Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Nikolas raised an eyebrow waiting for me to speak. My mouth was dry, but I dared not drink water. I did not know if I should sit beside him or talk to him standing. I did not know what to do.

“What is the matter?” he asked me, sensing something was wrong.

“I..I..” I started and swallowed to compose myself properly. He put down his food and looked at me with a frown.

“I want to thank you for everything you have done for me and my people,” I started, and he frowned.

“I am grateful for your kindness and leniency,” I said, and he looked confused.

“Knowing who you are, I respect your kindness. I know you have every reason to be angry and hate us, especially my dad. I am grateful that you allowed us to live,” I said, and he frowned at me.

“What is the meaning of this, Aliana? Did my mother say something to you?” He asked, and I shook my head.

Even though I had a lengthy conversation with his mother, with her talking for the better part of the duration, her words weren’t why I was acting the way I was. I was afraid because of what I was about to tell him.

I shook my head and fought my tears. They were tears of uncertainty and fear of failure.

“No,” I said and swallowed, ensuring I did not cry.

“You are a strong and powerful man, and I can never take advantage of your kindness. I can never reach for what you are unwilling to give, and I will always be content with where you place me. I will never try to manipulate you for selfish reasons or take advantage of your love towards me,” I said, and he got up and advanced towards me.

He pulled me into his arms and held me.

“What is the matter, Aliana? Tell me because you are making me nervous,” He said, and I bowed my head, unwilling to look into his eyes. If I did, I would lose the courage to speak, and I needed all the courage I could get.

“It is about my father,” I said, and he pulled away from me. I did not look up to look at him. I had started speaking; I might as well spill.

“He isn’t doing well. He can’t continue to work. He will die,” I said, and he was silent.

“Please find something less strenuous for him to do. I know you hate him, but he is all I have left. Please. I swear he will not plot against you or do anything to hurt you,” I said and looked at him, and his face was expressionless.

I knew he was a bit annoyed, and I could feel it. “Did Qusack put you up to this?” He asked me, and I shook my head.

“I haven’t seen Beta Qusack today. I went out and noticed my father was around, so I went to check on him. He had received treatment and was sleeping,” I said, and he went to sit on his couch.

“And you somehow figured it was the mason’s work that made him sick,” He said, and I shook my head but dared not speak Israel’s name. It was already going wrong.

He sighed.

have kept my hatred for your father out of it, and you have kept his predicament out. Why do this now? Don’t you think I know he is suffering? Do you think I want to make life easy for him? He killed my father. My mother and I grew up in the woods because of his mutiny. It is a

not do this, Aliana. Do not try to use what is between us to get me to do things I won’t normally

never dare it. I will never try to manipulate you. I will never try to

speechless. If he put it that way, it

it easy on him?”

innocent,” I said, ready to tell him what my father

growled at me, and I stepped

was enraged. I knew I had crossed the invisible line with my

He said, and I stepped back until my back

told me how it all happened.

tell you?” He commanded me,

force and rage,

was just caught up…” I said,

Tell me what the traitor told you,” he ordered through gritted teeth, and I

Uncle, your father’s half-brother. He wanted to be king, but your father did not know. Your father loved him,” I said, fighting the command so I could organise my

father, but he wouldn’t have it. They tried to let it go, but when they discovered they would move against your father, my father and Giles

to be a series of arrests turned

betrayed, and that was the beginning

killed by poison. That made your father believe the werewolves were trying to isolate him and take over. Giles and all the werewolves working in the kitchen were killed.

fervently kept away from Forest. Your father was the one that sealed our fate by signing that law and making it universal, but my father knew

Mathias stopped funding the werewolf Military and sent them to battle with nothing but their wolves. They were dying and sent letters to complain about

enough, your father planned to sign a slave

father to plead with

emancipate themselves from your father and settle

away from everything. Your father did not respond, and when he finally did, he sent them a nasty letter threatening all sorts of things. The werewolves had it, so they decided to march together to the palace to demand that your father let

your father thought they were coming to fight him. Because he did not have a vast army, he decided he would

was what caused the fight,” I

I did not miss any detail because I was

into the woods. My father got the upper hand but did not kill him. That was when your father realised he had been deceived, but the

he believed your father never got the

had two options, surrender and leave or die in battle; he chose

pierced his heart with his sword and fell on it. My father rushed to him to pull out the sword. When the others came, they believed he had killed the king because he pulled out the sword, and it was in his hands,

day. He still weeps for his friend….” I said, and

and I had