Filed To Story: Fated is Overrated Novel Free by Brenda Minnaard
I’m sitting next to a window, staring outside across a valley. Occasionally I see some people enter the perimeter, sometimes even in their dragon forms. It’s the same spot I have been sitting in since I woke up after my life crumbled. I haven’t eaten, I have barely slept despite my exhaustion, and I only drank enough just to stay alive. For now. My heart is destroyed, shattered into a million pieces. The only thing stopping me from following after Nick is my newfound family. My father has lost so much already and he only recently found me again, I can’t do that to him. Even though I might want to. I know Nick pleaded with me to live a happy life in his dying breath, but how am I supposed to do that? It feels like I have been at war all my life, and I am tired. So, so tired. For the first time in my life, I feel weak. I am drained and weak, and I don’t even care. All I want to do is crawl up into a ball and remain that way.
I don’t know where I am, but I assume because of the dragons I have seen that I am in my father’s home. Or castle by the looks of it. I haven’t seen anyone in this room besides my father, and I am happy to have some tranquility. Perhaps he has told me where I am already, but I just haven’t registered it. He has spoken to me a lot, but I have barely heard anything at all. I can imagine everyone else is tiptoeing around me after what happened at the arena, it must have looked frightening. I remember it all, despite feeling like I was on auto pilot at the time. I got consumed in my rage and I wouldn’t have ever stopped until her ashes covered the ground. It didn’t bring me any relief, as I didn’t get Nick back. But I feel a small amount of satisfaction knowing I avenged him. Although him being the gentle soul that he was, he would have preferred me to not be this livid, to a point where it physically hurt. And not to mention, where I could have potentially hurt innocent people. But I couldn’t control it. She didn’t just push me over the edge with her disgusting words, she plummeted me into the deep pits of hell. I have been livid before, but nothing like this. She angered me to a point where I would go back to do it another 50 times, if it were possible. Harming the people I love brings out a whole other dimension of my anger I am yet to be familiar with – and I hope I never will be anymore.
My thoughts have been with Nick a lot. Reminiscing from seeing him for the first time, up until when I was finally ready to give myself to him. It made him so happy and it hurts my heart thinking about it. I should have had my entire life with him, but our time was cut short. All Nick ever wanted was for me to be happy. And although it doesn’t feel like I could ever be happy again right now, I owe it to him to at least try at some point. After I have wallowed in my grief that is. My girls have been grieving with me. As I expected, especially Justice took it really hard. She had retracted to the back of my mind up until last night. She came back to me and we consoled each other. I really needed that, and I think she did too. Meanwhile Liberty had been the life jacket keeping us afloat, I don’t know where I would have been without her. My gratitude for her is immeasurable.
I am brought out of my reverie when there is a soft knock at the door, it can only be my father. After a few seconds the door pushes open softly, and my father comes walking in with a tray of food, as he does each time. And each time, he departs eventually with the same amount of food he came with. “Hey honey” he speaks softly, while setting the tray on a table. I manage to say a small, weak “hey” in return. My father walks towards me and sits down next to me, before pulling me on his lap. A few weeks ago I would have protested as I don’t know my father that well yet, but I am tired. And I welcome the comfort it brings me to be wrapped up in his strong arms, he is my father after all. His scent soothes me and I inhale deeply as he strokes my hair. After a few moments of comfortable silence he speaks up “I know what you are going through honey. When I lost your mother and I thought I lost you, the entire world crumbled for me. The only thing preventing me from losing my sanity was having to care for your brother who was still far too little”. I wrap my hands around his back and bury my nose in his chest like a little girl, cuddling him even closer as he continues. “Please just don’t do anything stupid, honey. I have only just found you again it would shatter my heart if…” his voice cracks as he tries to finish his sentence, so I interrupt him saying “I won’t dad. I promise. For you, and for Damon”. He breathes a sigh of relief, although I can still feel him trembling slightly. It’s odd to see such a big, strong King trembling in anxiety. It must be hard for him to see the daughter he has long awaited in such a state. But I would never do that to him, nor Damon. Although Damon and I haven’t spoken much since finding out we are siblings, the family bond changed things instantly, and I love him already.
Lola POV
“I know it looks all dark and gloomy now, but trust me when I say you will find your sunshine again honey. And not just for me and Damon, I believe the moon goddess and flame god had big plans for you. Make Nick proud by living up to your full potential and, in time, finding happiness again” my father says softly before kissing the top of my head. “I don’t want to make him proud, dad. I just want to be with him. How could I make him proud by moving on as if I have forgotten all about him? As if his place in my heart isn’t void anymore? I couldn’t even if I wanted to. He was the kindest soul out there, dad” I say softly with tears brimming the corners of my eyes. “Oh honey. He can never, and will never, be replaced. He is irreplaceable, as is your mother to me. That place in your heart will always be his and you couldn’t even forget him if you tried, trust me. He would have wanted you to be happy though, honey. I didn’t know Nick yet, but being the gentle soul that he was, all he would have wanted is for you to be happy eventually. I believe he would hate to see you like this” he whispers into my hair, while squeezing me tighter to his chest. I look up to him with a few tears spilling over, as I ask him “so, have you? Have you found happiness again dad? And have you moved on to another?” I can’t help the accusing tone at the last part. I don’t know how I would feel about it if he had. I never knew my mom, but she was still my mom. And if he hadn’t moved on, it would be hypocritical for him to advise me to do something he hadn’t done either. Basically, there is no winning for him in this discussion.
He chuckles and shakes his head “no I have not moved on to another. But I am happy again, Lola. Especially since you came back into our lives”. I give him a pointed look at the double standard he’s upholding, and say “so let me get this straight. You’re telling me to move on and be happy with another in due time, yet you never have? And it has been what – around 19 years?”. He looks at me hesitantly, almost nervously, before answering “your mother was my fated mate. After she passed I never met my second chance, if I even have one. You on the other hand…”. I hold up my hand to stop him and he does so immediately. “Don’t finish that sentence. I don’t have a fated mate either. I rejected them” I say firmly. I can’t blame him for bringing it up as he doesn’t know what had all happened. I’m sure if he did he wouldn’t be advocating for them. “They haven’t accepted though..” he looks at me intently. “They will” I say with a clenched jaw. He looks at me unabashedly for a few seconds before asking “what happened with them, honey? I know they can be dumb boys, but I know they generally mean well. I have seen a big change in them over the past 2 years”. I laugh humorlessly, reminiscing all that transpired, before I tell him my entire story – starting from Red Dagger up until that fateful day.
When I look back up at my father a vein is popping out on his forehead and he is visibly livid, at which part precisely I don’t know. Perhaps all the parts. He remains silent for a while and I let him digest everything in peace. This talk we are having is long overdue. “Honey, you have been so wronged all your life” he sighs, casting his gaze to the floor, as a few tears start to slip from his eyes. “I wish I would have found you sooner” he croaks out. I give a small smile in return and grab his hand before I say “but then I wouldn’t have met Nick. Everything happens for a reason”. He sighs a deep breath, and I can hear him grumble “still..” before he turns his head to stare out the window absentmindedly. I fall silent for a few minutes, simply enjoying the warmth my father offers. He seems to be deep in thoughts for a few minutes before saying “do you want me to repay Zeke and Zane the pain they’ve caused you?” with a dead serious expression. I chuckle at the question, it will take some time getting used to having a protective father. “What? You know I would within the blink of an eye. As would Damon. He doesn’t even know what all happened and he already hates their guts”.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.