Page 93 of An Empress of Air & Chaos

“Just open it,” she huffed. “Wait!” She flung out her hand as she called out. “Can I show you mine first? Please, please, please?” She clasped her hands up underneath her chin and rolled her bottom lip out into a pout.

Laughing, Emara agreed. “Go on, then. The suspense is killing me.”

She flipped the lid off the box with excitement and pulled out a daringly short dress. The material shone white against the candlelight, shimmering like snow. “I told you I was going for a virginal white colour. It’s very angelic.”

“I am sure with that dress, you will look more like a fallen angel than one that arrived from heaven.”

“Perfect,” she purred, her leg popping out. “That’s exactly the look I am going for. Angelic and divine, yet sensual and seductive.” She spread her hands out dramatically and her eyes smouldered into the distance.

“Well, you got it right with that dress. It really is…something. Waylen is a lucky man.”

Emara had an inkling that it wasn’t Waylen she wanted to impress, but she would play along anyway. She did make the effort of learning his name, after all…

“Of course he’s lucky; he’s going to the uplift with me.” Her shoulders danced, and that made Emara laugh. “Okay, now it’s your turn—and keep an open mind. I know you like to dress casually.”

“Watch it,” Emara warned with a laugh. “I dress simply fine.”

“You’re not supposed to look ‘simply fine’ at an uplift!” Cally looked horrified. “You’re in amongst the supernatural. Hunters, Shifters, Witches—possibly Fae. And whatever else is out there. Do you think they will look mundane? You’re not supposed to look regular. You should stand out.”

“Yeah, I usually leave that to you…”

“Not this time. I just want you to be confident, Em. I want you to feel amazing; this is like nothing we’ve ever done before. It might be the last chance we ever get to go to a ball like this. This gown gives you all that you are in one.” She pushed the box further in Emara’s direction. “It’s time to break out of that comfort zone. Tell those voices in your head to shut up— you don’t need to downplay how beautiful you are. You can feel feminine and sensual and still be you! It’s also time to show off those amazing curves, for once.”

“No wonder people pay you top coin to inspire them into dressing better,” she laughed as a blush filled her cheeks. “Okay, fine. I’m in.” Emara’s mouth pulled into a smile, causing her cheekbones to rise. Callyn’s encouraging energy couldn’t help but make her beam. “You really are the best; do you know that?”

Cally’s face shone with vulnerability before she replaced it with the smooth mask she kept intact. “Yes, of course I do. Why do you think I charge over the odds to put people in pretty dresses and corsets to make them look thinner? It’s called having a brain and using it against the rich when they feel susceptible.” She batted her eyelashes.

Emara snickered at the thought of Cally waltzing about the high homes of the Elite, taking advantage of their willingness to pay excessive amounts of coin to look better than their neighbour.

Abruptly, a ringing sounded throughout the Tower. Emara’s eyes shot to Cally’s. “They must be back.”

Before she could hear Cally’s response, Emara pushed herself into a run.

She didn’t even know where she was going, only that she had to know if Gideon was okay. If he had come back from the hunt alive.

She had been waiting all night, like she’d promised.

A siren blasted into Emara’s ears as she ran through the Tower. She made it to the corridor that would bring her out into the foyer before she heard the noise of a howl in the distance, then a roar. Emara’s chest heaved up and down as she tried to control her breathing, pulling back on the fear that now coiled through her whole body.

She skidded to a halt in time to see a rush of Hunters surge through the foyer door. Fear snapped like an elastic band in her heart as she saw the casualties being pulled in makeshift slings. Her legs jumped into action, heaving the heavy glass door open to allow the men to enter without restriction. A man with blood and dirt encrusted onto his face yelled for a healer, his chest pulsing up and down in exhaustion. Another few Hunters made their way into the foyer as the healers arrived, leaping into action straight away. Two men carried in a lifeless body; the face she didn’t recognise, the red blood pouring from his neck causing his face to look pale against his black combat gear. Shouting and howling could be heard from outside and Emara didn’t know which direction to look in.

The world spun so quickly.

Marcus hauled the body of a Hunter through the front door. The man was crying out in pain. At least she could be sure that this one was alive, but as she took in the severity of his injuries, she didn’t know how long that would last. Marcus put a dirt-smeared hand onto the man’s face and lowly said “May all the stars in the Gods’ sky guide you back home.”

He pulled himself upright after leaving the body on the cold foyer floor and darted out into the night before she could ask after Gideon.

A coldness spread through Emara’s blood as she heard the Commander yell, “Pull back, the wards should hold what’s left of them until sunrise.”

The demons had followed them back. There were demons directly outside the Tower. Suddenly, the Tower didn’t feel so safe anymore. Through all the blood and chaos, Emara couldn’t stand by and watch anymore. She swung ‘round the door, dragging her legs into a sprint. She pulled her arms back like she did when in training, allowing her to gain a speedy momentum. Her eyes searched for the wagons, but the mist had come into the gardens like a thick paste, allowing her to only see a couple of feet in front of her.

A startling howl came from the right and she pulled her muscles tight, forcing herself to an immediate stop. Clashing sounds of steel and yells were coming from the left direction.

A terrifying thought occurred to her as she stood amongst the thick mist, alone. She was unarmed. She had nothing but her bare hands. Cursing under her breath, regretting her impulsive decision to help anyway she could. She was not going back now.

“Emara, get back into the Tower.” Marcus Coldwell grabbed her arm and swung her to face him. “It is not safe for you out here. The battle is still on going outside these walls, there are men still out there—”

She cut him off, “Where is Gideon?” Her voice shook with concern. Her stomach flipped as she saw Marcus’ face pale. “Where is he, Marcus?”

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