AFAF First Chapter Preview

Chapter 1

Relentless

“Harder,” Cole snapped, lunging toward Serena. “Don’t hesitate!”

She huffed, blocking his attack with the wooden training staff. “I’m doing my best,” Serena said through gritted teeth. The sparring stick felt unnatural in her hands after wielding Sannarvin for months. The stick was lighter, easier to swing around, but somehow, she felt like she was moving in slow motion against her elven instructor.

Cole was unrelenting. He gave Serena no time to catch her breath between his barrage of attacks. She swung her weapon around over and over, barely blocking each move. Sweat dripped down her temples as she panted. After an hour of practice, her muscles were screaming for her to quit.

A bell chimed from the citadel tower, signaling the top of the hour. Serena groaned. Usually, that sound meant morning training was over; it was time for her to clean up and rush to morning tea with her aunt. Using her momentary distraction to his advantage, Cole knocked Serena’s feet out from under her body, and she slammed hard on her back on the lawn. The grass did nothing to cushion the impact. Peering up at the clear blue sky and the looming brick towers of the magnificent fortress she now called home, Serena clenched her jaw. Now, all she could see was a prison with an unyielding task-master and no way out. Some haven, she thought.

“Try not to kill her, Cole!” Xandra called out, rushing to her aid.

Serena sat up and glared at her opponent while rubbing her lower back gingerly. “I’m fine. Let’s go again,” she spat, swiping the sparring stick from the ground beside her. Her chest constricted as she fought back the tears that glistened in her tired eyes. She refused to give her rigid mentor the satisfaction of seeing her give up.

Cole lowered his arms and dropped his signature smirk, recognizing the pain in her face. “I think we’re done for the day, Princess,” he declared, turning his back on her. “Wouldn’t want you to be late for tea.”

Serena stepped toward him and shouted, “No, I can keep going!”

Cole turned with a spark in his eyes and bounded toward her. Serena lurched out of his weapon’s path and grimaced, unable to stifle the pained squeak that escaped from her lips as she swung her weapon back toward him. Cole caught her training staff in one hand and shook his head while her emerald eyes bore into him. “I said you’re done.” With a quick jerk, he snatched the staff out of her grasp.

“Great work, Alarcole. You’ve injured her again,” Crystal grumbled, pushing herself off the grass. She stomped over to Serena and yanked up the back of the girl’s cream blouse wordlessly. “Elara’s going to behead us if you aren’t careful.”

“Hey!” Serena shouted, twisting free from her grasp and tugging down her shirt. “Not out here. Elara would kill us both.”

Crystal rolled her eyes and gently reached her left hand under Serena’s blouse to feel her lower back. Heat radiated from a sensitive knot to the left of her spine. “Might have broken a rib,” the guardian muttered, fixing her icy glare on her brother from over Serena’s shoulder. With a frustrated exhale, Crystal pressed her other hand to the front of Serena’s hip to steady her hold and began muttering in the ancient language. A familiar tingling sensation bloomed through her back, and Serena sighed as her friend’s healing magic flowed through her, mending her bruised ribs. 

If only it could mend her bruised ego as well.

Cole barked, “Really, Crys? You can’t heal every little scrape on Her Royal Highness. She has to learn to take a hit.” Xandra shushed him, shoving his arm.

“I don’t need Elara breathing down my neck any more than she already does,” Crystal snapped back, trying to focus on her patient. Leaning over Serena’s shoulder, she whispered, “If it’s broken, I may not be able to heal it in one session. You should see the physician later.”

Serena rolled her eyes and exhaled loudly. “I miss when you didn’t coddle me.” She frowned at the citadel as Crystal’s glowing hand continued to press against her injured back. “I’m not a child.”

“No, you aren’t,” Crystal replied, pulling her hands off Serena and wiping them on her own blouse. “You’re the heir to the throne, and Elara would not be pleased if you died while training.”

“You don’t have to remind me.” Serena reached around to press her back cautiously. The swelling and pain had lessened, though the area where she had landed was still tender. She sighed, dropping her head back in defeat. “Every second of my life has been dictated since we got here. Etiquette lessons, sword training, tea, knife skills, fancy dinners—she wants me to be two different people, and it’s pulling me apart.”

“Serena,” Xandra whispered, stepping closer. The warrior reached out to comfort her but was stopped by an agonizing scowl. “This is new territory for all of us, but we are here to support you through it.”

Serena kicked the pile of weapons beside Xandra. The sudden clang of metal made the guardian jump. “I don’t know how to accept this fate,” Serena said, running her hands over her braided hair.

“You’re young,” Crystal said, patting her ward on the shoulder. “No one expects you to save the kingdom anytime soon. Stop worrying over it.”

“The man who stole his crown shall meet his fate when the true heir fights for their rightful throne,” Serena quoted, her tone laced with spite. “How could I not worry when such a fate is being forced upon me?” Cole clenched his jaw and raised his eyebrows at the other guardians.

“Your destiny is to fight, but it doesn’t say you must fight alone,” Crystal declared, squeezing the girl’s arm.

She inhaled deeply, holding her breath for a moment before exhaling slowly. “You’re right,” she murmured. “Thanks.”

“I think what you really need is a break,” Xandra added, wrapping an arm around Serena’s shoulders. “Luckily, the tournament begins today, so you’ll have plenty of time to sit and rest.”

“I still think she should have entered the competition. Would have made great practice,” Cole said, not hiding the grin that made Serena’s blood boil.

“So you could beat me in front of a crowd? No, thanks,” the princess huffed.

Crystal exhaled, taking the training staff from Cole. “Much as I hate to agree with my brother, he’s right.” She paused to gather their arsenal from the ground and stuff each piece into a large tote.

“Seriously?” Serena huffed. She crossed her arms and glared at the guardians.

“Elara’s told everyone you’re the daughter of Sir Nathan Fritz. We’re out here training daily. It would have made sense to test your progress against fresh blood,” Crystal added.

“And what if I had beaten them?” Serena asked, narrowing her eyes. Her statement was ridiculous, of course, and Cole did nothing to stifle his laughter. They all knew she wouldn’t defeat anyone who had spent a decade training at Envyre Academy. Not without Sannarvin in her hands.

As Cole had suspected, historians in Symptee were able to confirm that the Heir’s Blade was imbued with divine magic, improving the strength and skills of its one true owner when they alone wielded it. That was why she had been able to kill the soldier in the mountains. She wasn’t a super soldier, just the last in a bloodline blessed by Divinity. With Sannarvin in her hands, it was like pure magic radiated through her body, strengthening her muscles and washing away her hesitation. Without Sannarvin, she was just a girl with basic sword skills and a desperate desire to survive. That desire had gotten her this far, but it wouldn’t help her defeat Antoine Rexton and his army.

Serena huffed. Flexing her tired fingers, she examined her calloused hands. Scars and fresh cuts wove through the creases of her palm like an intricate spider web. She clenched her hands and muttered, “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Come on.” Xandra tossed an arm around the girl’s shoulders and turned her toward the citadel. “It’s too early to be moping. Besides, we get a front row seat for the event of the year! It’s going to be a great day.”

Cole wiped his forehead with a towel and took a swig of water from his canteen. “Indeed, it is,” he said with a grin. He was in a far better mood than usual, though that had no impact on his training methods. He took the bag of weapons from Crystal and followed them toward the citadel’s entrance.

“You’re just looking forward to fighting the new graduates,” Xandra said, shaking her head.

His smile broadened as he swung an arm around her, quickly glancing around their surroundings before pecking her on the temple. “You’re right about that, sunshine. It’s a highlight every year.”

Crystal and Serena rolled their eyes as they passed beneath a stone arch, the grassy exterior giving way to a smooth stone path. They navigated from the western entrance of the citadel through a labyrinth of halls until they reached the Guard’s wing. Cole promptly saluted with two fingers and made his way into the men’s quarters.

As per their morning ritual, Serena followed Crystal and Xandra through the ladies’ quarters into a communal lavatory equipped with several large tubs. Three tubs filled with warmed water awaited them; the warm coals beneath the tubs sizzled softly.

Serena dipped her fingertips into the middle tub and smiled; the water was not yet cold. Glancing to the side, she noticed Crystal and Xandra were already busy shedding their sweaty practice clothes. She pulled her drenched layers off one by one and quickly climbed over the tub’s ledge. The warm water sloshed as they each settled into their respective tubs with contented sighs.

Serena unbraided her hair, fluffing out her frizzy waves before leaning her head back against the edge of the tub. Without thinking, she inspected her pale skin through the clear water. Her hands weren’t the only scarred parts of her body. Her arms and legs held an array of bruises ranging from deep purple to faded yellow. Training had taken its toll on her over the past few weeks, but she was determined not to slow down. Too much was at stake. Her eyes caught the faint white scar on her thigh. She stroked her thumb over it, remembering the men who attacked them outside of Noomï. The way one man’s sword ripped through her flesh moments before she skewered another with her own blade to save Will’s life.

Will. Her cheeks warmed as she closed her eyes and pictured his face. She hadn’t seen his warm brown eyes in over a week; he had been working overtime at the forge to finish his apprenticeship. She knew he was lucky to be able to find a master in Symptee, but that did nothing to quell the ache she felt from his absence. She longed to see the dimpled smile that always made her heart race. His arms were much warmer than the bathwater, and she longed for him to hold her the way he had in the mountains when her whole world came unraveled.

“Do you think we’ll see Will today?” Serena asked, her voice quiet but hopeful.

Xandra grinned at her, her messy bun bobbing as she shifted to sit up in the tub. “It’s highly likely! The blacksmith is usually at the games working as weapons master, ensuring everyone has the appropriate tools. I’m sure he’ll bring Will to help.”

Serena nodded, picking up the bar of soap beside the tub and beginning to scrub herself. It had a mild floral scent. She hoped the guardians didn’t notice the smile that she couldn’t hold back. “And what of Rigel? I haven’t seen him in a couple days either.”

“Oh, he’ll be there. Like my brother, he wouldn’t miss this for anything,” Crystal noted, working the soap between her hands until it lathered.

“I think Rige will also be mediating the tournament, making sure everyone follows the rules,” Xandra said, rinsing the layer of soap bubbles from her skin. Serena noticed the way the guardian shivered a bit as she dipped lower in the water.

Turning her attention back to her own tub, Serena took a deep breath and plunged her head into the tub, scrubbing the soap from her hair while underwater. Elara expected her to smell like a spring garden when they met for tea, not that Serena cared for her fancy etiquette lessons. But if she was going to see Will today, that was different. For Will, she wanted to dress up, wanted him to see her as a young lady. So today, she planned to look her best.

 ***

Serena settled into her seat to Elara’s right, surveying the arena before them. The sun burned bright in the sky above them, and she was thankful their chairs were set up under a massive gold canopy. To Serena’s right sat Crystal, Xandra, Sir Alexander Stanton, and several other members of the War Council. To the queen’s left sat her new husband, Gerard Stirling, and a dozen nobles. Elara had introduced Serena to enough new faces over the past few weeks to make her head spin.

Today she was grateful to have Crystal beside her to answer any questions about the tournament and keep her from being sucked into an excruciating conversation with her aunt. The guardian leaned toward her and whispered, “The sword is arguably the most important part of the tournament, which is why everyone turns up to watch.”

Serena pressed her palms against her chiffon skirt. She leaned over in her chair to peer past the canopy in hopes of catching a glimpse of a certain young man. As her eyes scanned the bustling arena, bright red hair caught her attention, and she realized that Rigel was waving at them. She nudged Crystal with her elbow and pointed before waving back.

Elara cleared her throat, and Serena sank back in her seat, wide eyes cutting to her left. Jewel eyes that matched her own stared down from her raised seat, brows lifted slightly. 

“If you must wave, just lift your hand like so,” Elara instructed in a whisper. The queen plastered on a polite smile and lifted her right hand to face-level as two competitors stopped to bow before heading into the arena.

The princess snorted, adjusting her back to sit up straighter. “My apologies,” she mumbled, turning her eyes back toward her friend. Cole had joined Rigel at the edge of the arena. They chatted enthusiastically as they watched the eight competitors warm up. Rigel looked well, considering he had nearly died six weeks prior. Thanks to Crystal and Ismenia, his arm seemed to have healed quite nicely on the outside—though he did complain of soreness when he overworked it. Serena smiled as she watched him rake a hand through his shaggy hair, her heart swelling with joy knowing they had all survived the harrowing journey together.

Xandra giggled, and Serena glanced over, noticing the way her eyes lit up as she watched Cole’s every move. Xandra was so clearly in love she was practically glowing; it was almost sickening. Almost. Yet as Serena watched Crystal and Xandra laugh, she couldn’t help but smile, too. Seeing her guardians—her friends—at ease after the intensity of the crossing made her happy, and she’d do anything to keep things the way they were.

“Oh! There’s your blacksmith,” Xandra declared, pointing to the far right of the field.

Serena’s smile faltered, and she nearly fell out of her seat. Catching herself on the guard rail, she leaned her head over in search of him. There he was, standing beside a stocky man inspecting a competitor’s blade. The man said something to Will before passing him the blade. Will balanced it on two fingers and nodded. As he turned back to face his master, Serena got a glimpse of the winning smile that made her day.

“Ahem,” Elara said. Serena winced as she stepped back and turned to face her aunt. Elara exhaled loudly as she tapped her fingernails on the armrests of her chair. The sides of the massive wooden piece were carved with the Garrick family crest: a massive white oak with stars above it. Though this chair wasn’t as grand as her throne within the citadel, it was still majestic, keeping the queen perched a few feet higher than the rest of her entourage. “Perhaps you should take your seat, my dear.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Serena said, hurrying back to her designated seat. She wished more than anything that she could fling herself over the guard rail and join the others out on the field. Anything would be better than having her every move scrutinized by Elara’s judging gaze.

Horns resounded, and everyone turned their attention to the center of the arena. One of Elara’s Commanders announced the start of the tournament, introducing the first two competitors as Heath Grange and Kieran Brooks. Serena narrowed her eyes, focusing on the young men. They were both dressed in cream tunics, loose pants, and boots. The first had brown curls that covered his neck while the other had jet-black hair slicked back out of his face.

“The one with the dark hair is Kieran. He’s the son of the late Earl Valen Brooks of Axys, who died in the first rebellion. Kieran and his mother joined us many moons ago. I have no doubt he’ll quickly rise to Captain in the Guard,” Elara informed her.

Serena watched as Kieran twirled his sword around his knuckles. When his bright blue eyes met hers, she raised her brows as his mouth hitched in a broad grin. A face like that could be dangerous. She flushed, turning hastily to face Crystal.

“Don’t be fooled by a charming face, Serena,” the guardian whispered to her. “He may have grown up kissing the queen’s rear, but he was not well loved in Envyre.”

Xandra bit her lip, glancing sheepishly at them. “He may be elitist, but he was a damn good kisser back in our youth,” she said with a shrug.

Serena gasped, and Crystal quickly covered her open mouth for her. “When the humans hit their teenage years, it felt like everyone was kissing everyone. It was terrible.”

“Oh, hush,” Xandra hissed, lightly slapping her friend’s arm. “It’s not that big of a deal. It was just a kiss. It never meant anything.”

“So how did Cole compare?” Serena asked, grinning at the way both guardians reacted.

Crystal moaned, covering her face. “I do not want to hear this. Can we just watch the competition?”

Serena snickered at the guardian’s clear discomfort. Xandra winked, leaning in closer to whisper, “Cole did not have to kiss a dozen frogs to know what he was doing. It’s just another thing he’s naturally talented at.”

Crystal gagged and wrinkled her nose. She shoved Xandra out of her personal space, and Serena laughed at their antics. Crystal loved them both and supported their relationship, but Serena could understand why the archer did not want to hear the details. She wouldn’t have wanted to know who her brother was involved with either.

Her thoughts drifted to Cameron, and she clenched her hands in her lap. His face often came to her in dreams, sometimes playing in the woods and others, scowling at her in the mountains. Though her friends always reminded her that she had killed him in self-defense, the burden was still there, simmering beneath the surface along with her rage toward Rexton.

Serena shook her head, eager to shake his face from the forefront of her memory. The fight was in progress. The two young men charged at each other; each sought the other’s weakness. As she watched them circle each other in a lethal dance, the clash of metal ringing in her ears, she wondered how they could put aside their camaraderie and face each other as enemies competing for the same prize. That was something she still struggled with while practicing with the guardians. She didn’t want to hurt anyone. She never had. And after everything she’d been through, everyone she’d hurt with her own two hands, it still didn’t feel natural to wield a weapon against anyone, especially a friend.

It wasn’t long before she realized these men were built differently from her. Like Cole, there was a cold determination in their eyes, a complete lack of empathy for their opponent. They rushed at each other, arms swinging swiftly with reckless abandon. Neither blinked when their opponent’s blade came dangerously close to their extremities. They reveled in the danger, spurred on by the crowd’s cheers. The one with the long curls, Heath, barely winced as Kieran’s blade cut through his shirt sleeve; Kieran’s blue eyes darkened as he watched blood trickle from Heath’s forearm to the ground. There was something beautiful about the ruthless glint in his eyes; Serena couldn’t help but stare at him. She wished she could feel that kind of confidence when she fought.

“He’s gotten much better over the past year,” Crystal said, her voice tinged with surprise. “Perhaps third time’s the charm.”

Serena peeled her eyes off the fight, convinced Kieran was close to clinching his victory. “Did he compete last year?”

“Yes. He graduated with us,” Xandra noted. “But Rigel knocked him out of the competition. He was not pleased about that.”

“Kieran’s always thought too highly of himself. Noble blood and all that,” Crystal said, wrinkling her nose. “Instead of taking a position as a guard for the outer ring, he went back to Envyre to train harder.”

“So did Rigel win the tournament last year?” Serena asked.

The guardians chuckled to themselves, exchanging glances. “That honor went to Crystal, who smoked all of us in archery and bested Rigel in the final duel.”

“Really? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you fight with a sword,” Serena said.

“Then we will have to change that,” Crystal replied, her lips curled into a smug grin.

Xandra leaned over her friend, whispering low, “If you think she’s a force with her bow, just wait until you see her with a blade. She’s just as powerful as her brother.”

“I still prefer the bow above all,” the elf noted, her irises bobbing as she followed the match.

Serena glanced back at the arena just as Kieran sliced through Heath’s shin. The bystanders winced as the young man went down on his knees. She held her breath as Kieran stepped toward his opponent, flourishing his weapon around his knuckles. His gaze shifted to the tent behind Heath, and she thought he winked at her. Or perhaps he was winking at her friends. They knew him from the Academy. Kieran placed the edge of his blade on Heath’s shoulder, and Serena sucked in a breath. It looked as if he was preparing to behead his fallen comrade. Serena gripped the arm rests of her chair, her knuckles turning stark white as the arena melted away, replaced by memories of Cameron and Rigel in the mountains flashing through her mind.

Elara leaned over and pressed a hand on top of Serena’s, startling her out of the dark memory. When she met her aunt’s eyes, there was something comforting in them, something that made her offer the queen a small smile of reassurance. She had been hard on her aunt when they first arrived. Hard on everyone, even herself. She didn’t know who she was or where she was supposed to fit in anymore, yet as her anger slowed to a simmer, she realized she couldn’t blame Elara or the guardians for that. It was all Rexton’s fault. Every painful memory, every agonizing loss, the trail of blood was smeared across the canvas with his own fingers. Painting his masterpiece with the blood of the innocent.

The queen gave her hand another squeeze before shifting to sit upright, turning her eyes back to the competition. Just as Elara moved away from Serena, something flew across her line of vision, embedding in the queen’s chair right between their heads, where Elara had leaned over only seconds ago. Serena blinked at the arrow lodged between them. People around them started shouting. Before she could think, Crystal yanked Serena out of her seat by the arm, forcing her to the ground and using her own body as a shield. The girl looked around, realizing Gerard Stirling had done the same to his wife, much to her horror.

“Form a shield wall around Her Majesty,” Commander Stanton’s voice boomed from nearby.

“Stay down,” Crystal muttered, patting Serena on the shoulder as she rolled off her. Guards swarmed the queen’s stand as bystanders ran screaming from the arena. Crystal stood, quickly informing Commander Stanton that she had seen the arrow come from one of the third-floor windows of the citadel. Serena rolled onto her side and stared at the arrow that protruded from her aunt’s seat. Two inches over, and it could have killed either of them. She shivered; her throat went dry as she breathed heavily. For the first time since they arrived in Symptee, Serena realized that perhaps even the citadel was not fortified enough to keep Rexton from hunting down the last of the Garrick bloodline.

A Fox Among Flames, the second book in the Celestial Destiny Series, releases January 22, 2026. Ebook available for preorder at a discounted price on Amazon Kindle now!