whereas on him …

  Well, he just looks freaking amazing, and it’s not right for anyone to look this good when stranded on an island without a bathroom or shower. It’s not fair. No one should sleep in the sand and look as good as he does.

  I pull my gaze away from him quickly, and even though I don’t want to listen to his pearls of wisdom, I do. Something tells me he knows a lot more about living than I do.

  This time, I take a feeble bite. The texture is chalky, so I grab the bottle of water from yesterday and take a small sip to wash it down.

  “Try to wait a minute between bites. Not only will it help you feel fuller, but it will keep the nausea at bay.”

  I give him a nod. My way of saying thank you before I continue to eat.

  Standing, it feels too close on this big, open beach, as I wait for him to speak, but it appears he’s not going to. He’s content just watching me.

  “Is there something you need?” I ask.

  “I’m going to go explore some more today. You should join me.”

  “Thought it wasn’t safe?” I say, my annoyance from before obvious.

  “I checked it out a little, and there seems to be a clearing. There might be animals, but nothing we can’t handle.” He lifts the knife for emphasis.

  “What about keeping an eye out for a boat?”

  “That’s why I tied up the boat.”

  “I thought you did that … oh, never mind,” I say, not really knowing what I’m trying to say. I’m tired and delusional, apparently.

  “For a shelter?”

  I nod at his question.

  “Hardly. Although we could actually use it as a bed. That way, if a storm comes, we can put the top up.”

  I cock my head. “What is this? A convertible. Put it on, take it off?” I roll my eyes.

  “Yep.” Why does he always have to sound so damn sarcastic
? It drives me crazy.

  “Oh.”

  “The only problem is it will get rather small if the two of us are in it with the top on. It’s fine on the ocean, but here, we can make a better option so we don’t feel claustrophobic. Maybe if I can find wider leaves, I can build something in case it rains. But another reason I tied the raft in this location is because there is reflective tape on it. Maybe a boat can see it.”

  “Smart,” I mutter.

  “I try.” He shrugs. “Let me know when you’re done doing everything you need, and we can go.”

  “Everything I need?” I question, but as if my body understands, the need to pee hits me and hits me hard.

  My mouth opens and shuts like a fish out of water.

  “Where should I go?”

  Yesterday, when I was alone, I did my business in the sand. It wasn’t my finer moment, but at least Alaric wasn’t here to see it. Now he is, and my faces warms with embarrassment at the thought.

  “Two choices. Behind that tree. But we have very little toilet paper, so we probably shouldn’t waste it this early on. Or in the ocean. But we have no towels.” He smirks.

  “Either I’m a little wet or a lot wet.”

  “Wet dove is not a sight I’m opposed to seeing.”

  That makes him smile even wider, and now I huff.

  I choose option one, sexual innuendo be damned.

  22

  Alaric

  She is a lot more stubborn than I gave her credit for.

  No question.

  Here we are alone on an island with no food source, no water, and no shelter, yet she refuses to play nice.

  I get it, she hates me. I killed someone she cares about, but the simple truth is, she needs to get over it.

  I might have been her enemy on the boat, but here on the rugged terrain, I can be her ally.

  Not that she’ll do it.

  That girl would rather eat worms than talk to me.

  I watch as she stands from where she slept last night.

  Her body probably aches. I’d offer to give her a hand or maybe a massage, but something tells me she’ll reject my offer.

  Pity.

  She really is something else.

  In a different place and different world, I’d like nothing more than to have her naked in my bed.

  I really need to stop checking out her ass, but the smirk still comes even as I’m shaking my head while she walks behind the trees to do her morning business.

  Today is another gorgeous day in paradise. It’s hot, but the breeze from the ocean makes it bearable.

  Where we are going, however, might be different. The options for rescue are slim.

  I didn’t tell her that, but it’s the truth. I can’t imagine my men are still alive, and if her father was behind this, he wouldn’t know where to look.

  It’s not good.

  Without another water source, I estimate we will run out of what we have in three days.

  By then, even with rationing, we will already be severally dehydrated.

  I know most of these islands. They’re close together. It might be worth trying our luck in the open seas.

  The first thing we need to do is see what else is here.

  From a few feet away, I can hear Phoenix cursing.

  Not happy at all about the fact that she has to pop a squat behind a tree.

  But at least I’m giving her privacy.

  After a long string of swear words, she steps back into the clearing of the beach.

  “Here.” I throw her a container of toothpaste that was in the pack. “You still have water?”

  “Yes.”

  “What crawled up your ass?” I ask as I hear her gargling and swishing toothpaste in her mouth.

  After she spits, she wipes her mouth with her hand and then walks back over to me to hand it back.

  “Other than the fact that we will probably die here?”

  “We won’t die here.”

  “How do you know?” she asks, stepping away from me and walking to the pack.

  She moves to a kneeling position, but I can’t see what she’s looking at.

  “I just do. Listen, I won’t sugarcoat it. It’s bad. We have two choices. We can wait here and see if anyone comes. Or …”

  “Or what?” Her eyes are wide. Large and blue like the ocean backdrop behind her.

  “Or we can chance it.”

  “What does that even mean?”

  I lift my hand and point at the raft. “We can take it out and see if we can find help.”

  Her mouth opens and shuts, probably trying to figure out a question to ask.

  “The problem with that is, I’m not sure it’s worth the risk.”

  “Either way, there is a chance we will die.”

  I think about how to respond to her comment. My jaw tightens as different things to say play in my head. “Yes, but before we can decide, we need to know what we are dealing with. The island might not be a death trap. The sea might not be one either.”

  “Do you think anyone is looking for us?”

  “Yes. But depending on the supplies on this island, we might not last long enough to find us. There are hundreds of islands in the vicinity.”

  “What would we have to do if we left?”

  “We would have to gather supplies, food, and water. And then I guess we have to hope.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  Without realizing, I’ve begun to pace. I take a deep breath and then blow it out. I turn to face her, our eyes locking.

  “I suggest that we search the island for food sources and a water source and collect everything we can find. We give it a few days, and then if no one comes, we chance it.”

  Her brow furrows. “We’ll die if we leave,” she whispers, more to herself then to me.

  “Maybe.”

  “We’ll die if we stay.”

  “Maybe.”

  She nods, resigned to the fact that, in both cases, we are living on borrowed time.

  “Are you ready?” I ask, needing to change the topic.

  “Yep. Lead the way.”

  I reach into my pocket and pull out a folding knife. “Here.” I hand it to her.

  “Aren’t you scared I might stab you with that?”

  “No.”

  “Why not? Maybe I want you dead.” She smiles coolly at me.

  “That might be so, but I’m your best chance at survival. Kill me now, and you might as well slit your wrists right after.”

  She stands there quietly for a moment and then moves farther into the brush. “Are you coming?”

  I walk after her. She stops a few steps in, gesturing her hands in front of her. “Lead the way.” I do.

  Together, we walk into the unknown. We will go farther than I have in the past. I have a gun, my knife, and enough food for a day trip. I mark the trees as we walk, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs back to the beach if need be. Hopefully, we’ll be back before dark, but just in case, I packed the flashlight as well. The palm trees near the beach didn’t have coconuts, but a little farther inland, they might. This is a tropical island, after all, so I’m sure I’ll find fruit. We walk for some time on the trek, and I stop every so often to check for food.

  Unfortunately, everything I have found thus far is inedible.

  Which only means we have to go deeper into the island.

  Who knows what that will bring.

  23

  Phoenix

  With each step we take, the trees get thicker and thicker. Branches snap at my skin, cutting into the flesh, but I don’t allow them to stop my moves.

  Even with a minor gash forming on my right arm and a slow trickle of blood escaping, I press on. I have no intention of allowing Alaric to think I can’t keep up.

  As I huff and puff to keep his pace, I can feel the strain burning in my limbs. We walk for what seems like hours. He’s ahead of me, pushing the vegetation back to make a path. I can’t even imagine how cut up he must be.

  If he is, i
t doesn’t show.

  A part of me expected that this being a deserted island would be a lie, but this walk is proving otherwise.

  “Need to take a break?” Alaric asks from ahead of me.

  “Nope. I’m good.”

  I’m not good. I’m far from it. Though that thought will never be spoken aloud.

  I’d rather die than tell him.

  Nothing of value is found during our whole walk. Sure, there are trees, and lots of bugs too, but where is the fruit?

  Animals.

  Anything.

  “Thank fuck,” I hear him say, but I have no idea what he’s talking about.

  I push through the branch he holds back, and I see what has him excited.

  There in front of us, in the distance, is a large waterfall and clearing and lake. It’s straight out of a movie like The Blue Lagoon.

  They don’t die in that one. They lived there for years.

  As soon as that thought pops in my head, I groan. Yes, they lived there for years, but would I really want to live on the island for that long with him?

  As if the wool has been pulled from my eyes, I suddenly realize how grimy I feel. The water looks so refreshing, and I just want to jump in. I could. But then my clothes would get wet. As if he could hear my inner rambling, he turns to me. His face is sun-kissed. I hadn’t noticed it before, but during his walk yesterday, he must’ve gotten more sun than I thought.

  “We should go in. Wash off.”

  “I—”

  “I won’t watch you if you want to get undressed.”

  I can feel the heat rising to my face.

  “Um. Okay.”

  Normally, I’m no blushing schoolgirl, but for some reason, the idea of being naked with this man has my cheeks on fire.

  “Turn around,” I say, and when he does, I remove my T-shirt and leggings. I don’t have a towel, so I have to put them back on while I’m still wet, but at least I’ll feel clean.

  Once my clothes are off, I make my way into the water. I’m not sure how deep it is, so I carefully walk in. When the water finally covers my breasts, I turn around. Alaric is still not looking, and I’m thankful for that.