Tempted Hero by Ella Miles

Ri

He’s goingto drop me.

I squeeze my eyes shut, preparing to be dropped, for it all to end. My eyes close before I realize that’s not how I want to die—afraid and closed off from the world.

I look down at the rocks below being smashed by powerful ocean waves. The blue sea seems endless. It’s beautiful. The sun is even setting and starting to streak orange and red colors across the clear sky.

I smile. If I’m going to die, then this is what I want to be my last memory. My last thought should be beautiful, not fearful.

Kek’s dark laughter interrupts my beautiful exit, his hand strangling my neck. My feet are dangling over the cliff, scrambling, reaching for solid ground that isn’t there. One slip of his hand and I’m gone.

I’m at peace with that.

Kek’s cackle ruins my peace, though. I turn my head, glaring at the boy holding me. He’s maybe five years older, but he’s still a boy, still young. And yet, he already knows who he is. He’s always known, while I’m still trying to figure out myself.

But I guess when your parents name you Kek—after the god of darkness—you don’t really have much say in who you’re going to be. His mother named him that because he was born in the dead of night under a moonless, starless sky. With his jet black hair, it made perfect sense to name him the god of darkness. She didn’t realize how dark his soul would become as well.

“You can still save yourself, Princess. Trade your life for hers. Just say the word,” Kek says.

Every time he’s taken me, it’s always the same. He pushes me to my limits, seeing how much pain and torture I can endure, and promises me it will end if I give her up, trade my life for hers.

Her.

I’d do anything for her.

I’d do everything for her.

That’s never going to change.

This monster has come in and out of my life so many times to play his stupid games. I’d do almost anything to escape him, except give him her.

“No. Kill me,” I say, glad this is the final time. After this, I won’t have to see him ever again. No one will be left to protect her, although he doesn’t know where she is. That will keep her safe.

He clucks his tongue. “Oh, sweet, foolish Princess. This drop won’t kill you.”

I look down at the rough rocks. It sure as hell looks like I’ll die.

“It will,” I say, more assured of myself.

“It won’t. Want to know how I know?”

I shake my head—more games.

“You’re a fighter. You won’t give up. You can pretend you want to die all you want, but you won’t. The rocks will break open your skin, and you’ll lose a lot of blood. Maybe you’ll even lose consciousness, but then you’ll fight. Fight to live. To protect. To save. That’s who you are, Rialta. A fighter. A princess.”

I shake my head, hating all of his words.

He pets my hair, making me wince.

“You can be both a princess and fighter.”

“I don’t want to be a princess anymore.”

He smiles. “Someday, you won’t be.”

Yea, when I’m dead.

I sigh and close my eyes, deciding I was right the first time. It’s better if my eyes are closed.

And then he drops me.

My mind goes to her.

The last time I saw her was a couple of years ago. We were playing on the beach, running up and down it. There was a boy chasing after her. There were always boys chasing her, even at a young age. She may have not been a princess like me, but she would have made a perfect princess. She was sweet and kind and perfect. She loved dressing up in pretty dresses. She liked makeup and boys and being doted on.

The boys would use sticks to do fake sword fights to win her. She loved it, while I’d rather be fighting than waiting for one of them to win me.

This boy wanted her. He wanted all of her attention. But I was only visiting for a short time. I wanted her attention. So I fought him. I won. He looked so devastated that I let him spend time with us.

He would hold her hand. He kissed her cheek. He looked at her like he loved her.

I smiled. She would get her happily ever after. She would find a boy like this one who would love her forever.

My feet hit the water; the memory knocked from my head as I jostle along the rocks and plunge further into the water. I kick and kick, finally reaching the surface. I take a deep breath—hating that I’m breathing.

Kek was right.

I survived. I’m a fighter.

Only later would I realize that it was all for nothing. I couldn’t save her—the caring, innocent girl who deserved to be a princess.

Kek found her.

He killed her.

And I’ll never be the same again.