Fearless by Marianne Curley

and the sun’s rays ripple across my arm. Skade’s sunlight is surprisingly beautiful. I stare at the vivid colours. It lasts about thirty seconds before clouds swallow it up.
    Mela returns with a robe she puts around my shoulders. That’s when I realise I’m wearing only my undies and a singlet. The thought of Luca walking in and catching me in my underwear turns my stomach. I quickly slide my arms into the robe.
    â€˜If you’re wondering who helped you prepare for bed last night, that was me,’ Mela says, securing the drapes back with a silver rope. ‘I thought it would be more comfortable than sleeping in your jeans.’
    I tie the sash around my waist. ‘Thanks, Mela.’
    â€˜After you have breakfast I’ll draw you a fragrant bath, then do your make-up and help you into your new dress. It’s a special day today and I’m under orders …’ She glances down at the floor, shaking her head, clearly annoyed at herself. ‘The king has asked that you wear a specific gowntoday he had made for you by his favourite designers.’
    â€˜So today he’s going to show me to his people.’
    I was expecting this, just not on my very first morning. I was hoping to be gone before I had to participate in anything official.
    Mela confirms with a nod.
    â€˜And I have to be washed, dried and fluffed up like a fancy French poodle. Do I get to wear a ribbon with a bow around my neck, or is it to be a collar and leash?’
    She gets that sympathetic, motherly look in her eyes again, and smoothly steers me to a different subject. ‘The views are better from the living room.’
    I follow her, tugging my hair out from my robe, and see why. Last night I noticed this window protruded outwards, but now I see how this large bay shape allows views in three different directions, and from this elevation that’s a lot of area.
    I look through the wide centre panel first. Soldiers in their now-familiar black armour and hideous horned helmets patrol the paved grounds and the top of the great white wall that surrounds the palace.
    Shifting to the right side panel, I notice a set of heavily patrolled street gates are wide open, allowing angels inside the big palace square. There are souls too, but in smaller numbers.
    I try to open the window but it doesn’t budge.
    â€˜I’m afraid they’re sealed.’
    â€˜Did Luca really think I would jump from up here?’
    â€˜Not jump exactly.’
    She means when I get my wings. He thinks ofeverything, even the future. ‘I was just angling for a better view of whatever’s going on in that courtyard over there.’
    She looks at me with a funny close-mouthed smile.
    â€˜What have I missed?’ My brain must be a little slow this morning, but it quickly tweaks. ‘Oh. Right. The big intro.’ My gaze roams over the crowd, with more pouring in through the gates. So many. ‘Who are they all?’
    â€˜Most are local citizens from right here in Odisha. Others have come from faraway provinces. They all want that first glimpse of their future queen.’
    â€˜Really?’
    â€˜Their first ever queen.’ She watches me carefully. ‘They have waited a long time for you, Ebony. Some of them have been waiting for thousands of years.’
    â€˜Mela, that’s intense. I’m only a schoolgirl. A few months ago I was thinking about exams and career possibilities and … who my biological parents were. I didn’t know I was an angel. I didn’t even know angels existed.’
    She gasps and pats my shoulder. ‘My goodness, Ebony, you have a lot of adjusting ahead of you. I’ll guide you, b ut yo u will have to let me.’
    Mela is growing on me. She has a positive attitude, and a caring nature that’s undeniable; I see it when I look into her eyes, and I feel so bad for Jordan and the childhood he endured without her. Zavier told me I would be safe in