Chapter 1
The days grew longer and warmer,
and the estate finally began to feel like a home.
Mave woke up to the sound of birds singing outside the window,
a sweet and gentle noise that she had never heard in her old city apartment.
She stretched her arms across the cool cotton sheets,
feeling the empty space beside her.
Landon was already awake,
as he always was,
but she could hear the faint sound of his voice coming from the hallway.
He was talking to June,
and their voices were low and steady,
laced with a comfortable rhythm that had taken months to build.
Mave smiled,
letting the morning light wash over her face,
and allowed herself to simply breathe.
She threw off the covers,
and walked toward the massive wooden doors of the bedroom.
When she stepped into the hallway,
she saw Landon leaning against the doorframe of June’s room,
holding a mug of black coffee in his hand.
He wore dark slacks and a simple grey shirt,
looking less like a feared kingpin,
and more like a man trying to figure out how to be a father figure.
June was wearing a bright yellow sweater,
and she was aggressively packing textbooks into her backpack.
"I don't need a security detail to go to the library,"
June said,
rolling her eyes with perfect teenage dramatic flair.
"You are getting one anyway,"
Landon replied smoothly,
taking a slow sip of his coffee.
"It's embarrassing,"
June groaned,
zipping her bag with unnecessary force.
Mave walked down the hall,
and leaned against the opposite wall,
crossing her arms over her chest.
"He means well,"
Mave said,
offering June a sympathetic smile.
June sighed,
and her shoulders dropped,
the fight draining out of her.
"I know,"
June mumbled,
looking down at her shoes.
Landon reached out,
and gently ruffled his sister's hair,
a gesture he never would have attempted a year ago.
"Go read your books,"
he told her softly,
and watched as she hurried past them down the stairs.
When they were alone in the hallway,
Landon turned his dark eyes toward Mave.
"She hates the guards,"
he said,
his voice tinged with a quiet guilt.
"She will get used to it,"
Mave answered,
stepping closer to him.
"I promised her freedom,"
Landon whispered,
staring at the empty staircase.
"You gave her safety,"
Mave corrected him gently,
reaching out to touch his arm.
"Safety allows her to be a normal teenager,
who gets annoyed with her overprotective brother."
Landon looked down at her hand,
and then up into her eyes,
and the heavy weight on his shoulders seemed to lift slightly.
He pulled her into his arms,
and kissed her forehead,
letting out a long breath.
"What would I do without you?"
he asked,
his voice rough with emotion.
"You will never have to find out,"
Mave promised,
and she knew in her bones that it was the absolute truth.
They walked downstairs together,
May you like
ready to face a day that belonged entirely to them,
free from the blood and fear of the past.
