‘Sorry?’ The word is a whisper, faint on the air.
‘I shouldn’t have… I’m not supposed to?—’
My face crumples and I try to hide my reaction, even though I have no chance. A predator sees every nuance, every movement, of its prey.
‘It’s not that I don’t want to.’ He says it fast, like he knows I need to hear it. ‘God, you have no idea how much… since I first saw you.’ His hands cup my face, his lips so close to mine. ‘But you know we shouldn’t do this – your parents…’
I don’t care what my parents think. He’s right, of course he is. My mother even warned me, in the Costume Room. The only daughter of Raven with a household guard. But my body is tingling, every nerve ending alive. I stare at him, and he at me.
Then he kisses me again. I press against him, my fingers in his satin hair, his hands roaming across my body. I don’t care if anyone sees us. It feels inevitable, like I cannot resist the pull towards him.
The sound of the front door banging reverberates from below, and I hear my father’s voice as though from a distance.
‘… needs to be brought under control. We cannot risk another uprising like the one at Oxford – there’s too much breeding stock at stake!’
Kyle and I come apart. I’m breathing hard, my mind a tangled snarl of lust and confusion. Kyle’s hand moves across my hair, traces the curve of my cheek. Then he bends and picks up the garland, handing it to me. His fingers linger on mine.
‘Emelia, I?—’
‘Shh.’ I hold up my hand, wanting to hear what my father is saying. I think I glimpse hurt in Kyle’s silver eyes.
‘We’ve increased our guard presence throughout the entire country,’ Father continues, ‘and the North Wind are still getting through.’
‘Surely more violence is not the answer.’ My mother’s soft tones.
God, what am I thinking, kissing Kyle like that? My cheeks redden with shame. I’m just supposed to be making him like me, so I can rope him into my plan to escape. Kissing isn’t part of the plan, despite how he makes me feel. I move away from him, trying to focus on what my parents are saying.
My father’s voice grows louder. ‘I thought Mistral was supposed to be managing things.’
‘He is, last I heard. I’ve asked him to go to London, too, acting on our behalf.’
I roll my eyes. Mistral. Ofcoursehe’s getting involved. He usually lives in France, but it sounds as though he’s in England to manage… whatever’s going on. I guess that’s why he sent Kyle to us, as well.
I’m acutely aware of him next to me, a darker presence in the shadows. Wanting some space, I go towards the top of the stairs, hugging the garland to me as though I’m naked and it’s my only cover. I’m still blushing, still hardly able to believe what just happened. Then Kyle’s arms come around me, his lips brushing against my ear, travelling down the side of my throat. Oh, darkness.
‘Oh, so you’ve been talking to him, have you?’ My father’s voice becomes sharper. ‘I suppose he’s still angling for your hand, despite the fact you’ve been mine for a century.’
I lean against Kyle, finding it tough to breathe as he kisses my neck. I fight to stay focused. I know I should walk away from him, but I don’t seem to be able to. ‘You came from Mistral, right?’ I whisper, my voice trembling. ‘Do you know what my father is talking about? Is it the rebels?’
The kisses stop. ‘I did.’ Kyle’s voice is a murmur against my skin. ‘And yes, he’s talking about the rebellion.’
I squirm in his embrace, half-turning to face him. ‘Did Mistral say anything to you about it?’
Kyle snorts. ‘Do you think Mistral discusses his plans with me?’ He softens the words with another kiss. My arms wind around his neck, seemingly of their own volition. Maybe kissingcouldbe part of the plan, after all. Again I feel the wildness Kyle inspires in me, the awakening at my core.
‘I don’t know how he does things.’ We’re still whispering, our mouths so close together.
‘Badly. The guy is a dick. I’m glad he sent me here.’
Something Kyle and I have in common, then. I muffle my giggle, not wanting to give us away. Kyle kisses me again. My father’s voice drifts up from below.
‘Maybe if Mistral spent less time sniffing around here and more time actually trying to find the root of this rebellion, it would be less of a problem. Because believe me, it is becoming one.’
‘I know it is, Aleks.’ My mother’s voice is uncharacteristically sharp. ‘I do govern my own realm.’
‘I thought you said the North Wind were nothing to worry about,’ I whisper.
‘I never said that,’ whispers Kyle. Another kiss.
