Twisted Fate: A Fated Crossing Novel (Fated Crossing Series Book 2)

Twisted Fate A Fated Crossing Novel Michelle Rose Twisted Fate: A Fated Crossing Novel Copyright © 2023 by Michelle Rose All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. ISBN (e-book) 979-8-9867164-2-8 Publisher AuthorMichelleRose United States of America Cover design by Franziska Stern at Coverdungeonrabbit Design Edited by Caroline Acebo Proofread by Jennifer Safrey Formatted by Amy Kessler at Imagine Ink Designs To obtain permission to use portions of the text, please contact the author at: [email protected] To Tyler, Morgan, and Eloise. I love you until the sun and moon no longer rise. Now and always. Content Warning Please be aware that this novel contains scenes or themes of violence, death, and sexually explicit acts. Pronunciation Guide Isiah eh-SIGH-yah Niethal NEE-thuhl Reagan RAY-ghun Mikal MY-kul Thom TOM Mathan MATH-an Sheamus SHAY-mus Atarric AT-‘tar-ik Eoghan OH-un Niamh NEE-uv Galadas guh-LAD-us Callum KAL-um Darkones DARK-ones Table of Contents CONTENT WARNING PRONUNCIATION GUIDE PROLOGUE CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 32 CHAPTER 33 CHAPTER 34 CHAPTER 35 CHAPTER 36 CHAPTER 37 CHAPTER 38 CHAPTER 39 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR PROLOGUE ALESSANDRA Anaeris, Capital of Esmarae 1,000 years ago “W hat have you done?” Although Gabriel’s voice is quiet, his accusation echoes off the room’s cavernous marble walls, filling my already troubled mind with guilt. “I know.” The words whisper across my lips as I lean back on the throne, my arms crossed over my stomach. “Alessandra!” “I know!” I snap and meet Gabriel’s unrelenting stare. Silence stretches between us. What else could I have done? What choice did I have? Niethal does not believe the fabric of our world is weakened by the fighting between humans and fae. He will stop at nothing to claim fae rule over those he deems lesser. If we do nothing, it won’t only be the humans who suffer. It will end every territory on the continent: Daminae, Liethe, Culhan, Tyrone, and even Niethal’s precious Selen. Gabriel holds my gaze for a moment longer before pacing the floor at the foot of the dais. “There must be another way.” “There isn’t.” He halts and gapes at me. “So you’ve doomed Esmarae and the future of our house by offering Niethal a marriage. You know exactly what he wants, and you have given it to him on a silver platter. What were you thinking?” I rise and stalk down the five dais steps to stand before him, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I was thinking a tear in our world was far worse than a marriage. And as no eligible female heir exists, the bargain seemed safe.” Gabriel continues to stare, mouth agape. “Do you think I would hand the bloodstone over to Niethal? Give him the very relic that would create a tear?” When Gabriel doesn’t respond, I let out a huff. “I have no intention of giving him Anaeris or the marriage he seeks.” “And how do you intend to get out of the bargain?” Gabriel asks as he rakes his fingers through his dark-brown hair, tugging at the ends in frustration. “You know as well as I do that the only way out is death.” His blue eyes snap to mine. “What are you planning?” A heaviness settles on my chest that robs me of breath. “The only thing I can do.” Lifting the hem of my golden gown, I trudge back to the throne and sit, meticulously smoothing the skirt of my dress until each wrinkle is erased. Anything to delay telling him the truth. “Prevent this war from happening. I’ve spoken with Atarric, and he agrees. If the aggression against humans continues, our world’s weakened magical fabric will tear, opening a portal to who knows where. We cannot allow that to happen. So, I found a way to make sure it never does.” Gabriel strides up the dais and kneels before me, grasping my hands. “You intend to end your side of the bargain?” It’s an effort not to flinch as the words leave his mouth. But I need to stay calm. If Gabriel senses any doubt, this will only become that much harder. His grip tightens. “I won’t let you do that.” I stare down at our entwined fingers, then at his face. My eyes narrow. “Let? You do not let me do anything. Do you think I want to do this?” I pry my hands out of his viselike grip. “The only thing I want is to ensure our people survive and our world stays whole. If that means ending my life, I will gladly do it.” His pained expression nearly destroys my resolve. Gabriel has been by my side for four hundred years, and every moment, he has loved me and I him. The thought of leaving him so soon… I inhale, pushing the emotions down. “I will use the bloodstone to create borders surrounding the five territories, and when I do, I’ll hide Anaeris, make it as if it no longer exists. Then the fae and humans will no longer war over their respective territories. The separation will fix the balance. Niethal and the others can blame the city’s loss on the fighting. Let them believe the humans razed the city. Anaeris will be forever lost to the fae, and with it, the relics inside.” Gabriel retakes my hand and twines our fingers, holding on as if I might slip away. “How would you manage that? The amount of magic it would take…not even with the bloodstone