Page 159 of Stone Temptation

“You can end the motes,” Maren chimed in from her position by the window. “This Ember is after the ring to be free from some sort of hell, those gas mask humans in league with her.” She stroked her chin. “Puzzling.”

The ring wouldn’t come off my finger, as Ember said. No amount of tugging or slicking my skin moved it. It was glued to me.

I’m the key.

Asher rolled his shoulders. “This is why we need to speak to King Declan.”

Everyone in this room now knew about the king’s involvement. Unless something else popped up, the only way forward would be from meeting with the gargoyle monarch.

“I think your visions might be a warning against a future attack,” Tom said. “Freeze you to death maybe?”

Seemed excessive to me. Why not just blow my head off? Easy. Done. Yet freezing me to death wasn’t implausible. I kept seeing that icy prison for a reason.

All the more reason for this Ember to be eradicated.

Yes…

She must die.

“I’ll stop her,” Asher declared, jumping to his feet. The chair fell over with a clatter. “Not gonna happen.”

I slumped forward, my grief returning. I didn’t want any of this. This wasn’t part of the plan, another blockade between me and my brother.

If I destroyed motes, how the hell was I supposed to use them to find a solution?

Unless…

No. I couldn’t go there. I couldn’t start taking powers, hunting down enchanters until I found the right fit. A twisted Goldilocks, packing a lot more greed. Never satisfied. Never enough powers to sate my appetite.

My stomach rumbled, drool leaking down my chin. More powers, please. No mote killing. I hated that, never wanting to suffer the experience again.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I could find enough power to save Finn now. Fate had finally awakened me to my true gift, put a spring in my purpose. As long as I didn’t let it go to my head, hope really was within reach.

And so is Ember’s death…

Fine. Two birds, one stone.

Maren swam into the living room, flicking the TV on. I wiped the drool from my chin, popped a strawberry cream, and joined her on the sofa.

Reports on the tower attack blazed across the screen. Buildings around the tower had suffered damage, but nothing extensive. No fatalities reported yet, but there were several injured. Some pretty severe.

“Those poor people,” Tom said, standing a few feet away,

Did he really not trust me?

Asher joined me, resting a hand on my thigh. “How you feeling?” He wasn’t afraid, at least judging by his body language.

I didn’t want anyone to be afraid of me, despite how I’d felt when killing those chimeras. That just wasn’t me.

Until now…

“I’ll help you figure this out,” Asher spoke in my head.

“I’m freaked out.”

He moved closed, the epitome of strength. “I’m here.”

“You’re not scared I’ll take your powers?”

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