by KJ Baker
Then, without another word, he turned and strode away. Raven sucked in a deep breath and squared his shoulders. Why did he look like he was preparing for a fight?
“Shall we?”
I swallowed thickly and forced myself to nod. Raven held out his hand and I gripped it tightly as we stepped past the guards and entered the Ravenhold, the heart of the Shadow Court.
Beyond the gates lay a wide courtyard slabbed in white stone. It was big enough to hold grand processions, and the statues of warriors that lined the sides suggested this might indeed be its function. Above me the towers and turrets of the Ravenhold jabbed into the sky like slender fingers. The walkways that spanned them were so high and narrow they made me dizzy just to look up at them.
Directly ahead, across the courtyard, a set of bronze doors gave entrance into the main keep. There was no iron here, Raven had told me, as it was anathema to them. When they needed metal, the Fae generally used bronze or silver. As we started across the courtyard, the doors swung open and a group of people came hurrying out. Three men and two women, all Fae. They swept around us, swamping Raven with questions.
“Your Majesty!” said one woman with white-blonde hair piled on top of her head in intricate coils. “Thank the Spire you’re safe! We heard rumors that you had been abducted by mortals! We knew it was ridiculous, of course—” Her words trailed off as her eyes alighted on me and her mouth made a little O of surprise.
“My lord!” a male Fae dressed as a warrior growled. “You said you would be gone two days! Two days! You know what those bastards at the Court of the Sun have been doing in your absence? Surely your mission could have waited?” His eyes flicked over me, betraying little except maybe a faint hint of annoyance. “Is this the reason you’ve been gone so long? A dalliance with a mortal?”
Raven moved like lightning. There was a thud, a grunt, and suddenly the male Fae was on his knees, spitting blood into the dirt.
“You will show some respect when you speak of her,” Raven said, his voice dangerously quiet. “This is Asha Grant. She is my mate. And your queen.”
There were gasps all around us.
“Get up,” Raven said to the male Fae. “Tell the Council to convene. I will address you all then.”
Without waiting for a response, he took my hand and led me through the bronze doors. The gaggle of Fae did not follow, but I couldn’t help but look back. They were gathered close, whispering feverishly together. A knot of apprehension twisted my stomach. That had not gone well.
We stepped into the palace and into a series of high, vaulted corridors with graceful curved ceilings, up winding staircases that were so delicately carved it seemed they would shatter the moment I set my foot on them. There were Fae everywhere and many of them called out to Raven as we passed, but he didn’t slow, merely snapping orders that sent them scurrying.
Finally, we reached an upper level of the palace, one blessedly free of other Fae. Here the corridors were wide and straight and the whole place spoke of opulence. Two guards, one male, one female, stood outside a pair of double doors. Raven marched up to them and they snapped to attention, thumping their hearts with their fists in salute.
“Reyna, Malarn,” Raven said in greeting.
“Greetings, Your Majesty,” the male, Malarn said, giving Raven a deep bow. “We guessed you’d returned.”
“Nobody else could cause such a rumpus,” added Reyna with a grin.
Raven returned her grin. “What can I say? I try.”
Reyna snorted and turned to push the double doors open. She gave me a deep bow. “I hope you find your lodgings acceptable, highness. Please call if you need anything.”
Highness? Oh God, when would I ever get used to that?
“I...um...thank you,” I stammered.
I followed Raven through the double doors and Reyna swung them shut behind us. We were finally, blessedly, alone. I let out a long, heartfelt sigh. It had been one hell of a day. I felt wrung out and my legs began to tremble. I staggered, but Raven was there instantly. His arms circled me, holding me tight, and I found myself sagging against him, resting my head against his broad, hard chest.
“Asha,” he murmured into my hair. “How are you doing? I know this is a lot to take in.”
I pushed away from him. “It’s fine,” I lied. “I’m fine.”
We were in a sitting room but it was larger and more opulent than any room I’d ever seen. The whole of one wall was taken up with floor to ceiling windows, which gave out onto a balcony ringed by golden filigree metalwork. Beyond this spread an incredible view of the moon-drenched landscape of the Shadow Court rolling out into the distance where snow-capped mountains marched along the horizon. The room had a marble floor, elegant paintings and hangings adorning the walls, and sumptuous furniture scattered around. Through an open door, I spied a bedroom just as opulent.
“Wow,” I murmured. “This would put the most expensive hotel in the world to shame.”
Raven shrugged. “These are the royal apartments. Your home now. Our home. Not to my taste but still—”
“The royal apartments?”
“Of course. Where did you expect we’d be staying?”
I sat down abruptly on a thickly cushioned chair. This was all too much. Just a few short hours ago I’d been Asha Grant, antiques dealer and nerd extraordinaire. Now I was some kind of queen-apparent? And expected to live in an apartment that looked like it came straight out of an A-lister’s dreams?
I put my head in my hands, suddenly dizzy. Oh God. Oh holy hell.
Raven knelt in front of me. He said nothing, just gently put a finger under my chin and raised my head. Then he clasped my hand in his and brought it to his chest.
I could feel his heart beating under my hand. Its regular, steady rhythm helped to calm me a little.
The reaction of his people didn’t matter. The fact that I was so far from home in a strange place didn’t matter. As long as he was by my side, I could do anything. Anything.
He reached up to cup my face in one of his large hands. “Look at you,” he breathed. “You are radiant. Every inch a queen.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You reckon? I would say I sorely need a bath and a hairbrush.”
A smile quirked his lips. “Well, now that you come to mention it...”
“Charming!” I aimed a mock punch at his shoulder, but he deftly caught my wrist and kissed the back of my hand. A tingle went through me as his lips brushed my skin. Oh heck. Why did he have to do that? I couldn’t afford to let him distract me now.
But my body had other ideas. My breath hissed out in a rush and the tingling along my skin deepened. Raven’s eyes flashed and his arms went around my waist, yanking me hard against him.
“Nobody will disturb us here,” he murmured in my ear, his breath hot against my neck. “I’ve a mind to show my mate a proper Summerlands welcome.”
That did it. Heat shot through me and my thoughts evaporated. I wanted nothing more than for Raven to carry me into the bedroom and show me exactly what a proper welcome looked like.
But before we could move, the thud of footsteps sounded outside the door and a woman’s voice shouted, “Out of the way, Fates take you!”
I heard the clink of weapons, as if halberds had been crossed in front of the door, and Malarn’s calm voice murmuring, “You can’t go in there. We’ve instructions to keep everyone out.”
“What are you talking about?” came the woman’s outraged reply. “That instruction doesn’t extend to me! Open the door this instant or you’ll be eating your dinner through a straw tonight!”
“I’m sorry, Highness. You cannot go in.”
Raven groaned. He hurried to the door and yanked it open. Outside, Malarn and Reyna had drawn their weapons and were using them to block entry to a young woman who stood with feet apart and shoulders tensed as if preparing for a fight. She reminded me of a bristling cat.
“There you are!” the woman snapped at Raven. “Will you tell these two i
diots to get out of my way?”
Raven sighed. “Hello, Ffion.” He nodded to the two guards and they stepped aside.
The young woman, Ffion, swept into the room and looked me up and down.
“So you’re the one everyone’s talking about?”
“I...um...I...”
She was dressed in tight black pants like leggings, a tunic, and soft boots that came up to her knees. I counted at least three knives strapped around her waist, and she moved with a feline grace that reminded me of Raven.
He shut the door and moved to stand between us. His stance was protective as he placed himself between me and the newcomer. “Ffion,” he said. “This is Asha. Asha, this is Ffion. My sister.”
My eyes widened. His sister? I hadn’t even known he had a sister! It seemed there was still plenty about the man I’d pledged myself to that I didn’t know. But now I looked, the family resemblance was obvious. Ffion had the same jet-black hair, the same deep blue eyes, so dark as to be almost purple, and she moved with the same calm authority, as if utterly confident in her own abilities.
Ffion regarded me with cool appraisal. Then she turned to her brother. “I hope you realize what you’ve done. The whole court is in an uproar.” She put on a high-pitched mimicking voice. “King Arion has brought a mortal! King Arion has found a mate! King Arion means to go to war with the Unseelie! King Arion this, King Arion that! Spire save me, even my trainees haven’t been able to talk about anything else!” She sounded immensely irritated by this fact.
“The court is always in an uproar about something,” Raven replied, spreading his hands. “Where would they be without a little gossip to keep them going?”
Ffion frowned. “This is serious, Raven, and you know it. Who is she? One of your dalliances? Will you tear apart the Shadow Court for the latest notch on your bedpost?”
Raven’s eyes flashed dangerously. His stance went suddenly tense, fury in the lines of his shoulders. “You know me better than that, sister,” he said, his voice low and deadly.
Ffion, not at all intimidated by her brother’s anger, studied him for a moment, eyes narrowed. Then she turned to look at me. I forced myself to raise my chin and meet her gaze. I would be damned if I would let this woman intimidate me. A dalliance? A notch on Raven’s bed post? How dare she?
Ffion stared at me intently. Finally, she nodded and turned back to her brother. “Yes, I can see it now. She really is your mate isn’t she? Spire take me, brother, you don’t do things by halves do you?”
Raven visibly relaxed. A faint smile twisted his lips. “I can’t help who I fall in love with.”
Those words sent a thrill right through me and I found myself wishing Ffion would leave. I wanted to be alone with my lover. I wanted to...
Ffion only scowled at his words then changed the subject. “Have you met with those idiots from the council yet?”
“I haven’t had that pleasure.”
Ffion snorted. “I don’t blame you, but you can’t put it off forever. Things have been...difficult while you’ve been away. There are some who are calling for a truce with the Unseelie.”
Raven’s expression tightened. “That is madness.”
“Exactly what I’ve been telling them. But most of them are bigger fools than even you and they won’t listen. They’re scared, Raven. Terrified. None of them have ever had to face anything like this before. Aren’t we the mighty Shadow Court? Haven’t we always been untouchable? Now they’re beginning to realize they might have to pay dearly for their complacency. They think a truce with the Unseelie is the best way to keep themselves and their lands safe.”
Raven’s lips pulled back from his teeth in a snarl. “Then I will disabuse them of that notion. There will be no truce with the Unseelie, not while there is life left in my body.”
Ffion smiled suddenly. It was a savage smile, full of latent threat. “Excellent! That’s what I wanted to hear! Although I hate to admit it, it’s good to have you back, brother. When you’ve finished whipping those sniveling bastards into line, send them to me. A few days training with the Knives should soon sort them out.”
A grim smile curled Raven’s mouth. “I have no doubt of that, sister. But I have another, much more important task for you.”
Ffion’s eyes lit up. “Oh?”
“You are to guard my queen. There will be many who wish her harm. You will keep her safe.”
Ffion’s eyes widened and she looked between Raven and me. “But...but...I’m not some Spire-damned nursemaid!”
“No,” Raven replied, laying his hands on Ffion’s shoulders. “You are the most skilled fighter in the Shadow Court, and my beloved little sister. I would entrust my mate’s safety to nobody else.”
Ffion looked as though she might explode. A vein throbbed in her temple and I could see her anger building. What was Raven doing? I didn’t want to be guarded by his sister any more than she wanted to guard me. I was just about to open my mouth to say exactly that when Ffion suddenly sagged, letting out a long breath.
“Fine! I can hardly refuse, can I? Wouldn’t that be treason?”
Raven grinned, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. “Thank you, Ffion.” He gave me a beaming smile. “I’m sure you two are going to get on famously.”
From the way Ffion was glaring at me, I very much doubted it.
Chapter 2
RAVEN
My boots rang hollowly on the smooth marble of the palace floors as I hurried to the meeting hall. A gaggle of servants, scribes and advisors followed along in my wake, shooting questions and queries at me like a storm of arrows. Spire take me, couldn’t they leave me alone for one moment?
I bit down on the angry words that clawed up my throat and answered with all the patience I could muster. But my thoughts were not on the petty domestic matters they brought to my attention. I was thinking of the meeting ahead. My stomach churned with a mixture of annoyance and worry. Much hung on this meeting—perhaps the very future of the Shadow Court.
I turned a corner and the large gilded doors of the meeting hall came into view. Involuntarily, my hands came to rest on the hilts of my knives and I forced myself to release them. I would need a wholly different set of weapons for the battle ahead.
But at least Ffion had agreed to guard Asha. That was a weight off my mind. My sister might be fiery and difficult to handle at times but once she’d given her word, she would never go back on it. I knew she would protect Asha with her life.
The double doors were standing open and I could hear the hubbub of conversation before I reached the room. The council had already gathered and were no doubt busy making their own plots and plans—as they clearly had during my absence. I strode into the room without waiting to be announced and a hushed silence fell.
A huge circular table dominated the room. Every seat except my own was already filled. Twenty pairs of eyes turned to follow me as I strode around the edge of the table to the chair that sat at the far side, closest to the raised dais on which the throne of the Shadow Court sat.
I slid into my seat, placed my palms flat on the table, and leaned forward, looking around at the members of my council gathered before me.
Into the heavy silence I spoke one word. “Well?”
It was like opening a dam. Everyone started speaking at once.
“Your Majesty, I have a letter from the Sun Court which I must bring to your attention.”
“The Spire has sent no word so I propose we send a delegation.”
“Rumors are spreading about the march of the Unseelie. There will soon be unrest in the streets.”
“Is it true you have brought back a mortal mate?”
“Who is she? Why is she here?”
I let it wash over me like a tide and said nothing. Eventually the noise died into silence and only then did I speak.
“I’ve heard the rumors that have been flying around the court since I returned so I’ll do my best to address them. You are all aware I’ve been on a mission to the morta
l realm. Whilst there, I discovered something wholly unexpected. I discovered my mate. Her name is Asha Grant and yes, she is a human. She has returned with me and as soon as we’ve dealt with the threat of the Unseelie, she will be crowned queen.”
There. Let them chew on that.
A tide of murmuring broke out, as I knew it would. One voice rose above the others.
“Your Majesty, surely this must be a joke?” Across the table, a young man rose to his feet.
My jaw tightened at the sight of him. His clothes were of the richest weave and his fine golden hair fell around his face in cherubic curls. A ceremonial dagger encrusted with enough jewels to feed a human family for a lifetime hung at his side.
I felt my lips curling into a snarl and forced a bland smile onto my face. “A joke, Simeon? How so?”
Simeon Ash smiled thinly and glanced around at his cronies for support, spreading his hands wide as though surprised at my question.
“Your Majesty, at a time like this the Shadow Court needs to be strong. We can afford no weakness, no division.”
“What is your point?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You really want me to spell it out? A mortal mate for the king of the Shadow Court? Mortals are weak, inferior. It will make our enemies think we are weak as well.”
“On the contrary,” I replied, battling to keep my tone civil when what I really wanted to do was leap across the table and get my hands around his throat.
Simeon Ash was descended from the royal line and many centuries ago his family held the throne, until my ancestors overthrew them. The Ash family was one of the richest and most powerful of the Seelie houses and Simeon was now the head following the death of his elder brother—a death that some whispered could be attributed to Simeon himself. He might act the elegant courtier and dress like a fop, but I knew he was a master swordsman, a highly accomplished politician, and perhaps my greatest threat within the Shadow Court.
“You know that for any Fae, finding their fated mate brings great strength,” I said. “Perhaps the greatest strength any of us can possess. You may think Asha is weak because she’s human but that’s because you don’t know her. When you do, you will realize your error.”
