Page 6 of Crowning of the Sword

She tried to respond, but all that came out was an embarrassing croak, and so she cleared her throat and tried again, managing a faltering, “Thank you.”

He tucked her hand under his arm and walked her to the side of the room, away from the stares of the others. He seemed as easy with her as if he had known her for years, and she couldn’t help but lean toward him, arching into the warmth of his body as though she were a cat and he a cosy fireplace, until the vision of a sizzling slab of meat slipped into her head.

She abruptly tugged her hand away, aghast at the way her body had betrayed her so easily, when he had murdered Bruno in cold blood, right in front of her, with just a wave of his hand. This man must be evil. He was certainly not human. And here she was, practically rubbing up against him.

Cole didn’t remark on her sudden recoil, merely nodding as though he knew what was on her mind, and confirming it with, “He was going to kill you. I could see it in his mind. And I can’t let anyone hurt you, Ember. I won’t allow it.”

“You don’t even know me,” Ember said.

He nodded. “No.” He leaned toward her and whispered in her ear, low and enticing. “Not yet.”

She looked away, trying to control the involuntary response of her body, telling herself sternly, ‘you don’t know this guy, snap out of it Ember, he’s practically kidnapped you for heaven’s sake’, and he chuckled, as if he knew exactly the dilemma she was struggling with as her wilful body argued with her brain. He courteously stepped away from her, putting some welcome distance between them, and she felt a measure of control return.

“Is your room and maid to your satisfaction?”

“It’s lovely. And Lily is very sweet. Very good at her job,” she added. Maybe she could get Lily a pay rise or something. She liked Lily, and besides, she knew what it was like to struggle on minimum wage.

“All my servants are good at their jobs. You only have to ask them for whatever comfort you want.”

“What I want is to go home now. Please.”

He looked surprised, clearly never having even considered that she might want to leave, and then his brows furrowed. “Why?”

“I’ve got a scholarship to an art school. It’s my chance. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.” She could hear the pleading tone in her voice. Even if he didn’t know what she meant—what would a being like him know about scholarships or art schools?—he could surely hear the longing anguish in her voice and would respond to it.

An expression of chagrin flickered across his face. “I’m sorry, Ember. I can’t take you back. Not right now.”

“But … why?” Panic rose within her. She had to get back, she had to. She couldn’t stay here in this strange place, with fairies and angels and … her eyes widened as she caught sight of someone in the crowd, someone with wild tawny hair, armour half-shielding a broad chest which ended in what looked like the lower half of a horse’s body. Centaur, her mind helpfully supplied, and she looked away, not wanting to be caught staring at yet another extraordinary sight.

“You remember my cousin, Ashe?”

Cole’s voice dragged her back to the conversation, and she blinked, trying to process his words. Ashe. Of course, the other one, dark as Cole was fair, the one who had thrown fire at her. She nodded.

“We can only tear the veil around Earth together, and Ashe is … not happy with me right now. He won’t help. He enjoys making difficulties for me.”

“But what has that got to do with me?” She sounded rude, and she knew it, but she couldn’t help it. “Maybe if I asked him, I could persuade him. Can I talk to him?”

“Ashe resides in his rooms in the castle, and none may enter there save with his permission, not even I. Just as no one may enter here without my consent.” He took her hand again, and tingles sparked up and down her arm in a rather disconcerting manner. “But you might well see him around in the common areas, and most definitely at the Ball. But I warn you, like many fae, he doesn’t like humans.”

She could have guessed that already. “But I need to go. I don’t belong here.”

He lifted a hand and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “I don’t know about that,” he said lightly. “You belong as much as anyone.”

Once again, the intense green of his gaze captured her, threatening to sweep her away, and she could feel herself swaying toward him, tilting her cheek toward his touch…

“Your Highness,” came a feminine voice behind her, heavy with sarcasm. “There you are.”

Chapter 7

The woman was striking, extraordinarily so, even in this world of beauty and grace. She was slender, with well-defined muscles. Peculiar markings were etched across her pale skin, which looked as though someone had traced scallops across her with a graphite pencil, and then dusted them with shimmering powder. Her long, golden hair fell down her back in shimmering waves, caught up at her temples with sapphire clips that complemented the ocean blue of her gown. Sheer, clinging layers showed off the planes, curves, and dips of her body, and she wore gold circlets around her forehead, throat, and wrists. Every movement she made was like a dancer’s, deliberate and elegant, and as she approached them, she slowed her walk so that they had ample time to admire her. She made Ember feel heavy and gauche, as though she had just emerged from the swimming pool, when the buoyancy of water became the relentless pull of gravity.

She didn’t acknowledge Ember at first, just walked straight past her, and kissed Cole on the cheek. He slid what seemed like an automatic arm around her waist, and only then did she deign to utter a languid greeting to Ember.

“Hello.”

“Hello,” Ember echoed.

The woman inspected her closely, taking in Ember’s hair, face, shoes, and dress, making Ember feel like a prize pig at the fair. Without taking her eyes off Ember, she addressed Cole, “I apologise for staring, Your Highness. I’ve just never seen one up close before.”

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