Entangled With Them The Brother Kings Hated Mate

The world would end, as it began, in fire.

This was probably one of the most terrifying lines Princess Eliane Renee Valys had ever read in a book in all her twenty-two years of living. However, no one had told her that the real world would be much more terrifying, blood-curdling, and panic-inducing than anything she'd learned from written words. But it was, and it was unfolding right before her eyes.

Her day had started like any normal day in the tower where she lived. She woke up to the sounds of birds chirping and the gentle breeze carrying the scent of fresh flowers blooming in a nearby meadow. She hummed a tune as she did her morning ablutions and chores, a permanent smile on her face ever since she received an official decree from the palace that her father, King Thraine, had ordered her to return home. For the first time in twenty-two years, her father finally remembered her existence and would be taking her home, just in time for her twenty-third birthday. She couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift.

However, as evening rolled in, the sound of battle cries filled the air, and smoke billowed in every direction she turned. Her nanny, Rita, panicked, suggesting they escape, as it seemed the kingdom was under attack. But Eliane remained frozen. Where would she go? Besides, wasn't her father capable of managing something as small as this? This wasn't the first time the kingdom had been under a coup, and they always emerged victorious. This shouldn't be any different.

But she was dead wrong. This ambush was unlike anything she'd seen, at least from what she could see from the tiny view the small window in her tower offered. By midnight, everywhere she looked was covered in flames, the destruction swift and her Nanny could no longer stay calm.

"Let's run away from here, My princess. Things don't look good at all. We can't allow ourselves to be caught!" Her Nanny had screamed, frantic as she packed their things, the room in her small tower in disarray.

Eliane had broken out of her daze then, helping her Nanny pack the little possessions they had, slipping out of the tower and heading straight to the woods. Eliane had no idea where they were going, but her Nanny seemed to know the way, and if there was anyone she trusted other than her bunny pet, it was her Nanny.

Never been one to engage in any physical activity, it didn't take long for her to grow winded. "Please, let's stop! I can't run any further than this!" Eliane rushed out, stumbling over her own footing, her breathing coming out in ragged gasps.

Nanny Rita looked back, frustration etched in her features. "We've barely gotten anywhere, My princess! We have to keep going. Now is not the time for us to be stalling. The kingdom is under attack!" She cried out in alarm.

"Should we be doing this? Why can't we stay back in the tower? I'm sure father would send soldiers to protect us." Elaine breathed out, gasping for breath.

Nanny Rita gritted her teeth in fury, an indescribable expression crossing her face as she glared down at the spent princess. "Your father doesn't care about anyone other than himself!" She seethed. "If you want to live, you better start listening to me!" She screeched and Eliane flinched, taken aback by her Nanny's outburst.

Why was she so angry?... And so frightened? What was going on? She was going to ask when Nanny Rita froze, her eyes darting around in panic. Then she paled. "They're here..." She whispered in horror, her knees trembling, threatening to give way beneath her.

Eliane furrowed her brows. Who's coming?

"Quick! Get to your feet!" Nanny Rita screamed, pulling Eliane up with her and running through the woods, back to the tower where they had just escaped.

Every question Eliane dared to ask remained stuck in her throat as they wove through the dense forest, ignoring the howls and barks behind them. No matter how fast they ran, whoever was pursuing them seemed to be so much faster, footsteps becoming closer.

Something whizzed past them, landing on a tree ahead, and Eliane realized to her horror that it was an arrow. That gave her the needed adrenaline surge. Her legs picked up speed, and before she knew it, she was running faster than her Nanny, determined to make it back to the tower.

Several other arrows whipped past, their sharp tips slicing through the air with deadly precision, and soon after, her Nanny let out a shriek of pain, falling to the ground with a thud.

Elaine stopped dead in her tracks, her feet rooted to the spot. Then, she sprang into action, running back to her Nanny with a desperate urgency. "Rita!" She cried out, her voice shaking with fear and anguish, seeing she had been hit in her stomach with an arrow.

The arrow's shaft protruded obscenely from her Nanny's abdomen, and dark liquid had begun to stain the surrounding area, a crimson pool spreading rapidly across the dry earth.