Ignoring her mother’s warnings, Tabeka forms a relationship with Lord Cidus Milhella, the man chosen for her by the gods as shown her by the goddess Rania. However, her vision does not prepare her for the terrible price she must pay.
Betrayed by Cidus, disowned by her father and abandoned, Tabeka forges a life alone in the forests of Wildevein.
Years later, Cidus seeks Tabeka’s healing assistance to help his mate birth him a healthy heir. His request plants the seed for a plan of vengeance in Tabeka’s heart—one that will destroy Cidus and his goal for Wildevein.
The next morning, she decided to go to the manor and demand to see Cidus. Something had to have happened to him. She was sure of it.
The guard refused to let her through the gates. She had crouched beside the gates and waited until he finally rode through them.
“Cidus! Wait!” she called out.
He reined in. The stallion reared, whinnied, then stood snorting. Tabeka noticed the horse was unusually restless.
Cidus looked down at her, disdain clouding his face. “What do you want, wench?”
Was this the man she had fallen in love with? The man who was so tender, so sweet? The man she had allowed to take her? His face was chisel hard, his eyes like steel.
“Cidus, you did not come to speak to my father. He was outraged that I am carrying your child. My father has disowned and abandoned me.”
She would never forget his amusement. He had broken out in laughter and belittled her.
“Child?” He glared at her, disgust blazing in his eyes. “I do not blame your father for casting you out. You are nothing but a whore. It is not mine. Next week, I am to join with the Lady Ivia, daughter of Lord Schollen from the Getaga Realm. Get away from here, wench. Do not ever let me see you near my home again!”
He might as well have pierced her with his sword. He spurred the horse and galloped away. Tabeka was crushed, her heart torn to shreds. She ran as fast as she could, across the fields, through the forest, then tripped over a protruding root and fell, hitting her head hard against a rock.
The next morning, she decided to go to the manor and demand to see Cidus. Something had to have happened to him. She was sure of it.
The guard refused to let her through the gates. She had crouched beside the gates and waited until he finally rode through them.
“Cidus! Wait!” she called out.
He reined in. The stallion reared, whinnied, then stood snorting. Tabeka noticed the horse was unusually restless.
Cidus looked down at her, disdain clouding his face. “What do you want, wench?”
Was this the man she had fallen in love with? The man who was so tender, so sweet? The man she had allowed to take her? His face was chisel hard, his eyes like steel.
“Cidus, you did not come to speak to my father. He was outraged that I am carrying your child. My father has disowned and abandoned me.”
She would never forget his amusement. He had broken out in laughter and belittled her.
“Child?” He glared at her, disgust blazing in his eyes. “I do not blame your father for casting you out. You are nothing but a whore. It is not mine. Next week, I am to join with the Lady Ivia, daughter of Lord Schollen from the Getaga Realm. Get away from here, wench. Do not ever let me see you near my home again!”
He might as well have pierced her with his sword. He spurred the horse and galloped away. Tabeka was crushed, her heart torn to shreds. She ran as fast as she could, across the fields, through the forest, then tripped over a protruding root and fell, hitting her head hard against a rock.
