Chapter One, Part One

Life changes fast.

My stomach swooped as my hands scraped against the ground I was shoved onto. The fabric of my torn dress clung to my skin as it soaked up the rain, chilling my body. Turning my head, I didn't hold back from glaring at the man who sneered in satisfaction at my pitiful form. His red hair fell before his dull brown eyes, leaning toward me and grabbing my chin.

"Now you look at me with such passion?" Garret Asher stated as though he had achieved his goal.

"It's more than you deserve, husband", I spat back before he could yank me to my feet with the chains dangling around my wrists.

"Ha, you never did use my name, Lynette". He dragged me across the gravelled pathway at the front of his mansion. One of my shoes fell, revealing the terra-cotta skin of my bare foot.

A wooden platform had been staged at the centre of his dreary garden, a single post looming. Soldiers lined up behind the post, standing tall, glancing our way as the rain pattered on their black armour. Finally, one of them broke from their line and headed towards us.

Quickly, the soldier yanked the chains from my husband's grip leading me up the platform steps and towards the post. I didn't bother resisting as the soldier tied a rope around my waist, securing me to the pole and letting my arms fall loosely. My black raven hair clumped in the rain.

"How does it feel to know that they all hate you," Garret asked me with genuine curiosity from the tone of his voice as he approached the stage.

"Not much different than my feelings for you". I smirked, knowing how angry it would make him. His hatred for my indifference towards him all these years had only grown. Garret had never been able to hold his temper without an audience. Usually, he would have started beating me by this point, but the soldier's presence deterred him.

He didn't hesitate to slap me, though. The sound echoed throughout the estate's yard.

"This wouldn't have happened if you had shown me affection. I can still make it go away. Just admit to being guilty of murder, and I'll have you imprisoned instead" Garret lowered his voice as he spoke close to my ear. His warm breath against my cheek felt clammy.

I couldn't hold back my laughter.

"Oh, husband, do you think so little of me? You have no power to change my sentence any more than you do to gain my affection". I sighed, looking at his foolish face.

I had considered him quite handsome once, as many young ladies do. However, after ten years of marriage trapped within his small estate, I had seen the darkness within his heart. My bruises and scars are a testament to that.

Yet I had never considered him cruel enough to frame me for murder, of a distant royal bloodline no less.

How he had done such a thing when I barely left his estate still baffled me. My trial had left me with more questions than answers. My reaction to their claims had probably solidified my guilt.

Our arranged marriage was insufferable for both of us, but a divorce would have been sufficient, not this.

"Lynette", Garret gritted his teeth as he glanced towards the soldiers standing nearby, hesitant.

"Step aside, Baron Asher. The family is here for last rites". A guard stepped forward, his golden spear standing tall at his side, symbolising the royal guard. They didn't usually turn up for executions, but the murder of royal blood was an exception. Even if that blood was far removed.

They had at least granted my request for a private execution. A privilege of law granted to those in my situation. I was surprised they accepted. However, the crown did not want to publicise the death of their distant relatives. That would show weakness.

"Tsch", Garret muttered, "Consider this my way of mercy. At least now you won't have to suffer as your soul wastes away". His hand gently rubbed my neck, causing me to shudder before leaning close to my lips. "Goodbye, sweet wife" he pressed his lips against mine before pulling away.

I felt nothing as usual in his interactions with me.

Did he think this was a better death for me? Ha, what thoughtlessness. Though perhaps it may be better than wasting away from my disease, I have already done that once.

"Viscount Heversham", a guard bowed towards the older gentlemen approaching the platform. His boots were shined to perfection. His aged white hair slicked back untouched by the rain as the droplets avoided him altogether, creating a canopy above him. Father had always been a skilled water summoner.

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"Disappointed?" I asked as my adoptive father approached me, stamping his black cane. A small snake curled around it, slithering towards his palm, its body made up of moving water.

"Surprisingly, I am not", he said, raising an eyebrow as he inspected my bedraggled appearance.

"You say that as though you were hoping for this", I sighed. I know we didn't have the best relationship, but Roger Heversham was still the man who raised me.

"I didn't know what I had hoped for" he shook his head in thought. "I had always thought this marriage would have been good for you. You always were unruly, but murder? Lynette.." He breathed, narrowing his eyes at me.

"As I've said, Father, I had no involvement", I repeated my innocence. Viscount Heversham's eyes flickered toward Garret momentarily before returning to me.

"I wish that were true", he stated.

"Don't you all", I sneered to hide the pang of pain in my gut. But, of course, he would never believe me. He had never had much faith in me since the beginning.

I was nothing but a weak mortal. A commoner.

"I thought selling you into marriage with the Baron would have helped you grow up, but this? This is a curse from the gods you brought upon our family. It's god's grace that Cassandra is no longer here."

"What do you mean 'sold' me into marriage" I questioned, my eyes narrowing, trying to forget the comment about my adoptive mother.

"I suppose you should know", he sighed. "The baron had always requested your hand, Lynette."

"Father, what are you saying?" My voice involuntarily raised. "I married the Baron so Kara didn't have to. I did this for her" I tightened my lips to hold the lump forming in my throat.

"Lynette, what I told you was untrue", he paused, seeing the shock on my face. "When I received the Baron's proposal, I thought the marriage would be what you needed. It was doubtful you would get any other suitable requests, and he was a good suitor. But, knowing your temperament, I knew you wouldn't accept. So I did what I thought would get you in front of the altar". Roger Heversham looked away, his wrinkles folded on his brows. A face he often showed me when he was disappointed by my actions.

"So you lied to me" I spoke with little emotion as I absorbed this. All this time, my decision to marry the Baron so Kara wouldn't have to had been based on a lie. It wasn't Kara he had requested. It had always been me.

"I did". Roger said as his water snake slithered up his arm to wrap around the collar of his tailored jacket. "To convince the baron not to rescind his offer after learning of this, I sold him an iron mine as part of the marriage."

I couldn't help but look over at Garret as he shifted from one foot to another, uncomfortable standing near so many guards.

So, he still married me even knowing I accepted under false information and took an iron mine to profit?

Garret's frustration over my indifference towards him somewhat made sense now. He must have originally had feelings for me, but that wouldn't change the fact he was still a monster.

"Kara. Where is she?" I asked, feeling a rush of emotion at this betrayal.

I had been such a fool.

What would this life have been if not for this marriage?

Was Roger Heversham only telling me this now as way to redeem his own actions? Or was he hoping to make me more miserable?

"She's at the palace as usual. I haven't told her what's happening today. I couldn't have her seeing such a stressful event". Roger's expression hardened.

"Good", I muttered. It would be difficult to do this knowing Kara was watching.

"Eduard sends his regards."

"I'm sure he does". My oldest brother had always been open to his dislike for me. I had doubted he would have much to say.

The guards began to sound the drums they had brought. I looked up at the gate of Garret Asher's estate and saw the man who would be my executioner.

A silver mask covered his face, two horns attached slightly higher than his forehead. They had neat spirals, the silver glinting in the rain. The only visible feature through the gap in his mask were his purple eyes of the royal bloodline. His formal armour rattled with each step as he walked down the line of guards holding their golden spears at attention.

Duke of the Frozen South, Azriel Elkart. It was the first time I had ever seen the man I had heard the maids gossip about. They said he was undefeated in war. His power was second to none other than his second cousin, the Empress. He was born with the magic of his bloodline, the draygon race.

"Is it time already?" Father asked, watching Duke Elkart step up onto the stage.

"Yes, Viscount Heversham", Duke Elkarts voice was low.

"Very well then, I shall remove myself". Father bowed in respect to the general.

Walking closer to me Roger whispered his final words. "I hope it shall be quick for you", lightly he patted my soaked hair.

I followed him with my gaze as he moved to stand beside my husband, watching us from the sidelines.

That may have been the only time he showed me any semblance of sincerity.

Duke Elkart stood before me now. He was tall, taller than I had imagined him to be. No one had seen his face since he was a boy. No one knew why he always wore the mask, but it was well known not to ask him.

I doubt I would have ever encountered this man if not for the fact I was here for the crime of murdering his twin nephews.

"Baroness Asher, I am here to carry out the punishment for your crimes. Do you have anything to say before I carry out the sentence?" The Duke asked me formally.

"No, Duke, I have already stated all I had to say at my trial". I half smiled towards him, a trial of lies and deceit.

"Understood" he nodded and picked up the sword handed to him by one of the guards. The handle was adorned with intertwining dragons, their eyes dazzling blue diamonds. I recognised it as the sword of dragons' breath, one of the famous swords of power. Well, this death may not be as pitiful as my last if he was using that.

"Any final requests?" He asked, raising the sword high, his eyes glancing at the black veins on my neck.

"Only one, please make it quick. I do not want to give anyone the pleasure of my slow death". I looked up at the sky as rain fell onto my face. Grey clouds hid the sun, and no birds flew by.

When nothing happened, I looked back toward the Duke and was surprised to see his eyes on me.

"Don't worry. If not today. I will die soon". I don't know why I needed to comfort him during my execution. The tell-tale signs of my disease probably paused him.

"I will make it quick", The Duke nodded, signalling before swinging his sword towards my neck.