“I was the one who received the information about Rafe,” explained Penelope. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him since I got back. When I passed through Brandor I positioned at least a dozen spies all over the kingdom. I told Izadora about it when she came to see me because I thought I could help her understand why you don’t want to marry Tristan, and why you shouldn’t be forced to.”
I nodded. “Go on.”
Penelope wrung her hands. “What I didn’t know was that she would only tell you a part of the information and let you jump to conclusions.”
“What conclusions? Penelope, what are you saying? Izadora told me he was in Brandor and the Brandorians had a royal wedding at the Red Citadel, the palace of the Emir of Sanria, Katerina’s father. What other conclusion could there be?”
“Rafe was in Brandor,” said Penelope patiently, “that part is true, and there was a wedding.” She paused and looked me in the eye. “But not his.”
“What!” I stood up. Heads turned and I lowered my voice. “How can this be?”
“What Izadora failed to tell you was that the wedding in Brandor was Santino’s. Not Katerina’s and Rafe.”
My mouth fell open. I felt like I was being suffocated. I couldn’t breathe.
“Then why was Rafe going there if it wasn’t for Katerina?” I was so confused.
“Santino married your aunt, Serena Silverthorne.”
“What?” I shook my head. No! No! It couldn’t be possible.
She nodded. “Yes. Apparently when Santino was at Silverthorne Castle in Eldoren, negotiating with Rafe for his father the Emir, the Pirate Prince met and fell in love with your Aunt Serena. Rafe was escorting Serena and Erien to Brandor to make sure they reached it safely.”
“And Katerina?” I whispered, barely taking a breath.
“Rafe has rejected the Emir’s offer to wed Katerina.”
“But what about his kingdom?’ I asked. “He needs Santino’s army to take back his throne from the Blackwaters.”
“He knows that,” said Penelope, “but he has rejected the offer all the same. My informant also sent word that Prince Rafael has announced he will not marry until he regains his throne.”
I couldn’t breathe. How could my grandmother do this to me? She knew how much I loved Rafe, and she fed on my insecurities and let me believe he had accepted the Emir’s offer and gotten married. She knew that if I found out Rafe was not marrying Katerina, I would have waited for him. I would have never agreed to get engaged to Tristan, whatever my grandmother might say.
What had I done?
Izadora had tricked me, and I had fallen into her trap. She knew she couldn’t force me to do what she wanted anymore, so she made me believe she had my best interests at heart. Maybe she did believe this was best for me, but that didn’t make it right. She had not changed, she was still the cunning manipulator she always had been, and I fell for her act.
Tristan came up behind me. “May I have a dance with my betrothed?” he breathed into my ear, his breath warm on my bare shoulders.
I turned to face him and nodded, trying to force a smile when my heart was breaking in two. Poor Tristan deserved better than this; he deserved someone who would love him and no other. But that person wasn’t me, for I would always be in love with Rafe.
Tristan’s sapphire eyes sparkled as he smiled at me and took my hand. I plastered a smile on my face and followed him to the dance floor.
The musicians played a haunting melody as Tristan swept me up in his arms and twirled me round the dance floor. Onlookers smiled at us, probably thinking we were the happiest couple in the world. They would never know I was slowly building a wall around my heart and one day no one would be able to get through. I had been hurt enough, but no more.
As we danced I saw a figure in a black cloak standing at the far end of the hall near the great arched doors leading out to the garden. He was watching us intently, leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe.
The music stopped and people clapped. But I stood frozen on the dancefloor.
My breath hitched in my throat as the figure removed his hood and my hand flew to my mouth.
It couldn’t be!
Rafe! He was here. He had come back for me, like he said he would. But it was too late. I was already engaged to someone else.
Our eyes locked across the crowded hall and his lips curved up in a half smile. A smile that held all the promise of being the last one I would ever see. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, as I gazed at the devastatingly handsome figure of the Prince of Eldoren.
Rafe bowed, his dark gaze never leaving my face. I could see the hurt and betrayal in his eyes; eyes I could get lost in for a thousand years. He knew what had happened, he knew I had consented to marry Tristan.
My heart broke all over again as Prince Rafael Ravenswood turned on his heel, his obsidian cloak billowing around him like a dark shadow, and disappeared into the moonlit night.
Acknowledgments
I am so grateful to so many wonderful individuals for their support, help, and guidance throughout this whole process, without whom this book would have never reached its full potential.
To my family: my rock, none of this would be possible without you.
To my phenomenal assistant Kate Tilton, I would be completely lost without you. Thank you for your help and unwavering support.
To my amazing mentor Laura Zats and the wonderful team at Wise Ink Creative Publishing, especially Dara Beevas, Amy Quale, Patrick Maloney, and Roseanne Cheng, as always it has been great working with you. Thank you for believing in me and my books, and helping me to realize my dreams.
To my superb editor Amanda Rutter, for your keen insight, patience, and guidance, which have helped me improve my writing and create a book that is the best possible version of itself.
To my awesome cover designer Scarlett Rugers, for your magical touch in capturing the essence of the book and creating a spellbinding cover. And finally a big thank you to all my lovely readers and fans who have supported The Avalonia Chronicles from the very beginning. You are the reason I write.
And finally a big thank you to all my lovely readers and fans who have supported The Avalonia Chronicles from the very beginning. You are the reason I write.
About the Author
Farah Oomerbhoy is the international bestselling author of The Avalonia Chronicles. Her first book, The Last of the Firedrakes, was originally published on Wattpad where it gained over two million reads and a Watty Award. Since publication, her debut has gone on to win a silver medal in IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin Awards and the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, along with winning a finalist placement in the USA Best Book Awards.
Farah loves the fantastical and magical and often dreams of living in Narnia, Neverland, or the Enchanted Forest. With a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Mumbai, Farah spends her creative time crafting magical worlds for young adults. She lives with her family in Mumbai, India.
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