Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,9

with him. I stood guard.

Protecting Haydyn as always.

Protecting her secrets.

Protecting her love for Lord Matai.

I experienced a twinge of unfamiliar longing at the sound of her and Matai’s intimate laughter beyond the door. Haydyn was akin to my younger sister, and yet she knew more of that mysterious intimacy between man and woman than I did. All I ever wanted was to be a source of wisdom and support for Haydyn. How could I be when she was more worldly than I? I was twenty-one years of age and remained unkissed.

I ducked my head, feeling silly and adolescent. I did not seek love. I’d never wanted it. However, a little romance perhaps might be nice.

I shook the thought from my mind. No. I had no time for romance. I was far too busy facilitating Haydyn’s.

Chapter 3

“Mmm,” I moaned, the sweet chocolate and fresh cream cake making my eyes flutter shut in rapture. “Cook, you’ve surpassed yourself.”

Cook grinned broadly, rolling out pastry as servants bustled around us in the enormous kitchen. Valena giggled from her seat across from me, cream caught on the corner of her mouth. “I swear, Rogan, the sweetest expression you ever have on your face is when you’re eating Cook’s desserts.”

I raised an eyebrow at her cheekiness and reached across to swipe the last of the cakes from her plate.

“Hey!” She leapt forward to grab for it but I held it out of her reach. If we had been standing face-to-face rather than sitting across a long table, she would have taken it easily. Valena was only fourteen, but she was also extremely tall, a good three inches taller than me. “Oh, don’t, Rogan.” Valena’s eyes widened as I pretended to pop the cake into my mouth. “Cook only made a few today.”

Cook shook her head at my teasing. “I swear it could be nine years ago with the way you act, Miss Rogan.”

“Well, I wouldn’t have to behave this way if you made more than just a few cakes.” I handed the desserts over to Valena, greedily watching as she scoffed one down in seconds. “Oh, you didn’t even take time to enjoy that. Sacrilege. I should have eaten it.”

“But it was mine.” Valena grinned through a mouthful. “You’re too honorable to have taken what was mine.”

“Where did she adopt such an attitude?” I asked Cook, pretending beleaguerment.

Cook snorted. “You!”

Valena burst out laughing while I faked a scowl.

“Valena!”

We spun around at the sound of Raj’s frantic voice, the kitchen coming to a standstill as he stumbled into the room. We all stared at him wide-eyed. My heart thumped as Raj smoothed back his white-blond hair and straightened his waistcoat. “Valena,” he said, quieter this time. “I need you.”

Valena didn’t ask questions. She jumped from the table and made her way toward him. Raj gestured for her to walk before him and then turned his pale eyes on me. “You, too, Rogan.”

I shared a brief worried look with Cook and hurried after the healers.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“I’ve been called to the princezna’s suite.”

I forgot all ladylike manners and lifted my dress, running as fast as I could through the palace halls to Haydyn’s apartments. Servants gaped at me as I blurred by them, and I wanted desperately to shout back at Raj to hurry up. But if he did that, if he ran with me, then everyone would know something was wrong with Haydyn.

I knew something was wrong!

I cursed myself for not pressing her further, but ever since Jarvis and Ava had imparted the news of the hostility in Phaedra a few weeks ago, I was afraid to burden Haydyn.

Inside her suite, I found Matai. No other servant. Only Matai, his expression frantic as he hovered over Haydyn, collapsed on the floor.

“What happened?” I rushed to them, throwing myself down beside my friend. Her skin was deathly pale and when I reached for her hand, I found it limp.

Matai met my gaze with a grim one of his own. “I don’t know,” he whispered to me. “We were only talking and then she … she just fainted. I was afraid to move her. I’ve called for Raj. I didn’t want anyone else to know …” He trailed off as Raj and Valena came into the room. Valena shut the door behind her.

Raj shoved me out of the way.

“What’s wrong with her?” I demanded.

“Give me a minute, Rogan, for haven’s sake,” Raj replied through gritted teeth.

Haydyn groaned, her eyelids fluttering open. As her eyes focused, they widened