Chapter 1

Q ueen Sparrow Meadowcroft realized that she might have just started a war and it wasn't even breakfast yet. She shook her head. Not the best beginning to the day.

Ro wasn't sure how long she and her personal security guard, Gabriel Nightborne, had been sitting on the garden bench in the midst of the black-barked willows, but she wasn't ready to move. Not yet. Quiet drifted around them like fog, and she lost herself in her thoughts, the only sound the burbling of the nearby river.

She stared at the back of Willow Hall, the famed Summer Palace, without really seeing it. Her gaze was focused internally, her vision blurred to the outside world by everything that had happened.

There was so much to take in. So much to understand. Decisions to be made. The kind of decisions that could be the salvation of the realm. Or its ruination. She felt the weight of it on her, pressing down. She exhaled.

The breeze carried the sweet perfume of flowers, then it shifted and brought the horsey scent of the distant stables. All Ro could think about was how to protect the citizens of Summerton, because there was no doubt in her mind that Queen Anyka Blackbryar, ruler of Malveaux, was coming up with plans of her own even as Ro and Gabriel sat.

What lengths would Anyka go to in her attempts to steal Lady Cynzia's diary of black magic spells and incantations? Ro could only imagine. But that book could not fall into Anyka's hands. It would be the destruction of them all.

Finally, Gabriel spoke. "Are you displeased with me?"

She frowned at him. "Why would you think that? Because you didn't give me a straight answer about whether or not you're unsycht ? I mean, let's be honest, I know you are. You don't need to admit it. Clearly that's the only explanation that makes sense."

He frowned back at her, sighing. "As I said, there are some answers it's better you don't know."

"Right, I get that. And I'm okay with it. So no, I'm not displeased with you."

"I actually meant, were you displeased because of how publicly everything unfolded?"

"Oh." She was surprised he'd asked that. "No. I actually think that was wise. Playing the whole thing out in front of all those witnesses in the library gives me plenty of plausible deniability." Once again, he'd been protecting her.

"It does, but it has also made you implicit in the theft Anyka believes happened." He went back to staring at the river.

"I don't care about that." She kept her eyes on him. "We're a team. At least, that's how I feel about it."

The faint twitch of his lips might have been a smile, but it happened too quickly for her to be sure. He shifted slightly, enough that his knee brushed her leg. "I will not let you bear the brunt of any repercussions."

That was kind of him, but she wasn't worried about anything that far in the future.

"Thanks. The thing is, I have no idea what to do. Anyka is clearly upset. And I get it. She was really hoping to take possession of Lady Cynzia's book herself."

"Which would have undoubtedly put the entirety of Summerton in danger. Perhaps the realm."

"I agree," Ro said. "But we've still got trouble. Just a different kind. And between us, this is a great deal more than I ever dealt with at the museum."

"Perhaps the professors will be able to offer you some guidance. I'm sure Uldamar has them gathered. Should we go in?"

"In a minute." She touched his leg with her finger. "First, I want to know what you think I should do. As the head of my security, I am asking for your counsel."

"My advice? We should all go home. You should return to Castle Clarion, where it would be far easier to keep you safe."

She pursed her lips. "That might be the safest thing to do, but it's not going to smooth things over with Anyka."

"I don't believe anything could do that, save giving her Lady Cynzia's diary."

"Which is not going to happen."

"Nor should it."

A gleaming, metallic pink dragonfly zipped past. She watched it until it was out of sight. "Leaving would also be contrary to what I'm trying to accomplish here. I want the citizens to approve of me. To see that I'm doing my best to be one of them. To honor traditions and give them the life their ancestors had."

"A noble goal. But at what cost?"

"Gabriel, we're in too deep to turn around and run for cover now."

He held her gaze, a perceptible smile brightening his face. "You're a stubborn woman. A good quality for a queen in your position. Aren't you afraid?"

"A little. Not so much for myself as for my family and my citizens." She smiled back at him. "It helps that you're by my side. It helps a lot. I don't think I could do this without you or my family."

"Ruling is hard. I am glad you have your son and your aunt."

"I just hope I can do right by all of you. The citizens of Summerton included. That's what matters."

"I'm sure you will. Shall we go in and see what the professors have to say?"

She sighed. "Yes." She got to her feet.

There was a soft, whistling sound, then an arrow thunked into the back of the bench where she'd just been sitting, splitting the wood and throwing out a spray of splinters.

Almost simultaneously, Gabriel threw his arm around her and took her to the ground. "Guards!" he yelled as he crouched over her. "Southeast of the river, an archer!"

Her heart pounded. The earth was cool and damp under her palms.

Gabriel lay over her, covering her body with his. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. I'm fine." Shocked, but unscathed. She exhaled, trying to rid herself of the burst of fear that had washed through her. She was fine. There was nothing to be scared of now.

Royal Summerton and Willow Hall guards rushed past them. Gabriel got her up, protecting her with his body, and yanked the arrow from the wood. Then he hustled her back toward the palace. He got her inside via the same route they'd used to reach the garden, a narrow passage meant for staff.

He looked her over. "You're sure you're fine, my lady?"

She nodded, still shaken. "It wasn't even close."

His eyes narrowed, dark fire gleaming in them. He glanced at the arrow in his hand. "It was close enough. We're going directly to the portal, then directly to the royal suite. Don't stop for anyone or anything."

"Okay," she whispered.

They walked with such speed that she had no chance to stop. With his hand on her back, he moved her from the passage, out into the foyer, and across into the portal. It was open and a couple were about to get on.

"Make way," Gabriel commanded in a voice that brooked no argument.

The woman jumped. She quickly moved aside, holding onto the man beside her.

Gabriel got Ro in, then stood in front of her like a shield as he aligned the gems to take them upstairs.

The doors closed, the air wobbled, and when they opened, they'd arrived at the second floor. He rushed her toward the royal suite. The guard at the door came to attention when he saw them.

"Anyone in or out?" Gabriel asked.

The guard nodded. "Yes, sir. Professor Uldamar and a large number of other professors, as well as Prince James and Madam Meadowcroft."

"Open the door," Gabriel ordered. "Anyone unknown to you?

The guard did as he'd been tasked. "No, sir."

Gabriel propelled Ro toward the door. "No one gets in. No one. There's been an attempt on the queen's life."

The guard's eyes rounded. "Yes, sir."

Ro stumbled into the small foyer. Gabriel stayed in the doorway, giving the guard a brief explanation of what had happened and instructing him to be wary. Then he joined Ro, and they went into the large sitting room.

The gathered professors rose to their feet as Ro entered. She nodded at them. "Thank you for coming. There's been an incident. I'm fine, but…" She glanced at Gabriel.

He lifted his hand, showing the arrow to all of them. "Someone took a shot at the queen."

Gasps and murmurs filled the room. Aunt Violet put her hands to her mouth.

JT started forward. "Mom, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes. It didn't touch me."

"Only," Gabriel said, "because she moved at the right time."

Uldamar strode to Ro's side. "My lady, what can I do?"

"I don't know." She looked to Gabriel.

He held the arrow toward Uldimar, clutched in his hand. "I'm the only one who's touched this since it was shot. Is there anything you can do to see who last possessed it?"

Uldamar hesitated, then reached into his robes and pulled out a linen handkerchief. He used it to take the arrow from Gabriel. "I shall retire to my quarters and do my best, if that meets with your approval, your majesty."

"It does," Ro said. "Come back as soon as you can."

Uldamar nodded. "I will."

As he left, Gabriel pulled the bell cord, went to speak to the guard at the door, then came back to Ro. "I'm going to order another guard at this door."

She wasn't going to argue that. "All right."

He shifted his attention to his daughter, Raphaela, who guarded JT, and Vincent, the guard he'd assigned to Aunt Violet. "Be extra diligent."

Both of them nodded.

Professor Cloudtree, who'd been instrumental in helping Ro find Lady Cynzia's diary, spoke up. "Can you tell us what happened? Do you think any of us need to be worried?"

"I don't know if you should be worried or not," Ro said. "What happened is that after everything that occurred in the library, I needed some air. Professor Nightborne accompanied me to the gardens. I sat on a bench to do some thinking and as I was getting up to return here, an arrow sank into the wood I'd just been resting against."

More gasps were accompanied by shaking heads and frowns.

Professor Cloudtree looked angry. "This is outrageous behavior. A blatant attempt on the queen's life is completely unacceptable. It's…an act of war."

Now the professors were nodding.

Ro put her hands up. "Hang on. I know you're upset. How do you think I feel? But we have no information yet. This could be the act of a rogue agent. We don't know. I'm not going to base my decisions on guesses and suppositions."

"But Ro," Aunt Violet said. "You could have been killed. Then where would we be?"

Ro let out a little sigh. "Then…you'd be under JT's reign."

JT immediately shook his head. "No way. That is not what I want. Not at the cost of your life."

"I know," Ro said. "But that's what would happen." She looked at him. "And I know you would do your best by the people." But she also knew he wasn't ready to rule. She'd never say that publicly. He'd get there, though it might take him a few years.

Someone knocked at the door.

Gabriel grunted. "That can't be Uldamar already. Must be the footman I sent for. I'll handle it." He started for the door, then stopped and glared at the professors. "Get your queen a seat and see to her needs."

He stormed off, leaving Ro in the middle of a flurry of activity. Seats were offered. She chose the tall chair near the fireplace where she usually sat.

JT took her arm and accompanied her there. "What do you need, Mom? You want a brandy or something?"

She laughed softly as she settled into the chair. "I haven't even had breakfast yet. It's a little early for brandy."

He crouched by her chair, holding her hands. "Do you want me to send everyone away?"

"No, they need to be here. We have a lot to discuss."

"Okay. Well, how about I order food to be sent up? For everyone. No one's eaten. Then we can work while we have breakfast. Really be productive."

She squeezed his hands. "That's a great idea. Make sure they send a lot of coffee."

"And spiced cocoa." He nodded. "I'm on top of it."

"Thanks."

As he pushed to his feet, he leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I'm really glad you're okay."

So was she. And as much as she was grateful that the arrow had missed her, it had also complicated things even more than they already were. Before that arrow, there had been a chance that tensions with the queen of Malveaux might be eased.

But the attempt on her life made that chance pretty much zero.