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‘Ebony, I can’t stop him. If he wants, he will just walk in.’
    Which is exactly what he does, and the first thing he sees is the mess in the living room. He turns on Mela, who’s still standing at my bedroom door. ‘What happened? Did you do this? After you convinced me you were the best choice f or th is position? Are you going to prove yourself useless on the first day?’ He lifts his hand as if he wants to slap her. Mela flinches to the side as if bracing for it. The slap doesn’t come, but the fear in her eyes tells me that if it had it wouldn’t be the first time.
    â€˜Stop yelling at my maid, Luca. I made that mess.’ I pull myself into a sitting position. ‘Mela was about to clean it up, but helped me into bed first to make sure I was all right.’
    Mela slowly turns her face to me, and while she doesn’t say a word, and neither do I, in that moment we make a connection. The Guardian bond springs into life and I realise, now that I’ve figured out exactly who Mela is, that the feelings of familiarity I’ve been getting around her have nothing to do with Zavier. His trust in Mela, his belief that I will be safe in her care, is not what has gen era ted this powerful sense of kinship. Apparently a Guardian autom atically connects to members of their Charge’s family. In this case, being Jordan’s Guardian has linked me to his mother.
    Luca looks at Mela, then at me. He probes the outer ridges of my thoughts, trying to get in. I don’t let him. I can’t, or he’ll know I just lied to him. Angels can’t lie, but here I am lying with ease. What’s with that? I hazard a guess it has something to do with my Guardian bond and the connection to my Charge’s closest family member. Protecting her gives me licence to do what is necessary to keep her safe.
    Dismissing Mela, Luca steps into my room. ‘Your training will begin only once I decide you’ve had enough time to settle in,’ he says.
    â€˜My training?’
    â€˜You want your wings to develop, don’t you?’
    So I can fly away, straight out of this world, as soon as no one is looking. ‘Sure.’
    â€˜I have placed guards at your door. But since you’ve met them already, I can dispense with introductions.’
    Good. Now you can leave so I can dream I’m in Nathaneal’s arms.
    â€˜For now you will not leave this apartment. When the time comes that I allow you to venture outside the palace, you will have a team to protect you. Do not speak to them. They will have a job to do, and distracting them will only work to your detriment. Do you understand, Princess?’
    â€˜Sure. I have prison guards that I can’t talk to, I get it.’ Tears are starting to well in my eyes. It’s the reality of my new life sinking in a little bit further. ‘Mind if I sleep now?’
    â€˜I thought you might have a few questions.’
    I drag myself into a straighter sitting-up position to feel less vulnerable. ‘Yeah, actually I do.’
    He pulls up the closer of the two armchairs and sits. ‘Go ahead.’
    â€˜When do I get to go home? It’s not like you can keep me here against my will. Clearly soldiers at my door indicate I’m not here of my own volition. And I happen to know the Free Will code is one that angels live by. In fact, it’s a universal law.’
    â€˜The guards are for your protection. They will attest to that under oath if they have to. Ebony, laws are open to interpretation no matter where you live. Coming from Earth, you should know that.’
    â€˜And you would manipulate the law to suit yourself.’
    â€˜I do what is necessary.’
    â€˜Just wait until Nathaneal gets here. You should start running now, Luca, faster than you have ever run before. You won’t have one unbroken bone left in your body by the time he’s finished with you.’
    He puffs hot air out through his