Free Bound (Bound Trilogy) by Kate Sparkes Page A

since our father’s disappearance. He would be declared dead, and Severn would become a king in need of an adviser. Acting as his Second wouldn’t be an easy job, but I was well-prepared, and more than ready for the power and wealth that would come with it. I’d worked hard to escape the shadow of my mother’s dishonorable death, fought to win Severn’s respect and trust even as I hated him for his cruelty. I’d come so far, and my reward was so close.
    And yet I had chosen to return to my brother empty-handed. I couldn’t repay my rescuer’s kindness with betrayal, especially when I didn’t know what Severn planned to do with her. She had impressed me with her courage in standing up to the magic hunters, and she had healed me, fed me and sheltered me. Even after the influence of her magic faded, I had no desire to let Severn harm her.
    And that’s all it is . I fluffed my feathers against the wind and hardened myself to the memory of her. I don’t care for her, I told myself. It’s only a debt that I’m repaying. Her kindness, her laughter, and her interest in the world beyond her people’s stifling beliefs mean nothing. It’s over. I’d indulged that weakness enough already.
    I preened my feathers, taking my time, not ready to return home. I would have to transform again before I got there, find clothing before I entered the palace. Severn didn’t know about my eagle form, a skill I’d developed in secret. He had directed much of my schooling, had suggested that I develop a small talent for reading people’s thoughts into the ability to control them. Hard and cruel as his tutelage had been at times, he’d shaped me into the man I was. Still, it wouldn’t have been wise to let him know everything I was capable of. I walked a narrow line between his approval and his potential jealousy, and keeping my balance grew more difficult every year.
    I pushed off from the tree and soared over the city wall. The sounds of laughter and music became louder, and the smells of street festival foods wafted up to greet me—candied flowers guaranteed by Potioners to delight and captivate the mind, hot sweet drinks in a hundred flavors, frying slabs of moist dragon meat that most people would have few opportunities to taste in their lifetimes. The scents and sights reminded me of how badly I needed a good meal and some excitement that wasn’t life-threatening, but I doubted I’d find time to join in the people’s revels.
    I dropped directly to the ground in a dark alley behind a small mercantile, not risking a loud landing on top of anything that would have kept me out of the mud. The shadows protected me from curious glances as I transformed and broke a window so that I could unlatch it and climb in. No one would take particular notice if a few items of clothing went missing during the festival. It was a celebration, but also an opportunity for crimes such as this. I left the doors locked and exited the same way I went in.
    A young woman collided with me as I left the alley. Her mind was open, her thoughts as overpowering as the smell of strong wine on her breath. Interest, at first, until her drunken thoughts coalesced enough to recognize me. Fear took over then as she considered what might happen with a man who could make her do anything—or so said the rumors she’d heard. I turned away before I could see more.
    Everyone else avoided me. Perhaps the expression on my face told them I was in no mood for whatever food, drink, or flesh they were peddling that night.
    The turreted palace came into view as I entered the square, its imposing stone façade only slightly softened by the colored glass windows my grandmother had commissioned when she ruled. I slowed as I passed the public fountain, wishing I had more time to prepare.
    Any hope I had of my presence going unnoticed was dashed when a pair of burly palace guards met me at the kitchen entrance. Without a word, they escorted me toward Severn’s quarters. Neither