Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12)

by Bowles, April

  “How very lady of you, Adele.” Troy smiled.

  “Didn’t we already have this discussion?”

  “Yes, well, I think you only try to pretend not to be when deep down you can’t admit you really are.”

  “Oh, really? Well, if that’s how you feel, I guess, I’ll just have to prove it.” She turned around and whispered something in Zayden’s ear. His eyes got wide as she smiled and backed off, walking towards the door. Everyone was left sitting there, watching his reaction as Adele stopped at the door and turned. “Well?”

  Zayden was still sitting there for a moment as Adele left and he cleared his throat while standing up. “Well, we’re done here. Troy, put this back.” He slid the date book in front of him and started after Adele.

  “Sure, Zayden. I’ve got it.”

  Troy and I looked at each other and laughed.

  “What was that?” Dirk asked.

  “You figure it out.” I smiled. “She has to prove how unladylike she can be.”

  “Well.” Seth said, changing the subject fast when he looked at Troy. “What did you do at the wedding to draw attention to yourself?”

  There was a pause as Troy looked over at me and stood up, picking up the date book. “I’m not staying around for that conversation. I have things to do.”

  They watched him leave and all turned back to me at the same time.

  “You’re going to tell us though, right?” Bryce asked.

  “Let’s just say his mother showed up and leave it at that. The rest is history.”

  “Oh.”

  “Then what about you?” Seth asked.

  I laughed just thinking about it. “Nothing. I just shared a spicy dance with Ruby that involved me ripping half her dress off but it was all for fun. Everyone was watching.”

  “That does sound like fun.”

  Dirk slapped him. “I can’t talk about your mother around you, you can’t talk about mine.”

  “All right, boys.” I said as I got up. “It’s all settled. You can get out of here and tell the girls about the date. We’ll see you at dinner.”

  “Of course, father.”

  I nodded to them and we went our separate ways once in the main hall. I knew Zayden was busy so I’d just find Troy instead and we could start preparations for the coming weeks.

  Chapter 49

  Troy

  Three weeks went by as the planning for the wedding was well underway. Our wives sought to do most of it with seeking little help from us. I suppose I should have been thankful. I walked out onto my balcony once they took a trip into the city again and played around with my vision while I looked to the north. I’m glad I did because what I saw would change everything.

  Wyatt was riding this way with Blake riding at his side and a small company of Hintin soldiers trailing them.

  I needed to find Zayden and did so in the dining hall with Darius. “We have a problem.”

  “What is it?” Zayden asked.

  “It’s Wyatt. He’s coming this way.”

  “How long?” Darius asked.

  “Within the hour. He brought a small company with him along with his son.”

  “Where’s ours?” Zayden asked.

  “I don’t know. I think they went out with the rest of them.”

  “Then hopefully we can resolve this without them ever knowing they came. We wouldn’t want there to be any accidents.”

  I nodded and knew what he meant, remembering what Bryce said he’d do if Blake came. “So, we wait and when they arrive we need to finish it quick.”

  “Let’s just kill them.” Darius suggested.

  “No.” Zayden cut in. “This isn’t war.”

  “Close enough. You know why he’s coming.”

  “For Naomi.” I answered. “It has to be.”

  “And maybe for revenge against our sons.” Zayden said. “They didn’t pay the full price for their actions. He could still want it fulfilled.”

  “But we won’t let him have it.” Darius replied. “He’s come into our lands now, the rules have changed.”

  “And we’ll make it clear so he knows.” Zayden said.

  Darius and I smiled and almost couldn’t wait for it but we still had to.

  I kept my eye on their distance while we went on with the daily business and went to find Zayden again when they were close.

  “Zayden. They’re almost here.”

  “Good. Where’s Darius?”

  I shrugged. “Haven’t seen him.”

  “Okay. I’m sure he’ll meet us.”

  I nodded and headed down to the main hall with Zayden just in time.

  “What brings us to honor such a visit?” Zayden asked as Wyatt approached.

  “You know why I’ve come.”

  “Do I?”

  “Where are they?” Wyatt demanded in an angry tone.

  “You’ll get nothing you seek here. These aren’t your lands, their mine.”

  “And you know the laws. They must see to the consequences.”

  “But from my recollection they did not escape, they were set free and you know that once a prisoner is released, you no longer have hold over them for the actions which they were kept for. So, in order to take them back, you’d have to have solid evidence against them of another crime committed on your lands, which you don’t.”

  “Except for the kidnapping of the future Princess.”

  “You can’t prove that.” I said.

  “Who else? You’re son made it clear he wouldn’t leave her behind. His insatiable commitment to her was almost unbearable to watch. You should have raised him better.”

  I put my hand on my sword and took a step forward, ready to make him pay for even thinking that.

  “No.” Zayden said quietly. “Let me.” I calmed and took a step back as I let go. “If you do not have any physical evidence supporting your theory then I’m sorry to inform you that you’re not getting them. I will grant you safe passage back to the Silver Gates and from there you will get back on your ship and leave.”

  Wyatt just glared up at Zayden then a Hintin soldier walked in behind the King and leaned into his ear. Wyatt smiled to some news. “Very well. It would seem we won’t be leaving empty handed after all.”

  Just then, Cadence, Lana, Seth, Dirk and Bryce all came in but Naomi was not with them.

  “Father?” Cadence wondered.

  They rounded them and joined Zayden and I.

  “Ah, yes. I thought we’d run into you here.” Wyatt said.

  “We?”

  “Blake.” Bryce muttered.

  “Did you not see your brother on your way in? He should be here momentarily with our cargo.”

  “Naomi!” Bryce shouted when he saw Blake walk in, holding her hands behind her back.

  “Bryce.”

  He took a step forward but I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. “Hold him.” Dirk kept Bryce from going over there and I took a step forward. “You don’t have the right, Wyatt! She is not his property!”

  “It’s either her or them. That’s the arrangement that was made. We’re leaving with one or the other.”

  Dirk continued to hold back Bryce from moving towards Blake and Cadence approached Wyatt. “Father, stop this! Please, I’m begging you.”

  “And I know why you’re begging me.” Wyatt replied angrily. “Word has reached my ear of the upcoming wedding.”

  “Then you know you don’t have the right to take her.” Zayden said. “She has a foregoing engagement and is therefore considered claimed.”

  Wyatt paused then looked back at Blake for a moment and then to Cadence. His mind was clearly scheming and he slowly started to smile. “Very well. Take her.” He signaled to Blake to let her go and Naomi quickly went to Bryce and shielded herself with his arms but Wyatt took Cadence’s wrist and started to turn with her. “Come along, darling. We’re going home.”

  “What? Wait a minute.” Cadence said, stopping them. “This is my home.”

  “No, it’s
not. Your home is with us and that’s where you’ll be going.”

  “No!” Seth shouted. “Father, do something.”

  Zayden just stood in silence while Wyatt smiled. “He can’t because he knows that she is my right.”

  “You can’t take her!” Seth argued. “She’s already claimed to be wed!”

  “Not without the consent of her father, she’s not and I’m denying it.” Wyatt handed Cadence off to Blake and her hands were tied behind her back. “We have a different use for this one. She’ll provide an heir of pure blood to the throne and give back a sense of purity to the world.”

  Blake eased a wanting gesture through his lips while putting his hands on her body right in front of us.

  “You can’t do that!” Zayden said.

  “Show me a real reason why I can’t and then we shall discuss it. So, until then, good evening gentlemen.” He turned and walked out with Blake, holding Cadence and the soldiers following. Cadence looked back at Seth and had tears in her eyes as she was being forced forward.

  “Father! We have to do something!” Seth said as he took a step forward.

  Zayden grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back. “There’s nothing we can do. She is his daughter and he has rights to her over everyone. Those are the laws.”

  “But that’s not true! Where is Darius?! Why isn’t he here?!”

  Zayden looked back at me and we were both confused about why he would ask. “Why Darius?”

  “You know why?! He can stop this! He can save her!”

  Our wives rushed in frantically.

  “Zayden!” Adele shouted. “What’s going on?! Why is Wyatt taking Cadence?!”

  “We’re working to resolve it. Don’t worry.”

  “Where’s Darius?” Ruby asked.

  “Thank you!” Seth shouted. “That’s exactly what I’ve been saying!”

  “Why?” Adele asked.

  “What’s happening?” Darius came down the stairs when he saw everyone together and the conversation just got stranger.

  Seth rushed right over to him, his voice severely anxious. “You have to do something! You can save her!”

  “All right. Calm down. What’s going on?”

  “Wyatt came and took Cadence.” Zayden said.

  “Why?”

  “He doesn’t want her with Seth anymore and is giving her to Blake instead.”

  “What?”

  I understood that he was trying to get all the information he could but watching Seth fall apart like this was awful. “Darius, you have to go after her. You have to bring her back.”

  “We don’t even know if that’s true, Seth. It still may not be.” Darius said.

  “But you have to try. I won’t let her be taken from me like this. She’s going to be ruined by her own brother if you don’t do something.”

  “Can we all just take a breath and let the rest of us know what the fuck is going on?!” Dirk shouted over the voices.

  Darius sighed, readying himself to explain this to his son for the first time. “There’s a possibility that I’m Cadence’s father.”

  Everyone reacted verbally. “What?!”

  “It’s no possibility.” Ruby said. “It’s true.”

  “Wait a minute.” Dirk cut in. “How? She’s not that much younger than me.”

  Darius sighed again. “Your mother and I were apart for a couple of weeks when she was pregnant with you and I was with Meg during that time.”

  “Why am I just hearing about this?”

  “It’s not something we like to discuss but your mother believes—”

  “Because it’s true.”

  “—that Cadence is mine since their training.”

  “Then you can do something.”

  “We don’t even know if it’s true. Cadence has never shown traits of our strength and it couldn’t be tested when either of us are around because of her mimicking gift.”

  “But you can still try. Make her prove it in front of him. Even Wyatt would have to believe she’s not his.”

  “If he doesn’t know she has a gift already.” I said. “He might just use that as an excuse.”

  “We can’t just do nothing.” Dirk said. He was clearly siding with Seth on this and I agreed but there was still the possibility that it wasn’t true and it wouldn’t work.

  “Okay. Say we go all the way there and I’m not her father or he just won’t believe, then what?”

  “We get him to believe it.” Zayden said. “We can bring Meg with us. She’s convinced him before. I’ve seen it.”

  “So, you want him to know that we’re responsible for taking Meg in the first place?”

  “It shouldn’t matter because he got her back and he got his son. No harm done. It’s worth trying.”

  “Damn right it is.” Seth replied. “What are we standing around for?”

  “We need a better plan than this.” Darius said. “How are we going to get Meg? How are we going to get all the way to Hintus without being stopped? We can’t just jump into it.”

  “Jinx.” Lana said, looking at Seth.

  He smiled.

  “Who’s Jinx?” Ruby asked.

  “Lana, call Honey and send him the word.” Seth said, completely ignoring Ruby’s question. “See how fast he can make it to the Silver Gates.”

  “If he’s not there already.” Lana smiled and left.

  “What exactly is your plan of action?” Zayden asked.

  “We take Jinx’s ship to Hintus. It should take us only three days at sea.”

  “And getting her mother?” Darius asked. “Did you calculate that into your plan?”

  “Yes. I can get it done quickly. I leave to get her now. The rest of you wait until morning then head north. I’ll meet you there.”

  Zayden paused while he looked at the rest of us. We nodded. “Good. Get going and Seth?” He stopped before he would have ran off. “Pace yourself. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He nodded, kissed his mother and was gone.

  “It’s done.” Lana said. “We should hear back soon.”

  “Good.” Zayden replied. “Seth went to get Meg. We’ll head out to the Silver Gates in the morning and hopefully your friend is there.”

  “Okay. Anything else?”

  “Yes, actually. There’s one more thing.” Dirk said. “You two need to stay here this time.”

  “What?” Lana and Naomi shouted.

  “No, we’re coming with you.” Lana said.

  “He’s right.” Bryce cut in. “We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

  “Don’t you dare say it’s too dangerous.” Naomi said. “Because we can handle it.”

  Bryce sighed and took her hand. “We know you can but I’m asking you to stay. Please. I don’t want you anywhere near Blake again. I’m not going to risk losing you.”

  “So, we just risk losing you, is that it?” Lana asked.

  “It won’t be like that.” Dirk said. “Our fathers are coming too and if we have to we have our gifts on our side.”

  “All right.” Naomi said. “We’ll stay but bring her home safely.”

  “Don’t worry about that. We will.”

  “Good.” Lana said. “But we’re at least riding with you to the ship.”

  “Fair enough.” Dirk smiled as he put his arm around her and she did the same.

  This plan had to work. When we returned, we had to have Cadence with us or no one would ever be the same.

  Chapter 50

  Zayden

  We were all mentally prepared by the next morning, having our last meal before we were to leave and Dirk came in with Honey on his arm.

  “Where is he?” Naomi asked.

  “He’s already in the north. He says he’s been there for a few short hours before receiving the message.”

  “Well, that was perfect timing.” Lana smiled. “What happens now?”

  “We leave.” I answered as I stood up first. “Get ready quick. We meet outside in ten minutes.”
>
  Everyone nodded as they all got up as well and left the dining hall. I went up to my room and Adele came in shortly after and approached the closet door. “So, you’re really going?”

  I looked at her while changing my clothes. “I have to. I need to be there to make sure Cadence comes back with us and nothing else goes wrong.”

  “I know. I just didn’t think you were ready to leave the city this soon after the raid.”

  I paused and sighed just thinking about it. “I wish I didn’t have to but I know you’ll be here in case anything happens and if there were something to happen, I want you to—”

  “I know.” Adele smiled as she put her left pointer finger to my mouth. “Be safe.”

  “Promise?”

  “I always am. I won’t let anything happen. Now, finish getting ready so you can meet the others outside.”

  “Love.” I called, taking her hand as she started to turn away.

  “Please don’t, Zayden. You’ll be back. You always come back. I’m not worried.”

  I smiled as I let her go and finished getting ready. I soon met with the others outside as they had all the horses prepared and ready to go on my arrival.

  “We’re ready, Zayden.” Darius said.

  “Good. We better go.” They all nodded and I turned to Adele before getting on my horse. “Remember what I told you.”

  She smiled and touched my face. “I know. I will. Just go.” She kissed me and I turned to get up on my horse. “I’ll be waiting for you right here.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Think you can keep everything under control while I’m gone?”

  Adele smiled and hit my leg. “Just get out of here. I’ll be fine.”

  I knew she would be. I just wanted to see that smile again. The others all gathered behind me and we set out north.

  Chapter 51

  Cadence

  I knew they would come after me. I know Seth would save me. I just didn’t know when. For now, I was locked away on this ship with only little light to see with but I was scared. Hintin men scared me even if they were family. They had no respect for women and I was finding myself in the position of a victim in their presence.