Page 25 of House of the Raven
My lower lip trembles.
“Aren’t you happy?”
This can’t be my sister. It just can’t be.
Amira interlaces her fingers and nods. “I understand. You’re in shock, but once it sinks in, you’ll realize this is the best situation for both of us. I don’t have to wait to be queen and rule, and you can be free to do whatever you want.”
“Please, Amira, wake up,” I say, my throat too tight for anything but a whisper.
“Do I look asleep to you?”
“Sleep isn’t the only thing that can keep you dormant.”
Amira dismisses my comment and steps closer. I immediately take a step back and put my hand up. “Stay away.”
“There’s only one thing I want from you,” she points at my neck, “your Plumanegra key.”
“What? What for?” It identifies me as a member of Castella’s royal family. Everyone with the Plumanegra last name has one.
“It’s just a… precautionary measure. You’ve always said you’re glad I’m the eldest because you have no interest in ruling. It’s the only reason you’re still alive, and if that’s the case, why should you care about a silly key?”
I don’t remember a day when the key hasn’t been around my neck. By tradition, it gets placed around every Plumanegra’s neck on the day they’re born. Every year until adulthood, it’s resized without removing it. The last time a few links were added, Father was with me. He smiled proudly saying he couldn’t believe I was all grown.
“I care because it’s mine. Father gave it to me,” I say, even though I know it’s a mistake.
Amira’s eyes flash with anger. She turns to Orys and points at Guardia Bastien. “Wake him up!”
Orys snaps his fingers, and Guardia Bastien staggers a few paces before he catches himself. He appears disoriented, his head and eyes moving from side to side.
“You’re no longer required to watch over Princess Valeria,” Amira says. “Understood?”
The poor guardia looks nothing but confused.
“You’re relieved of the post, and if you value your station, you will obey me without question.” She looks him up and down in a hungry way that is nothing like herself. Or is it? What if she did plan all of this? What if I’m wrong about her?
Guardia Bastien appears conflicted for a moment, but in the end, he thumbs his chest with one fist, clicks his heels, and bows slightly. “At your service, Queen Plumanegra.”
I nearly choke.
Queen Plumanegra. It sounds wrong. So wrong.
Amira looks at me down her nose, satisfied. “Now, take the necklace she wears around her neck.”
Guardia Bastien doesn’t hesitate. Not for a second. Even though I try to fight back, he moves too fast and assuredly to be able to stop him. In no time, he has both my wrists in the grip of one hand while, with the other, he pulls the chain and breaks it with one abrupt tug. The metal bites into my skin and rubs it raw. I try to snatch it back, but he pushes me away and moves to stand next to my sister.
“Much better,” Amira says, looking satisfied. “Now, you can go about your jewelry making, excursions into the city, cavorting with Jago and your parrot, or whatever it is you prefer to do. I promise no one will bother you as long asyoudon’t bother anyone.”
And by anyone she means herself? Or does she mean…? My gaze slides to Orys. If Amira is not being puppeteered by the sorcerer, what role does he play here? And if she is, what does he intend to do? Will he rule through her? Will he also kill her and install himself as king? Or is there another plan that I can’t even begin to fathom?
My head spins. My heart aches.
Father is dead. I can’t trust my sister, and the future of Castella may hang in the balance. The life I envisioned for myself crumbles as quickly as I built it. A new reality takes shape before my eyes, and it looks unlike anything I’ve ever imagined.
8
VALERIA
“Don’t fret, niña bonita. It’s just the Basilica’s bells. They’re tolling for the queen. She’s with the saints now.”
