A Love that Endures 3 Read online

  A Love that Endures 3

  Bella Forrest

  Contents

  Also by Bella Forrest

  Problems reading?

  1. David

  2. Katy

  3. David

  4. Katy

  5. David

  6. Katy

  7. David

  8. Katy

  9. David

  10. Katy

  11. David

  12. Katy

  13. David

  14. Katy

  15. David

  16. Katy

  17. David

  18. Katy

  19. David

  20. Katy

  21. David

  22. Katy

  23. David

  24. Katy

  25. David

  26. Katy

  27. David

  28. Katy

  29. David

  30. Katy

  31. David

  32. Katy

  33. David

  34. Katy

  35. Cassie

  36. David

  37. Katy

  38. David

  39. Katy

  40. David

  41. Katy

  Bonus chapters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Read more by Bella Forrest

  Copyright © 2019

  Nightlight Press

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Also by Bella Forrest

  DARKLIGHT

  (Supernatural romance)

  Darklight

  HARLEY MERLIN

  Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)

  Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)

  Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)

  Harley Merlin and the First Ritual (Book 4)

  Harley Merlin and the Broken Spell (Book 5)

  Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Book 6)

  Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix (Book 7)

  Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos (Book 8)

  Harley Merlin and the Mortal Pact (Book 9)

  Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth (Book 10)

  Finch Merlin and the Lost Map (Book 11)

  THE GENDER GAME

  (Action-adventure/romance. Completed series.)

  The Gender Game (Book 1)

  The Gender Secret (Book 2)

  The Gender Lie (Book 3)

  The Gender War (Book 4)

  The Gender Fall (Book 5)

  The Gender Plan (Book 6)

  The Gender End (Book 7)

  THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK

  (Action-adventure/romance. Completed series.)

  The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)

  The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)

  The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)

  The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)

  The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)

  The Girl Who Dared to Endure (Book 6)

  The Girl Who Dared to Fight (Book 7)

  THE CHILD THIEF

  (Action-adventure/romance. Completed series.)

  The Child Thief (Book 1)

  Deep Shadows (Book 2)

  Thin Lines (Book 3)

  Little Lies (Book 4)

  Ghost Towns (Book 5)

  Zero Hour (Book 6)

  HOTBLOODS

  (Supernatural adventure/romance. Completed series.)

  Hotbloods (Book 1)

  Coldbloods (Book 2)

  Renegades (Book 3)

  Venturers (Book 4)

  Traitors (Book 5)

  Allies (Book 6)

  Invaders (Book 7)

  Stargazers (Book 8)

  A SHADE OF VAMPIRE SERIES

  (Supernatural romance/adventure)

  Series 1: Derek & Sofia’s story

  A Shade of Vampire (Book 1)

  A Shade of Blood (Book 2)

  A Castle of Sand (Book 3)

  A Shadow of Light (Book 4)

  A Blaze of Sun (Book 5)

  A Gate of Night (Book 6)

  A Break of Day (Book 7)

  Series 2: Rose & Caleb’s story

  A Shade of Novak (Book 8)

  A Bond of Blood (Book 9)

  A Spell of Time (Book 10)

  A Chase of Prey (Book 11)

  A Shade of Doubt (Book 12)

  A Turn of Tides (Book 13)

  A Dawn of Strength (Book 14)

  A Fall of Secrets (Book 15)

  An End of Night (Book 16)

  Series 3: The Shade continues with a new hero…

  A Wind of Change (Book 17)

  A Trail of Echoes (Book 18)

  A Soldier of Shadows (Book 19)

  A Hero of Realms (Book 20)

  A Vial of Life (Book 21)

  A Fork of Paths (Book 22)

  A Flight of Souls (Book 23)

  A Bridge of Stars (Book 24)

  Series 4: A Clan of Novaks

  A Clan of Novaks (Book 25)

  A World of New (Book 26)

  A Web of Lies (Book 27)

  A Touch of Truth (Book 28)

  An Hour of Need (Book 29)

  A Game of Risk (Book 30)

  A Twist of Fates (Book 31)

  A Day of Glory (Book 32)

  Series 5: A Dawn of Guardians

  A Dawn of Guardians (Book 33)

  A Sword of Chance (Book 34)

  A Race of Trials (Book 35)

  A King of Shadow (Book 36)

  An Empire of Stones (Book 37)

  A Power of Old (Book 38)

  A Rip of Realms (Book 39)

  A Throne of Fire (Book 40)

  A Tide of War (Book 41)

  Series 6: A Gift of Three

  A Gift of Three (Book 42)

  A House of Mysteries (Book 43)

  A Tangle of Hearts (Book 44)

  A Meet of Tribes (Book 45)

  A Ride of Peril (Book 46)

  A Passage of Threats (Book 47)

  A Tip of Balance (Book 48)

  A Shield of Glass (Book 49)

  A Clash of Storms (Book 50)

  Series 7: A Call of Vampires

  A Call of Vampires (Book 51)

  A Valley of Darkness (Book 52)

  A Hunt of Fiends (Book 53)

  A Den of Tricks (Book 54)

  A City of Lies (Book 55)

  A League of Exiles (Book 56)

  A Charge of Allies (Book 57)

  A Snare of Vengeance (Book 58)

  A Battle of Souls (Book 59)

  Series 8: A Voyage of Founders

  A Voyage of Founders (Book 60)

  A Land of Perfects (Book 61)

  A Citadel of Captives (Book 62)

  A Jungle of Rogues (Book 63)

  A Camp of Savages (Book 64)

  A Plague of Deceit (Book 65)

  An Edge of Malice (Book 66)

  A Dome of Blood (Book 67)

  A Purge of Nature (Book 68)

  Season 9: A Birth of Fire

  A Birth of Fire (Book 69)

  A Breed of Elements (Book 70)

  A Sacrifice of Flames (Book 71)

  A Conspiracy of Realms (Book 72)

  A Search for Death (Book 73)

  A Piece of Scythe (Book 74)

  A Blade of Thieron (Book 75)

  A Phantom of Truth (Book 76)

  A Fate of Time (Book 77)

  Season 10: An Origin of Vampires

  An
Origin of Vampires (Book 78)

  A Game of Death (Book 79)

  A SHADE OF DRAGON TRILOGY

  A Shade of Dragon 1

  A Shade of Dragon 2

  A Shade of Dragon 3

  A SHADE OF KIEV TRILOGY

  A Shade of Kiev 1

  A Shade of Kiev 2

  A Shade of Kiev 3

  A LOVE THAT ENDURES TRILOGY

  (Contemporary romance)

  A Love that Endures

  A Love that Endures 2

  A Love that Endures 3

  THE SECRET OF SPELLSHADOW MANOR

  (Supernatural/Magic YA. Completed series)

  The Secret of Spellshadow Manor (Book 1)

  The Breaker (Book 2)

  The Chain (Book 3)

  The Keep (Book 4)

  The Test (Book 5)

  The Spell (Book 6)

  BEAUTIFUL MONSTER DUOLOGY

  (Supernatural romance)

  Beautiful Monster 1

  Beautiful Monster 2

  DETECTIVE ERIN BOND

  (Adult thriller/mystery)

  Lights, Camera, GONE

  Write, Edit, KILL

  For an updated list of Bella’s books, please visit her website: www.bellaforrest.net

  Join Bella’s VIP email list and she’ll send you an email reminder as soon as her next book is out. Tap here to sign up: www.morebellaforrest.com

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  1

  David

  In the damp darkness of his makeshift home, the shell of David Rosen stared up at his leaky cardboard ceiling and accepted that he wouldn’t be getting any rest. Not that night. Not after seeing what he had seen.

  The headline from the newspaper that lined his floor and insulated his pilled blanket echoed unbearably in his head.

  “Princess in London for Grand Engagement at Palace.”

  His princess. The princess whom he had loved more than he’d ever thought was possible. The princess who had trusted David enough to share her true identity with him when she felt like she had to hide herself from everyone else in the world. The princess whom he had lost, through a coordinated attack on his reputation and integrity; who was probably by now completely convinced of his guilt, perhaps even to the point of wishing that she had never met him.

  Princess Katerina de Courtes. Or, as he had known her, just Katy.

  David felt his heart lurch painfully in his chest. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and engaged himself in the same futile exercise he’d been attempting over the past five years, starting on his first day at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution.

  Trying to forget.

  “David, lad? You okay in there?” A voice that had become familiar to him in his new home.

  David opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the plastic sheet that he had repurposed as a door.

  First Giles, now you? Can’t even catch a break on the streets.

  “Yeah. I’m in here. I’m fine,” David replied. But even though he’d only known Mick for a couple of months, he knew well enough that he wouldn’t be able to shake the man’s concern so easily.

  “Can I come in?”

  David sighed and sat up. In the world of tramps and transients, a friend’s safety and sanity were never guaranteed. David had been slowly learning that lesson over the course of his month among London’s most overlooked population. And he knew that Mick had already learned that the hard way, losing friends to addiction and depression. So letting him in would be a lot faster than trying to convince him to leave.

  “Sure,” David replied wearily.

  The shelter was suddenly lit by the yellow light of electric lampposts, as Mick, crouched down and dripping wet, peeled back the door to peer inside. He was a tall, wiry man with a prominent nose, sharp cheekbones, and intense green eyes. His musty coat and slightly receding hair were sopping with rainwater, though he seemed either oblivious or impervious to it. David had always assumed that it was the latter.

  “Sorry, David. But Giles thought you was crying, like. Aggie, too. She was doing my ‘ead in about it. Told me to come check on you,” Mick said sheepishly in his thick Scouse accent.

  Sitting up and resting on his forearms, David merely shrugged. “Uh, no. Must’ve misheard something. I’m just off to bed in here.”

  Mick nodded, slowly and searchingly, before he spoke again. “All right, then. Just wanted to make sure it didn’t have nothing to do with that princess.”

  David swallowed. Mick must’ve seen the headlines, too. And of course he knew about David’s past, though they had never talked about it. Even among the invisibles, even after all those years, David was infamous, having been dragged through the mud on a world stage. The cad who’d broken the princess’s heart. The man who’d led her astray, into questionable moral territory. Before his dark beard and curls had grown shaggy, he’d even been recognizable on the streets of London, inviting jeers and condescension. It didn’t seem like his affairs would ever quite be private again. But at least, unlike the rest of the world, the downtrodden of London, the addicts and criminals and down-on-their-luck, didn’t judge him too harshly.

  David didn’t answer Mick’s question about the princess, and after a few long seconds, his friend continued. “Well, anyway. You know I’m ‘ere if you need me. Stay warm. Proper baltic outside.”

  With that, Mick retreated from sight, encasing David once again in the musty darkness of his shanty home. He lay back down, the cardboard and threadbare blanket beneath him barely padding the asphalt of the car park, and tried to will himself to think of something—anything—but his past. But with such a pathetic present and no foreseeable future, he didn’t have many other options. And so, like they did most nights, the bad memories began to wash over David, opening old wounds anew.

  The trial against him had been completely one-sided, an utter defeat, even with the expensive lawyer that had used up most of David’s inheritance. He’d fought for it; he hadn’t given up, even to the end. But he’d had no evidence to prove his innocence and no witnesses. The prosecution, on the other hand, had plenty of evidence against David: his contact with a known drug cartel; incriminating messages setting up his new “business,” sent directly from David’s email address; not to mention all of the less-than-savory personal details about a supposed tryst with his former lover that had become public knowledge. His French ex had sold a complete lie to the press. His Harvard reputation had been tarnished by claims of academic malpractice. And, of course, the completely public cutoff of his relationship with the princess of Lorria wasn’t exactly a positive character reference.

  But through it all, David had maintained hope. Throughout his life, even during tribulations, he had always managed to feel a certain optimism and persistence. It was what had gotten him into Harvard on scholarship, what had motivated him to keep searching for his biological family after his loving adoptive parents passed away, and what had led him to think that even he—a commoner—could have a chance with the world’s most eligible bachelorette. So, over the course of the trial, with his hope carrying him on, he’d kept on fighting, even when his woes seemed insurmountable.

  When he was sentenced to seven years, he’d tried to see the bright side: now he’d have a legal library and as much time as he needed to plan his appeals. When his appeals failed, he tried to focus on bettering himself until he could get out and try to appeal to Katy’s reason.

  After all, it was just the better part of a decade. David was still young. He had time to spare.

  But as the months wore on in prison, that had seemed less and less true. Even with time to read and exercise, three square meals a day, and the supportive letters from his newfound cousins, Joseph and Cerise, an
d his Aunt Mary, the days began to bleed drearily into each other. After a year, David was barely aware of when his day started and ended. Time was just a smear of blank ink. After a couple of years, as the sadness and desperation overtook him, he stopped responding to the letters. And a year after that, they stopped coming altogether.

  And then the darkness truly set in. For more than seven hundred long, miserable days—before the apathy set in—all David could think of was revenge. Revenge against the two people who had taken everything from him: Katy’s parents.

  The king and queen of Lorria. Who else would have the resources and motivation to fund such a concerted attack on his character, his future, and, most importantly, his relationship with Katy?

  But it was a constant internal struggle. How could he seek justice against those who had cost him his love, knowing it would hurt her even further? Ultimately, he hadn’t been able to decide on a course of action. And after going over and over it all so many times with no answers, eventually, he’d stopped caring about almost everything.

  David had been paroled after serving five years. By then, he had been stewing in his anger and indignation for so long that they had lost their potency. Instead, those emotions had decayed inside of him, along with everything else that had made David David. He left Boston a free, but broken, man.

  With the last scraps of his money, he bought a one-way ticket back to the only place that had ever felt like home. At first he’d rented a small and dank flat in London on a month-by-month contract—as one singular month had been all he could afford in his search for a new livelihood. But, even though he’d prepared himself for the reality of living as a convicted felon, getting a job had proved much more difficult than expected. Because, more than that, David was a pariah. An untouchable. Everyone in London knew of the scandal that had surrounded his incarceration and his relationship with the princess of Lorria. As all of his job applications went unanswered, and he’d had to choose between buying food and paying for rent, he found himself on the streets.