The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a soft, red light over the fields, bathing the crops in a warm glow. I leaned on my hoe, watching the breeze ripple through the wheat like waves across a still pond. The air was rich with the smell of freshly turned soil and the faint sweetness of hay, while the lazy hum of insects created a soothing rhythm. For a moment, I could almost convince myself this was enough—this simple life of toil and quiet.
But there was always something beneath the surface. A weight that never left. Something in me that knew better.
I wiped the sweat from my brow, trying to shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at me for weeks now. Since I arrived at the farm, I’d carried a sense of displacement. Not because of the people—they were kind—but because of the burden I’d brought with me. The past. The prophecy. The magic I barely understood, let alone controlled. It was all too much, and something was coming. I could feel it, deep in my bones, but I couldn’t see what.
I glanced toward the barn, where Reece was working alongside Sophia. Her laughter floated across the breeze, light and carefree, contrasting with the growing tension inside me. For all the hard work and struggle, she was happy here. There was a better life somewhere beyond this—a life without the Arcana’s iron grip—but they didn’t know that. Not yet.
The sound of hooves on the dirt road broke through my thoughts. I straightened, turning toward the noise, and tensed as a group of riders emerged from the treeline. Their dark cloaks billowed behind them, catching the evening wind like an oppressive blanket, trailing shadows wherever they went.
"They’re early," Reece muttered, appearing at my side, his face darkened with a frown. "They usually don’t come till later in the season."
"How bad is it?" I asked, keeping my voice low. We both watched the enforcers ride closer, their horses' hooves kicking up dust that shimmered in the fading light.
Reece sighed, shaking his head. "Worse every year. I told Pa we’d need to start plowing the northern fields just to keep up with the increasing demands. They don’t care about our struggle—they just come, take what they want, and it’s never enough."
My stomach twisted as his words settled in. I didn’t know all the details of the Ministry’s demands, but I knew enough. This farm was everything to Reece, Ross, and Sophia, and those enforcers—they were vultures, preying on hard-earned labor, taking more than they deserved and leaving nothing but scraps in return. It wasn’t just people with magic they persecuted, it was everyone.
I nodded, though the knot in my gut tightened. The Ministry held this land in a stranglehold, their power reaching every corner, every crop. And something about this visit felt off. Their leader was a tall, heavy-set man, his cold eyes sweeping the farm like a predator. He rode with the confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times. His black-gloved hands gripped the reins with an air of cruelty, and the Ministry emblem on his chest gleamed like a badge of dominance, and a warning, don’t mess with me.
"I don’t like the look of him," I muttered, my instincts prickling.
"You shouldn’t," Reece replied, his tone tense. "That’s Grayden. He’s been here before, always pushing harder. Last time, he made things really difficult for us. If left alone, he’d take more than just produce."
I looked over at Reece, and for the first time, we shared an unspoken understanding. Life wasn’t always fair. It was harsh, and some days it felt like we were just hanging on, working against a tide that could sweep us away at any moment.
We both turned our eyes toward the farmhouse. Leaving Ross on her own to deal with Grayden and his men wasn’t an option. Fetching Jacob would take too long.
Without a word, we started toward the farmhouse at speed, our feet crunching the dry earth beneath us.
By the time we reached the farmhouse, Grayden was already off his horse, looming over Ross with a presence that made my stomach twist. He was tall, broad, and radiated a twisted authority that turned the air thick with unease. His posture was relaxed, too relaxed—like a predator toying with its prey. He leaned in close, speaking low, his voice dripping with menace.
"What do you have for me, girl?" Grayden’s eyes roamed over Ross with a lecherous hunger that made my skin crawl. He wasn’t here just for the tax. The way he towered over her, every movement of his body calculated to intimidate, sent a clear message: he enjoyed making people feel small, especially women like Ross. She stood there, normally so strong, but now she fumbled with her apron, her composure cracking under his leering glare.
Reece stiffened beside me, his body clenched. I could feel the heat of his anger simmering just beneath the surface, but he didn’t move. I’d seen men like Grayden before—vultures in human skin, who preyed on the weak and relished the power they wielded. In my old life, I’d watched them face justice, seen them fall when their arrogance caught up to them. I wasn’t about to let someone like him lord over us.
I stepped forward, the scent of hay and smoke mingling in the breeze. Grayden’s eyes flicked toward me, his sneer deepening. Ross’s shoulders eased slightly as I drew his attention away from her, but I could still see the unease lingering in her eyes.
"Payment Isn't due until the end of the season," I said, keeping my voice level, though anger was already gnawing at the edges of my composure. "Come back then."
Grayden’s gaze sharpened, his cold, calculating eyes narrowing. For a moment, I saw surprise flicker across his face, like he hadn’t expected anyone to challenge him. But that flicker quickly turned to something darker—anger. His lips twisted into a cruel smile, and he turned to face me fully, his interest in Ross evaporating as though she were nothing more than an afterthought.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Grayden’s voice dripped with scorn as he stepped closer, his boots grinding against the gravel with deliberate weight. "You think you can tell me how this works? Boy, you’ve got no idea what you’re getting into."
I held my ground, feeling Reece’s eyes on me, but I didn’t waver. This wasn’t just about the farm. It wasn’t just about the taxes. This was about everything—the world we lived in, the men who thought they could take whatever they wanted, and the fire I’d been trying to keep buried for so long. Something bigger was brewing inside me, and I could feel it rising to the surface.
Grayden leaned in, his breath hot and rancid, making my skin crawl as he sneered down at me. "You think you’re tough, don’t you? Think you’re special?" His eyes flicked down to my hands, calloused from farm work, steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Boys like you… always so eager to stand up. Always so ready to fall."
I said nothing, the anger roiling in my gut. Like a boulder let loose down a hill. I could feel the power, the light weaving just beneath the surface, urging me to act. But I kept it down, knowing what would happen if I let it loose.
Grayden misread my silence as fear, a mistake that widened his twisted grin. He took another step forward, close enough that I could see the cruel satisfaction in his eyes. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the leather creaking beneath his fingers, as if daring me to make a move.
"Let me tell you something," he whispered, his voice venomous. "Boys like you end up in the dirt. They think they can change things—think they’re going to grow up and make a difference. But men like that don’t exist, boy. They’re put down long before they ever get the chance."
Before I could react, his fist came up, fast and brutal, slamming into my gut with a force that knocked the wind from me.
His fist hit like a hammer, and I doubled over, gasping for air. Pain radiated through my body, sharp and unrelenting, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing me cry out. The world spun, a ringing in my ears as I tried to stay on my feet.
I heard Sophia’s gasp, saw Reece step forward, his face twisted in rage, but the enforcer’s men were on him in an instant, holding him back. One of them growled, “Stay out of it, or you’ll be next,” his voice low and threatening.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Grayden’s hand shot out, grabbing my collar. He yanked me up, dragging me like I was nothing more than a sack of grain. His breath was hot against my face as he leaned in, his expression twisted into a sneer of pure malice. “You think you’re something special, boy?” His voice dripped with disdain. “Think you can talk to me like that?”
His fist slammed into my jaw before I could respond, the impact sending stars exploding across my vision. My head snapped to the side, and I tasted blood—metallic and sharp—filling my mouth. The pain was blinding, shooting through my skull like lightning, but I forced myself to stay upright.
Focus. Don’t let him see you break.
Grayden didn’t stop. He shoved me backward, my legs giving out as I hit the ground hard. My vision blurred, the dirt beneath me swirling as I tried to get my bearings, but Grayden was already on top of me, his boot driving into my ribs with a sickening crunch. I bit down on my lip, stifling a cry of pain.
I could use it, the thought pushed through the haze of agony. The light weaving hummed just beneath the surface, begging to be unleashed. I could end this right now. One flash of power, and Grayden would be on the ground, just like that. I could feel it surging inside me, burning to be released.
But no—no, I couldn’t. If I used it now, if I let the magic go, it wouldn’t just be Grayden who paid the price. It would be Reece, Sophia, Ged… the whole farm. The Ministry would come down on us harder than ever before. They’d take everyone. I couldn’t risk that. I wouldn’t risk that.
Grayden kicked me again, the heel of his boot connecting with my ribs, and I felt something crack. The air was knocked from my lungs, a sharp, jagged pain shooting through my chest, but I refused to scream. I forced myself to breathe, each shallow breath a struggle as fire burned through my body.
He grabbed me by the collar again, hauling me to my knees. My vision swam, the edges of the world going dark, but I held on. Through the haze of pain, I saw Reece struggling against the enforcers holding him back, his face contorted in helpless fury. Ross was pale, her hands trembling as she stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with fear.
At least they’re not touching her.
That was the one comfort I clung to as Grayden beat me down. He had forgotten about Ross, all his attention now focused on me. I was taking it for her, for all of them. As long as he was hitting me, they were safe. I could endure this. I would endure this.
“You’re just a worthless farm boy,” Grayden snarled, his fist connecting with my face again, splitting my lip. “You think you can stand up to men like me? To the Ministry? You’re nothing!” He punctuated each word with a blow, his fists raining down on me as I curled in on myself, trying to protect my head from the worst of it.
Each punch felt like fire ripping through my flesh. My ribs ached, my face throbbed, my entire body felt like one massive bruise, but I didn’t cry out. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Grayden pulled me up again, his hand fisting in my shirt. His face twisted with rage, spittle flying from his mouth as he leaned in close, his breath sour. “This is what happens when you think you can talk back to the Ministry. You think you can stand against me? You think you can change anything? You’ll die here in the dirt, just like the rest of them.”
My vision blurred again, black spots dancing in front of my eyes, but I forced myself to stay conscious. I couldn’t go down yet. Not yet.
Just as Grayden’s fist pulled back for another strike, a voice cut through the chaos—sharp and commanding.
“That’s enough.”
I blinked, the haze of pain slowly lifting as I turned my head. Through the blurred edges of my vision, I saw Jacob riding toward us, his armor gleaming in the evening light, and a group of soldiers trailing behind him. His expression was calm, but there was a hard edge in his eyes, a cold steel that brooked no argument as he dismounted and strode toward Grayden.
Jacob moved with purpose, his boots hitting the ground with a solid thud as he approached, his gaze locked onto Grayden. The enforcers paused, their smug expressions faltering as they took in the sight of the Captain of the King’s Guard and his men. The weight of Jacob’s authority seemed to hang in the air like a heavy fog, pressing down on the enforcers.
Grayden hesitated, his fist still clenched, poised to strike, but something in Jacob’s demeanor made him pause. There was no fear in Jacob’s eyes, only a calm certainty that sent a ripple of unease through the men.
“I said, that’s enough,” Jacob repeated, his voice low and even, but carrying the kind of authority that demanded obedience.
I let out a shaky breath, my body trembling from the pain, but a small flicker of relief sparked inside me. Jacob was here.
The enforcer released his grip on me with a hard shove, and I stumbled back, barely keeping my feet. My whole body screamed in pain, every breath burning through my chest like fire. Blood dripped from my split lip, the taste of iron thick in my mouth, but I forced myself to stay upright, refusing to give Grayden the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.
He sneered, wiping his hands as if he’d dirtied them by touching me. “Captain,” he said, his voice slithering with false respect as Jacob approached. “Didn’t know you were back in town.”
I could barely focus, my vision swimming from the beating. The ground beneath me felt unsteady, the world tilting as I tried to blink away the fog clouding my mind. The pain was sharper, more raw, in this younger body—fit and healthy as it was, it hadn't yet hardened to the kind of punishment I once could have shrugged off. I was used to feeling the strength of decades of experience in my muscles, but now... now it felt like I was relearning what it meant to endure, and every hit landed harder than it should.
Jacob’s voice cut through the haze like a sharp blade, steady and commanding. “Looks like you’ve caused enough trouble for one day,” he said, his tone calm, though his eyes were hard as stone. “Best you leave before it gets worse.”
The enforcer hesitated, his hand lingering near the hilt of his sword as he glanced between Jacob and me. For a moment, I thought he might push further, but something in Jacob’s stance—the way he carried himself with that quiet, lethal authority—made Grayden think twice. He wasn’t stupid. He knew when he was outmatched.
With a reluctant nod, he signaled to his men, who backed away, muttering curses under their breath. They mounted their horses, the sound of leather saddles creaking and hooves clattering against the dirt road echoing in the fading light.
Grayden shot me a final, venomous glare, his voice low and full of menace. “This isn’t over. We’ll be back.”
I watched through blurred vision as they rode off, the pounding in my skull making it hard to focus. My whole body throbbed, the pain radiating through every muscle, every bone. The world felt like it was spinning too fast, and I had to steady myself against the farmhouse wall, my legs barely able to hold me up.
Jacob was beside me in a moment, his brow furrowed with concern. “You alright?” he asked, his voice softer now.
I nodded, though the motion made my head spin even more. “I’ve had worse,” I muttered, trying to steady my breath. The moment the words left my mouth, Jacob’s eyes widened in disbelief. I must’ve looked like little more than a young, beaten farm boy to him—certainly not someone who should be familiar with worse pain than this.
Reece came over, his face pale but his eyes blazing with anger. “What the hell were you thinking, Ragan?” he hissed, his hands clenched into fists. “You should’ve kept your mouth shut. You’ve just made it worse. They’ll be back now—wanting more, taking more. What good did it do to stand up to them?”
I didn’t have the strength to argue, the pain in my chest too much to bear. Reece’s words were like a hammer, driving home the consequences of my actions, but I couldn’t regret it. I couldn’t stand by and let Grayden humiliate Ross, or any of us. Still, I knew Reece was right. They’d be back, and it would be worse next time.
Jacob’s eyes flicked between me and Reece, his jaw tightening. He nodded, his expression serious. “I’ll take care of it.”
With the sun nearly gone now, everything felt heavy—my body, the atmosphere, the weight of what had just happened. I could barely stand, the world fading in and out, but one thing was clear. The enforcers weren’t done with us. And this fight was far from over.
Sophia came over to me, worry etched into her face as she supported me. Her hands were gentle but firm, her eyes wide with concern as she looked me over, probably trying to assess just how badly I was hurt.
"Ragan, you’re bleeding," she whispered, her voice trembling. She brushed a strand of hair from her face, trying to stay calm, but I could see the fear in her eyes.
Ross helped Sophia steady me, her face pale, eyes darting toward the road where the enforcers had disappeared. She looked at me, then at Sophia, her lips pursed together anxiously. “Thank you,” she muttered softly, barely loud enough for me to hear. There was a flicker of gratitude in her gaze, but it was mixed with unease.
Sophia's grip on my arm tightened slightly as she guided me toward the house, careful not to put too much pressure on me. "Come on," she said softly. "Let's get you inside before you fall over."
Reece stood nearby, his face hard to read—a mix of frustration and something like worry simmering beneath the surface. He didn’t offer to help, didn’t say a word. Without looking back at me, he turned and stalked off toward the barn. He wasn’t impressed by my actions and obviously didn’t care about my condition.
Sophia and Ross led me inside, each step sending sharp waves of pain through my body. I winced, trying to hide how much it hurt, but Sophia’s eyes flicked toward me, catching every wince, every tremor of discomfort. As they laid me down, I could feel the exhaustion pulling at me, my body aching from the beating.
Sophia hovered nearby, her brow furrowed, while Ross lingered in the doorway, her face a mixture of concern and fear. I lay there trying to piece together my actions and ultimately the consequences of them, but my mind couldn't focus. I drifted from reality and passed out.