The guard frowns, a line between her silvery brows. But she can’t disobey me. And with that comes a glimpse of the power waiting for me, once I put on the Raven robes. It’s crushing in its intensity.
‘My lady.’ The guard nods her head, then whooshes away. As soon as she’s gone I’m in Kyle’s arms, his lips on mine.
‘Wait,’ I say, when he pulls back so I can breathe. ‘Not here.’
‘In your room?’ He raises an eyebrow.
‘No, not there either. I wasn’t kidding about the library.’
‘Okay?’ He releases me. ‘Lead on, my lady. I look forward to all the reading we’ll do together.’
I laugh, my heart beginning to soar. Only he can do this to me. We race through the darkened hallways, hand in hand, until we reach the familiar arched doors. I open them, pulling Kyle inside. The library is quiet, moonlight coming through long windows to silver the bookshelves lining three walls, sliding across the carved wooden furniture and fine rugs.
‘Are you going to tell me what’s going on?’
I smile, shaking my head, feeling light as air. Outside, the night sky is bright with stars. I go to one of the padded window seats, kneeling to look up. When I’m living as a human, I’ll be able to go outside whenever I like, day or night. All the pieces seem to finally be falling into place, freedom so close I can almost taste it.
Kyle sits next to me, his head back, silver eyes reflecting the sky. ‘Are we looking at stars?’
‘Yes,’ I say. ‘No. I mean, soon we’ll have a better view.’
‘Aren’t you supposed to stay in the house?’
‘Yes.’ I hug my secret to me, stretching out the moment.
Kyle leans his head on my arm. ‘In the pits, you can’t see the sky.’ He sounds reflective. ‘It’s all underground. No fresh air, no stars, no curving moon.’
My bright mood dims. I look down at him. ‘It sounds awful.’
‘It wasn’t a nice place to be.’ He lifts my hand to his lips, kissing it. ‘So now, whenever I can, I look up at the sky. To remind myself that I’m free.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I say, wanting to ease the pain in his voice. The life of a pit champion can’t have been an easy one. ‘Were you always… um. I mean… in the pits. Were you born there?’ It’s kind of bad manners to ask someone whether they were blood borne, or changed. But I don’t think Kyle will mind. It’s not like we don’t know each other.
‘I wasn’t always there, no. I had a life, outside, for a while.’
‘As…’
‘As a human.’ He smiles, but his gaze is distant. ‘A long time ago. I’m not blood borne, like you are. The memory is more like a dream than anything, vague flickers of images. But I’ve never forgotten the sky. It kept me going, when I was under there.’
‘How long ago?’
‘Long enough.’ He reaches up, pulling me so I have to turn, sitting next to him. He leans in, his hand coming to my waist. All thought leaves me.
And the library doors open. Kyle is on his feet, the movement so quick it’s a blur.
‘Emelia. I thought I heard you in here.’
It’s my mother, flanked by two of her personal guards, moonlight catching the flecks of red, like blood droplets, on their black and silver livery.
‘Mother.’ I stand up as well. Kyle’s fingers brush against mine.
‘Kyle.’ She nods her head to him.
‘My lady.’ He bows.
‘Emelia, what’s this I hear about you dismissing one of your guards? They’re here for your safety.’ My mother frowns.
‘I didn’t think I needed two guards to come to the library,’ I say. ‘And it’s not like I’m going anywhere else.’
