From Fire

Lacey Moreno From Fire Copyright © 2023 by Lacey Moreno All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. Lacey Moreno asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. Lacey Moreno has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book. First edition This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy Find out more at reedsy.com This book is for those with filthy minds and magick hearts. I love y’all. Contents Acknowledgement The Lady of the Lake Series Nimuë Nimuë Nimuë Yves Nimuë Merlin Yves Nimuë Yves Nimuë Nimuë Yves Nimuë Nimuë Yves Nimuë Yves Nimuë Arthur Merlin Nimuë Nimuë Arbor Nimuë Arbor Nimuë Nimuë Arbor Nimuë Arbor Nimuë Yves Nimuë Yves Merlin Arbor Nimuë Merlin Nimuë Nimuë Yves Merlin Nimuë Arthur Nimuë Arbor Nimuë Merlin Yves Nimuë Nimuë Yves Nimuë Merlin Nimuë Arbor Nimuë Lancelot Arthur Lancelot Arthur Lancelot Merlin Arthur Nimuë Acknowledgement My editor is a true star. I couldn’t have put this book out in the world without her support and encouragement. Thank you forever! xxx The Lady of the Lake Series Book 1 - From Fire -2023Book 2 - From Stone - 2023Book 3 - From Air - 2023Book 4 - From Water - 2023 All of these books are for ages 18+ and contain an endless list of trigger warnings. This includes blood, death, threat, graphic sexual content, rape, murder, and much more. Nimuë I can hear them as soon as I duck to walk through the door. When I was younger, I wondered what was going on under my floorboards. The creaks, the moans, the screams. I could hear my mom’s demanding tones but never understood her words. It’s the same thing today. My father is out fishing on the lake. Sweeping the water with nets on a boat with three other men. They check traps and weirs and hope for abundance. Father has never heard the sounds my mother makes with her men. The raw screeching and the cackling. I’m old enough now to understand, to see the men coming and going and to know it’s much like the rutting pigs outside. In recent years, I’ve asked about them. Said I know what’s what, but she denies it, of course. She says it’s all for me, her magical darling princess, Nimuë. But I don’t have any magic now, do I? I’m not a damn princess either. She laces life with lies and dreams to make everything seem a little brighter in this dank little house. It worked on me when I was a child. Not so much anymore. As long as I can remember, my mom has told me my destiny is to have more power than any man and that I will have sway with kings and will control the destiny of countries. I’ll fly on the beating wings of dragons, travel far and wide to gain this power, and be surrounded by those who would do anything for me. Well, so far, I’ve never seen a dragon, and I’m as far from kings and kingdoms as it gets. We live near a lake in the woods. The nearest kingdom is days away on horseback, so I’m told. I’ve never been further than one village over, and even that’s a rare journey. All my life I’ve lived in the box I was born in, and I’m sure my destiny is to die here too. The fire crackles and pops to my left, but a shiver still runs the length of my body because a chill lingers. My fingers trail along the wooden cabinets and over the metal latches on them before a loud crash makes me recoil. It came from under my feet. I make for the door to the lower floor, even though I know it’ll be locked. She always locks it. I assume it’s in case my father is home early. It’s been twenty years—my whole life—and, to my knowledge, she hasn’t been caught yet. “Mom?” My voice is tentative and thin. “Mom?” This time it’s a little louder. She doesn’t reply, but as I press my ear to the cool, damp wood of the door, I can hear her heavy breathing then the desperate tone of longing in her voice. As though she’s encouraging whatever just happened to continue, to progress. I exhale as I turn from the door and make my way toward the kitchen. I’ve been out all morning collecting wood, feeding animals, and now I only want to snatch some cheese and bread to relax. No sooner is my hand on the wax wrapping of the cheese than the front door is almost thrown off its hinges, and my father and Joe fly through the door. A crimson stream pours from Joe’s face. He coughs and splutters thick globs of blood. “Get your mother. Joe slipped and hit his face on the edge of the boat. Only God knows how it’s this