ChapterOne
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
When I was born, my father tried to kill me. No one would have been bothered if he had – it was the way of things for babies like me. But my mother fought him, or so I’ve been told. Still weak from my birth, blood on her legs, on her gown, spattered in her shining dark hair. And she won, as I screamed in the cot by the bed. She won. And so it has always been, her fighting for me. I love her like fire, like water, like something born of this earth that is bigger and stronger and deeper than words. When I was younger, she was my whole world.
Now she is my only regret.
* * *
‘Come, Emelia, we are waiting for you.’
My father stands at the double doors to the sitting room, his arms folded. Tall and lean, the high collar of his black jacket stark against his angular pale face, the glitter of gold on the cuffs echoed in his eyes.
I pick up the pace, wishing I was faster, hating that I’m not. I keep my emotions locked inside, though, my pace gliding, my movements controlled, so I’m just like the rest of them. Hide my anxiety away, bank my anger to a low roar. Bertrand, one of my personal guards, takes up a position to one side of the doors. His massive arms are folded, the silver details on his uniform glinting in the faint light from the candle-lamps. My father ushers me inside.
‘How are you, my gorgeous girl? All ready for Halloween?’ My mother comes to hug me, linking her arm with mine, her long hair rippling like black satin around her perfect oval face. She’s the one who’s Raven, not my father, though he’s taken her name.
‘I’m fine,’ I say, as she leads me to the sofa. Even though I’m not. Silk cushions slide against our gowns, soft like her cool touch. The room is warm, a fire burning in the fireplace, candle-lamps lit. The light and the heat are for me. They don’t need it.
‘So, Emelia’, my father says. ‘Your mother and I have been discussing the duties that come with your inheritance. We feel it is time for you to take on more.’
Oh darkness. Anxiety swirls in my stomach. My inheritance. A huge weight of responsibility looming ever closer, like a distant storm just over the horizon I hope won’t ever arrive. When I turn eighteen next year, I’ll be officially declared ruler of Raven, like every other Raven heir throughout the centuries. However, unlike those other Ravens, I don’t feel remotely ready to take on the role. Nor do I want it.
My father frowns, pinching the bridge of his nose with his long fingers. ‘You’re old enough now to be going out alone. Youshouldbe. There are certain expectations, despite your, er?—’
‘Alone?’ I’m never allowed to go anywhere alone.
‘With a guard, of course.’ My mother glances at my father. ‘But what your father is trying to say, is that we don’t like to see you shut in, the way you are.’
‘We realise that we’ve kept you… cloistered. And we have had our reasons for doing so.’ My father paces, his hands together with the fingertips touching. ‘So, we’ve arranged an outing. An opportunity to represent your house.’ His golden gaze comes to me. ‘Your cousin, Stella, is visiting Dark Haven to host a full moon party for Halloween. Usually your mother and I would make an appearance, but we felt you’d be better suited to the task.’
‘I don’t want to go.’
My mother’s hand tightens briefly on my arm. ‘There’s nothing to be frightened of,’ she says.
I open my mouth to protest, to tell her she’s mistaken. I’m not frightened. I just don’t want to go. Don’t want to shame them any more than I already do. But before I can say anything there are footsteps.
Another guard enters the room, tall and muscular in the silver and black livery of Raven Guard. But oh, it doesn’t really matter what he’s wearing.
He’s beautiful.
Ridiculously so. His smooth skin is pale, but there’s a gold flush to it, as though he’s swallowed sunlight. His cheekbones are high, his eyes a shimmer of silver grey, startling against dark lashes and glossy black hair like my own. He bows to my parents, then to me, and I swear he winks at me. His heels come together and he stands to attention, staring straight ahead.
I turn to my mother, a question in my eyes. She sees it, of course.
‘This is Kyle. We thought if you had your own personal guard, perhaps you would feel better about going out.’ Her voice rises on the end, like a question.
‘What?’ A blush heats my skin. My control is slipping, despite my best efforts. ‘I have a personal guard! What about Bertrand?’
‘Bertrand is needed elsewhere on the estate, and can’t always be with you.’
‘The heir to Raven needs a dedicated personal guard, especially now.’ My father moves closer, firelight gleaming on his high cheekbones.
‘So you’re making me go with… him?’ I gesture towards the new guard.
‘We thought it might be nice for you to be with someone closer to your own age. You won’t have to do anything – just be there in our name.’ There’s sympathy in my mother’s onyx eyes. My father turns away, his nostrils pinched.
My frown deepens. My own age? Sure, Kyle mightlookeighteen, but that’s no guarantee of anything. I glance at him again. He’s not looking at me, but I know he’s aware of me. Everyone in the room, as well as the hallways outside, is aware of me.
