[EMBERBOUND Trilogy 1] THE AWAKENING

PROLOGUE 

The contractions started at midnight.

The woman gritted her teeth, gripping the bedpost as pain tore through her. She'd sent everyone away hours ago leaving just the priest.

He stood near the window, watching the darkness outside with worried eyes. "They're coming. I can feel it."

"I know." Another contraction hit. She doubled over, breathing through it. "How long?"

"Minutes. Maybe less." He turned to her. "We should leave and get you somewhere safe."

"No. She needs to be born here. The protections are strongest here."

The priest moved to her side, helping her onto the bed. He'd served her faithfully for years but never with shadow creatures hunting just outside the walls.

"I've sent word," she gasped between contractions. "They'll come and take her."

"Are you certain you can trust them?"

"With my life and hers."

The pain intensified. She screamed, unable to hold it back. Somewhere in the distance, something answered with a howl that didn't sound human.

"They heard you," the priest said quietly.

"Good. Let them come. I'll be damned if they take her before she even draws breath."

The next hour was agony. The priest worked efficiently, his prayers whispered under his breath—protection spells, warding charms. Anything to buy them more time.

Then, finally, a baby's cry pierced the air.

"It's a girl," the priest breathed.

The woman collapsed back against the pillows, tears streaming down her face. "Let me see her. Please."

He placed the baby in her arms carefully. The infant was perfect. Tiny, squalling, her eyes flickering between gold and blue even as she cried.

"Hello, little one." The woman's voice shook. "I'm so sorry for what your life has to be."

The baby quieted, staring up at her mother's face.

Outside, the howling grew louder and closer.

"They're at the walls," the priest said. "The wards are holding, but not for long."

The woman nodded, exhausted. She was still bleeding. The birth had been hard, and her body was failing. But she had enough strength for this.

She held her daughter, memorizing every detail. The small nose. The curve of the ears. The way the baby's hand wrapped around her finger with surprising strength.

Outside, something crashed against the walls. The entire room shook.

"They're breaking through."

Then the door burst open.

A man and woman rushed in, breathless and wild-eyed. They stopped short when they saw the blood-soaked sheets, the exhausted woman holding a newborn.

"You came." Relief flooded the woman's voice.

"Of course we came."

The woman's hands trembled as she held the child. A few minutes was all she had left to memorize this small face, these tiny fingers, and say goodbye to everything that mattered.

"She's beautiful," the man said quietly.

"She's everything." The woman's voice broke. She pressed her lips to the baby's forehead. "She's the only hope we have left."

Another crash shook the walls. Closer now.

The wife stepped forward, hands outstretched. "We'll keep her safe. I swear it on my life."

"I know you will." The woman pulled a pendant from beneath her blood-stained gown. Red crystal that seemed to hold fire inside it. "This was my mother's. Give it to her when the time comes."

The wife took the pendant with reverent hands.

"And this." The woman handed over a scroll tied with black ribbon. "If she's ever in danger. This will get her to safety."

"We understand."

The woman looked down at her daughter one last time, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. "Her name is Emberlyn. Remember that even if you have to call her something else, even if she forgets everything else, she is Emberlyn."

"We'll remember."

"Tell her she was loved. Tell her everything I did was to protect her. Tell her I'm sorry."

"We will."

The baby stirred. The woman's arms tightened instinctively, holding her daughter close one last time.

Then she forced herself to let go.

The wife took the child carefully. The man put his arm around his wife's shoulders, both of them turning toward the door.

"Wait." The woman's voice stopped them, barely more than a whisper. Blood loss was making her dizzy. 

"When the darkness comes for her, and it will come, promise me you'll make sure she's ready. Promise me she'll be strong enough to survive what I couldn't protect her from."

The man met her eyes. "She'll be ready. We promise."

"Go. Now. Before it's too late."

They disappeared into the night, taking the baby with them.

Outside, the creatures were getting closer. She could hear them snarling. The wards shattered with a sound like breaking glass.

But her daughter was safe.

That was all that mattered.