The Inner Self: The Prophecy

by Raqurra Ishmar

  “Ren, we’re sorry,” Caylen says quickly. “We messed up. We should’ve told you everything from the beginning, but we couldn't.”

  “And why is that?” I angrily ask.

  “Because our father’s life is on the line. We didn’t have any other choice,” Titus interjects.

  “What do you mean?” They both look at each other, as if they’re trying to decide how much they want to tell me. “No, you don’t get to do that anymore. What do you mean?”

  “Can I say, that, um,” Caylen stammers.

  “He’s trying to tell you that we love you,” Titus cuts in again.

  “You, huh?”

  “Don’t believe them. This could be a trick,” Sheya says.

  “Tell that to my heart.”

  “I’m trying to tell it to your thick ass head,” they snap.

  “We love you,” Caylen says. “And we don’t deserve for you to feel anything back. We haven’t been honest about a lot of things, so I won’t hold it against you if you don’t believe us now, but please hear us out.” His eyes plead with me to listen to them. My heart is racing and the sincerity in both of their eyes convince me to go with them.

  We walk off of the main road until we’re behind some homes. The noise is greatly reduced back here, and we have a lot more privacy. Caylen grabs my face and slams his lips against mine. I would have enjoyed the moment a little more, but Sheya was calling me all kinds of bitches in my head, and I can feel the beginning signs of a migraine. I back away from him, chest heaving with the amount of energy it took to keep Sheya from flaying him alive.

  “You wanted to talk, so talk,” I finally say.

  “I will not speak for my brother,” Titus says, steel eyes staring into my reincarnated soul. “But I love you, Renee. Your fire. Your big heart. Your need to defend us against the ignorance of this world.” He steps closer to me, but not daring to lift his hands to touch me. I almost wished that he did. “We bonded. Not fully, but it’s the beginning stages. The Ancestors would not have allowed that if they did not want it so. We also need to both care deeply for one another for the bond to form. You may not love me, Renee. But I am willing to work hard enough to earn the right to be called your mate.”

  Yeah, so I’m openly crying at this point. But who could blame a girl? Shit like this doesn’t happen outside of books and movies. He leans down and kisses me lightly on my lips before stepping away. I lean a little into thin air, wanting to prolong the tender moment. I don’t have to wait too long, because Caylen is standing in the recently vacated spot.

  “Ren… I’m a coward. I’ve tried so hard to stand up against my brother, but maybe I didn’t try hard enough. I may have failed then, but I won’t fail in telling you everything now. Starting with how much I need you, Renee.” He takes a deep breath and his blue eyes fill with emotions and something that looks suspiciously like tears. “I love you. I love your smile. Your laugh. The fire in your eyes when we do something to piss you off. You’re beyond powerful and it hasn’t changed you. You’ve been the same down to Earth girl we met… well, on Earth. I wanted to bond with you, more than I’ve ever wanted anything. I love you,” he professes. I don’t wait for him to kiss me. I throw my arms around his neck and press my lips firmly against his.

  “You have to be fucking kidding me! Did you not hear the part where he said he had to stand up to his brother? Shouldn’t we know against what?”

  I break away from the kiss, thankful for Sheya. I almost got lost in his eyes again before I was able to fully pull away.

  “Um, yeah. So what is it you should have told me?” I inquire.

  “Positively nothing if they wished to see their father alive,” a deep voice says from the shadows. The boys stiffen and turn around, dropping into a defensive position. “Aht aht aht, stand down or I’ll kill him.”

  I look between the guys and I see a tall guy standing in front of us. He looks like he’s towering easily over six foot five and built as if he could fold Titus up like a napkin. He was dressed in an old fashioned blue tunic that shows off his impressive chest. The tight leather pants does something great to his legs as well. His brown skin glows under the lights and I can’t help but stare at his full lips. Until I look up into his piercing green eyes that are dancing with malice.

  The breath whooshes out of my lungs and I take an involuntary step back. Because without a doubt, this is the King. The King who doesn’t look a day over eighteen.

  And standing next to this murdering asshole is my dear “friend” Zavid.

  “I fucking told you!” Sheya nearly blows my brains out with their excitement of being right.

  “Doesn’t matter who was right. I don’t know much about the prophecy, but I’m sure this wasn’t part of it.”

  “We have to get out of here!”

  I wanted to listen to them. I really did. But I was kind of rooted in place by sheer terror.

  “Now, boys, come this way before I kill your brother and dear old dad,” the King sneers.

  Titus and Caylen glance back at me, indecision clearly written on their faces. I nod to them, letting them know it’s ok for them to go. They hesitate a moment more before walking to where the King stands.

  The guards I failed to notice earlier thrust a very skinny, pale man towards Zavid. Zavid grabs him before his face meets the ground, a snarl curling his upper lip. Titus and Caylen rush over to their dad, checking on him and lifting his unconscious form into their arms.

  “Go, before I decide to kill you,” the King spits out. The guys drag their dad back away from the King, and that’s when I knew exactly what it is they should have told me.

  “You all found me to turn me into the King,” I choke out as tears pour down my face. “You knew who I was the entire time? Why?”

  “Why?” The King barks out in laughter. “You want to know why? It’s because there was someone more important to them than some insolent little girl who doesn’t know how to stay dead. But I’ll rectify that soon enough.”

  “Now!” Sheya screams. I reach for them, getting ready to merge and kick his ass. Until I feel something cold clamp around my neck. Instantly, I feel as if a part of me died.

  “Sheya?! Sheya?! Sheya!!” I scream over and over in my head. “Sheya!” I grab for my neck, trying to pull the offensive collar. It’s done something to get rid of Sheya. I need to get them back! Hands fasten over my wrists and drag my arms behind my back. My body is in such a shock, I can’t even fight against them. It’s almost as if they cut off my arm when they shut Sheya away. “What have you done?” I sobbed to the King.

  “Stupid girl. You didn’t think I was going to let you have access to your power, did you? As long as you have that collar on, you’re rendered as useless as a damned Unblessed. Take her away!”

  I try to strain against my captors, but I don’t have the ability to care. I look over to my… no, not mine. I look over to the guys, and they do nothing. They simply stare at me as I get hauled off to my death. Titus and Caylen’s eyes look as pained as I felt when Sheya was snatched away. But it was Zavid’s eyes that held mine.

  My soul feels as empty as Zavid’s eyes as I desperately stare into them. Everything was a lie, and because I trusted the wrong people, I’ve lost a part of myself. And quite possibly, my life. If there’s no one but me that could save Relvaria, who will save me? It certainly won’t be him.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my amazing Beta readers: Nikki Walsh, Tikiera Lepre, Rachelle Gaddy, Jehan Campbell, Ariese Marshall, Nadia Jackson, Mohogany Baker, Amanda Salami, Peta Kaye McFarlane and James “Majestic Park” Patrick. I truly appreciate your different perspectives and feedback! And thank you to my beautiful cover model, Jazzmine Folston!

  Thank you, also, to my amazing readers! I’m beyond thankful for you giving me and my books a chance!

  About the Author

  Raqurra Ishmar is an emerging author of fictional tales. She enjoys curling up on the couch and binge watching Family Guy on an endless
loop while reading every book she can get her hands on. She loves talking all things book related, so feel free to reach out to her!